The destructive reaction against the church to the Supreme Court leak of overturning Roe vs. Wade may foreshadow the start of the end-times persecution of the church.
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The Passion over Roe vs. Wade
When economic issues arise, the public acts through elections. When social issues arise, the public acts through generally peaceful protests. But when issues of injustice arise, the public reacts through violence and the destruction of property.
The public perceives civil rights, gay rights, and abortion rights as issues of injustice that stir such a reaction. But unlike civil rights for race or biological sex, when it comes to abortion and LGBTQ rights, the secular public and the faithful church stand diametrically opposed in the nature of the injustice.
Issues of LGBTQ rights have caused division between the secular public and the church. This has been a powerful division, even splitting denominations in two and causing many youths the abandon the church. But the abortion issue has even greater power to divide the secular public and the church.
The right of women to get abortions stirs passion in both those who favor such rights and those who oppose them. To the pro-choice public, abortion is an essential woman’s right, and to the pro-life Christians, abortion is against the right of unborn children to live.
Since the Supreme Court leak of the draft decision overturning Roe vs. Wade, churches have bared the brunt of the backlash. As of late June, over 60 documented acts have been perpetrated against churches since May. What will happen now that the Supreme Court has struck down Roe vs. Wade? What will happen when each state decides its own stance on the issue?
Will this be the spark that ignites the persecution of believers that is prophesied for the end of this age?
The Vile Reaction to the Leak Concerning Roe vs. Wade
The status of Roe vs. Wade is a legal decision to be decided by judges, several of whom are of faith. Following the leak of the draft opinion overturning Roe vs. Wade, the secular public immediately blamed the faith of the justices. Instead of seeking lawful means to have their voices heard, they attacked churches. Once the cornerstone of American morality, the church is now viewed by many as the enemy of woman’s rights.
The Family Research Council has documented sixty-three acts of lawless abortion advocates against churches or pro-life groups as of June 24th. At least a third of these were directed against churches or church groups while the others were against pro-life groups, many of which as faith-based. These acts include vandalism, arson, desecration, disruptions of services, bomb threats, and even violence.
Domestic terrorism groups are now arising. A group known as Jane’s Revenge has perpetrated acts including arson and vandalism in Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, Washington, Iowa, and Washington, D.C. This group has left behind graffiti messages including “abort the church,” and “If abortions aren’t safe, you aren’t either.”
This week in D.C., the group spread pamphlets calling for a “Day of Rage” and riots if the Supreme Court overturns Roe vs. Wade.
Here are some examples of recent acts against churches and Christian-based pro-life centers. You can find the full list compiled by the Family Research Council here.
Acts Against Churches and Pro-Life Groups
- Saint Joseph’s Church & Academy in Armada, MI was vandalized with satanic symbols & messages calling for the death of Republicans
- Saint John XXIII Catholic Church in Fort Collins, CO was smashed up in an attack claimed by the Colorado Anarchists group
- Statues of Lúcia dos Santos and Jacinta Marto smashed and decapitated (Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, New York, NY)
- Tabernacle stolen, Holy Eucharist thrown on the floor, statues of angels on the altar decapitated and destroyed (St. Augustine Catholic Church, Brooklyn, NY)
- Wisconsin Family Action was burned and vandalized
- Reisterstown, MD (Baltimore County) Alpha Pregnancy Center was vandalized with a threat & other graffiti by “Jane’s Revenge”
- Buffalo, NY pro-life pregnancy center was firebombed by Jane’s Revenge
- Gresham Pregnancy Resource Center firebombed in Gresham, OR
- “Handmaids Tale” disruption and protest at Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, CA
- St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in New York City receives several bomb threats and arson threats
- Pro-choice demonstrators attack, spit on, and verbally abuse “Students for Kari” volunteers in Phoenix, AZ
- Pro-abortion group accosts a Catholic pro-life procession in NYC
- Pro-abortion activists strip down to underwear and storm Joel Osteen’s church
- Three protesters (one partially nude) shouted down a priest’s sermon and chanted slogans at St. Veronica’s Catholic Church in Eastpointe,
- MI Chairwoman for Planned Parenthood’s Arizona branch bragged about her husband assaulting someone in a “Blacks for Trump” shirt at a “Bans Off Our Bodies” rally
Does the government’s response indicate that they will protect pro-life Christians and churches against these rising attacks?
The Government Response to the Attacks
Like during the riots that plagued the country in 2020 and 2021, the government has been soft on the lawless actions of those aligned with progressive administrations.
