Watchlist: 260 million Christians persecuted in 50 worst nations

January 17, 2020 — WND.com reports: “More than 300 million Christians suffer high or extreme levels of persecution around the globe today, mostly in Muslim-majority nations, according to the new World Watch list by the organization Open Doors.

‘The church is alive. The church is active. The church is growing. And that’s why the church is persecuted,’ says Open Doors in its 2020 report. ‘The persecution of Christians is getting more severe than ever, affecting increasing numbers of believers around the world.’

In the top 50 countries on the World Watch List, a staggering 260 million Christians face high or extreme levels of persecution for their faith.

In the previous year, it was 245 million…” (If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.  But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.  If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.  He that hateth me hateth my Father also.  If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.  But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.  But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:  And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning” – John 15:18-27.)

China imposes harsh new rules governing religious groups in 2020

January 14, 2020 — FoxNews.com reports: “China is striking the ‘final blow to religious liberty’ with new administrative measures set to take place in February with total submission to the Chinese Communist Party, according to a watchdog group.

The country’s state-run media announced the new ‘Administrative Measures for Religious Groups’ on Dec. 30. That same day, Pastor Wang Yi of Chengdu’s Early Rain Covenant Church, one of the most well-known leaders in the House Church movement, was sentenced to nine years in jail for ‘inciting subversion of state power,’ raising concern for Chinese Christians.

Bitter Winter, a watchdog on religious liberty and human rights in China, said the situation for religious groups is going from ‘bad to worse.’

‘In practice, your religion no longer matters, if you are Buddhist, or Taoist, or Muslim or Christian,’ a Chinese Catholic priest told AsiaNews. ‘The only religion allowed is faith in the Chinese Communist Party.’ …” (Christians who suffer and die for Christ will receive the “Crown of Life” to place at the feet of Jesus – James 1:12; Revelation 2:10.  The 24 elders represent 12 Old Testament Tribes and 12 New Testament Apostles – saved Jews and redeemed Christians.  In Revelation 4: 10 & 11 they cast their earned crowns before the Lord Jesus Christ.)

Report: Boko Haram Jihadists Behead Catholic Bride and Bridal Party

January 6, 2020 — Breitbart.com reports: “The communications director of the Catholic diocese of Maiduguri in Nigeria has confirmed that a bride-to-be and her bridal party were beheaded December 26 while en route to the December 31 wedding.

‘They were beheaded by suspected Boko Haram insurgents at Gwoza on their way to her country home,’ Father Francis Arinse told Catholic News Service (CNS), regarding the alleged murders of Martha Bulus and her bridal party.

CNS reported further the alleged murders of Bulus and her bridal party occurred on the same day that 11 Christian aid workers had been murdered:

Several international media outlets reported Dec. 26 that the Islamic State group released a video showing it had beheaded 10 Christians and shot an 11th Dec. 26. The news agencies said they were unable to confirm the contents of the video but described the victims as men. IS said the beheadings were payback for the late-October killing of its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghadi…” (God’s Children, genuine Christians, are being butchered by these religious murderers. They believe they will be rewarded with 72 virgins; instead Revelation 21:8 and 22:15 states: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death”, “For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”)

Government vows to protect Christians worldwide

January 21, 2020 — WND.com reports: “Responding to a government-commissioned report, British officials are pledging to take steps to protect persecuted Christians worldwide, including legislation to sanction offending nations.

The report, the ‘Bishop of Truro’s Independent Review for the Foreign Secretary of [Foreign and Commonwealth Office] Support for Persecuted Christians,’ confirmed that ‘today, Christians constitute by far the most widely persecuted religion.’

It found that ‘Christians have been harassed in more countries than any other religious group and have suffered harassment in many of the heavily Muslim countries of the Middle East and North Africa.’

Some 245 million Christians live in the top 50 countries for persecution and they suffer ‘high levels’ or worse. Previously, only one country, North Korea, was classified as having ‘extreme’ persecution. Now there are 11 countries…”  (Great persecution will soon overtake most Christians in a majority of the world. USA Today reported that Christianity is the most hated religion in the world. “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.” – Matthew 5:10 – 12. However: Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” – Revelation 2:10.  See the next report.)

Report: Record 3,000 Christian Sites in Europe Vandalized in 2019

January 13, 2020 — Breitbart.com reports: “Christian sites in Europe suffered a record number of attacks in the year 2019, with some 3,000 Christian churches, schools, cemeteries, and monuments vandalized, looted, or defaced.

Reports compiling the anti-Christian acts during the year document a range of profanation including arson, defecation, desecration, looting, mockery, Satanism, theft, urination, and vandalism.

‘Sadly, 2019 was punctuated by increasing incidents of desecration and vandalism of churches around Europe, along with the 2019 fire at the Notre-Dame Cathedral, which captured worldwide attention,’ the director of The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe, Ellen Fantini, told Breitbart News on Saturday.

‘In most instances the perpetrators of these acts were unidentified, but the Observatory has documented that churches and other symbols of Christianity in Europe are targets for many groups — from Islamists to radical feminists, LGBT activists to anarchists and self-proclaimed Satanists,’ Ms. Fantini said…”