In the latter part of the 16th century a Latin phrase became very popular among the militants of that era. It consisted of just two words, “Praemonitus, Praemunitus.” Translated into English it means, “Forewarned is Forearmed.” In other words, if you know about something beforehand you can prepare for it because an advanced warning can provide an advantage—especially over an enemy.
The phrase later became so popular that it still exists today as a motto of the U.S. Army Security Agency, the British Royal Observer Corp and the Australian Army Intelligence Corps, as well as the U.S. Navy Destroyer, USS Forest Royal and a Royal Navy Frigate, HMS Boxer. Would that American Christians today be so diligent!
In a series of messages I am currently preaching on the seven churches of Revelation (Revelation 2-3), I have been particularly moved by the advanced warning of our Lord to the late first century church at Smyrna in regard to the persecution that was coming their way. The apostle John writes,
“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10).
As I warned my listeners in church, let me caution you as well, that I believe the message to the church at Smyrna is also an admonition to the church in America. We all see the daily reports of the severe persecution that is ongoing in ISIS-controlled territory in the Middle East (Iraq, Syria, Libya) but also in Pakistan, India, Vietnam, Sudan, China, Indonesia and even our neighbor Mexico (especially in the south).
Now this should not come as a surprise to you but I believe as followers of Jesus Christ we will suffer severe persecution in America, if for no other reason than the church of Jesus Christ has always suffered persecution since the very beginning. There has never been a time in church history when it has stopped. In fact, the Scripture promises persecution to true believers, as the apostle Paul wrote in this warning to Timothy:
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come …. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Tim. 3:1,12-13).
At the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught his new disciples that not only would persecution come as they became his followers but that it would also come with a two-fold blessing,
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Mt. 5:10-11).
Franklin Graham in his recent BGEA newsletter reports,
“The persecution of Christians is escalating worldwide. A recent survey found that in just the past year, more than 7,100 believers were killed for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In many countries, they are being systematically tortured and slaughtered by Islamic radicals hell-bent on eradicating any vestige of Christianity. Churches are burned, looted, and bulldozed. Pastors are frequently targeted and martyred.
And make no mistake, hostility toward Christians in the United States is on the rise and will grow unless we stand up for our freedoms of religion and conscience. Believers in this country have already become the target of a culture that has turned its back on Almighty God. This is being driven especially by progressives, LGBT activists, and the anti-God forces of secularism.
Government actions—right here in our own nation—targeting citizens for trying to live their lives according to biblical principles have been many. In Illinois, the Christian owner of a bed-and-breakfast has been under intense attack by a gay couple for declining to host their same-sex wedding. The state fined the owner $81,000, citing his use of Scripture to defend his position as one of the justifications for the fine. Bakers in Oregon have been forced to shut their business down after they said no to creating a wedding cake for a gay couple. In Washington, a 71-year old Christian florist is battling the state over refusing to participate in a same-sex wedding. In New Mexico and Colorado, Christian business owners have been persecuted by state agencies and the courts for adhering to their sincerely held beliefs on the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman.”1
And now big corporations like Verizon, Target, Starbucks, PayPal, and many others, along with professional sports organizations, have joined in opposition to religious liberty. Jennifer A. Marshall, writing for Religious News Service, points this out in a recent commentary,
“Big business can be accused of a lot of things, but having ineffective ad campaigns is not one of them. Which means it takes a savvy consumer to maintain independent judgment and make purchases based on their own criteria, not marketing spin.
Now the informed consumer needs to exercise the same discretion when encountering big business’ latest marketing campaign, not for a product, but for a pet political cause. Nowhere has corporate messaging been more high-pitched lately than in its efforts to stigmatize religious liberty bills (North Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, Indiana, Virginia) and other common sense efforts to defuse the culture wars.
Citizens beware: Big business is trying to “rebrand” religious liberty as bigotry by distorting the facts about policies that draw strong support among Americans.” 2
Although subtle for now compared to beheadings, torture, forced conversions and long prison terms, persecution in America is on the way.
So Praemonitus, Praemunitus, my friends. Forewarned is Forearmed. Dark days are ahead but God’s word tells us how to prepare:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:10-11).
Maranatha! — Pastor Don Kimbro
1 Franklin Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Newsletter, May 2016
2 Jennifer A. Marshall, “Why Corporations Are Wrong About the Mississippi Law”, Religious News Service, April 11, 2016
