Don't avoid the opportunity.

Luke 21:12-13 NLT

“But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors because you are my followers.  But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.
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In England and in America as well as in many other countries in the world, religious persecution is illegal. People should be protected from discrimination due to their faith in God.

No Christian wakes up one fine morning and says to himself,  "You know today is a beautiful day to be persecuted." It's not likely elders of churches are sitting together plotting how they get attested for their beliefs so they can evangelise politicians and people in prominent positions. I've never heard once in a church someone suggest that people prepare for the great opportunities to spread the good news about Jesus because of the coming persecution.

By in large, people pray to avoid persecution. Churches plead with God that people not suffer. Christians solicit governments to release individuals held for their religious beliefs.

According to Jesus, persecution provides opportunities to talk to people about Jesus.

Persecution spreads the good news.

The genuinely persecuted are empowered to say the right thing.

As you'll see in the context below there will be a lot of confusion and lots of false 'Messiahs.'

People have died as martyrs. They have become confused and they have babbled on without explaining Jesus and in some cases even denying him. But so have people miraculously calmly held their faith while being tortured.

Jesus' point is that no matter what happens to the real believer it'll all come good in heaven. Oh to be sure, the literal safety of 'not a hair touched' happened too. But in the end nearly every one of the then followers of Jesus ultimately paid the price for following Jesus. Nearly all suffered far more than any current western christian.

Can you see persecution as opportunity?

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Luke 21:8-19 NLT

He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and saying, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t believe them.  And when you hear of wars and insurrections, don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place first, but the end won’t follow immediately.”  Then he added, “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven. “But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors because you are my followers.  But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.  So don’t worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you,  for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you!  Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you. They will even kill some of you.  And everyone will hate you because you are my followers.  But not a hair of your head will perish!  By standing firm, you will win your souls.