Paul Rolland | Night Watchman Ministries | MbS Beheads Tribulation Saints
https://news.yahoo.com/china-ramping-persecution-christians-demands-130053313.html
China Steps Up Persecution of Christians While Demanding ‘Worship and Obedience’ of Xi Jinping: Watch Group. 2022 saw increased persecution, censorship of believers. ‘Birds of a Feather Flock Together.’ ‘Loyalty to Royalty and State, Demanded Above Jesus Christ.’ The CCP’s goal is not to curate a “socialist-friendly” church, but to erase the church entirely.
EpochTimes By Hannah Ng
Hannah Ng REPORTER Hannah Ng is a reporter covering U.S. and China news. She holds a master’s degree in international and development economics from the University of Applied Science Berlin.
March 1, 2023Updated: March 2, 2023
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ramped up its persecution of Christians during 2022, increasing the suppression of churches and online religious information while demanding devotion to Chinese leader Xi Jinping that amounted to “worship,” according to a watchdog organization.
A Feb. 13 report by the U.S.-based non-governmental organization ChinaAid highlighted the escalating persecution of Christian churches and Christians in mainland China over the last year.
Eliminating Christian Gatherings
Chinese authorities have used China’s zero-COVID policies as an excuse to intensify the limiting or elimination of Christian gatherings.
The increased measures not only target independent churches, but also those that belong to the legal Three-Self Patriotic Movement.
China has approximately 96.7 million Christians, according to persecution watchdog Open Doors. It remains illegal for minors under 18 to attend church.
ChinaAid’s report singled out a police raid at Taiyuan Zion Reformed Church’s Sunday worship service in April, in which seven (7) Christians were taken away.
Citing “illegal gatherings,” police gave the arrested Christians 15-day administrative detentions and a fine of 500 (5) yuan), but postponed the administrative detention due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the report stated.
People providing a venue for church meetings were subject to heavy fines as well. For example, in January, Huang Yuanda, a Christian from Xunsiding Church in Xiamen, in southeast China, was fined 100,000 yuan (about $13,800) for providing a rented house for the church school to use.
Censorship of Online Christian Content
The censorship of online Christian content, even in group chats, reached record levels after the “Administrative Measures for Internet Religious Information Services” took effect in March of 2022, ChinaAid noted.
The group cited a report that a Christian was banned for a year from the DingTalk platform, owned by Alibaba group, for posting religious messages, which were classified as illegal religious information.
In early May, the 21-year-old Christian website “Jonah’s Home” was shut down, the report stated. Visitors to the webpage saw the following message: “Due to reasons known to everyone, from now on, this site can no longer serve brothers and sisters (in Christ). Thank you for your company and support in the past 21 years! The disappearance of a website is nothing more than the disappearance of a website. Nothing else stopped at this moment except an URL that can no longer be opened. Therefore, don’t worry about us, just keep moving forward.”
Under the new law, CathAssist, which in 2013 became China’s first Catholic mobile app, was forced to shut down.
According to ChinaAid, the app “did not meet the government’s requirements for the license, despite having taken various actions including suspending sharing, changing its name, and modifying content.”
After repeated failed attempts, on Sept. 1, CathAssist decided to indefinitely suspend operations on its website and through the CathAssist app.
Worship of Xi
Religious sinicization is evolving from “supporting the CCP” to “worship and allegiance to Xi Jinping,” the report said. It noted that around and after the opening of the Party Congress last year, “China’s state-run religious groups lavished compliments and praise on Xi with more extravagant words and phrases than China’s state-run media.”
Further, ChinaAid noted the National Religious Groups’ Joint Conference, held Oct. 28—shortly after the CCP congress—to advance the “spirit of the CCP’s 20th National Congress.”
The agency “required religious groups to find concrete ways to armor their minds with Xi Jinping’s thoughts regarding ‘Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era.’”
Religious groups are instructed to use Xi’s thoughts to guide religious work and practice, as well as unite leaders and religious adherents more closely around the CCP’s central committee—with comrade Xi at its core—the report said.
Cutting Off Funding
The watch group also noted the new trends of oppression, in which the CCP is using charges of “fraud” to financially suffocate the house church movement, which consists of Christian congregations that have not registered with China’s official Protestant church.
