We finished yesterday's study with Jesus telling the disciples that wars, natural disasters, and deception will increase as we approach the end times. He referred to these things as "birth pains", meaning something new is going to be born out of this old world, but also indicating that before the birth the conditions on this earth will become more and more perilous. But just as a woman in labor expects to have a new baby at the end, when the birth pains of this world are over our Lord and King will say, "There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away...Behold, I am making everything new!" (Revelation 21:4-5)
Before that glorious day comes, Jesus warns the disciples that they will face persecution for their faith. "You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of Me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them." (Mark 13:9) We find Jesus' words coming true when we read the book of Acts and the epistles of the New Testament. The apostles are going to endure many things for the sake of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
But even these terrible persecutions are not a sign that the end is near. "And the gospel must first be preached to all nations." (Mark 13:10) There are going to be moments when the apostles are going to believe that surely they are living in the end times. When they are being falsely imprisoned they may wonder if Jesus is going to return at any second to set up His eternal kingdom. While they are being beaten without having committed any crime they may believe judgment is imminent for the enemies of the gospel. But before the end comes, all the world must be given the opportunity to believe on the name of Jesus. Every nation is to have the chance to hear the gospel. In my opinion, if we want the kingdom of Christ to come soon, the best thing we can do is help get the gospel out to people who have never heard His name. Supporting missionary work is a wonderful way to do this. Even in these modern times, there are still remote villages and tribes who have never heard the gospel, and we need to support the missionaries who are reaching out to them.
Jesus promises to help the disciples when they are persecuted. They are worried about what they will do and say when the time comes. They are afraid they won't be able to say anything at all, but He assures them that the Holy Spirit will guide them. "Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit." (Mark 13:11)
When these men begin boldly proclaiming the name of Christ following the resurrection, they will not be able to trust even their closest friends and relatives. "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. Everyone will hate you because of Me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Mark 13:12-13) There are still places in the world today where a person could be put to death by his own family for converting to Christianity. What was true in the days of the apostles is still true today: the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is divisive. People who don't believe in any deity at all can usually manage to tolerate references to God or gods, but the name of Jesus Christ has the ability to stir up rabid anger and burning hatred.
Why is it this way? Because "salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved". (Acts 4:12) The name of Jesus Christ is so divisive because His is the only name by which we can be saved! Satan is at work twenty-four hours a day desperately trying to blind the world to the truth, and he will use anyone and everyone he can to persecute those who believe on the name of Jesus. If he can't shut Christians up, he will kill them if at all possible.
Satan hates God with everything he has in him, but he is unable to do anything to God. He has chosen what is the next best thing: harming the human beings that God loves so much He gave His Son for them. There's nothing the devil can do to take salvation away from those who have trusted in Christ, so he tries to prevent them from sharing their testimonies. He also wants to keep the unsaved from ever coming to Christ. But thanks be to God, Satan doesn't win in the end! In fact, Christ has already won the victory. Dark days will come on this world, and we don't know whether we ourselves may face persecution in our own lifetimes for proclaiming the name of Christ, but the Lord Jesus promises to be with us just as He was with the apostles. The Holy Spirit will give us the strength to do whatever we are called to do. The One who won the victory over death, hell, and the grave has given us the victory over all things. We will reign with Him forever. (2 Timothy 2:12) We will spend eternity with Him in a creation made new where there will never again be any more sickness or death or crying or pain. The victory is ours. Satan is a defeated foe. He can roar like a lion all he wants, but the Lion of the tribe of Judah is going to trample him underfoot.
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