PROPHECY UPDATE...............11/7/2022

 

Death Throes - By Daymond Duck - https://www.raptureready.com/2022/11/05/death-throes-by-daymond-duck/   On Oct. 29, 2022, I received an e-mail from Brighteon that said:   “Europe dies from here forward, and it doesn’t recover for generations.” “It’s done.” “Almost nobody realizes this yet, but the dominoes are already falling.” “Europe is rapidly plunging into a continent on a collision course with total collapse: no industry, no supply chains, no energy, no metals, no fertilizer, and no food.”   I Googled “death throes” and discovered that the Cambridge English Dictionary defines death throes as “the process of dying or ending in a very painful or unpleasant way.”   According to my understanding of Bible prophecy, Brighteon has it right, but in my mind, it is not just Europe; it is all the Western nations. No, it is the entire world.   Evil people are killing freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom to buy and sell, freedom to own property, independence, democracy, Christian values (truth, morality, prayer, the Ten Commandments, etc.) because Satan has convinced them they can build back a better society (Build Back Better) without these things.   Evil people are killing the world in a very painful and unpleasant way (Jesus said it will be worse than anything that has ever happened or ever will happen), and the world will not recover until He comes back and builds it back His way.   Follow the facts (governments are deliberately destroying energy independence with winter approaching, deliberately reducing the use of fertilizer during food shortages, deliberately hindering the production of diesel fuel with a shortage looming, deliberately spending massive amounts of money with inflation raging, deliberately developing the technology and laws to track all buying and selling, deliberately creating a global pandemic to track people and reduce the population of the earth, deliberately tolerating violence and crime in many cities, deliberately working to increase abortions and euthanasia, deliberately trying to divide Israel, etc.), and it will become obvious that the government has deliberately put the entire world in its death throes right now.   It will be a slow, very painful death with a target date of 2030 or sooner.   (More: On Oct. 27, 2022, the headline on one article was “Tucker Carlson Says Canada’s Euthanasia Laws Have Reached a ‘Terrifying’ Low. On Oct. 28, 2022, the headline on another article was “Millions of Babies Will Face Death If Democrats Win the Midterms.” On Oct. 29, 2022, the headline on another article was “Child Euthanasia Without Parental Consent. Canada is Considering Just That.” If governments are willing to readily kill babies and senior citizens without consent now, what will this world be like in the near future? Globalists call it depopulation. The Bible calls it the Mark of the Beast.)   Here are some recent articles that appear to tie in with Bible prophecy.   One, concerning food shortages: on Oct. 26, 2022, it was reported that Australia is now requiring dairy farmers to vaccinate their cattle with the Covid mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccine.   A herd of about 200 dairy cows was recently vaccinated, and 35 died immediately.   Some officials are now asking if it is safe to drink milk that comes from vaccinated cows.   (Question: If the vaccination killed 35 cows, almost 20% of a herd, immediately after they were jabbed, is it possible that it killed some humans that died shortly after they were vaccinated?)   Two, on Oct. 30, 2022, World Net Daily (WND) published an article by Art Moore that said a Swiss study found increased levels of troponin (a protein found in heart muscles, but not in one’s bloodstream unless there has been heart damage) in everyone they checked (27 people) that had been vaccinated with mRNA Covid-19.   According to the article, there have been other studies that found heart damage in some people that received the mRNA jab.   (Note: I can’t prove the information, but a reader sent information to me that says whistle-blower nurses in Canada are saying that doctors at the Ontario hospital are vaccinating patients for Covid-19 without their consent while they are under anesthesia. According to the information, doctors say they can order any treatment they believe is beneficial to the patient, but they are telling the nurses not to talk about it.)   Three, concerning food shortages and famine: on Oct. 27, 2022, it was reported that BASF (the world’s largest producer of fertilizer and chemicals) will “as quickly as possible and permanently” downsize its operations in Europe because of high energy prices and burdensome regulations.   