Thursday, May 13
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All those desiring to live with godly devotion
in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted.

—2 Tim. 3:12.
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On the night before our Lord Jesus was put to death, he said that all who choose to be his disciples will be hated. (John 17:14) Up until now, faithful Christian Witnesses of Jehovah have been persecuted by those who oppose true worship. As the end of this system of things draws closer, we expect our enemies to oppose us even more. (Matt. 24:9)

How can we prepare ourselves now to face persecution? We do not need to imagine all the things that could happen to us. If we did, we could be overwhelmed with fear and anxiety. We could allow imagined threats to defeat us even before any real test comes.

(Prov. 12:25; 17:22)

Fear is a powerful weapon that our “adversary, the Devil,” tries to use against us. (1 Pet. 5:8, 9) It is vital, then, that we strengthen our bond with Jehovah and do it now.

w19.07 2 ¶1-3​

 

People claiming faith in Christ [of various denominations] suffer persecutions in Christ's name. In China, In the Middle East, In Africa.

I understand the branding issue. I don't suppose it's likely that the Watchtower will recognise that any time soon, although it would be short sighted to imagine we can commit Christ to not recognising it.

When did we see you a stranger and receive you hospitably, or naked, and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to you?’ And in reply the king will say to them, ‘Truly I say to YOU, To the extent that YOU did it to one of the least of these my brothers, YOU did it to me.’

For instance what people calling themselves 'christians' who are existing in the last days [the time period that the above text is referring] will not have read this text ?

Most if not all people thinking of themselves as christians will have read the text from Matthew and therefore would not question why they are recieving a reward of recognition from Christ. As Christians doing kindnesses, live in expectation for the recognition and acceptance of their deeds.

[Especially not just a small amount of people are being refered to either, else why woild Christ would deem them worthy of mention.]

However just as a vast mixed company left Egypt in the great Exodus it seems human nature that many people will not accept the kinds of compulsions the final human government authorities will attempt to impose. Likely some among atheists and muslims in my opinion, there are individuals in both groups who peaceably oppose tyranny without taking up arms and might sympathetically assist Jehovah's people.

If this seems too much of a stretch to imagine then why does the U.S. Constitution protect the ministry of Jehovah's witnesses ? Is it not because the basic tenets of free humanity are circumspectly inclusive of the ministry. As Paul indicated, people of the nations can sometimes just do the right thing even without knowing the scriptural texts and whoever is indicated in the above text, is ruled out from knowing it by virtue of them not needing to ask the questions answered by it.