Hello Doves
I'm sure many of us here believe as I do, in the " catching away " before the time of Jacob's Trouble. We might have the pre-conceived idea that WE will not see any persecution before we are taken out of the way.

My letter today is to pose this question in your minds:

" What If " we are to see persecution ?
Are we prepared in our minds and hearts for such an happening ?

I personally believe "all" of what the scripture reads, THEREFORE, I myself MUST consider these passages, and I am asking you also to consider them and ask yourselves " What If ? "

Beloved, Think it not strange concerning " the Fiery Trial " Which (IS) to try you,
AS THOUGH SOME STRANGE THING HAPPENED UNTO YOU(:)
But REJOICE, inasmuch as (ye are partakers) of Christ's SUFFERINGS(;) that, WHEN HIS GLORY SHALL BE REVEALED, ye may be GLAD also with exceeding joy(.) IF ye be REPROACHED for the name of Christ, HAPPY are ye(;) FOR THE SPIRIT OF GLORY AND OF GOD resteth upon you(:)
on their part he is evil spoken of, BUT on your part he is glorified(.)
For the TIME IS COME that JUDGMENT MUST BEGIN ( at the house of God:)
and IF it first begin AT US, What shall the END BE of THEM that obey NOT the gospel of God ?
AND IF THE RIGHTEOUS (SCARCELY BE SAVED,) WHERE SHALL THE UNGODLY AND THE SINNER APPEAR ?
Wherefore let THEM THAT SUFFER ACCOORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD commit " the keeping of their souls" TO HIM IN WELL DOING, as unto a faithful Creature(.) 1 Peter 4:12-14 & 17-19 KJV

And when THEY bring YOU unto synagogues, and unto MAGISTRATES, and POWERS, take ye NO THOUGHT HOW OR WHAT " THING " YE SHALL ANSWER, OR WHAT YE SHALL SAY(:)
For the Holy Ghost SHALL TEACH YOU IN THAT SAME HOUR WHAT YE OUGHT TO SAY(.) Luke 12: 11,12 KJV

O Lord, HOW LONG shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear ! even cry out unto thee of VIOLENCE, and thou wilt not save !
Why doest thou show ME iniquity, (wickedness) and CAUSE ME to behold grievance ? for SPOILING and VIOLENCE [are before me] (:) and there are that raise up STRIFE and CONTENTION(.)
Therefore the law is slacked, and JUDGMENT doth never go forth (:) FOR THE WICKED DOTH COMPASS ABOUT THE RIGHTEOUS(;) therefore  Wrong Judgment Proceedeth.
I will stand ME upon MY watch, and set ME (upon the tower,) and will WATCH to see what he will say unto ME, and what I shall ANSWER WHEN I AM REPROVED(.) Habakkuk 1 :2-4, 2:1 KJV

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars(:) SEE THAT YE BE NOT TROUBLED(:) for all THESE THINGS MUST COME TO PASS, " but The End is NOT Yet.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom(:) and there SHALL BE FAMINES, and PESTILENCES, and EARTHQUAKES, in divers places(.)
And THESE are the BEGINNING of SORROWS (.)
THEN SHALL (THEY) DELIVER " YOU" UP TO BE AFFLICTED
AND KILL YOU(:)
AND "YE" SHALL BE HATED of all nations FOR MY NAME SAKE(.)
And THEN shall MANY BE OFFENDED,

and BETRAY ONE ANOTHER,
and shall HATE ONE ANOTHER(.)
And many FALSE prophets SHALL rise,
and SHALL DECEIVE MANY(.)
And BECAUSE INIQUITY (wickedness) SHALL ABOUND,
THE LOVE OF MANY (SHALL) WAX COLD(.)
But HE that SHALL (ENDURE) UNTO the END(,)
the (SAME) SHALL be SAVED(.)
And THIS GOSPEL of the kingdom SHALL BE PREACHED in ALL the world FOR A  WITNESS UNTO "all " the nations;
AND (THEN) SHALL THE END COME(.) Matthew 24:6-14 KJV

When we look at these scripture verses, Do we really think in our minds and hearts that WE will not see or experience (any) of these things ?
IF we do, I think we should drop our Pre- Conceived Ideas for a moment, and at least prepare ourselves in our FAITH to be Ready.
Persecution of the Christians have been before us(:) from the days of Christ even now by our own witnessing, for more than a decade, and has worsened DAILY.
Do we here in America have such a boldness in Pride, that we think we will not be as the rest of the world ?!
It feels good to think we will not, but; What If ?

2 Samuel 2:28 KJV
And the AFFLICTED people thou WILT SAVE(:) BUT thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest BRING THEM DOWN.

Haughty :  Too Proud and disdainful: arrogant
Proud :      Thinking oneself better than others: conceited; haughty
                  Dignified; self respecting
Arrogant :  Overly proud; haughty in manner

Humble :    Not proud or boastful; MEEK
                  Not grand or important
                  to lower in pride or condition; make meek

Afflicted :   caused suffering or grief.