Four, energy officials in the UK recently warned citizens to prepare for rolling power cuts between 4 pm and 7 pm in Jan. and Feb. 2023. (Incidentally, on Oct. 26, 2022, the UK’s new Prime Min. restored a ban on fracking in the UK.)   Five, concerning world government: in 2017, Klaus Schwab, head of the World Economic Forum (WEF), boasted that his organization had infiltrated several governments, and he specifically mentioned Canada and Germany.   On Oct. 25, 2022, Alberta, Canada’s new premier, Danielle Smith, said, “I guess I find it distasteful when billionaires brag about how much control they have over political leaders, as the head of that organization has. And I think that that is offensive.”   Smith said, “The people should be directing government or the people who vote for them. And the people who vote for me and for my colleagues are people who live in Alberta and who are affected by our decisions.”   God bless her.   Those in positions of power in Canada, the U.S., etc., should be people that citizens of those nations have elected, not rich unelected globalist elites that live in foreign nations.   Six, concerning world government: on Oct. 27, 2022, The New American posted an article by Alex Newman about the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) meeting that will be in Egypt in mid-Nov.   Selected climate change representatives from almost 200 nations, the World Economic Forum (WEF), big business, and others will attend, and the three biggest issues will most likely be:   Who is going to pay how much to fight climate change all over the world. How the war against climate change can be used to advance world government. How to advance the war against farmers to increase global control of the world’s food production.   For one thing, it appears to be a global wealth redistribution scheme to transfer massive amounts of money from developed nations to underdeveloped nations.   Pres. Biden’s Climate Change Czar, John Kerry, has already expressed his opinion that U.S. taxpayers will hand over a large amount of money.   Kerry also hinted that there are U.S. industries (fossil fuel industry, for example) that globalists and the UN want to destroy.   Even though some nations are already facing inflation, food shortages, energy shortages, loss of jobs, etc., many have leaders that are ignoring the suffering of their people and pledging to step up their war against climate change.   It is too early to predict what decisions will be made, but one can expect everything to be in favor of the global elite and nothing to be in favor of U.S. taxpayers.   Here is a link to The New American Article.   https://thenewamerican.com/at-un-climate-summit-kerry-wef-argue-u-s-must-pay-reparations/?mc_cid=4668c7bba3&mc_eid=551904ee4c   Seven, concerning the fulfillment of Bible prophecy shortly before the Second Coming of Jesus: on Oct. 28, 2022, Harbinger’s Daily posted an excellent article by Ken Mikle that says:   “The Bible tells us that four things will be in place right before the return of Christ… and these things appear to be coming together perfectly.”   A one-world global government. A global economic system/one way to buy, sell, trade (Beast system). A global dictator the Bible calls The Antichrist. A global false religion the Bible calls The False Prophet.   According to Mikle, “This system (he calls it the Beast system) is already up and running; the only step left is implementing it.”   I agree with Mikle and will add that it is my understanding that every nation on earth has agreed to implement it by 2030 or sooner.   These are major events (not little things) that should cause people to realize that the Second Coming is close.   Even so, come, Lord Jesus (Rev. 22:20).   Eight, concerning the decline of America: on Oct. 25, 2022, Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister accused an unnamed nation (he was clearly talking about the U.S.) of manipulating the markets by selling oil that had been set aside for an emergency.   The Saudi Energy Minister added, “It is my profound duty to make it clear to the world that losing emergency stock may become painful in the months to come.”   Biden has sold millions of barrels of oil from America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves, and the Saudi Energy Minister had it right: selling America’s emergency oil to lower gasoline prices and win votes in an election could harm America in the future.   (FYI: Biden has gone out of his way to offend Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the prince is retaliating by strengthening his nation’s ties with Communist China.)   