The Prophecy They Don't Want You to See

What truth is so powerful that people would choose torture over betraying it? That's the question that separates the talkers from the believers.

Simon the Zealot faced that choice head-on when he was sawed in half for refusing to deny his faith in Christ. Most of us will never have to make that kind of sacrificial stand. But are the prophesies he died for just as relevant today?

The Chilling Prophecy of Simon the Zealot

Simon the Zealot was one of the twelve apostles. A fiery revolutionary, he was known for his passionate defense of Jewish nationalism against the Roman occupation.

Yet after encountering the truth of Jesus, Simon abandoned his political zeal. He traded the sword for the cross, choosing to spread the gospel rather than overthrow the empire. This radical transformation cost him everything.

According to tradition, Simon was martyred in Persia around 65 AD. His gruesome execution - being literally sawed in two - fulfilled a chilling prophecy from the book of Isaiah:

"In that day the Lord will punish the powers of heaven above and the kings of the earth below. They will be herded together like prisoners bound in a dungeon; they will be shut up in prison and be punished after many days." (Isaiah 24:21-22)

The Warnings of Daniel's Timeline

Simon's death was no isolated incident. It was part of a larger pattern of persecution and martyrdom that Jesus had foretold for his followers.

As the early church exploded in growth, believers were hunted, tortured, and executed in horrific ways. This wave of tribulation was not random - it aligned precisely with the prophetic timeline laid out by the prophet Daniel.

Daniel's prophecies outlined a turbulent period of 70 "weeks" (490 years) leading up to the establishment of God's eternal kingdom. Within this timeline, he foresaw a time of "trouble" and "distress" that would precede the return of the Messiah.

The apostles understood they were living in the midst of this prophetic window. They knew the violent persecution they faced was a sign that the end was near. As Jesus had warned, "when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the doors." (Matthew 24:33)

The Revelation of What's to Come

The apostle John received the ultimate prophetic vision of what was to come. In the book of Revelation, he described a future period of unparalleled tribulation and judgment that will precede the second coming of Christ.

In chilling detail, John foretold a global system of economic control, a one-world government, and a religious deception so convincing that "all the world marveled and followed the beast." (Revelation 13:3)

These are not just ancient fairy tales. The technological infrastructure for this prophetic scenario already exists. Brain chips, digital currency, global surveillance - the pieces are falling into place.

As Simon the Zealot discovered, there is a cost to following the truth. But will you be ready when the final curtain falls?