CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION – THE WELL LAID PATTERN

Persecution of Christians is not some human idea, born in the hearts and minds of some disgruntled and deranged people. It is born in the pits of hell. It is born in the very heart of Satan. It Satan’s agenda and his pogrom, which is being executed on his behalf, with his full consent, and his full support of every kind. 
– “8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” – 1 Peter 5:8
– “The devil’s ultimate goal is to destroy and consume, as seen in his attempts to lead believers away from their faith…[It] underscores the personal and targeted nature of the devil’s attacks. The concept of devouring [Christians] is not just physical but spiritual, aiming to erode faith and lead to spiritual death. This aligns with Jesus’ warning in John 10:10, where He contrasts the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy with His own mission to give life abundantly.” – Berean Study Bible Notes

The persecutors of Christians are of two kinds, in this world. 
– One are the “barbarian” type, who use brute force to get their way. 
– Two, are the “intelligent” type, who use their brains to carefully and cunningly lay out a plan to trap Christians, and then legally and legitimately kill all their opponents.
– Between the “brute” and the “brainy” we should absolutely be careful about the people with brains.
– They are normally, cold, calculative and brutally cruel. 
– One can make an attempt to appeal to the brute, but the brainy person has no heart at all, even though he comes as a very refined, civilised and law abiding person. 
Hence we will see how this group of people who have brains persecute Christians.

There is a certain pattern to CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION – it is a WELL LAID PATTERN. 
– The “intelligent” persecutor will first lay down the structural framework for the persecution that they intend to carry out.
– The law is enacted to suit the path they wish to take…in our case, the persecution of Christians. Daniel’s encounter with intentional persecution as found in Daniel chapter nine, is a very fine example of what we are considering here.
– “​1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom…3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm….4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” 6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! 7 All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.” – Daniel 6:1,3,4-9

Then they follow the following steps…
1- THEN THEY ACCUSE THE CHRISTIANS OF “WRONG”
– “11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” – Daniel 6:11-12

2- THEN THEY PRESENT THE “MANUFACTURED EVIDENCE”
– “13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” – Daniel 6:13

3- THEN THEY CONVICT THE CHRISTIANS BY “THEIR LAW”
– “15 Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.” – Daniel 6:15

4- FINALLY THEY EXECUTE THE “JUDGMENT” AS PER “THEIR LAW” – CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED AND KILLED
– “16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions…17 Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.” – Daniel 6:16a-17

This is a time tested pattern that we see down through the ages. The “Barbarians” use brute force, and it is usually an emotional outburst of anger and hatred. However, this is not the care with “intelligent” people. Their hearts are freezing cold to any warmth of human emotion. They are absolutely cruel. They are calculative, logical, legalistic and cunning. They have no heart whatsoever that shows love, mercy, grace and forgiveness.

Here are a couple of examples of such cold and heartless persecutors.
– 04 June 308 – Quirinus, an early Christian bishop of Siscia (modern-day Sisak, Croatia) was a highly revered person. He was executed during the persecutions of Roman Emperor Galerius. After imprisonment, tortures, and mockery he is drowned in a river (in the region that will become Poland) where he preaches until he sinks.
– 04 June 1571 – Doctor Sigismondo Arquer was condemned to die by fire in Toledo, Spain. An executioner tries to spare Sigismondo Arquer from burning alive for his Protestant beliefs by garroting him, but the onlooking crowd riots at this mercy. In the melee, Arquer is seriously injured and is already half dead when committed to the flames.

Let us seek our LORD Jesus to grant us His grace, mercy and strength to stand our test of trials, whenever it comes – which surely will come, considering the direction in which the world is moving. May we earnestly pray for the strength to stand up for our LORD Jesus, and be His true disciples and witnesses. Even so, the LORD help us.