Two recent stories this Christmas season reveal Communism’s utter hatred for Christians and it is concerning because it may be a foretaste of what is coming in North America as some political parties seem to be taking a radical turn to the left.

Writing for Faithwire, Vernon Brewer shared a story of what is happening in North Korea under its Communist despot Kim Jong-un.  Brewer regularly helps bring Bibles into North Korea that is not only dangerous for him, but those receiving them.

On one of his journeys into the communist country, he shared a story told him by a young man who Brewer referred to as Eun to protect his identity.

Eun was in the third grade when his teacher made an unusual request of her class:

“When you go home, I want you to look for a book. Normally [the book] is black. Normally it’s hidden, and your mom or dad read it when you are asleep. If you look hard enough, you can find the book. And if you bring it, we will honor you.”

The book the teacher was describing was a Bible. Over the next few days, Eun searched the house and finally found his parent’s Bible. When he proudly returned to school with the book, he was given a bright red scarf as an award.

Eun along with 14 other children in the class who did the same thing never saw their parents again. When he grew older Eun became a Christian himself despite the danger.

Then China Aid is reporting on the arrest of nearly 100 Christians and the torture of three after authorities surrounded Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, China on Sunday December 9, 2018 and arrested people as they came out of the building.

The arrests included the Pastor Guo Hai and his wife and later three people who were later released reported being tortured.

The police tied people to chairs all night, beat them and prevented them from sleeping. One reported having his  feet and hands tied together behind his back and he was brutally beaten on his legs and body.

Another 80 members of the church were arrested during the week, as police arrested people at their home or picked them up as they were walking about during the day. In the later instance, the communist authorities used people’s cellphone GPS to track them down.

Speaking on behalf of ChinaAid, Bob Fu said there has been “a major escalation of religious persecution in China.”

Around 2006, China took a moderate turn, allowing people increased freedom to live their lives. This included Christians who moved from underground churches to public church buildings.

But that has all changed under the leadership of its president Xi Jinping who took power in 2016. Under his leadership, China has taken a radical and rapid turn back to communism.

People living in China are reporting Communism’s trademark hammer and sickle is now showing up everywhere in monuments and street signs.

The country has even instituted a Social Credit system that tracks people’s activities online and otherwise and punishes them accordingly, limiting use of public transportation, purchase of housing and even schooling if a person’s score is too low.

In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul explains to believers that our battle is not against flesh and blood but rather demonic forces:

¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12 NKJV)

Principalities and powers are references to spiritual satanic forces. Principality is the Greek word “archoi” that clearly refers to supernatural beings.

But the phrase translated “rulers of darkness” takes a slight turn. It literally means “world-rulers of darkness” and the Greek word “kosmokrator” is most often used of earthy governments that control a particular country. Though it is not as common, the word can also refer to supernatural or spiritual beings, but leaves the impression that they equally fulfill governmental roles on earth.

Though many believe Paul is referring to spiritual rulers, I am not sure he is.

I believe some governments, knowingly or not, are completely controlled by satanic powers. Satan literally rules these countries through their political leaders. But Satan does not control all governments equally and demonic forces are continually working to exert increased control.

Where does Communism fit in the scheme of “world-rulers of darkness?” According to conservative estimates Communism in its various forms has resulted in the slaughter of over 100 million people in the last century.

I have cited this in the past, but Karl Marx the founder of modern communism wrote poetry. The following passage was taken from his poem The Player:

“The hellish vapours rise and fill the brain, till I go mad and my heart is utterly changed.

See this sword? The prince of darkness sold it to me.”

Sources:

• In North Korea, there is one homework assignment this Christian wished he’d never done: Faithwire
• 100 Christians arrested; 3 tortured in ‘heinous evil’ raid by Chinese police: church: Christian Post