Introduction
Persecution of Christians has always been a part of history, but what does the Bible say about the end times? In “The Last Persecution: Many Christians Will Die in This Period“, I will explore prophetic passages that indicate there will still be martyrs before Jesus returns. Will God deliver all the faithful from death? Who will be those who give their lives for the testimony of Christ? Throughout this article, I will analyze texts from Revelation that reveal details about this last great persecution and its meaning for God’s people.
Does God Need No More Martyrs?
I have heard some people say that in the end times there will be no death from persecution because God will no longer need martyrs before Jesus returns.
The thought above may seem true to some, but in reality, it doesn’t make much sense. God can indeed prevent many from dying, but that doesn’t mean He will do so for the majority in the end times. I am fully convinced of this, as this matter is revealed in the Word of the Lord.
4 Passages About Death in the End Times
Let’s look at the 4 passages that show us that many will die in the last persecution:
Persecution of Christians: Revelation 6:11
Revelation 6:11 – “And white robes were given to each of them, and it was said to them that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers, who were to be killed as they were, was completed“
I will not detail whether the text above is figurative or literal, nor what interpretation we should give to this verse. The important thing is to note that this description refers to the fifth seal, shortly before the opening of the sixth seal, when signs appear on earth, in the sky, in the sun, and in the moon.
For those who use the historicist interpretation of the book of Revelation, we know that these signs occurred in the following years:
1755 – The Great Quake.
1780 – The Sun and the Moon.
1833 – The Fall of the Stars.
Since the sixth seal covers these dates, the fifth seal occurred a little earlier, taking us to the time of the Middle Ages, when many became martyrs. The text of Revelation 6:11 instructs these martyrs to rest for a little while longer because there would still be other brothers who would also be killed as they were (Rev 6:11).
In the futuristic interpretation, there is no need to say much. This application of the seals refers to a future time, so the text already points to people who will be martyrs in the end times.
Persecution of Christians: Revelation 11:7
Still in the futuristic interpretation, another verse that shows us the occurrence of martyrs before the return of Jesus is Revelation 11:7, which speaks about the operation of the beast that ascends from the abyss. This event occurs at the same time as the last persecution! Let us read:
Revelation 11:7 – “And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them“
Notice that at the end of the verse, the text informs us that this beast will fight against the two witnesses, will overcome them, and kill them. (It is important to note that this interpretation does not apply to the historicist view, since it understands that this verse was fulfilled in the period from 538 AD to 1798 AD.).
Although the above verses may leave some doubt in the reader’s mind, I believe that the next two verses will be more evident. Let’s see:
Persecution of Christians: Revelation 16:4-6
Revelation 16:4-6 – “And the third angel poured out his bowl upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and art to come, because thou hast judged these things. For they have shed the blood of the saints and the prophets, and thou hast given them their blood to drink: for they are worthy“
In chapter 16 of Revelation, we read about the outpouring of the last seven plagues of God sent upon the world, evidently during the existence of the last persecution. In the third plague, the rivers and springs of water turn to blood. In view of this event, the angel narrates that God was just in giving blood to the wicked to drink, for they became deserving of such an act, since they shed the blood of the saints and prophets.
It is not possible to apply the words “seeing they shed the blood of the saints and prophets” only to the wicked of the Middle Ages, or any other time when there was persecution of the saints, since the wicked of the end times receive such judgment because they are “deserving” of their acts! If they are “deserving” of such judgment, it is because they “shed the blood of the saints and prophets“, which shows us that there will be death of the saints in the end times.
Persecution of Christians: Revelation 20:4
Another text that leaves us with no doubt is Revelation 20:4.
Revelation 20:4 – “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years“
The text above states that many will sit on thrones together with Christ. The text says that this group of people was beheaded for the “testimony of Jesus” and that they “did not worship the beast or his image, and did not receive his mark on their foreheads or on their hands“. These descriptions, however, refer only to the period of the last earthly government symbolized by the second beast of Revelation 13. We can read the threat that this beast made in the following verse:
Revelation 13:15 – “And he had power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed“
As we have seen above, the second beast will kill many who refuse to worship the image of the beast. It is evident that it does indeed take the lives of many, for Revelation 20:4 confirms that some people were beheaded because of the “testimony of Jesus“.
Conclusion: The Last Persecution
From these passages, we can clearly see that there will yet be a final persecution for God’s people, and that many will lose their lives for being faithful to God even unto death!
May you and I be faithful at all times for the honor and glory of our God.
May the Lord bless us!
