I wonder if you have some knowledge of how long this persecution might last?
Hi the persecution is part of the enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. The supernatural hatred towards Israel is amazing and like the book of Esther much has gone against them. Also true God's hand is involved in protection and judgment. The persecution of the church is part of history and this is where there are many opinions as to what end times talks about and there is a distinction between the church and Israel in this.
In Rev 6 we see the seal judgments begin and the 5th seal 9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both
the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they
were, was completed.
In Rev 13
2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like
the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who
is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue[fn] for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe,[fn] tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Right here we see the persecution in the tribulation is timed to 42 months, This time he the beast is going after Jews and Christians who refuse the mark. There will be many Christians and Jews who will accept him and betray one another too. Dan 7 speaks about this and has the same timeline before the kingdom comes and the beast destroyed.
Dan 7
s. And there, in this horn,
were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.
Vision of the Ancient of Days
9 “I watched till thrones were put in place,
And the Ancient of Days was seated;
His garment
was white as snow,
And the hair of His head
was like pure wool.
His throne
was a fiery flame,
Its wheels a burning fire;
10 A fiery stream issued
And came forth from before Him.
A thousand thousands ministered to Him;
Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
The court[fn] was seated,
And the books were opened.
11 “I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
13 “I was watching in the night visions,
And behold,
One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion
is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom
the one
Which shall not be destroyed.
So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘Those great beasts, which are four,
are four kings[fn]
which arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’
“I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made
in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
23 “Thus he said:
‘The fourth beast shall be
A fourth kingdom on earth,
Which shall be different from all
other kingdoms,
And shall devour the whole earth,
Trample it and break it in pieces.
24 The ten horns
are ten kings
Who shall arise from this kingdom.
And another shall rise after them;
He shall be different from the first
ones,
And shall subdue three kings.
25 He shall speak
pompous words against the Most High,
Shall persecute[fn] the saints of the Most High,
And shall intend to change times and law.
Then
the saints shall be given into his hand
For a time and times and half a time.
26 ‘But the court shall be seated,
And they shall take away his dominion,
To consume and destroy
it forever.
27 Then the kingdom and dominion,
And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,
Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.
His kingdom
is an everlasting kingdom,
And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’
Now persecution is happening around the world and in western countries the winds of persecution are blowing. The real persecution starts when seal 5 is opened and it may or may not be the same as Rev 13. Rev 13 is when the abomination of desolation happens and then killing Jews is on and perhaps the killing of Christians has begun earlier. We have a hope in the rapture of the church and that is a side topic. But I pray as Jesus told us to pray we are counted worthy to escape these things that are coming upon the earth and to be with the son of man.
