The Underground Church
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Copyright 2009 Pocket Amphoras All Rights Reserved
Many of us in America are aware of the persecution of the saints in other countries where
Christianity is forbidden and the Church must go underground to survive. Christianity is no
light and easy thing in those countries and believers must often pay with their lives for their
faith. But that faith is strong and the Holy Spirit moves powerfully with signs, wonders and
miracles within the persecuted Church. Could those kinds of conditions arise on American
soil?
QUICK CHANGE
It seems preposterous at this stage, but cracks are beginning to appear and there
are rumblings that things could change suddenly and our ordinary lives could
become unfamiliar and unrecognizable. What would a full blown financial meltdown
do to the church? Without jobs and tithes and offerings, would there be staff,
salaries, utilities, or enough rent to keep going? A martial law situation is already
looming over the nation due to anticipated civil unrest and rioting over empty
grocery shelves or the aftermath of suitcase nukes going off in several cities.
Then there’s the possibility of a massive solar flare or an EMP blast that would take
out everything electrical–vehicles and gas stations, satellites, communications,
lighting, etc. Would anyone be going anywhere?
As we nearly experienced this spring and are warned to expect this fall, there
could be quarantines and lockdowns due to the flu or some other bioweapon
causing public gatherings to be prohibited. Imagine everyone in your
neighborhood all home at once–no work, so school, no errands. Depending on the
crisis, there may not be TV, internet, air conditioning or refrigeration. Could we
cope or even function in that kind of a powder keg of fear, anger and distress?
Would we be shining lamps in the darkness, or knocked over, spilled out and going
up in flames along with everyone else? We really do walk a razor’s edge of
normalcy that can turn upside down over night and where life as we have known it
no longer exists and is likely to never come back.
SLOW BOIL
Things also could change more incrementally over a less shocking time frame.
Increasingly restrictive laws could be passed and government control over
sermon content could neutralize the church. Financial crisis could close some
doors, increased shootings or angry fire bombings could close more and
remaining churches could be commandeered for national security purposes--with
surveillance and monitoring of individual speech and behavior for proper
conformity. Church buildings could be designated as FEMA homeless shelters in
the aftermath of economic collapse or the massive redistribution of population
from catastrophic natural disasters.
Churches could be allowed to continue, but false doctrine, false prophets and a
false gospel bringing mixture could creep in unawares or by actual decree from a
‘social change’ agenda where all religions must be ecumenically incorporated, so
compromising the nature of doctrine and the gospel as to be unrecognizable as
Christian. The masses could be stirred up to hold Christian principles and the
Bible responsible for the crises befalling America and spilling out globally to where
backlash and retaliation could bring about protests and attack on anything
Christian. The laundry list of ‘extremists’ and ‘national security threats’ could
expand or removal and elimination schemes could be implemented to reduce the
anxiety of ‘future crimes’. Could witnessing and evangelizing be construed as
offensive or an aggressive assault with a trip to prison or the detention camps as a
consequence? Could there possibly be undercover operatives posing as spiritual
seekers to entrap Christians into ‘illegally’ sharing Jesus and the power of God?
Are we spiritually ready to pay the ultimate price and share in Christ’s sufferings?
FORCED UNDERGROUND
There are numerous events that would not seem outlandish or implausible these
days which individually or collectively could transpire to bring about upheaval and
chaos. Will the Church always be able to go to church? Could the Church still
minister without ministers, as they, too, would be confined to their own
neighborhoods? Could heads of households step into the role of spiritual leader
for their families without church authority to guide them? Assuming religious
home gatherings are not outlawed or regulated out of existence, is the Church
able to rely on the Holy Spirit to bring the right individuals at the right time to the
right home gathering for worship and fellowship without alerting law enforcement
or compromised, neighboring informants? Is the Word of God dwelling richly
enough in enough hearts in the event new ‘world religion’ bibles are mandated
and all earlier versions are banned? Could the Church adapt if no activity or
spoken communication were private because of enhanced, all-pervasive
surveillance technologies? Could the Church sing worship songs silently in the
room, yet soaring in the spirit?
“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world.” (Jn 16:33) “yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that
he doeth God service.” (Jn 16:2) “and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded
for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the
beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in
their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” (Rev 20:4)
“All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2Tim 3:12) Who
are these verses for? 1st century Christians? Tribulation new converts? All
Christians? Are American Christians exempt from persecution, tribulation and
being killed for their faith in Jesus when no others are?
Persecution and the underground church may indeed be coming to America. There
likely will be two churches developing in these last days, even before the
Antichrist is revealed-- the visible, government-sanctioned socially indoctrinating,
all inclusive one world religion ‘church’, and the unorganized, persecuted, but
‘strong in the Lord and the power of His might’, Psalm 91 church. One will entertain
deceiving spirits and the other will cast them out. One will worship the beast and
keep their heads and the other will probably lose theirs.
The Church is the salt of the earth; but if the salt only clings together in the salt
shaker, the earth is as bereft of its nutrients the same as if the salt had no savour.
If turbulent times come to church buildings, gatherings, Sunday traditions, formats
and routines, perhaps that would merely signal the opening of the door to the
sheepfold and the releasing of the sheep. Perhaps that is when God will pour out
of His spirit upon all flesh because the sheep are now loose and truly sprinkled
about like salt, in need of greater empowerment and supernatural dependency on
Him, cut off from familiar bur now dangerous pastures. When God’s Spirit hits all
flesh, there will be no question as to which camp people have chosen. There will
either be God’s mark or the beast’s mark on our foreheads.
Jesus said to his disciples, "Watch ye therefore; for ye know not when the
master of the house cometh, at evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in
the morning; Lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say unto
you I say unto all, Watch." (Mk 13:35-37)
May Jesus know your name.