Instead of condemning the violence, New York’s Governor joined the fight. She “earmarked $35 million in taxpayer funds to increase security at abortion clinics,” according to CompassCare.
But real violence is being threatened.
A new letter circulated online by Jane’s Revenge declared “open season” on pro-life pregnancy crisis centers, vowing that “increasing drastic measures” might not be “so easily cleaned up as fire and graffiti.”
The Department of Homeland Security issued a bulletin warning of a “heightened threat environment” over the next several months, citing potential targets including “faith-based institutions” and “religious minorities.”
This warning shows how misguided the DHS is. It’s not the religious minorities who will be targeted. It is the religious majority – the Christians. The pro-choice abortionists are blaming the Christian justices on the Supreme Court for this ruling, not religious minorities.
Christians are already considered bigoted for opposition to LGBTQ practices and gay marriage. The government already showed bias against the church when it opposed church gatherings during COVID but gave liberal protestors the freedom to take the streets. Now abortionists will hold Christians responsible for taking away a woman’s right to abortion. The church will be viewed as an easy target by abortion activists and receive little defense from a biased government.
Will this be the start of Christian persecution as prophesied in Revelation?
The Rise of Persecution in the Bible
Jesus told his closest disciples that great persecution was coming in Matthew 24 and Luke 21. He gave these instructions for believers at the end of that age, and also for believers at the end of this age, 2,000 years later. (see this post for an explanation of this.)
Luke 21 gives us the most detail. “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake…. But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all because of My name.“
The secular public will not hate Christians because of our differing viewpoints from society; they will hate us because we stand on these views in Jesus’ name.
The authorities of this day, the government bodies, will be against us. They already are, placing Biblical views inferior to modern sensibilities. If the Supreme Court overturns Roe vs. Wade. Direct blame will come against the Christian Supreme Court justices. The protestors are gathered at their homes, and police arrested a would-be assassin.
But after this initial response, the issue will fall to the states. The legislative process will bring protests from abortionists and Christian believers who will clash in the public forum.
Will the pulpits of America stay silent, in fear of retribution? Or will they be courageous and speak out against the evil of abortion? Hopefully, they will rise to the occasion, further driving the abortionists’ rage against us.
Will the church be strong enough to withstand this public and government opposition?
Will the Opposition from Roe vs. Wade Refine the Church?
Persecution has the power to shake the church more than any other event since the Protestant Reformation.
Most churches in western nations have not faced true persecution. We got our first taste of it during COVID-19. But think of Christians in Nigeria, where confessing your Christian faith could mean being burned alive, dismembered, and/or killed. How about Christians in North Korea, where your faith can lead you to torture and life imprisonment in a work camp. Or Christians in Iran and other Muslim countries where your faith is a death sentence. China… India… the list goes on.
Many western churches today look like the churches Jesus reprimanded in His letters in Revelation 2 and 3. Some churches tolerate immorality and worldly idols, like the Church of Pergamum. Others resemble the church in Laodicea where the congregants were lukewarm for Christ.
But persecution will refine the body of Christ. Trials refine us like fire refines precious metals. The Bible makes this reference many times, such as in Psalm 66. “For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined.“
As an angel told Daniel about the end times, “Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time.” And also “Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.“
We will go through persecution. Some Christians and churches will comply with the persecutors and fall away, becoming powerless. But others will stand against persecution and fall, but be refined by the fire, walking, and preaching in the power of God. These are those with insight prophesied in Daniel to “lead the many to righteousness.“
Are you one of those with insight?
The Coming Persecution
If you pursue an understanding of Biblical prophecy to interpret the times we face, you will have insight. The overturning of Roe vs./ Wade has the divisive power to bring persecution to the Churches in America. This persecution may even spread to churches abroad that stand in the word of God.
But the storm is just starting and the backlash from overturning Roe vs. Wade will not be the only wave to come. We know from Biblical prophecy that persecution of the faithful church will rise at the end of this age, even to martyrdom.
But let’s take Jesus’ advice to heart. After disclosing the coming persecution, He said, “It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.“
So we must not let persecution silence us. We must do as Jesus said and stand to testify. If we do so, the Holy Spirit will be with us. And as Jesus promised, “Yet not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance, you will gain your lives [souls].“
By this, Jesus was referring to our eternal souls, not our temporary bodies. For we know from Revelation 20 that many will be martyred because of their testimony, but they will rule with Christ at His return.
Be prepared to stand and testify. The time of persecution is coming.
Related Posts:
Roe vs. Wade – Today’s Battle and the Coming Rapture
Apostasy Rising: Past Ages Reveal What Comes Next in this End of Age Paradigm