Satan accomplishes his persecution of the remnant of saints through the Beast who has appeared.

................This Beast, or Antichrist, immediately begins a fierce war to exterminate the saints.

...........This war isn't just against the believing Jews but against the saints of "all kindreds, tongues and nations." Revelation 13:7

................The common teaching that all saints go up at the rapture doesn't go along with these scriptures. Unless these are those who had heard the gospel but didn't receive it until after the rapture because they were left behind.