From the October 2025 Prophetic Observer
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus exclaimed, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matt. 5:10-12).
We witness Christian persecution rising worldwide. The world seems to grow increasingly violent and polarized with each passing week. But this, too, is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Jesus said, “And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man” (Luke 17:26). Genesis 6:11 reveals that violence filled the world in Noah’s generation: “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.”
Are we witnessing the fulfillment of these prophecies in our generation? Have the days of Noah returned? Perhaps. But one thing is certain: violent acts against Christians and churches are escalating. If we are not in the days of Noah yet, we are heading in that direction.
Of course, the rapture can occur at any moment. The church doesn’t need to fill up a cup of suffering before the rapture can occur. However, increasing persecution alerts followers of Jesus that the end-time biblical scenario could be right around the corner.
Open Doors tracks Christian persecution worldwide and reports that more than 380 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith. Further, they report that nearly 4,500 Christians were killed for their faith last year. They also maintain a list of the top 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. Ranking from number one to ten, this year’s list is: North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Eritrea, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Following closely after those top ten countries to round out the top fifteen are: India, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, Mali and China.
Consider some recent incidents of persecution that have occurred worldwide:
AFRICA
Nigeria is currently the world’s most deadly country for Christians. A recent letter sent to President Trump, signed by some thirty-five American leaders, encouraged his administration to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act. The letter states, “The Nigerian civic group Inter Society on Civil Rights and Rule of Law finds that 52,000 Christians have been killed and over 20,000 churches have been attacked and destroyed since 2009 by various Islamist extremist groups in Nigeria.”
“The biggest threat facing Nigeria’s Christians comes from Fulani Muslim herders,” the letter continues. “With cries of ‘Allahu Akbar’ and wielding AK-47s, they invade peaceful Christian farming areas in Nigeria’s central region, massacring families, burning homes and harvests, and driving millions of Christians from their ancestral lands. Many local churches and civic observers see this pattern of Fulani attacks as a coordinated effort to seize land and forcibly Islamize the area.”
Numbers suggest that during the first seven months of this year, about 7,000 Nigerian Christians have been killed.
Christians in Sudan face severe persecution as well. According to International Christian Concern reports, “What was meant to be a quiet moment of mourning in El Haj Yousif, a neighborhood in North Khartoum, quickly turned into a scene of fear. Among those taken was Pastor Peter Perpeny, a well-known leader with the Presbyterian Church of Sudan. He and a small group of Christians were gathered for a burial service, but by the end of the meeting, he and four others were in handcuffs. The group was taken to Omdurman Prison.
“‘We were simply holding a burial service,’ Pastor Perpeny said. ‘It was meant to be a quiet, respectful moment to honor the departed. Instead, it ended with arrests. One of the women with us was told to pay nearly $1,000 or stay in prison. That is not justice.’”
SOUTHEAST ASIA
China appears to be cracking down on religious life, especially in technological forums. It has prohibited the unauthorized publication of religious content online.
“Online preaching and religious education are permitted only via platforms operated by registered religious organizations (temples, churches, seminaries) that hold a government-issued Internet Religious Information Service License,” reports Bitter Winter, a magazine on religious liberty and human rights. “Personal social media accounts, livestreams, WeChat groups, or informal forums are strictly off-limits for religious instruction.”
The message is: Get in line with the Chinese Communist Party or be deplatformed. South Korea’s recent political upheaval raises concerns that conservatives and Christians will face increasing opposition, or downright persecution, by the new presidential administration. According to Fox News reports, President Lee Jae-myung ordered 80 percent of radio broadcasts from South Korea, reaching into North Korea, to stop transmitting.
The president’s goal was to help “ease inter-Korean tensions.” However, North Korea’s estimated 400,000 Christians are now cut off from Christian radio broadcasts coming from the South. Christianity is a crime in North Korea, and owning a Bible can lead to execution. Secretly tuning in to Christian radio broadcasts coming over from South Korea was a spiritual lifeline that has now been cut.
A similar account comes from the Middle Eastern country of Armenia, where a bishop and 12 clergymen were recently arrested for their opposition to the prime minister’s administration. If space allowed, this article could continue with many similar stories from countries around the world, especially in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
OPPOSITION IN THE WEST
While the Western world currently faces nothing close to Christians in these regions, violence, suppression and opposition are escalating. In 2024, Scotland outlawed prayer, even silent prayer, within 200 meters (about 650 feet) of 30 abortion clinics in the country. Anyone breaking the law could be fined up to £10,000 (about U.S. $13,000). That fine could increase if more serious actions occurred.
New South Wales, Australia, recently reaffirmed its ban on any “prayer-based practice to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.” A mom praying with her gender-confused child would now be breaking the law.
In the U.S., the shooting of Charlie Kirk sent shockwaves among the Christian community. Although many labeled it as political violence, as details emerged, the spiritual component of this assassination was clearly evident.
Between January 2018 and December 2024, the Family Research Council identified 1,384 acts of hostility toward U.S. churches. FRC notes, “These incidents include vandalism, arson, bomb threats, gun-related incidents, and other crimes.”
Two rural Baptist churches in Western North Carolina, located some seven miles apart, were set on fire on October 17, 2025. Thankfully, community members noticed the fires before the churches were heavily damaged.
In every corner of our world, hatred toward Christ and His church is escalating. It seems as if the Lord is forcing the world to decide, “Are you with me or against me?” The days of remaining neutral are evaporating.
May Christians worldwide have the same determination as the Apostle Paul, when recounting his persecutions and sufferings said: “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).
May God help His followers to finish our courses with joy, no matter what opposition we face. May God minister to the persecuted saints worldwide, as we remember Jesus’ promise of great rewards awaiting in heaven.
God is still on the throne and prayer changes things!
