Title: Hate and Lawlessness / Matthew 24:9-13
Contents
hate and iniquity
Matthew 24:9-13
tribulation for christ
(Matthew 24:9) At that time they will hand you over to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.
true tribulation
Jesus turned his eyes to the church on the tribulation of the last days. He said that people would hand over Christians to judges or authorities, and eventually they would be killed.
This happened to Paul, and to Stephen, James, and Peter. They did not suffer because of their mistakes, ignorant evangelism methods, fanatical crimes, or political reasons. If that's the case, it's not really tribulation, persecution, or hardship.
True tribulation is persecution for the sake of the Lord for the sake of righteousness. Those who want to live in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
(2 Timothy 3:12) Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Where there are Christians, darkness is revealed and the injustice of unbelievers is revealed. Therefore, a world that does not accept the Christian life persecutes Christians. This is the real tribulation.
Reasons for allowing tribulation
God allows tribulation and persecution for Christians. Where is the reason?
First, it is to distinguish true saints. As in the parable of the sower, those who do not have the root of the Word will fall when tribulation comes.
Second, it is to perfect the holy character of a Christian. The saints go astray before suffering, but after suffering they follow the words of Christ well.
(Psalm 119:67) Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep Your word.
Third, to give the confirmation of salvation. The fact that the world hates him proves that he is the chosen one of God.
(John 15:19) If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
Fourth, like Daniel and his three friends, it is to experience the Lord through tribulation and persecution.
Blessings of those who suffer for the sake of Christ
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of the Lord for the sake of righteousness. Because heaven is ours. Our present sufferings are too small compared to the glory that will be revealed to us. Therefore, we can rejoice and rejoice even in tribulation. Because the reward in heaven is too great.
hate
(Matthew 24:9b) For the sake of my name you will be hated by all nations (Matthew 24:10) Then many will fall into temptation and will betray one another and hate one another.
hated by all nations
Christians are hated by all nations. No one nation will be a shield or refuge for Christians. Countries that treated Christianity as a form of peace, and countries where Christianity was declared the state religion, will hate Christ. These words imply that the gospel will be preached throughout the world. The gospel will be preached to every corner of the world without missing a single people. Only then will the end come.
Many people fail the exam
The devil must have rejoiced after making Adam fall and nailing Jesus to the cross. But with the resurrection of Jesus, all his work came to an end. The devil, who was intoxicated with victory by biting the heel of Jesus, was fatally wounded in the head.
Now, the devil is waiting for the day he will be imprisoned in the abyss, and he is making the last move. They are eager to stir up hatred and strife everywhere, to arouse enmity among people, and to destroy Christians. In the end times, Christians fall into temptation. There are people who kneel before money, fame, and social status. Even those who initially had deep faith will be faced with political, economic and social challenges and will deny Christ.
It endures in sunny weather, but when dark clouds and storms blow, it is captured by the devil like a roaring lion. Therefore, ordinary suffering is beneficial to the Christian.
hold each other and hate each other
It is not a new thing that those who had faith in Christianity are turning to that path. But the transformation of a traitor will have terrifying consequences. They become worse than the first. The enemy is a member of the household and will be a neighbor. Traitors are usually more brutal. Those who betray their religion tend to loathe those who hold to it. That's why they are more pressured and persecuted and hated. Even among the church members there are wolves in sheep's clothing. They sneak in and shake up the congregation.
The false prophet and the prevalence of lawlessness
(Mt 24:11) Many false prophets will arise and deceive many (Mt 24:12), and the love of many will grow cold because of iniquity (Mt 24:13) But whoever endures to the end will be saved.
The false prophet's delusion
As it was in the past, even today, cults and cults under the guise of Jesus Christ are rampant. A false prophet is a person who does not teach the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, but propagates his or her thoughts or ideas, and spreads a perverted gospel. The quality of false prophets directs people's attention to themselves rather than to Christ.
Paul said that these people, those who preach any gospel other than the gospel preached by Paul and the apostles, deserve a curse. He said that even an angel from heaven would be cursed if he preached another gospel.
Since the true gospel is as precious as life, the antichrist corrupts the gospel and tempts people by any means and means. The saints must keep in mind that there is a poison that harms life in their sweet teachings.
The rise of iniquity and the cold of love
Among the faithful believers, there are those who claim that the preaching of the gospel will make the world a better place and eventually the kingdom of heaven will be built. Theoretically, it makes a lot of sense. As the gospel spreads throughout the world and the number of people who believe in Jesus increases, of course, we must become a society free from evil.
However, as the gospel spreads widely, the evils of the world do not diminish. Rather, it is getting worse. It is because of the Lord's foreshadowing that in the end times, iniquity will be far greater than usual, and love will grow colder.
Those who endure to the end will be saved
If you collect firewood, the fire burns well. However, if you separate them from each other, they quickly turn off. Christians, too, cooperate with each other when they are full of love and have good faith, but when they cool down, they lose their faith because they are cold to each other.
When Elijah cried out in despair that he was the only one left as a prophet, the Lord said that he had left 750 other prophets. Even in the worst case of despair when the love of the whole society has cooled and he is left alone, Christians must also think of God and endure to the end, thinking of God who leaves faithful believers.