It appears that we are witnessing the setting of the stage for the environment that will prevail during the tribulation period.
We are told that every three minutes a Christian is being tortured in the Muslim world. In 2009 we are told that more than 165,000 Christians will have been killed for their faith in Christ, most of them in Muslim countries. It is estimated that 200-300 million Christians are being persecuted.
We have an example of the intensity of hatred for Christians as we read about Hamas digging up the bodies of Christians in the Gaza claiming that they pollute the earth.
Meanwhile in the western world parents of homeschoolers are sent to jail for homeschooling their children. A proposal before the British Parliament calls for mandatory criminal background checks for parents who want to home school their children. In Germany parents are losing custody of their children for homeschooling them.
An interesting excerpt from the "Herescope" website reveals how apostasy within the church is adding to the persecution of believers. I quote, "While the world faith leaders lead their flocks into an ecumenical global church of massive proportions, there is a tiny remnant within each historical tradition or evangelical group that maintains adherence to the Bible. Increasingly we are getting reports about these believers being censored, ostracized, mocked, ridiculed, slandered, shut down and shut out, threatened, and more. Every possible tactic of persecution, short of suffering in the flesh, is now rapidly coming upon those in America who truly stand on the Word of God." unquote.
This anger and intolerance toward Christians is setting the stage for the climate that will prevail in the tribulation period. During that time multiplied millions of Tribulation believers will be martyrd for their faith in Christ.
The hour is later than you think!