Jesus reminds His disciples what would happen prior to His Return.

Transcription

1 Introduction In Luke 21 Jesus answers questions about the future. It begins with a description of the age (vv.8-19) and continues with the destruction of the temple (vv.20-24). At the end of the chapter Jesus discusses the return of Christ to the earth (vv.25-28) and the responsibilities of the believer in light of all these things (vv.29-38). In every generation the church has had to deal with counterfeit christs, national and international conflict, and the persecution of believers. Jesus makes it clear that as future judgment approaches, these things will increase in frequency and intensity. There will be religious delusion (v.8); international distress (vv.9-11) and religious persecution (vv.12-15). Organizations like Voice of the Martyrs and Open Doors and Christian Freedom International indicate more Christians are persecuted today than any time prior to the 20 th Century. They (Christians) are currently the most persecuted religious group in the world, and persecution has intensified during the past several years. Torture, enslavement, rape, imprisonment and killings are among the atrocities perpetrated upon believers around the world (see Citizen Link; Focus on Social Issues family.org). Open Doors an international non-profit organization; serves and strengthens persecuted Christians in over 45 countries worldwide. They estimate about 200 million Christians worldwide suffer interrogation, arrest and even death for their faith in Christ; another 200 to 400 million believers face discrimination and alienation. Jesus reminds His disciples what would happen prior to His Return. Persecution As A Sign (vv.12-15) Persecution As A Witness (vv.16-17) Persecution As A Promise (vv.18-19) Persecution As A Sign (vv.12-15) Luke 21:12 (NKJV); But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name s sake. But before all these things ; what things? -religious delusion international distress false christs, wars, famines, deaths, worldwide chaos-comes persecution. Persecution of the saints leads to inevitable judgment by God to those who are persecuting believers. Jesus makes it clear they will lay their hands on you and persecute you. 2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV); Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 1

2 The source of persecution will be both civil and religious authorities. Much of what Jesus predicted was immediately fulfilled in the book of Acts. The disciples were immediately handed over to synagogues and prisons. They were led off to rulers, governors, prefects and kings. Right before the end of the world, believers will be opposed, abused, arrested, tried, convicted and executed like never before in all of human history. The courts of this world and the councils of man-made religion will rake believers over the cruel coals of fiery persecution. John 15:20 (NKJV); Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. Believers will be afflicted, hated by all nations and killed. Acts 28:22 (NKJV); But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere. Jesus gives the reason for the cruel, relentless, persecution; for My name s sake (v.12). The world will try to stamp out and silence Biblical Speech and Bible believers because they are true followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. I suspect this intense hatred takes place for several reasons. One is the standard of true godliness. The world hates godliness and opposes any person who does not cave in to their standard (which is no standard at all). 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 (NKJV); Therefore Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you. 18 I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty. If the world rejects God s standard for godliness it resents you when you make an effort to live a life of purity. The world lives to fulfill the lust of the flesh. The believer is opposed by anyone who does not wish to live a life of purity and justice and love. The world hates the message of repentance of sin and self-denial. This is the subtle danger that has taken root in the seeker sensitive movement. When Joel Osteen and other religious leaders get on Larry King live and skirt the issue of personal sin, personal repentance, the need to turn to Jesus and trust him, when they avoid the issue of hell and pretend there is no real punishment for sin and rejection of Jesus Christ; they defer opposition, and avoid persecution. The cross offends. The gospel causes some to stumble. Luke 9:23-24 (NKJV); Then He said to them all, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. What is the net result of this persecution? Luke 21:13 (NKJV); But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 2

3 According to Jesus your persecution is a glorious opportunity to witness for the Lord. The word testimony is the English translation of the Greek word martyrion. The word did not originally mean a person who dies for one s belief but rather a person who testifies to the truth. The unbeliever seeks to silence the believer. But the suffering becomes the very source of testimony to the watching world. Why would a person, experience such pain, such deprivation, such cruelty and still remain loyal to Jesus? The believer reminds the watching world that love for Jesus, and the love Jesus has for us, is real, so much so we are not afraid of the ridicule or torture, the abuse and scorn, the bullying and intimidation. For centuries believers have faced opposition, rejection, scorn, the whip, the sword, the executioner s fire. Saul was given this word from the Lord; Acts 9:16 (NKJV); For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name s sake. Luke 21:14-15 (NKJV); Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. The expression meditate beforehand is the verb promeletao (only here in the NT). The NASB rightly translates this prepare beforehand. Greek scholars point out that it was a technical term for practicing or rehearsing a speech. The phrase what you will answer is one word in the Greek language; apologeomai which means to speak in one s own defense, or to defend oneself. Today apologize means say sorry because you have done something wrong but here it means defend oneself because you did what was right. What will I say if I ever face this kind of scathing abuse, or personal injury? Jesus says, Don t worry. You will not need to prepare a defense. The Holy Spirit will strengthen you and give you wisdom. God will fill your heart and fill your mouth with a reply. Peter and John would display amazing wisdom before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:13). Like Stephen, the persecutors will not be able to resist your defense (Acts 6:10); like Paul before Agrippa (Acts 25:13); like Martin Luther before Charles V at the Diet of Worms or Martin Niemoller before Hitler. Paul wrote about the last moments that led to his execution; 2 Timothy 4:16-18 (NKJV); At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! 3

