Why Are We Surprised?!

Seriously. Why are Christians so surprised at the rapidly increasing persecution we've faced this past year or so in North America? Should it really be so unexpected and unthinkable? Haven't we been warned about this?

From churches worldwide being shutdown over contagious sniffles, to pastors being arrested in the streets, and police building fences around churches to keep people from worshipping, there has certainly been a lot of tyranny lately. It's all unprecedented in United States history, but it should be entirely expected considering what the Bible tells us.

Just this past weekend, Antifa communist degenerates smashed up a Christian prayer & worship gathering in Portland. They pepper sprayed the believers there and destroyed their sound equipment before chasing down their vehicles throwing rocks and minor explosives at them. Police were called early on, but did nothing, showing their allegiance to the terrorist mob. See video below.

Even before Jesus Christ began His ministry, Christianity was persecuted. King Herod "slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under" because he wanted to kill Jesus (Matthew 2:13-16).

The Apostle Paul wrote in plain words to Timothy, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim 3:12). The very next verse helps us out as well with what we should have expected: "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." Yes, they certainly have.

In the first verse of that chapter the words are again quite clear: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come."

In Acts 14:22 we read, "Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." We must. It should be expected.

In 1 John 3:13 we read, "Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you."

And in 1 Peter 4:12-13 we read, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."

Persecution is to be expected for the Christian, and it shouldn't sway us one bit.