Republican presidential candidates Ted Cruz, a senator from Texas, and Rick Perry, a former governor of Texas, on Saturday spoke at the We Stand With God rally, which took place in front of the South Carolina state capitol.

Cruz claimed that advances in LGBT rights was leading to the “persecution” of Christians. Cruz's campaign has focused on reaching evangelical voters. Late last month, the campaign released a video highlighting Christians who oppose marriage equality.

Perry told the crowd that America's foundation is literally “under attack from those on the left” and promised to clear the greed and corruption out of Washington, D.C., just like Jesus did in his time.

“It's under attack from Washington, D.C.,” Perry told the crowd, estimated in thousands. “You know, talking about Washington, D.C., early in the ministry of Jesus Christ, he saw corruption in the temple and he got angry about it and he did something about it. He went in there and he overturned the tables of the money changers. He saw corruption, just like today we need somebody that's got the backbone to go to Washington, D.C., and turn over the tables of the money changers, of the corruption, of the greed that we see in Washington, D.C. And the question is: Will you join me in that effort? Will you load up? Are you ready to sacrifice? Are you ready to stop the corruption, the crony capitalism, the greed that we see in that temple of government in Washington, D.C.?”

“Jesus was angry. I'm angry. I hope you're angry.”

“What are you willing to die for?” Perry continued. “Are you willing to rise up and stand for God and to go forward and live for the principles and the values that this country were based upon ... Are you ready? Onward Christian soldiers!”

The event's keynote address was given by North Carolina Baptist Pastor Ron Baity.

Last year, Baity warned that God would send a calamity worse than the Ebola virus as punishment for a federal judge's ruling striking down North Carolina's restrictive ban on marriage.

“If you think for one skinny minute God is going to stand idly by and allow this to go forward without repercussions, you better back up and rethink this situation,” Baity said at the time. “I want you to understand that this is raw pure blasphemy.”

“My friend, we are meriting, we are bringing the judgment of God on this nation as sure as Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed, don’t be surprised at the plagues. Don't be surprised at the judgment of God,” Baity said. “You think Ebola is bad now, just wait. If it's not that, it's going to be something else. My friends, I want you to understand, you can't thumb your nose at God, and God turn his head away without God getting your attention.”

Baity delivered a similar warning on Saturday, telling the crowd, “The judgment of God will eventually fall on a nation that cheapens marriage.”