Nine, concerning the decline of America: on Nov. 1, 2022, The Christian Post printed an Op-Ed by Michael Brown that said, “Drag queens reading to toddlers in libraries and schools. Drag queens engaging in acts with children in gay bars. Drag queens performing in our churches. If anything was a sign that God has given America over to depravity, it is this…. But the drag queen depravity goes one step further. It celebrates that which is shameful and normalizes that which is perverse. And it does so in the most exaggerated, even overtly demonic form, with Drag Queens wearing Satanic horns while reading to tiny little children.”   Ten, concerning natural disasters and famine: on Oct. 26, 2022, data released by the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS):   60% of the North Central U.S. is in moderate to exceptional drought. 30% of that area is in severe drought or worse. The water level in the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio rivers is at record low levels, and shipping is hindered in some areas. Out West, the Colorado River has been described as dangerously low. According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, the wheat, corn, and soybean harvest will be much lower than expected.   Eleven, concerning distress of nations, inflation, and economic collapse: it has been reported that tens of thousands of people demonstrated in several cities in Germany on Oct. 30, 2022, to protest the sanctions on Russia that are causing record-high inflation (10.7%) and the destruction of Germany’s economy.   Finally, are you Rapture Ready?   If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.   duck_daymond@yahoo.com

America The Endangered - By Hal Lindsey - https://www.hallindsey.com/ww-11-6-2022/   For a long time, I have warned that the United States is not mentioned in the end-times biblical scenario. That means this nation’s power and prestige will fall into a dramatic decline at some point as it gets closer to the tribulation. Does that mean the followers of Christ should give up, hunker down in saferooms while quietly awaiting the rapture? No. There remains a great deal to pray for, hope for, and work toward.   But before we talk about hope, we need to understand the situation. This nation stands in grave danger. Time and again our leaders make bad decisions, then — surprise! — wrong decisions bring about unwanted results.   Look at the economy. Our economy staggers under the burden of government overspending. What do our leaders do about it? They spend more. It is as if they are on a ship sinking by the bow. They discover that there is a hole in the bow. The problem should be obvious. There is a hole. Therefore, repair the hole. Otherwise, the ship will sink entirely.   But this ship is run by elected officials. With the boat strongly tilted toward the bow, the electorate — the ship’s passengers — begin to complain. The tilting deck hinders their comfort. The ship’s leaders want to be reelected, so they go into action — not repairing the breach — but trying to level the slanted deck. The best way to level up the deck would be to repair the hole and bail out the water. But they prefer something easier.   Someone says, “Let’s knock a hole in the stern of the ship so that the water will come from both sides evenly. The deck will become level, and the passengers will be happy.” The others cheer. They see this as a stupendous idea. After all, it’s much easier to create another hole than it is to repair the one they have. So, they knock a hole in the stern to balance out the hole in the bow.   By fixing the wrong problem, they double the real problem. The ship begins to sink twice as fast, albeit with a slightly more level deck. The ship’s leaders base their reelection campaigns on the fact that the deck is not as tilted as it used to be. They get reelected. Then, both the crew and passengers descend to the ocean floor on a ship with an almost level deck.   The problem with inflation is spending. An increase in spending will not repair that. The problem with immigration is a porous border. Further opening the border will not fix it. Fake news will not be solved by more lies. Drug abuse will not be solved by more legalization of dangerous drugs. Crime will not be solved by letting criminals off the hook. And, if anyone is crazy enough to want World War III, I can tell you the best way to achieve that goal — appease those who threaten World War III. Weakness draws aggression like sugar draws flies.   A moral freefall underlies all these problems. Breaking down even more of our moral foundation will only make matters worse. Yet, that’s what our society continues to do.   As always, we find our hope in the grace of Jesus Christ. The United States can have another Great Awakening. Millions can still turn to Jesus. I believe that would hold off America’s fall until after the rapture. Better yet, all those millions get to go to heaven! So, don’t give up on the United States. Don’t stop hoping, and don’t stop praying. Work to make things better. Have faith that as you do His will, God is always on your side.

