I went to a movie with a friend to see "The Gladiator," an Academy Award-winning picture. As I sat through this barbaric movie, I heard a child ask her mother, "why do the bad guys want to kill the good guys?" As a comfort to her daughter she replied, "That's just the way they did things in those days. There is nothing for you to worry about, it's just pretend." I grinned after hearing her response as I wondered, "What planet was she from!"
The history of evil/unrighteous people oppressing/persecuting the innocent and righteous, dates back as far as Genesis, throughout Biblical times and right into our current day of events.
Adam and Eve were tempted in the garden and made a bad choice (eating the forbidden fruit) which changed the way of life forever. Today we read of an intoxicated person making a bad choice to drive, only to kill innocent people. We have parents killing their children, religious leaders abusing children, and drug abuse is killing people every day.
In the Bible, Cain kills Abel out of jealousy. Today we read headlines about adults killing their spouses out of a jealous rage. Nothing has changed. If anything, gross crimes have increased and hurting people are hurting other people.
The Egyptians enslaved the Israelite's to build Pharaoh a kingdom. Today we have corporations paying minimal salaries to the slave workers to build their kingdoms. And when the kingdom is complete, the workers get laid off - unable to find work or feed their families. The pharaohs of today can be as ruthless and self-serving as the pharaohs of History. And, let's not forget about the unethical habits of our government, our justice system, our churches and corrupt police officers. Authority figures are becoming self-serving also, rather then serving the people.
Let's take this another step further. How many churches have you been a part of that always need money for the "building fund?" Who are they building the "kingdom" for? Not God. His building is within you. Why not start a building fund for abandoned children, battered wives and hungry families? There is a shortage of these types of shelters, not more church buildings.
Self-preservation is alive and well even today in the 21st century. Mankind will lie, cheat, steal, manipulate and kill to maintain his unrighteous Kingdom, (see Matthew 23:25-29).
When my children and I saw the movie "The Ten Commandments" for the first time, we felt sad for all the innocent babies murdered from the First Born Plague in Egypt, (Exodus 4:21-24). Our society now experiences a different plague, it's called "child abuse!" Child abuse, murder and sexual assault has experienced an all-time high of a 280% increase in the last decade. Addictions is an all time high and drug dealers are a lot meaner. Some come from street gangs who don't hesitate to shoot anybody who stands in their way. oftentimes they sell guns which is becoming a new society problem. Every rebel teen and young adult want a gun. The only people who will have guns will be the criminals if gun laws are passed. The innocent will have no way to protect themselves.
Abortions have decreased due to much publicity and riots from christian marches. So now, women have the baby and kill it after birth, rather then aborting it. We read the headlines, "Mother kills her baby because it wouldn't stop crying." Better yet, we read of a baby left in a dumpster to die or drowned in a bath tub... a much more barbaric manner I'd say, but at least there is no one judging them or marching to save those babies. They are free of the responsibility until the time they are brought to justice or if they should get caught. Barbaric behavior has been around since the beginning of time. We never really stop it because there is always someone smarter to find another way to beat the system and hide from the law.
Just this week I read of a parent who left his baby in the car to suffocate while he went to work all day. Another parent chokes the life out of a baby because "it wouldn't stop crying." A father sets his house on fire while his children sleep...to reap vengeance on his wife for divorcing him. Young mothers having crack babies and delivering those born with the AIDS virus, having no remorse or shame for their actions.
In the Biblical book of Judges, we read of many corrupt Judges allowing crime to breed. The law and politics have not changed throughout history nor has it changed in today's society. We experience good and bad leadership based on who has the most money and power. Voters appear oblivious to the truth as they believe the lies and follow a false shepherd. These are the same type of followers Who kill abortion Doctors, abuse the kids and batter the spouse, in the name of God.
In Biblical times we read of many righteous and Godly men being falsely accused, then put to death. The stoning of Stephen, death of Jesus, Peter, and the prophets were killed by emotionally driven crowds, following the wrong leader. The highest courts of that time, falsely accused these righteous men because religious and political leaders felt threatened. Stephen was accused of blasphemy (acts 6:11), as was Jesus. Both of them died from cruel and unjust punishment. The angry crowd stoned Stephen and crucified Jesus on the cross because the elders of the church convinced them it was the right thing to do. These were not followers of God but instead followers of man (Pharaohs). These followers are not individuals who thought for themselves or challenged the false accusations, but instead, without question, were controlled and manipulated by false leaders.
The signs and wonders in our world today are meant to be a wake-up call. What is it going to take to hear the alarm sounding? In Matthew, Chapter 23, Jesus speaks with authority to the religious, law-making hypocrites who are descendants of those who murdered the prophets..."Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town..." (verse 34).
The only way to be set free from the control of pharaoh is to stop following false leaders and get on the road to righteousness. The persecution doesn't get any better, matter of fact it increases because light and darkness war against one another.
True believers must study to show themselves approved unto God. We must be responsible for our choices and actions. We must listen to our dreams, convictions, intuition, and pray without ceasing. We must grow in faith, confidence, love and fearlessness, to become more Christ-like. The fruits of the spirit develop within the soul as we seek them. Otherwise we remain ignorant, fearful and defenseless, wondering why God is allowing such persecution and despair to come upon you.
It is your responsibility to seek truth, not to be led by those in the dark. Barbarous behavior will remain on the earth as long as there are those who seek it, and they will continue to persecute those that are against it! If you want to make a difference in the world...start with self first!