This document summarizes examples of persecution of Christians in 2015. It describes three levels of persecution that followers of Jesus will face: 1) General tribulations including Christians like Kim Davis being jailed for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses, a preacher being fined for alleged homophobic comments, and Christian bakers being fined for refusing to bake a gay wedding cake. 2) Intense hatred from groups like ISIS who destroyed churches and monasteries in Iraq, forced Christians to flee Aleppo, and targeted Coptic Christians in Egypt. 3) Martyrdom where 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians were beheaded by ISIS, 30 Ethiopian Christians were shot and beheaded by ISIS, and a

1. Tracking
the Birth Pains
Shocking Examples of
Persecution of
Christians in 2015

2. “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will
kill you, and you will be hated by all nations
because of My name (Matthew 24:9).”
Sign #7
Persecution

3. The Persecution that Jesus
foretold is specific to HIS
followers ONLY!

4. Tribulation Hatred Death
N.T. meaning:
• betrayal
• imprisonment
• secular court trials
• fines
N.T. meaning:
• detest
• pursue with hatred
• malicious &
unjustifiable
feelings
N.T. meaning:
• to murder
• to kill one’s
spiritual life
There are 3 Levels of Persecution
that Followers of Messiah Jesus Will
Face:

5. Level 1:
General Tribulations

6. Followers of Messiah have
always endured tribulations.
But in the West, things are
heating up. Take a look at 3
examples of tribulations
that have occurred in
2015...

7. Kim Davis, Kentucky
Clerk of Court, was
jailed for her
refusal to issue
same-sex marriage
licenses. Kim, a
devout Christian,
simply refused to
check her faith at
the door!
http://www.edgeboston.com/news/national/news/190429/kim_davis_attends_new_
ky_gov_swearing_in

8. Michael Overd, a
street preacher from
the U.K., was fined
for alleged
homophobic comments.
A judge just
overturned the
sentence.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-35069833

9. Christian bakers,
who refused to
bake a gay
wedding cake,
were fined
$135,000! They
raised more than
$300,000!
http://nypost.com/2015/04/26/christian-bakers-face-135k-fine-for-refusing-to-make-
cake-for-gay-wedding/

10. Granted those are light
afflictions compared to
persecution in other
countries, but for Christian
countries in the West, this
is just the beginning.

11. Level 2:
Intense Hatred

12. Followers of Messiah also
face intense hatred from a
savage group. Take a look at
3 examples that have
occurred in 2015...

13. The world watched as
ancient churches &
monasteries were
destroyed. Children were
sold as slaves, property
was confiscated & death
threats were continually
issued.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/12/10/iraqi-christians-persecuted-by-islamic-
state-evacuated-to-slovakia-by-glenn-becks-mercury-one-charity/

14. Christians in Aleppo
were forced to flee
the city or die at
the hands of ISIS.
Many now live in
refugee camps.
http://www.cruxnow.com/faith/2015/12/13/syria-an-endless-calvary/

15. Muslim extremists in
Egypt frequently target
Coptic Christians. Mobs
of Muslims have even
descended on Christian
homes-often throwing
rocks & demanding their
imprisonment.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/05/05/outside-cairo-egypt-christians-face-
persecution/

16. Level 3:
Martyrdom

17. Sadly, persecution isn’t the
end of the story. In 2015,
followers of Messiah are
being savagely murdered.
Take a look at 3 recent
examples…

18. This year, 21
Egyptian Coptic
Christians were
kidnapped &
beheaded by ISIS.
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/isis-releases-video-purportedly-
showing-beheading-21-egyptian-christians-n306721

19. This year, 30
Ethiopian
Christians were
shot & beheaded by
ISIS.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/middleeast/article4417323.ece

20. This month, a
largely Christian
town was the
target of ISIS
terror. Dozens
were killed &
injured.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/triple-terror-up-to-60-killed-80-wounded-3-car-bombs-
explode-in-syrian-christian-town.html

21. The common thread is
obvious, but retaliation by
followers of Messiah Jesus
is not the answer.

22. But I say to you, do not resist an
evil person; but whoever slaps you on
your right cheek, turn the other to
him also.
- The Words of Jesus (Matthew 5:39)

23. Remember,
We use God’s mighty weapons, not
worldly weapons, to knock down the
strongholds of human reasoning and to
destroy false arguments.
-Rabbi Shaul (2 Corinthians 10:4)

24. Christian Persecution
2015 in Review:

37. “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree:
As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves
come out, you know that summer is near. Even
so, when you see all these things, you know that
Messiah is near, He is right at the door.”
- Matthew 24:32-33

38. Find Out More @
www.rebuildwasteplaces.com