In Israelitish nations, persecution against the Christian religion has not manifested through violence but through subtler means, orchestrated by satan using a gradual approach to undermine faith. This strategy has been particularly effective through educational institutions and the courts, where humanists, who prioritize human achievements over the Creator, hold significant positions of secular authority. These humanists, often appearing moral and even claiming to be Christian, do not recognize God as the ultimate authority, nor do they acknowledge satan as the ruler of this world who deceives mankind. The decline of religious liberty in America is evident, with recent surveys indicating growing concern among older generations, while younger adults show little worry. The leadership in government, business, education, media, science, and courts often operates under humanist influence, leading the nation away from trust in God and toward lawlessness, as foretold in Hosea 10:13. This misplaced trust in human authority, manipulated by satan, has resulted in a culture that follows humanist leadership into moral decline. A specific instance of state persecution is seen in the Obamacare Act, which mandates employers to fund abortifacients, conflicting with the religious convictions of many, particularly Catholics. This requirement forces individuals and businesses, such as Hercules Industries, to act against their conscience by indirectly supporting abortion, which they view as murder. Despite resistance in court, where the government argues that funding abortion pills is not a significant burden on conscience, the issue remains unresolved. This conflict highlights a broader struggle over authority in matters of faith, pitting God's commands against secular dictates, and foreshadows potential threats to other religious practices like observing the Sabbath, Holy Days, and tithing.

In Israelitish nations, persecution of Christians often manifests in non-violent but psychologically traumatic ways, frequently through legal channels by denying the right to worship God according to conscience. During the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, over 9,000 people from 56 local churches gathered to pray and offered hospitality to delegates with gift baskets of Carolina pralines and welcome letters. However, the DNC banned the distribution of these baskets, citing that the churches' values were contrary to the party platform, including views on God and other Christian principles. City officials, including the mayor, supported the DNC, further criticizing the churches for their stances on women's rights and pro-life values, despite the baskets containing no political messages. In contrast, a gathering of 200 Muslims praying for the convention was warmly welcomed by the Democrats and received extensive media coverage. In American courts and universities, sustained pressures on religious freedom are evident. At Hastings College of Law in San Francisco, the Christian Legal Society was denied campus status for requiring members to adhere to traditional Christian norms on sexual morality, a decision upheld by a 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2010, forcing the group to disband. Similarly, Vanderbilt University in Tennessee and the University of Illinois have rewritten policies to exclude traditionally Christian student groups from campus facilities. In states like Washington and Illinois, authorities have attempted to compel pharmacists to dispense morning-after pills against their conscience, despite alternatives being available nearby. Additionally, Hercules Industries in Colorado, owned by a Catholic family, faced legal challenges from the Obama Justice Department, which argued that no incorporated business could claim religious freedom or conscience rights to override legal mandates. These actions illustrate a creeping encroachment on the ability of Christians to maintain their faith while engaging in public life or professional roles.

In the United States, persecution against Christianity, though not violent, is intensifying considerably. Opposition to Christian religious liberties is widespread, manifesting through actions by various authority figures such as policemen, sheriffs, school principals, employers, and judges. These actions are often prompted by lawyers for anti-religious groups, local activists, atheist organizations, or government representatives at federal, state, or local levels. This opposition, while not merely irritating, is deeply discouraging and disheartening to Christians who seek to share blessings freely with others. Religious liberty in America is being redefined by a secular establishment aiming to reduce the autonomy of religious institutions and limit the influence of faith in the public square. The secular culture increasingly views Christianity as troublesome and reactionary, perceiving Christians as opposed to science, certain social groups, and gender equality. The religious climate grows colder each year, with significant changes in public institutions where practices like reading Bible verses or displaying the Ten Commandments have been largely eradicated. A notable group contributing to this opposition is the Nones, who now comprise 20% of the U.S. population, equaling 60 million people. This group, predominantly anti-Christian, believes Christianity ruins everything. Largely composed of Baby Boomers and Gen Xers, many hold powerful positions in education, science, and corporate business. They are ideologically rigid, uncompromising regarding Christianity, and overwhelmingly aligned with humanistic values, making it increasingly difficult for the Christian faith to maintain its influence.