Christianity is forbidden and the Church must go underground to survive. Christianity is no
light and easy thing in those countries and believers must often pay with their lives for their
faith. But that faith is strong and the Holy Spirit moves powerfully with signs, wonders and
miracles within the persecuted Church. Could those kinds of conditions arise on American
soil?
QUICK CHANGE
It seems preposterous at this stage, but cracks are beginning to appear and there
are rumblings that things could change suddenly and our ordinary lives could
become unfamiliar and unrecognizable. What would a full blown financial meltdown
do to the church? Without jobs and tithes and offerings, would there be staff,
salaries, utilities, or enough rent to keep going? A martial law situation is already
looming over the nation due to anticipated civil unrest and rioting over empty
grocery shelves or the aftermath of suitcase nukes going off in several cities.
Then there’s the possibility of a massive solar flare or an EMP blast that would take
out everything electrical–vehicles and gas stations, satellites, communications,
lighting, etc. Would anyone be going anywhere?
As we nearly experienced this spring and are warned to expect this fall, there
could be quarantines and lockdowns due to the flu or some other bioweapon
causing public gatherings to be prohibited. Imagine everyone in your
neighborhood all home at once–no work, so school, no errands. Depending on the
crisis, there may not be TV, internet, air conditioning or refrigeration. Could we
cope or even function in that kind of a powder keg of fear, anger and distress?
Would we be shining lamps in the darkness, or knocked over, spilled out and going
up in flames along with everyone else? We really do walk a razor’s edge of
normalcy that can turn upside down over night and where life as we have known it
no longer exists and is likely to never come back.
SLOW BOIL
Things also could change more incrementally over a less shocking time frame.
Increasingly restrictive laws could be passed and government control over
sermon content could neutralize the church. Financial crisis could close some
doors, increased shootings or angry fire bombings could close more and
remaining churches could be commandeered for national security purposes--with
surveillance and monitoring of individual speech and behavior for proper
conformity. Church buildings could be designated as FEMA homeless shelters in
the aftermath of economic collapse or the massive redistribution of population
from catastrophic natural disasters.
Churches could be allowed to continue, but false doctrine, false prophets and a
false gospel bringing mixture could creep in unawares or by actual decree from a
‘social change’ agenda where all religions must be ecumenically incorporated, so
compromising the nature of doctrine and the gospel as to be unrecognizable as
Christian. The masses could be stirred up to hold Christian principles and the
Bible responsible for the crises befalling America and spilling out globally to where
backlash and retaliation could bring about protests and attack on anything
Christian. The laundry list of ‘extremists’ and ‘national security threats’ could
expand or removal and elimination schemes could be implemented to reduce the
anxiety of ‘future crimes’. Could witnessing and evangelizing be construed as
offensive or an aggressive assault with a trip to prison or the detention camps as a
consequence? Could there possibly be undercover operatives posing as spiritual
seekers to entrap Christians into ‘illegally’ sharing Jesus and the power of God?
Are we spiritually ready to pay the ultimate price and share in Christ’s sufferings?
FORCED UNDERGROUND
There are numerous events that would not seem outlandish or implausible these
days which individually or collectively could transpire to bring about upheaval and
chaos. Will the Church always be able to go to church? Could the Church still
minister without ministers, as they, too, would be confined to their own
neighborhoods? Could heads of households step into the role of spiritual leader
for their families without church authority to guide them? Assuming religious
home gatherings are not outlawed or regulated out of existence, is the Church
able to rely on the Holy Spirit to bring the right individuals at the right time to the
right home gathering for worship and fellowship without alerting law enforcement
or compromised, neighboring informants? Is the Word of God dwelling richly
enough in enough hearts in the event new ‘world religion’ bibles are mandated
and all earlier versions are banned? Could the Church adapt if no activity or
spoken communication were private because of enhanced, all-pervasive
surveillance technologies? Could the Church sing worship songs silently in the
room, yet soaring in the spirit?
“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world.” (Jn 16:33) “yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that
he doeth God service.” (Jn 16:2) “and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded
for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the
beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in
their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” (Rev 20:4)
“All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2Tim 3:12) Who
are these verses for? 1st century Christians? Tribulation new converts? All
Christians? Are American Christians exempt from persecution, tribulation and
being killed for their faith in Jesus when no others are?
Persecution and the underground church may indeed be coming to America. There
likely will be two churches developing in these last days, even before the
Antichrist is revealed-- the visible, government-sanctioned socially indoctrinating,
all inclusive one world religion ‘church’, and the unorganized, persecuted, but
‘strong in the Lord and the power of His might’, Psalm 91 church. One will entertain
deceiving spirits and the other will cast them out. One will worship the beast and
keep their heads and the other will probably lose theirs.
The Church is the salt of the earth; but if the salt only clings together in the salt
shaker, the earth is as bereft of its nutrients the same as if the salt had no savour.
If turbulent times come to church buildings, gatherings, Sunday traditions, formats
and routines, perhaps that would merely signal the opening of the door to the
sheepfold and the releasing of the sheep. Perhaps that is when God will pour out
of His spirit upon all flesh because the sheep are now loose and truly sprinkled
about like salt, in need of greater empowerment and supernatural dependency on
Him, cut off from familiar bur now dangerous pastures. When God’s Spirit hits all
flesh, there will be no question as to which camp people have chosen. There will
either be God’s mark or the beast’s mark on our foreheads.
Jesus said to his disciples, "Watch ye therefore; for ye know not when the
master of the house cometh, at evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in
the morning; Lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say unto
you I say unto all, Watch." (Mk 13:35-37)
May Jesus know your name.
