ማቴ 5:11

Here we see a deliberate, direct, all-out attack by the hells. To "revile" and "persecute" represents attacks both on the true ideas people have and on the good loves they feel, reinforced by the idea of "speaking evil" (an attack on their loves) and doing it "falsely" (an attack on their beliefs).

The Writings tell us that this represents a severe temptation, when everything we think and everything we feel is in question and under attack, and none of it seems solid beneath us. Can we hang on? Can we keep believing, and keep loving?

But the fact is that in these times, the Lord is with us; we are "blessed." And if we weather the storm, we will be able to enjoy that blessedness.