Martyred Every 6 Minutes: Christians Were Most Persecuted Group In 2016

In 2016, a Christian was murdered every 6 minutes. Nearly 100,000 Christians were martyred for their Faith. According to an Italian research group, The Center for Studies on New Religions (Censur), about 90,000 Christians were murdered for their beliefs across the globe last year. The Center’s director, Massimo Introvigne, said that the study concluded “Christians were the most persecuted Religious group in the world”. Sadly though, this is not anything new. In 2015, around 105,000 Christians lost their lives, mostly at the hands of Islamic terror groups. Christianity has been the most persecuted faith for much of the past 2 decades.

There is no question that Jews are victims of thousands upon thousands of anti-semitic attacks across the globe each year, especially in Islamic nations, and they face the threat of terrorism in Israel on a daily basis. Still, Christians have been martyred for their Faith even more than the Jewish people, and moreso than any other Religious group over the past 20 years. Today, 500 to 600 million Christians globally cannot freely practice their faith without fear of persecution or death.

Last year, Christians faced harassment or were murdered in nearly HALF of the world’s countries, at least 110 of them. And of course, as we should all know by now, 9 out of the top 10 countries where Christians faced the worst persecution were ISLAMIC. According to the Open Doors Organization’s 2016 “World Watch List”, Christians died as victims of Islamic terrorism in 40 out of the 50 countries on the List. Here is the full 2016 list of the countries “most hostile” to Christians  –

North Korea

Iraq

Eritrea

Afghanistan

Syria

Pakistan

Somalia

Sudan

Iran

Libya

Yemen

Nigeria

Maldives

Saudi Arabia

Uzbekistan

Kenya

India

Ethiopia

Turkmenistan

Vietnam

Qatar

Egypt

Myanmar

Palestine

Brunei

Central African Republic

Jordan

Djibouti

Laos

Malaysia

Tajikistan

Tunisia

China

Azerbaijan

Bangladesh

Tanzania

Algeria

Bhutan

Comoros

Mexico

Kuwait

Kazakhstan

Indonesia

Mali

Turkey

Colombia

United Arab Emirates

Bahrain

Niger

Oman

The two main causes of Christian martyrdom throughout the past year were Islamic terror attacks and government persecution. I have  written many articles about the plight of the Middle East Christians, specifically in Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. Israel remains the only safe haven for Christians in the region. Besides the usual suspects ISIS, Hamas, and Hezbollah in the Mid-East, Christians are also extremely threatened by African terror groups, particularly in Nigeria, in the form of Boko Haram and Al Shabab.

Also, in 2016 we saw the emergence of Hindu terror groups targeting Christians in India. That’s right, it’s not a typo, you heard it right, HINDU TERROR. The Indian terrorists (much like their Muslim counterparts) destroy Churches, rape, torture, and murder Christians. In just the first half of 2016, there were nearly 150 attacks on Christians or their Churches in India. That topped the total combined number of attacks for 2014 and 2015. Believe it or not, militant Hinduism may join Islamism as one of Christianity’s biggest threats.

AntiChrist governments across the world, whether communist, atheist, or islamist, did much harm to Christians over the past year. North Korea continued it’s ungodly agenda to violently stamp out Biblical beliefs, much like China. Christianity is banned outside of government-controlled Churches in China, and thousands of Crosses and Churches have been unceremoniously torn down by the communist Government. Any Lawyers who take up cases to defend Christians in China have themselves been imprisoned.

After reading this article, it’s easy to think and say that things can’t possibly get worse for Christians around the world, but sadly, we would be wrong. International human rights watchdog, Release International, recently released a report stating that it expects Christian persecution to INCREASE in 2017. Lord Jesus said, that in the season of His Return, we would be hated in ALL NATIONS, and His Prophecy has been FULFILLED before our very eyes. He counts and values every drop of martyr’s blood, and rest assured brothers and sisters, that truly “Vengeance is The Lord’s, and HE WILL REPAY”.

“When he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were SLAIN for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held:  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, Holy and True, do You not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;  And the KINGS of the earth, and the GREAT men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the MIGHTY men, and every bondman, and every free man, HID THEMSELVES in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and HIDE US from the Face of Him that sits on the Throne, and from the WRATH of the Lamb of God.” ~ REVELATION 6:9-16

“JESUS said, Then shall they deliver you (Christians) up to BE AFFLICTED, and shall kill you: and you shall be HATED in all nations for MY Name’s Sake.” ~ Matthew 24:9

“For MANY walk, of whom I have told you OFTEN, and now tell you even WEEPING, that they are the ENEMIES of the THE CROSS of Christ.” ~ Philippians 3:18

“JESUS said, Remember the word that I said unto you, The SERVANT is not greater than his LORD. If they have PERSECUTED ME, they will also persecute YOU..” ~ John 15:20

“JESUS said, BLESSED are they which are PERSECUTED for Righteousness’ SAKE: for theirs is the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. Blessed are YOU, when men shall REVILE you, and PERSECUTE you, and shall say ALL manner of EVIL against you falsely, for MY SAKE. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for GREAT is your REWARD in Heaven: for so they persecuted the PROPHETS which were before you.” ~ Matthew 5:10-12

“JESUS said.. Take HEED to yourselves: for they shall deliver you into.. PRISONS, for you shall be brought before RULERS and kings for MY SAKE, for a testimony AGAINST THEM.” ~ Mark 13:9/Luke 21:12

“… And the BEAST MADE WAR with the saints (Christians), to overcome them: and power was given him over ALL kindreds, and tongues, and nations.” ~ Revelation 13:7

“FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH, lay hold on Eternal Life, whereunto you are also CALLED, and have professed a GOOD profession before MANY WITNESSES.” ~ 1st Timothy 6:12

“… For it is written, Vengeance is Mine; I WILL REPAY, saith The Lord.” ~ Romans 12:19 & Isaiah 59:18