[slumber1]

This, of course, would mean the end to the church...

No it won't. The true church, the ekklesia, has always thrived under persecution. All this will do is ferret out the pretenders. It will help separate the goats from the sheep

[MichaelCorleone]

“All this will do is ferret out the pretenders. It will help separate the goats from the sheep”

I never thought of it that way, but I guess you’re right. Is it possible this is one of the reasons God allows the persecution to go on?