Prophecy Update Videos

Prophecy Update: The Whore of Babylon Visits Mt. Sinai – Pastor Brandon Holthaus "Death And the Afterlife." Genesis 25:12-18 Dr Andy Woods. 11-06-22 God's Treasure – Pastor Brett Meador Prophecy Update - Brandon Holthaus - Sunrise Bible Church - (11/6/22)

'Where Is the Promise of His Coming?' Media Mocks Christian End Time Beliefs – Michael Snyder - https://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=5708   Are we living in the days just before the return of Jesus Christ to this planet?    Right now, there is a tremendous amount of chatter about the "end times" all over the Internet. So many really crazy things are starting to happen all over the world, and many people correctly recognize that we were specifically warned that a lot of these crazy things would happen in the last days.    For example, in Matthew 24 Jesus specifically told us that there would be "wars and rumors of wars", "famines" and "pestilences" just prior to His return. As global events continue to spiral out of control, speculation that prophetic events described in the Bible are happening will only intensify even more.   Of course there are plenty of skeptics out there. In particular, there have been quite a few articles in the mainstream media lately that portray Christians that believe that we are living in the "end times" as a bunch of nuts.   But even though they think that such Christians are crazy, mainstream pundits openly admit that there are lots and lots of people out there that are interested in learning what the Bible has to say about the "end times". The following comes from a Slate article entitled "Why Growing Parts of the Christian Right Are Convinced It's the Apocalypse"...   If you peruse the list of recent releases in Christian publishing, you'll get the sense that "the end times" are upon us. This summer saw the release of survival guides, books about current events, and prayer manuals all oriented around a rapture, a second coming of Christ, or an otherwise cataclysmic event at the hands of God. (Subtitles included 12 Megaclues That Jesus' Return Is Nearer Than Ever; An End Times Guide to Survival; Do Current Events Point to the Antichrist and His Worldwide Empire?; and Prayer Strategies That Unlock the End-Time Armory of God.)   According to Publishers Weekly, this spate of end-times books is being printed to meet demand. It's what the readers want. (At least some of them; editors at the imprint Harvest Prophecy, which was founded last year, told Publishers Weekly they had seen "a strong surge of interest because there is so much happening in today's world that parallels End-Times signs given in the Bible.")   And survey after survey has shown that a surprisingly high percentage of the U.S. population actually believes that Jesus will come back in the relatively near future.   For instance, a survey that was conducted by the Pew Research Center discovered that 41 percent of all Americans believe that Jesus will "definitely" or "probably" return by the year 2050...   By the year 2050, 41% of Americans believe that Jesus Christ definitely (23%) or probably (18%) will have returned to earth. However, a 46%-plurality of the public does not believe Christ will return during the next 40 years. Fully 58% of white evangelical Christians say Christ will return to earth in this period, by far the highest percentage in any religious group. Only about a third of Catholics (32%) and even fewer white mainline Protestants (27%) predict Christ's return to earth by 2050. One-in-five religiously unaffiliated Americans also see Christ returning during the next four decades.   Many pastors appear to believe that Jesus is coming back soon too.   In fact, a LifeWay survey found that a whopping 56 percent of them "expect Jesus to return in my lifetime"...   According to LifeWay, nearly nine out of 10 pastors see at least some current events "matching those Jesus said would occur shortly before He returns to Earth."   According to the data, 56 percent of pastors either strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement: "I expect Jesus to return in my lifetime." Twenty-four percent said they were "not sure," while 20 percent either strongly or somewhat disagreed.   It is so important for all of us to understand the times that we are living in, because God put us here for a reason.   He could have placed us at any time throughout human history, but He deliberately chose to put us at this specific moment.   All of human history has been building up to a grand crescendo, and we get to be here for it.   And God has a specific role for you to play in this drama.   But if you don't realize what He is trying to do, you could potentially miss out on fulfilling your destiny.   Yes, the years ahead are going to be incredibly challenging.   But they can also be the greatest years of your life if you fully embrace what God is trying to do through you.   From this point forward, Bible prophecy will be the number one tool that we have to turn people to Jesus.   Once people realize that many of the things that are happening in the headlines today were foretold in the Scriptures, everything changes.   I believe that we are on the verge of the greatest move of God and the greatest harvest of souls in all of human history.   I want to be part of that.   Don't you?   We are the Book of Revelation generation, and we get the privilege of preparing the way for the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.   There is no other time in all of human history that I would have rather lived than right now.   If what I am sharing is resonating with your heart, then I encourage you to help me get this message out.   There has never been a time like this before, and there will never be a time like it again.   Our world is about to go through immensely painful years, but it is when times are the darkest that the greatest heroes are needed.   And you can be one of those heroes if you understand what God is trying to do and you fully embrace it.   The "end times" are here, and nothing will ever be the same again.   So rise up and become the person that God created you to be, because now is the time for the people of God to move forward in victory.

