Learning Lessons From North Korean House Churches And Persecution

Thank you for joining me. Today we will discuss Antichrist as seen today in the nation of North Korea. And beloved, there is a leadership in North Korea that demands worship as God, which of course is against God. And we see a principle here and a vision of a future world leader who will also demand worship at all times as God. Now here's an example from North Korea. A North Korean army person who later became a Christian reported this happening. The team had been sent to widen a highway. When they demolished the street and a vacated house, they found a Bible and 25 names in a small notebook. They identified a pastor, two assistant pastors, two elders and 20 others. Apparently they were participants in a Christian group. The military police unit investigated and picked up the 25 persons without formal arrest. The 25 were brought to the road construction site. Four rows of spectators were assembled. The five leaders were bound hand and foot and made to lie down in front of a steam roller, which was used at the construction site to crush and level the roadway. The other 20 Christians were held at the site to watch. The condemned were told, if you abandon your faith and serve only Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, you will not be killed. None of the five said a word. The steam roller started to roll over the five leaders. Some of the fellow Christians assembled to watch the execution cried, screamed out or fainted when the skulls made a popping sound as their brothers were crushed beneath the steam roller. In the North Korean constitution, article one, section one, all North Koreans are required by law to worship Kim Il-sung with all their heart and might even after his death. They have to worship pictures and statutes which must be displayed prominently in every household. The children are educated in kindergarten to believe that there's only one God, Kim Il-sung, who is God in North Korea. The citizens are required to worship him and to go to meetings where they sing to him. They have a 600 page hymnal where they worship him. They have 10 principles reminiscent of the 10 commandments to follow this God. A refugee from North Korea said, you pray to your God when you have breakfast. We must pray to our God when we have breakfast. Now in Matthew chapter 24, verse nine, we are reminded that the Lord Jesus said to his disciples and he didn't say, I will save you from tribulation, but he said in verse nine, then they will deliver you up to tribulation and note this, kill you and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And beloved in Revelation chapter 20, verse four, we find that one of the favorite methods of a future antichrist will be beheading. Now, how do we get ready as Christians for such an occurrence? And I would ask you that you decide today whom you will serve and then give all of your heart, your mind, your body, and your strength to your blessed savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Except now that not all will love you and that you will be hated. Deny yourself and ask the Holy Spirit to help you with love, joy, and peace to fill you anew so that you're able to give God's love to others, that you're able to have that joy, that you have the peace that passes all understanding. Repent before the Lord, get rid of impediments in you, and pray for revival. Weep and fast with us because perhaps there is yet time that God will avert judgment that is upon North America. Revelation 12:11 said, overcome him by the blood of the lamb, overcome him by the word of your testimony, and don't love your life to death because you have eternal life which is far better with great rewards than to be with our savior in heaven. So whatever happens, beloved, nevertheless, Lord Jesus, come.