The term "then" tells us what follows in this twenty-fourth chapter will take place after there have been wars, rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes. Beginning with verse nine we are seeing what probably will come to pass in our own day and that of our children and grandchildren.

We Christians, in the future, will be persecuted, tormented, put to death, and hated by all nations because of the name of the Lord Jesus.

Although there has been much persecution and martyrdom of Christians throughout church history and continuing to the present hour, we submit there never has been a time when Christians have been hated by all nations. It is not true today that Christians are hated by all nations, although it has been stated that more Christians have been martyred in the twentieth century than in any other century of the Christian Era.

But the day will come—perhaps sooner than we think—when we shall be hated by all nations because we bear the name of the Lord Jesus.

What will bring about such violent hatred? The hatred will arise because of the spread throughout the world of libertarian democracy, the rights of the individual.

In other of our writings we have mentioned that totalitarian and feudal systems of government will eventually disappear. Because it focuses on the rights of people, on human happiness, libertarian democracy will prevail. No doubt this is why China and Muslim countries resist Western culture. They see that Western culture is lawless and decadent and that their own people will choose the Western way if given a chance.

In spite of all the resistance of other governments, democracy finally will prevail. Because libertarian democracy encourages self-will and self-glorification, and Christian discipleship calls for the crucifixion of self-will and self-glorification, democracy and the Kingdom of God are eternal enemies. It will be the rise of democracy that will finally result in the hatred of all that is associated with the Lord Jesus.

We can see today in the United States a nation in which great value is placed on the freedom of the individual, a picture of what will be true throughout the major nations during the reign of Antichrist. Our large cities are in a state of anarchy. Washington D.C., the national capital, is a breeding ground for murder, drug abuse, and drunkenness. In addition Washington D.C. is debt-ridden, a fiscal disaster (which always follows sin!).

Recently an election took place in the United States in which many conservative politicians replaced their liberal counterparts. While it may seem to righteous people that the results of the election will move our country toward more wholesome, constructive laws, the truth is the consequence may be civil disturbances.

The new leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives will not generally be as favorable toward homosexuality, abortion, and sympathy for criminals as has been true of those who have preceded them. This is because the so-called "Christian right" (Christians who are active in politics) form a significant part of the Republican Party, the more conservative political party.

To be continued.