A great degree of the Church will be summarily executed during the great tribulation for not giving their allegiance to the Antichrist. Jesus and Paul however, teach that not all believers will die, but there will be a remnant who will survive up to the parousia.
Christians will also be falsely accused, many, Jesus teaches, by their own family members who who will betray and hate their Christ-loving members. Today, when we are falsely accused sometimes we have recourse to prove our innocence and sometimes we do not.
But during the great tribulation there will be no recourse when we are falsely accused. Christians will be considered the scourge of the earth, the cause to the world’s ills, troublemakers who will not go along with the Antichrist’s program. Because of this, they will be falsely accused and brought up on charges, only to face kangaroo courts and found guilty by the world’s wicked standards.
There will be no recourse, at least in our lifetime. And that is key to remember when that day comes—and even in our own day—that when we are falsely accused our posture must be (1) take peace because we know that God will ultimately vindicate his loved ones. God will give us no recourse in order to throw ourselves on him to teach us to trust his goodness, faithfulness, and instill perseverance in us. (2) God wants us to respond in loving our enemies, the very ones who falsely accuse us and intend ill toward us. This will be difficult to do. But as Christians, who want to imitate Christ in his own darkest hour when he was falsely accused at his trial and sentenced wrongly to death, we must live to be a witness for Christ to those who hate Christ. During the great tribulation, God may very well use our words and deeds to bring his enemies to repentance and salvation. So we must think of ourselves as instruments to reflect God’s mercy and love to our enemies. That is how we glorify God when slander and false accusations face us.
“For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good? But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken. But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil.” (1 Pet 3:13–17)
“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me.” (Matt 5:11)
