Chronicles of the End Times
Occasionally, people say, are we really in the last days? How do we know? Does it matter one way or another? We will try to answer these questions and many others in this study. But the most important question may be, how can we reach others with hope in these changing times? One part of prophecy is often emphasized over another, causing us to lose perspective and miss the blessing and beauty of prophecy in scripture. I have taken the information in this study from many authors and teachers who have their lives studying God's word. I have added some insight that the Holy Spirit taught me. With God's help, I have endeavored to keep the whole counsel of the word of God in full view to give us an accurate picture of Christ and His great love for a lost world. I pray that this will challenge you and cause you to grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, as it has me preparing it. Let's begin!
Chronicles of the End Times
Alarming Persecution in Mozambique and Nigeria
What if the most urgent story in the Church isn’t happening where you live? We confront a hard truth: while many of us enjoy freedom and comfort, countless believers face danger for simply bearing the name of Jesus. That gap—between what we see and what they endure—shapes everything in this conversation, from how we pray to how we speak, spend, and stand.
We start with clarity from Scripture: cast your anxieties on God, be sober-minded, and stay watchful. Peace comes when our eyes fix on Christ, not the churn of headlines. From there, we face the brutal reports out of Mozambique, where ISIS-affiliated militants beheaded more than thirty Christians—an atrocity that barely surfaced in mainstream news. The silence is telling, and we name it. Not to score political points, but to expose how darkness thrives when suffering is hidden. We talk candidly about media blindspots, spiritual warfare, and the simple, resilient power of testimony: I was lost, and now I’m found. Jesus changed my life.
Across the episode, we hold a paradox together: persecution and revival often rise at the same time. That’s not whiplash—it’s biblical pattern and present reality. While some harden their hearts, the gospel still moves with quiet strength through weary places and courageous people. We explore how practical intercession, truthful sourcing, and mission-focused living reshape our perspective at home. The goal isn’t guilt; it’s alignment. When we remember our global family, lesser anxieties loosen their grip, and our courage grows steadier. We end with hope rooted in Revelation: Christ is Alpha and Omega, near and sure, calling us to endure with clear eyes and warm hearts.
If this moved you, share it with a friend, pray for believers in Mozambique and beyond, and leave a review so others can find the show. Subscribe for more thoughtful, grounded conversations that keep our eyes on Jesus and our feet in the fight.
Welcome everyone. This is Russ Scalzo Chronicles of the End Times. Thank you for being with me today. Today we're going to take a deep dive into the persecution that's going on around the world and how many Christians are in desperate straits only because they believe in Jesus. You know, here in America we are really blessed, and we're sheltered. And many of our churches throughout the land are catering to our desires, catering to what their congregations would like to hear, staying away from the truth, and staying away from a lot of the issues that are going on. My question is how can we turn our backs on our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world by not even praying for them or not mentioning them in a prayer time? We are all one family. I understand that we get wrapped up in our own lives, I'm certainly guilty of that myself, and we have responsibilities and many times there's more going on than we can deal with. That's the atmosphere we live in in the United States. But I don't know about you, but I need to be reminded of what's going on in the rest of the world. So that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. That's what we're supposed to be doing here in the US. And sometimes our anxieties are justified and sometimes they're kind of not. It depends on where our heart is and what our eyes are upon. We can increase our anxiety if our eyes are on the wrong things. Jesus said that He will keep us in perfect peace if our eyes are on Him. That is something I need to be reminded of every day. Peter goes on to say, Be sober minded, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of sufferings are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. I believe that is the line that the Holy Spirit pierced my heart with, knowing that the same kinds of sufferings are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. For the most part, we don't have those type of sufferings that are going on in other parts of the world that we're going to talk about today here in America. I've always said that persecution would come to the church in America if the devil could only find it. But the devil found Charlie Kirk and many others who are standing out and declaring the love of God and the truth. But as the Gospel of John says, the world hates the light and loves the darkness. So, we are to expect a battle, and there are many others who are standing up for Christ who are under great siege now, whether it be physical, mental, financial, the enemy never rests. But we can overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony. And what is the word of our testimony? But simply I was lost and now I'm found. Jesus Christ changed my life. If that's all you can say, then that's enough. Take a listen to this clip from CBN about the persecution in Mozambique.
Speaker 02
04:06
We have a horrific and graphic report to share with you. Over 30 Christians have been beheaded by the Islamic State Mozambique prophets, also known as ISMP. CBN's Billy Holywell joins me now. Billy, how are you processing this?
