More than 380 million Christians live in situations experiencing “high levels of persecution and discrimination.” This compares to 340 million in 2021. Globally, 1 in 7 Christians live in situations with at least “high” levels of persecution and discrimination, including 1 in 5 in Africa and 1 in 7 in Asia. This compares to 1 in 8 globally in 2021. In 2024, 4,476 Christians were killed for faith-related reasons.

70% of the victims occurred in Nigeria, where attacks on Christians have become more frequent since 2020 as part of a broader increase in political violence against civilians. Open Doors estimates that the number of Christians killed for faith-related reasons worldwide was 4,998 in 2024, 5,621 in 2023, 5,898 in 2022, and 4,761 in 2021. In 2024, 7,679 churches and Christian buildings were attacked, roughly half of the 14,766 in 2023. North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan had the highest reported rates of Christian persecution.

In 2050, Christianity will still be the most widely adhered religion worldwide, surpassing Islam in number, though Islam will not lag far behind. This prediction, however, should not obscure the fact that Christianity remains highly diverse, divided into Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant denominations, and that demographic trends differ for each. Despite Christianity remaining the most widely practiced religion, Christians constitute a minority in many parts of the world. Various communities suffer discrimination and even serious human rights violations. Those responsible may be the state, other social groups, or a combination of both.

However, it is not only Christians who are vulnerable because of their minority status. Many religious minorities worldwide are victims of violence, for example, the Yazidis in Iraq and the Baha’i in the Middle East, whose religions are both related to Islam and who face discrimination or persecution from the radicals of ISIS/Da’esh. The Sikhs in Afghanistan and the Rohingyas in Myanmar are in a similar situation and are persecuted by Buddhists. The difficulties faced by religious minorities must therefore be seen in a broader context. Over the course of the 21st century, the world will likely undergo major religious transformations.

Now, the One wants Christians and all other believers to fight back. Do not turn the other’s cheek, but create safety and security for your people. Violence against believers is usually committed by extremist Muslims. Killing believers is a mortal sin. Those who do so darken their souls and will not enter Paradise.

These extremist Muslims are infected with false teachings, such as that 72 virgins will have sex with them when they die. The idea of 72 virgins as a reward for martyrs or for those who die in Paradise is a common misconception, often attributed to a misinterpretation of Islamic texts. While the concept of “hoor al-ayn” (often translated as “huris” or “black-eyed virgins”) does appear in the Quran and the hadith, it is not presented as a direct reward of 70 or 72 virgins for all men, and there are varying interpretations of what these “hoor al-ayn” represent.

I Am Who I Am will support believers who oppose this. Furthermore, aspects foreseen by believers will occur.