According to Jesus, one of the hallmarks that we are about to enter the end times will be seen in the increased persecution of believers (Luke 21:12-17).

Jesus referred to this, along with an upsurge in wars, famines, and earthquakes, as the ‘birth pang’ stage preparing for the main apocalyptic event and Christ’s second coming (Matthew 24:8).

While many wonder if the world has already entered this birth pang phase, an alarming statistic in Open Doors’ annual report on the persecution of Christians suggests that if we haven’t, we are verging on it.

According to an analysis presented in its World Watch List 2024, there was a dramatic year-over-year increase in attacks against Christians around the world between 2022 and 2023, Faithwire reports.

This included attacks against Christian organizations, such as churches, schools, and hospitals, which increased by 700%, from 2,110 to 14,766.

As well, there was a significant increase in assaults on the homes of believers that rose from 4,547 in 2022 to 21,431 in 2023, a 500% increase. On top of this, 278,716 Christians were forced to abandon their homes because of direct persecution, up from 124,310 in the previous year.

According to its analysis, at least 4,998 Christians were killed because of their faith last year.

Over 80% of those deaths took place in Nigeria, which is particularly disturbing because President Joe Biden’s administration removed Nigeria from its list of Countries of Particular concern when it comes to religious freedom in 2021. Despite protests even by Democrats, Biden stubbornly refuses to add Nigeria back to the list.

Open Doors added that 365 million Christians are at risk in the 50 countries that top the list of where believers are most persecuted solely because of their faith.

This includes eleven nations that are now officially on the Open Doors’ list of countries where Christians face ‘extreme persecution’:

1. North Korea
2. Somalia
3. Libya
4. Eritrea
5. Yemen
6. Nigeria
7. Pakistan
8. Sudan
9. Iran
10. Afghanistan
11. India

Though India is at the bottom of the extreme list, it may not remain there long, as there was a dramatic increase in persecution of Christians in that country between 2022 and 2023.

This included the number of Christians who were killed because of their faith which rose from 17 in 2022 to 160 in 2023 and the number of attacks on Christian organizations, churches, and schools, which increased from 67 to 2,228 a 3,200% increase.

The rising persecution is due primarily to attacks in the state of Manipur, and to extremists who have linked Hinduism with India’s national identity.

In his vision of the end times, the Apostle John warns of increasing persecution. However, he also saw the emergence of a new breed of Christians, who would overcome, “because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death” (Rev. 12:11).