Mystery Babylon Machinations – Terry James - https://terryjamesprophecyline.com/2022/11/06/mystery-babylon-machinations/   Geopolitical warmongering intrigues are in full bloom for those who watch for end of the age signals. Societal and cultural, Sodom-like reprobate madness are on display and growing in ways prophesied by Paul in Romans chapter 1. National and global economic scheming and profligate spending treachery by governments have the seas of humanity roaring.   And now, as if to fully round out the picture of end times developments, the religious harlot system is in dynamic agitation, shaping dramatically for all who are truly watching to see.   John, given the vision while on Patmos, describes that wicked religious entity that will ride the back of the Antichrist’s regime.   “And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.” (Rev 17: 1-6)   It is an amazing thing to observe, even for those who are alert to things that must come to pass according to God’s Holy Word. And the story developing is nothing short of prophetic in consideration of the above prophecy given John to Forewarn those who will have the ability to discern the signs of the times.   The picture of the coming harlot that rides the beast has been in the last days developing process for some time. We have gone over how the global warming matter has morphed into the climate change mantra. The earth is being destroyed by mankind is the incessant hue and cry. there is a religious-like fervor to “save the planet”. The basic color scheme for the developing secular-humanistic system –the hue of the robes worn by the priests of climate change– is, of course, green.   Also, in order to save the earth there must be a drastic depopulation of the planet. The Georgia Guide stones told us so. The population must be pared down to a maximum of 500 million inhabitants. –Else all of mankind will face the fate of extinction.   That message and doctrine has at its heart, although the priests of green have never said so publically—the elimination of humanity through the process of murder of children while in their mothers’ wombs. This doctrinal matter within the climate change religion serves, in my view, as a sacrificial presentation upon the white hot Moloch-like altar of the self-appointed gods of this world. Thus their Utopian world can, they seem to be convinced, be brought to perfection.   The following information was recently brought to my attention. To me, the information seems to bring into focus the formation quickly taking place. –The symbolic religious harlot of Revelation 17.   Between November 6th and 18th, 2022, the UN climate conference COP 27 will take place on the Sinai Peninsula, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Religious communities and religious leaders have a key role to play in addressing climate change and climate justice, which requires deep transformation within society. The knowledge of what changes are critically needed to diminish long-term harm to the planet is readily available. However, bringing about change in action demands deeper changes in attitude, a change of heart. This has been the domain of religions for millennia. Religions are sources of inspiration for the transformation of heart and the ensuing changes of attitude.   Over the weekend of November 12th-13th, few official discussions or activities are planned at COP 27. This provides a major moment when the attention of media and participants can be turned to interreligious climate messaging and a transformative vision. On Sunday, November 13th, religious leaders will ‘return’ on Mount Sinai, a mountain whose memory and meaning loom large as a place of revelation in the collective consciousness of Christianity, Judaism, Islam and others. As an ancient sacred space, it was the site of prophetic experience, and receiving God’s message, for the prophets Moses and Elijah in all three Abrahamic traditions, and the prophet Muhammed in the Muslim tradition. It therefore serves as an ideal location to remind humanity of our sacred responsibility to care for God’s creation. (Returning to Mt. Sinai” — A Prophetic Call for Climate Justice and Ceremony of Repentance, The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, https://interfaithsustain.com/returning-to-mt-sinai/%5D***   So we get insight at this late, prophetic hour, into the religious system John forewarned of and which the false prophet of Revelation chapter 13 will no doubt, greatly expand.   The following is the statement of commitment by the leaders of this developing Mystery Babylon system.   “We come to Sinai in a movement of repentance and quest. We seek a new vision for humanity and its endangered existence, and we seek to receive and amplify a message of life-sustaining living and habits that humanity needs to hear today. In this spirit, the project partners will bring together premier religious leaders from the world’s major religions to gather upon Mount Sinai to engage in a first ever Climate Repentance Ceremony, and to put forth a prophetic interreligious call to action: ‘climate Justice: Ten Universal Commandments.’”   Goals of the Event   Inspire and unleash the power of religions, religious leaders and faith communities as change agents for climate action and as sources for inspiring and motivating discussions among politicians and civil bodies. Motivate action among religious communities and the wider public to curb climate change. Invite media to cover religious leaders’ advocacy in combating climate change. Promote a coalition of religious leaders to work together for climate action. Generate new faith-inspired climate education materials for broad use. With the Harlot getting ready to ride the Satanic beast Daniel and John saw –the last world empire that Antichrist will rule—Observers of the times from the preTrib view can do none other than believe the Rapture is very near. Here again is how to be part of that Blessed Call to believers when the Lord Jesus Christ’s Voice sounds as a Trumpet.  “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9–10)

