04-Fires of Persecution

Matthew 24:8-10,

8)”All these things are the beginning of sorrows. 9)Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and ye shall he hated of all nations for my names´ sake. 10)And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.”

The signs Jesus has given us thus far describe the conditions of the earth and its ungodly society as a world on fire with religious lies, war, famine, earthquakes and changing weather patterns; a world inflamed in tragedy, tribulation and trouble. Now Jesus focuses in on what the lives of those who are His followers will be like until He returns. People of God are always hated, especially during the 70th Week of Daniel. Jews and gentiles converted during this period will be hated for their testimony of Jesus Christ. Is it because they profess and proclaim the same confession as Jesus did before Pontius Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world”? Is this the testimony that riles and enrages the people who are striving for worldly peace and prosperity? Hear the words of our Lord.

John 15:18-20,

18)”If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19)If ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20)Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”

The day is soon coming, and now is, when everyone, everywhere who declares his allegiance to Jesus, His cross and imminent return, will be hunted down like a common criminal. Even the loyalty of friends and family, if not firmly grounded in the truth, will give way to the lust of fear in the world. Family and friends will betray one another, kill one another, for money and earthly gain.

Don´t scoff at this, for we don´t know what day or hour the Lord will return to deliver His people from the approaching wrath of God. We aren´t promised isolation from the persecution of the devil. Truthfully, persecution is a promise if you walk with God. In fact, our faith and obedience is measured by the way we react to the suffering and persecution. Jesus is our example. It is His life living through us that angers the demonic forces of this world.

Hebrews 5:8,

“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;”