Rights and Rioting

By Hal Lindsey

Jesus said that lawlessness would increase in the last days. An especially egregious form of lawlessness is that of government itself refusing to uphold its highest laws and fundamental principles. For instance, China’s constitution “guarantees” freedom of speech and of religion. But those are just words on paper with no meaning in the real world. Now we see Britain and the EU turning their own lofty proclamations of fundamental human rights into meaningless drivel. Sadly, the United States seems headed in the same direction.

Recent riots in London spooked the whole UK. Some began to speak on social media of civil war in Britain, including some Americans. This evoked a threat from greater London’s Metropolitan Police Commissioner. “Whether you’re in this country committing crimes on the streets or committing crimes from further afield online, we will come after you.” He spoke of extraditing “the likes of Elon Musk.”

This prominent UK law enforcement figure actually threatened to extradite, prosecute, and jail Americans for saying things the British government doesn’t like. Does the UK think it can bully Americans into silence? Could they use an extradition treaty to reach across the Atlantic, snap pesky Americans up by the napes of their necks, then haul them back to the UK for trial and imprisonment? I’m not worried about that happening any time soon, but that we have come to a point where it is even mentioned, much less threatened, is extraordinary.

Article 10 of the UK’s Human Rights Act says, “Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority.” But in England these days, holding a sign that officials deem “insulting” can get you thrown into prison.

Even the nations that hold freedom of expression most dear, do not allow speech that clearly and immediately provokes violence. But the UK seems to have equated “incitement to riot” with anything the elites don’t like. Quoting Jesus or Ghandi can potentially get you thrown in jail. But that’s not enough. They want to use extradition treaties to control the words of Americans as well. Holding and expressing an opinion — even a wrong one — is protected by the US Constitution, the UK Human Rights Act, and the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union also “guarantees” freedom of expression. Yet, a few days ago, the EU’s Commissioner for Internal Markets joined in the threats against Elon Musk. He warned Musk that if he went through with his planned interview of Donald Trump on X (formerly Twitter), he could be guilty of spreading “harmful content.” He threatened Musk with massive fines and even X’s expulsion from Europe for holding an interview with one of the two major party candidates for US president. In the United States, we call that election interference from a foreign government. 

The Bible depicts the antichrist rising in power after the rapture, then taking an unprecedented level of control over people’s personal lives, including their finances, speech, and religious faith. Those who turn to Jesus after the great catching away, will be persecuted mercilessly. In the time between now and the rapture — however long or short that time may be — we should not be surprised to see growing Christian persecution as the world increasingly embraces the “spirit of antichrist” (1 John 4:3). Many already see faith in Jesus as a “dangerous ideology.”

We should work and vote to support Constitutional rights for all. But we should place our trust — not in government or in an individual leader — but in God Himself. Governments will let us down, but God remains forever faithful. Always remember the words of Jesus in John 16:33. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”