Daily Jot: Something to keep in mind - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com   As you go to the polls for this important mid-term election, there is a fundamental difference you should keep in mind. Democracy is the rule of the majority. Republicanism is elected representatives governing by the rule of law. See the subtle difference? Democracy often results in or is a disguise for totalitarianism because the rule of the majority can be might makes right. Proponents of totalitarianism often use the word “democracy” to convince people they are protecting minorities by putting forth propaganda, such as fear tactics, and token efforts while accusing opponents of prejudice against minorities. It is class warfare to divide and conquer. This is what America is experiencing on a heightened basis.   This is the struggle between democrats and republicans. It manifests itself in the false sense of caring for minorities while keeping them busy rather than providing them a path to true freedom and prosperity. It often results in the demonizing or social/physical harm of opponents of this so-called “democracy.” When Joe Biden and others, for example, say that Republicans are a threat to democracy, it is a truth—Republicanism is a threat to this brand of totalitarianism disguised as democracy. This is how the completely stupid actions of a political party can bypass logic and common sense and gain momentum among small minorities.   The pandering to the LGBTQ+ community is a good example. Here the Democratic Party has given way to allow these sexual deviants a prominent place in the education system, resulting in or being the root cause of confusion of the genders, sexual grooming, sexual mutilation of young people. Common sense would suggest that this is systematic breaking of the laws that criminalize sexual abuse of children. Yet these laws are for the most part ignored when school administrators and teachers are coerced or encouraged to allow these people to sexualize and confuse children. If an individual would try to do such things apart from the LGBTQ+ or National Education Association covering, that person would be indicted as a sex offender. This is just one small (but significant) example.   Others include eliminating oil and gas in the name of lowering energy costs; quarantining healthy people with jackboot lockdowns; censoring dissent on scientific research; claiming those who question election results threaten democracy; saying abortion is healthcare; naming legislation and policy as the exact opposite of what it does (i.e., Inflation reduction Act, Affordable Care Act) and the list goes on and on. As you go to the polls to vote, and as a citizen of this country it is your duty, understand fully that deception is in the air and it has consequences as noted in Ephesians 5:6, “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” Understand God’s word, not from what someone with an agenda has told you, but for yourself. And vote accordingly.

Daily Devotion: Godliness and Persecution - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org   ‘Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.’ —Matthew 5:11   https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/godliness-and-persecution/ - Listen   If you’re living a godly life, your very presence can be an irritant to some. The example you set is a rebuke to a person who isn’t living a godly life. It’s not so much what you do to that person but who you are, what you stand for, what you believe, and whom you follow that irritates them.   In the Beatitudes, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10 NKJV).   Righteousness, by its very nature, is confrontational. Even when we aren’t preaching it, it confronts wickedness by its very contrast to it. Jesus pointed out, “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:20 NKJV).   Persecution can show itself in a lot of ways. Sometimes, it’s through force. For instance, all the apostles except one died the death of a martyr. Throughout church history, millions of Christians have also died as martyrs because they refused to deny their faith in Jesus Christ.   Even in the United States, we face persecution, although not on the same level that many believers around the world face it. Persecution isn’t limited to someone striking or threatening you. It can also include harassment or even mockery.   Maybe people have ostracized you because of your faith. Maybe you know what it’s like to lose a position because of your commitment to Jesus Christ, or to be the odd one out in your family because of your convictions as a believer. That, too, is persecution.   Yet, what does the Bible say about this? Matthew 5:10–11 tells us that we’re blessed, a word that can also be translated into “happy” in this passage. If you’re pure in heart, merciful, and all the other things the Beatitudes list, then you’re acting like Jesus. And that will bother some people.