The authorities claim that tithing and offerings are illegal, even though such practices have been maintained as a tradition, the report stated.
Under the fabricated charge of “fraud,” many Christians faced harsh persecution last year. For example, Pastor Hao Zhiwei of Hubei province’s Ezhou House Church was sentenced to eight years in prison. Meanwhile, Elder Hao Ming and Elder Wu Jiannan of Qingcaodi Church in Sichuan province faced heavy sentences of more than 10 years in prison.
Erasing the Church Entirely
ChinaAid president and founder Bob Fu raised concerns that the CCP’s goal is not to curate a “socialist-friendly” church, but to erase the church entirely.
“The international community needs to know about these trends and developments as China continues to rise on the global stage,” Fu said.
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matt. 24:9-14). SIX ‘6’ verses.
Seven (7) verses of the evil Beast / Antichrist (6) who martyrs the Christian Saints, during the coming seven (7) year Tribulation and Great Tribulation:
Matthew 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Daniel 7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
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.
Revelation 16:6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
Revelation 17:6 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.
Revelation 18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
Seven-fold Acknowledgement of the Tribulation Saints (Martyrs):
- … “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.“ (Rev. 6:9-11). (Emphasis added).
- … “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death.“ (Rev. 12:11). (Emphasis added).
- … “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” (Rev. 13:15). (Emphasis added).
- … “ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” (Rev. 14:12-13). (Emphasis added).
- … “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, having the harps of God.“ (Rev. 15:2). (Emphasis added).
- … “For true and righteous are his judgements: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.“ (Rev. 19:2). (Emphasis added).
- … “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgement was given unto them: and I saw 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.“ (Rev. 20:4). (Emphasis added).
Commentary: The Bible makes it abundantly clear that the Tribulation Saints are those people that become Christians during the period of the Antichrist’s reign on earth, over the seven (7) year period. How do they become Saints in the eyes of Christ? They believe in and accept Christ as their Savior and for the forgiveness of their sins. They do NOT take the mark of the beast or the antichrist. They do NOT worship the beast/antichrist. They do NOT worship his image. They DO witness to the word of God and Jesus. They ARE martryed by beheading for believing in Jesus and witnessing for Him. They DO share in many of blessings and rewards that are also awarded to Christians from the Church Age (at the Rapture/Harpazo and Bema Seat Judgement). There is a very clear distinction between Christians redeemed by Christ prior to the Tribulation period, and those Christians redeemed during the Tribulation period. It is clear that they have to come to a saving grace knowledge of Jesus Christ, withstood the best efforts of Satan/Antichrist/False Prophet to thwart their salvation, and are beheaded for their belief and witnessing in Jesus Christ.
But how can they call on him (Jesus Christ) to save them unless they believe in him (Jesus Christ)? And how can they believe in him (Jesus Christ) if they have never heard about him (Jesus Christ)? And how can they hear about him (Jesus Christ) unless someone tells them?” —Romans 10:14
In His Service,
Night Watchman
Paul Rolland
Night Watchman Ministries
Make Your Decision for Christ NOW!!!!!!! Time is Up!!!!!!!
Jesus Christ’s Offer of Salvation:
The ABCs of Salvation through Jesus Christ (the Lamb)
A. Admit/Acknowledge/Accept that you are sinner. Ask God’s forgiveness and repent of your sins.
. . . “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).
. . . “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10).
. . . “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8).
B. Believe Jesus is Lord. Believe that Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be; that He was both fully God and fully man and that we are saved through His death, burial, and resurrection. Put your trust in Him as your only hope of salvation. Become a son or daughter of God by receiving Christ.
. . . “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:15-17). For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13).
C. Call upon His name, Confess with your heart and with your lips that Jesus is your Lord and Savior.
. . . “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).
. . . “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (John 1:8-10).
. . . “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (John 2:2).
. . . “In this was manifested the love of god toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:9, 14-15).
. . . “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:8-10).
. . . “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23).
. . . “Jesus saith unto them, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6).
. . . “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” (Romans 1:16).
. . . “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts: 4:12).
. . . “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth for there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:4-6).
. . . “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
. . . “But as many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12).
True Church / Bride of Christ Spared from God’s Wrath:
Romans 5:8-10. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
Romans 12:19. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 1:10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 5:9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Romans 8:35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Jeremiah 30:7. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.
Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.