Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.(Matthew 5:1-2)
Jesus teaches the crowds at Matthew 5:10, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
In Matthew 5:3, Jesus taught that the poor in spirit are blessed because they will have the kingdom of heaven. I explain this here.
Now, Jesus teaches that those persecuted because of righteousness are blessed and they will have the kingdom of God as their inheritance.
It is interesting to note that it is not a mere matter of just believing or getting saved or being born-again according to the way those things are taught within Christianity today. Having endured a period of test, called The Great Tribulation – yet future – and being persecuted because of righteous will grant one entry into God’s kingdom when it comes down to the earth!
Trying telling that to the many so-called followers of Christ today! Many of them believe that they are being persecuted or will be persecuted. Many of them do not yet understand that they have been the group that has meted out persecution to the human family. Christianity has been responsible for the most heinous crimes against God and the human family. History is a powerful testimony that this is true.
Christianity and those nations claiming to be Christian are responsible for the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade as it was a Catholic Pope – Pope Nicolas V – who ordered and endorsed it. Christianity was responsible for the Crusades and Spanish Inquisition where many were slaughtered. Christianity was responsible for the Salem Witch Hunts. Responsible for dropping two of the most powerful weapons of mass destruction upon another country, the Atomic bomb. Today, Christian countries have traversed the planet and have invaded, subdued, and colonized other lands not their own in the name of God. Today, it is involved in blood war and conflict with Islamic nations. Individuals within Christianity hide and remain silent as innocent people are slaughtered, badly hurt, and lose property and the prospect for a secure life of happiness for themselves and their families.
Christianity is not innocent. It has beast-like qualities. It looks lamblike on the outside but is a ravenous wolf on the inside.
Those listening to Jesus on the side of that mountain more than 2000 years ago were not aware that they would be resurrected into Christ’s yet future 1000 year kingdom and paradise. During those 1000 years, they will learn the rightness or righteousness of God and practice it.
At the end of Christ’s 1000 year kingdom, Satan is released and he will eventually pour out a flood of persecution upon the faithful in those days who will refuse to break their integrity to God and Christ and worship his Beast. The persecution will be at the hands of those once faithful, then deceived by Satan, and become unfaithful and Judas Iscariot-like. Many reading this article will be either remain faithful or become unfaithful. Either way, you will be there. Yes, here on earth in a system of governance that is peaceful and safe, but a system of governance that requires worship to the unseen Satan the Devil through his Beast and Image.
Those persecuted because of righteousness (doing what is right by God’s standard) will face intimidation and death for not submitting to the will of Satan’s Beast. They will be persecuted and killed for not bowing down to and worshiping the Beast and its Image and for not receiving its mark. (Revelation 13:15-16)
Yet, Jesus taught that those persecuted because of righteousness will be blessed and they will be granted entry into God’s kingdom where they will have everlasting life.
Jesus warned, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit, you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit, you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:14-20)
Christianity is like a tree with deep roots in the earth and many branches and offshoots. Christianity has produced bad fruitage in people and nations. History is the witness to this. It will be cut down never to be seen again.
Jesus warned that it is by their fruit, you will recognize them. Christianity, while it has many good individuals within it, as a group and established entity in the earth, is easily recognized as an imposter and counterfeit, deceiver, misleader, murderer, enslaver of men rather than fishers of men, and a warmonger.
Be cautioned, Christianity is not what it claims it is. It is a cup that is clean on the outside but dirty on the inside. (Matthew 23:26-27)
Christianity today and in the future will mete out a flood of persecution and death upon anyone in its way all while maintaining an innocent and sheeplike facade. It does so “in the name of God” believing it has God’s backing and blessing. There are other reasons: It is a Satanic creation. It was born up out of a world that Jesus said his kingdom was no part of. And secondly, because it has the power, might, influence, money, resources, a system of criminal justice, and a powerful military complex to carry it out.