Speaker 03
04:25
It is hard to process the fact that you in 2025 have people around the world who are terrorists who are beheading Christians. It is the most horrific thing imaginable. And we've seen this again and again and again. And I think for me, the thing I'm processing is this reality that in America we live with such freedom, right? We have our debates, we have our issues over the First Amendment, we have our fights, we have our political infighting and our battles, but the freedom that we live with, I think, isolates us from the reality and the understanding that most people around the world are living in utter horror. And most people around the world, most Christians, are living in places where persecution is so dire that you can get beheaded simply for loving Jesus. And so that is convicting to me. It always sort of brings me back to do I understand the freedom that I have. Do I understand the ability to worship that I have? Do I appreciate that? And then the second conviction is I praying enough for these people? The fact that you have 30 people beheaded, it is so satanic and ungodly and evil. And yet, am I praying enough for those in duress around the world?
Speaker 02
05:34
Well, ISMP um proudly released photos of their demonic savagery and the incredible organization memory captured some of those photos. Um, but what's really disturbing is that these people are proud of it. You know, Billy, what's been what's really struck me is can you imagine? I mean, can you imagine if the headline wrote, The IDF beheads 30 Palestinians? We would be talking about the biggest news story, I mean, since 9-11. I can't even imagine. And yet I if you if you Google search Mozambique, uh, there's like, I think like Christianity today and maybe another Christian organization, nothing from CNN, nothing from any mean mainstream. I'm not just talking about CNN, I'm talking about when I say CNN, I mean like the general New York Times, Washington Post, Fox News, I mean anybody. I have not seen anybody uh pick this up. Uh, and this isn't uncommon. You know, we did a story earlier this year about how 70 Christians were beheaded in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Obviously, there's a genocide happening against Christians in Nigeria.
Speaker 00
06:53
I reported on that when it happened, and very few knew about it. And it is true. When we look at it in pure truth, with a clear mind, we can see the influence the prince of this world and the kingdom of darkness has on those in charge of what you and I see and hear. They control what we focus on. Unless we're reading the word and hearing the Spirit of God and allowing God to show us and lead us to other media and other information that opens our eyes to what's going around the world. Over the years, two of my daughters got to go on mission trips to different parts of the world, and their eyes were opened to how the other half lives. I believe we could all benefit from something like that. Many of us can't go on mission trips, but we can search for the truth and allow the Holy Spirit to put things on our hearts to pray for. And it will give us a different perspective. And I believe when that happens, some of our anxiety will lift. Some of the things we cling to so desperately here in America will fade away. Despite the persecution, God is moving forward. The word is going forward. And I say it almost every podcast, but we need to remind ourselves that it's not one way only. Sometimes in Christianity we look, oh, there's a great revival coming, and this thing is going to be great. And on the other side, there might be those who concentrate only on the negative and say, look at all the persecution, look what's happening, everything's going down the tubes. It's both. Both are happening at the exact same time. That is what Bible prophecy tells us. And the only question we should ask ourselves are what are we doing? Where are we in the fight? What are our priorities? What do we think about the most? And there are things that I check myself with every day. You and I can make a difference. I tell my study group every week; you are dangerous people. You're dangerous to the enemy. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Many times, we use that scripture in different ways, but I believe that God is pointing us to the mission. And when we're in the mission and when we're in the center of His will, we truly can do anything through His power. I'm going to end with this Revelation chapter twenty-two. He said to me, Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evil doer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy. Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. That's a powerful scripture. God knows the human race. Next podcast we're going to get back to the dispensations. And I hope you've been listening to them because it'll give you an idea of what God has done and how far He has gone to have fellowship with us, providing us with different atmospheres, different laws, no laws, now grace. He continues to reach out. But yes, not everyone's going to heaven. There's a lot of that preaching going on right now. There even are those who preach that the devil himself is going to repent. It's not true. The Bible clearly states that the evildoers still do evil and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy. God is not surprised at what we do, but he continues to reach out, and he continues to love us. And that is exactly what we should do. We should have the same mind and the same heart. Continue to reach out, continue to pray. Let's keep our focus on the only one who can save, the only one who can heal, the only one who can strengthen, the soon coming King, Jesus Christ. This is Russ Scalzo for Chronicles of the End Times. Keep looking up. The king is coming.