In Canada, state-driven persecution of religious freedom manifests through various regulatory and legal actions. The British Columbia College of Teachers denied a license to Trinity Western University, affiliated with evangelical groups, due to its code of conduct prohibiting homosexual relationships, though the college ultimately prevailed on appeal. The Ontario Human Rights Commission fined a print shop owner $5,000 for refusing, on religious grounds, to print materials for the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Archives, ruling that his beliefs did not justify rejecting business from homosexual groups. A court ordered a religious high school to admit a male student and his boyfriend to the prom, with the case still under appeal. The Canadian House of Commons passed legislation adding sexual orientation to 'hate speech' categories, potentially criminalizing public expression of orthodox moral judgments on homosexuality if the bill passes the Senate, which could penalize ministers for preaching God's truth on the matter. Additionally, the organization regulating pharmacists mandated dispensing contraceptives and abortifacients, rendering a pharmacist's conscientious objection ineffective by requiring referral to another provider. A medical student faced penalties for refusing to perform abortions, with the case under review, highlighting the risk that medical schools could punish dissenting opinions on controversial procedures. These actions illustrate a significant erosion of religious liberty in Canada.

Persecution from the state was a significant challenge for early Christians, as seen during the time of Nero around 64 AD. When the burning of Rome occurred on July 19, 64 AD, Nero shifted the blame onto the Christians, despite widespread belief that he initiated the fire to rebuild the city. This led to severe persecution spreading across the Roman Empire, manifesting in various forms, from verbal abuse to horrific physical tortures. Christians were subjected to cruel punishments, such as being covered with wild beast skins and devoured by dogs, crucified, or burned alive to serve as torches for Nero's nighttime events. Laws were enacted prohibiting the Christian faith, openly declaring it unlawful to be a Christian, which intensified the suffering in sporadic pockets throughout the empire. This state-driven persecution often stemmed from misunderstandings and rumors about Christian practices. The secrecy of Christ's Passover and phrases like eating someone's body and drinking blood fueled accusations of cannibalism. The Christian greeting with a kiss of love led to rumors of orgies, while their teachings about a world dissolving in flames at Christ's return provided a convenient excuse for Nero to accuse them of arson. Additionally, Christians were seen as disruptors of family life and societal norms, further justifying state actions against them. In more recent times, state persecution continues to affect those who differ from societal norms. For instance, in 1993, a Michigan mother, Peggy Williams, was arrested for homeschooling her children without meeting state educational requirements, enduring humiliation and imprisonment. Similarly, the tragic event at Waco, Texas, on April 19, 1993, saw the U.S. government burn 86 people, including 24 children, at the Branch Davidian compound, using banned chemical warfare despite no evidence of violent crimes or child abuse, revealing a pattern of state coercion and cover-up. These examples illustrate that persecution by the state remains a reality, targeting those who stand apart, whether for religious or other reasons.

In New Zealand, the pervasive power of a socialist state has significantly influenced the practice of neonatal circumcision over the last century. Initially, under the influence of religious convictions that linked circumcision to moral behavior, the government leveraged its control over health facilities to enforce policies promoting neonatal circumcision, making it a de facto public health policy in the first half of the 1900s. However, as leadership became more secularized after World War II, the state reversed these policies without public consultation, viewing the connection between circumcision and moral behavior as mere superstition. Through its control of the medical system, the increasingly secular bureaucracy made it difficult for parents to obtain circumcisions for their sons, eventually fully defunding the procedure. This led to a drastic decline in neonatal circumcision rates, from 950 out of 1,000 boys in 1945 to just 3 out of 1,000 by 1995. The actions of these socialist leaders represent a clandestine attack on religious practices, demonstrating the power of a welfare state to alter long-standing traditions sub-rosa, without public discussion or referendum.

Persecution from the state has been a significant challenge for Christians throughout history, often manifesting as severe and brutal opposition to their faith. In America, however, religious freedom is legally guaranteed, and large-scale persecution has not been experienced. Despite this, there have been instances of mild governmental persecution, such as the event in 1979 in California, where the state attorney general's office targeted the church, though many felt little direct impact from it. Individual cases of persecution have also occurred, including church members being jailed for practices like child discipline, which they believed aligned with God's instructions, or losing jobs due to Sabbath observance. These experiences, while traumatic, are seen as trials that pale in comparison to the martyrdom and extreme sufferings endured by early Christians and others in history. Globally, state persecution remains a harsh reality in certain regions. Gentile nations, such as those under Muslim governance, often prohibit other religions, leading to severe consequences for Christians found practicing their faith. Similarly, countries like China, Indonesia, and Vietnam are noted for systematic persecution, with actions such as imprisoning missionaries and restricting religious materials. In contrast, Israelite nations tend to be more tolerant, though they are not immune to historical instances of persecution, as seen in England's religious wars and America's treatment of groups like the Mormons. The timing of persecution is also significant, as it is believed to occur at specific points in God's plan, often just before major prophetic events, providing an opportunity for Christians to bear witness before the world.