My (doctrine) shall DROP as the rain, my speech shall DISTIL as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass(:)
BECAUSE I publish (the name of the Lord;) ascribe YE greatness UNTO God.
HE is the Rock, his Work is Perfect(:) for "all" his ways are Judgment(:)
a God of Truth and without INIQUITY, Just and Right is he(.) Deuteronomy 2:2-4 KJV
Has he brought you low ?
He has me.....

When I get low, I cry.
I cry unto the Lord, and on my way down, I can be a blessing to those I know, on my way down.
When I humble myself before God, he will hear me and restore me.
It is God who restores us and brings us up from the low place and into the clouds, but if we are in the cloud to long our carnal nature will fill us with pride.
If we get full of pride, if we are up there to long, we are no good to anybody.

Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like CLOUDS and wind without rain.
Proverbs 25:14 KJV
God knows us, and it is he who brought us from the low place up into the clouds.

For the "day of the Lord of hosts" shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up(;) and he shall be brought LOW(:)
Isaiah 2:12KJV
And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled(:) Isaiah 5:15 KJV
For he bringeth DOWN them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it LOW;
he layeth it LOW, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust(:)
Isaiah 26:5 KJV
FOR I SAY FOR THE GRACE GIVEN UNTO ME, to every man that is among YOU, not to think OF HIMSELF more highly than he OUGHT to think(;)
but to think soberly, according as God hath DEALT to every man THE MEASURE OF FAITH. Romans 12:3 KJV

And he opened his mouth and TAUGHT them saying,
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit(:) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2.Blessed are they that mourn(:) for they shall be comforted.
3.Blessed are the meek(:) for they shall inherit the earth.
4. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst After Righteousness(:) for they Shall be filled.
5.Blessed are the merciful(:) for they shall obtain mercy.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart(:) for they SHALL SEE GOD.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers(:) for they shall be called the children of God.
8. BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS' SAKE(:) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
9. Blessed are YE, when men shall revile you, and Persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, FOR MY SAKE.
Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad(:) FOR GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN(:) FOR SO PERSECUDED THEY THE PROPHETS WHICH WERE BEFORE YOU.

Show me if you can anywhere in the scripture where those who followed the LORD Jesus, were not afflicted or persecuted. Even John the beloved was imprisoned.
The early church was persecuted, even some, unto death.
John the Baptist was beheaded. The prophets were put to death.
The apostles were killed.
Jesus said in John 15:18 KJV
IF the world hate you, YE know that it hated me before it hated you.

The world does and IS hating (true Christianity) more and more daily.
Therefore.........
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith UNTO the CHURCHES(;)
To him that ( Overcometh) WILL I give to eat of the tree of life, Which Is  in the Midst of  (the paradise of God.)
Overcome What ?
Will you become angry with me?
Will you find excuses as to how it will not happen to you?
Will you defend that which you have pre-conceived in your learned teachings?
Will you bless me with an acknowledgement ?
Will you just click your mouse and ignore me all together?
Will you set aside your pre-conceived ideas and search the scriptures to see if what you have been taught is SO ?
OR
Will you receive what you have read and have an ear to hear, and eyes to see that which the scriptures ALSO tell us about this last generation and what we must  face ?
To what extent our fiery trial will be; I DO NOT KNOW.
But I do know that Peter said of the fiery trial, "Which Is To Try You," to think IT NOT strange, as though some strange thing happened to you.

Now therefore STAND and see this great thing, which the Lord will do before your eyes. 1 Samuel 12:16 KJV
The wicked are overthrown, and are NOT(:) but the house of the righteous shall stand. Proverbs 12:7 KJV
And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it come to pass, ye might believe. John 14:29 KJV

For What Is Our Hope, Or Joy, Or Crown of Rejoicing ?
Are not even YE  In The Presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ (AT) HIS COMING ? ( when he comes in power and great glory at the end)
1 Thessalonians 2:19 KJV
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, NOT ONLY TO BELIEVE ON HIM, ( BUT ALSO TO SUFFER FOR HIS SAKE;) Philippians 1:29 KJV

According to my earnest EXPECTATION and my hope, that (in nothing I shall be ashamed,) but that with all boldness, as always, SO NOW also Christ SHALL BE MAGNIFIED IN MY BODY, ( whether it be by life, or by death.)
For to me to Live is Christ, and to Die is gain. Philippians 1:20, 21 KJV

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory(;) BUT IN LOWLINESS of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Philippians 2:3 KJV
5) LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU, WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS.
Paul spoke at his trial to king Agrippa in Acts 26:6 KJV
And now I STAND and am JUDGED (for the hope of the Promise made of God unto our fathers:)
11) And I punished them (Christians) oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme(;) and being exceedingly mad against them, ( I PERSECUTED them even unto strange cities.
After hearing the testimony of Paul, king Agrippa said to him;
28) Then Agrippa said unto Paul, ALMOST thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Almost persuaded is not persuaded.
Almost prepared is not prepared.
It is better to be prepared in our hearts and minds for affliction and not need it, than to not be prepared and then need it.
Remember the Lord told us what was to come to pass BEFORE it comes to pass, so that when it comes to pass, we will believe.

What If ?

For I' know in whom I' have believed, and am persuaded that He' is able, to keep that which I' have committed unto Him', against "that" day.

God Bless you
KML