4 Note what Jesus is not promising Jesus is not promising deliverance from the pain or the suffering. Jesus is not promising the believer that he or she will be let go and freed. The promise of Jesus is a strong, unanswerable testimony. It has been and will be a ticket home for many believers. The end times will be filled with the blood of many martyrs. Announce your love for Jesus and commitment to Jesus in a Muslim country; like Saudi Arabia or the Sudan or Somalia; announce your love for Jesus in China, India and see how quickly the machinery of persecution goes into motion. Persecution As A Witness (vv.16-17) Luke 21:16 (NKJV); You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. The radical commitment to Jesus Christ will disrupt even the most natural affections and sacred relationships. The betrayal of believers will be heart-breaking. The source of betrayal will sometimes come from the believer s family. Some will even be put to death. Family and friends will hate the believer because of Christ. Remember Jesus is speaking of a time at the end when betrayal by loved ones will increase in frequency and intensity. The Christian, the believer will stand for the name of Jesus and the righteousness of Christ. Loved ones will betray the believer, to save their own lives, to secure favor, to escape embarrassment, to secure vengeance, to escape persecution themselves, to gain the favor of authorities, to escape fear, to preserve selfish honor or personal position. Matthew 10:21 (NKJV); Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. Matthew 10:34-36 (NLT); Don t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! No, I came to bring a sword.35 I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 Your enemies will be right in your own household! Luke 21:17 (NKJV); And you will be hated by all for My name s sake. G.K. Chesterton said; Jesus promised his disciples three things that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy and in constant trouble. Jesus meant in general, all men will hate you. Christians sometimes receive favorable press. My friend Franklin Graham may appear on Larry King Live, John McArthur might wind up on Fox News; Christians may have favorable articles in major newspapers, feature films, book reviews the History Channel. By and large the same media can turn against you at the drop of a hat. Jesus reminds us; John 15:18-19 (NKJV); If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 4

5 Persecution As A Promise (vv.18-19) Luke 21:18 (NKJV); But not a hair of your head shall be lost. Wait a New York minute. You said people will be abused, tortured, heads will role, bodies will burn. That sounds like you lose some hair! Jesus is speaking of spiritual security. God knows every hair on your head (Luke 12:7). God is in control over every single event in the life of a believer. If the believer is persecuted, the believer is still in God s care and control; even if the person is being killed. It may seem like things are spinning out of control. Matthew 10:28 (NKJV); And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Few things create a greater sense of fear and frustration than a gun to your head. The promise is to the believer s soul. If the believer endures the persecution, he shall possess his soul eternally. John lost his head, James lost his life, Stephen was stoned to death. Their bodies died, but their souls were kept whole in heaven with God! Justin Martyr wrote; You can kill us, but you can t hurt us. The church historian Eusebius wrote; They are put to death, and they gain new life. Endurance is required. Luke 21:19 (NKJV); By your patience possess your souls. The word translated patience is the Greek word hypomone and in this context probably means perseverance. In Matthew s gospel and Mark s gospel both say But he that shall endure (hypomeinas) unto the end shall be saved (KJV). The idea is by your perseverance you will prove or win your souls or by standing firm you will save yourselves (NIV). Persistent, persevering, enduring faith stands in opposition. The believer will stand fast. The believer will endure to the end. The believer will not deny his or her Lord. We experience the presence of the Lord and the salvation (deliverance) of the Lord. In Jesus we stand firm. Don t be blown away by persecution. We are not to fear persecution. We are not seek it or invite it but we are to expect it and prepare for it. The Christian life is not a sprint but a marathon. It never ceases to amaze me that people will run the race and then right towards the end, give up! No matter your theology-- John warns-- 1 John 2:19 (NKJV);19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. 5

6 Despite death (v.16); and hatred (v.17); Jesus promised not one hair of your head will perish (v.18). No Apollo hair club for men in heaven. No rogaine in heaven. Not only is the believer secure in the arms of Jesus we all get a full head of hair! True believers keep on keeping on, they persevere, they endure. Pray that you will finish well. That I should end before I finish or Finish, but not well. That I should strain your honor, shame your name, Grieve your loving heart. Few, they tell me, finish well... Lord, let me get home before dark. I suspect Jesus is saying that those who steadfastly or patiently endure persecution demonstrate the authenticity of their own profession of faith. Conclusion Sundar Singh said, The true Christian is like sandalwood, which imparts its fragrance to the axe which cuts it, without doing any harm in return. Like a rose, trampled on the ground, like coffee beans ground up in the blender, the believer releases fragrance when crushed. How can you help? Hebrews 13:3 (NKJV);3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them those who are mistreated since you yourselves are in the body also. Pray for your brothers and sisters in chains. You might want to check out web sites like Voice of the Martyrs; Open Doors and Christian Freedom International; and even Prison Fellowship. Be aware of what is happening in the world to your brothers and sisters in India where Dalit Christian Rights are being taken away. Indonesian Sunday School teachers are being thrown into prison. In Nepal I have meet brothers who have gone to prison for sharing Christ. Christians in Cairo are being tossed into prison, Christians are being crucified in the Sudan, City officials in Vietnam are shutting down churches, and the voices are crying out from the prisons in China. Radical,militant Iraqi Resistance groups attack Christian Freedom International and others for attempting to Christianize Iraq. According to World Net Daily car bombs ripped through 5 churches, killing more than a dozen, in coordinated jihad attack. Iraqi Christians have been experiencing increased persecution since the country was liberated. Speak out. Educate yourself on international persecution and help learn what you can do. At christianfreedom.org they have section entitled 50 ways to help persecuted Christians. 6

7 Revelation 2:8-10 (NKJV); And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9 I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 7