What is Persecution?

"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
"If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
"Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
"But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. (Jn 15:18-21)

"But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake.
"But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. (Lk 21:12-13)

¹⁰Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹²"Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Mt 5:10-12)

⁴³"You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵"that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Mt 5:43-45)

¹⁶"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. ¹⁷"But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. ¹⁸"You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ "But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; ²⁰ "for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. ²¹ "Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. ²² "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. ²³ "When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. ²⁴ "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. ²⁵ "It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! ²⁶ "Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. (Mt 10:16-26)

For more details see the works of:
1. International Christian Concern
2. Open Doors

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