ENDTIMES AND CHRISTMAS
ENDTIMES AND CHRISTMAS
END TIMES AND CHRISTMAS
© Dr. Mark E. Hardgrove
Texts: Luke 21:10-19, 2 Timothy 3:10-15
Yesterday my wife and I were going into a store and I dropped some change into the Salvation Army bucket. The man thanked me and said, “Happy Holidays.” I said to my wife, “Did you hear that? Why didn’t he say Merry Christmas?” Let me read you some accounts of the attempt of the world to strip Christmas of its Christ centered focus. The following comes from the NewsMax.com America’s News Page (Dec. 11, 2001).
The county school board in Covington, GA, censored the word “Christmas” from the school calendar after the fanatically anti-religious group that calls itself American Civil Liberties Union threatened to sue, sue, sue.
Two middle-school students in Rochester, MN, were punished for—the horror, the horror—wearing red and green scarves in a Christmas skit and for concluding, “We hope you all have a merry Christmas.”
New York City’s notoriously rotten government schools have banned Nativity scenes but allow the display of the Jewish menorah and the Muslim star and crescent.
The school superintendent in Silverton, OR, demonstrated anti-religious bigotry by allowing secular decorations but forcing students to remove all religious holiday decorations from their lockers.
An educrat in Fredrick County, MD, banned employees from handing out Christmas cards in the school because cards with a Christian message (but not a non-Christian message!) supposedly “may not be a legally protected right on a public school campus.”
A fourth-grader in Ephrata, PA, was kept from handing out religious Christmas cards to classmates.
The Politically Correct patrol told two ninth-graders in Plymouth, MA, that they could not make Christmas cards saying “Merry Christmas,” or depicting a Nativity scene.
A Principal in Plymouth, IL, warned a teacher not to read a book about Christmas to her second-grade pupils—even though the book was in the school’s library. (What will leftist American Library Association have to say about this one?)
And the accounts of discrimination against Christians go on and on and become more and more ridiculous. Where is the church? Where are the Christians? Why have we allowed a minority of vocal non-Christian activists take control of the government, the schools, the media, and the courts? The current rise of anti-Christian sentiment in a nation that appears to be growing more and more religious is disturbing but not surprising.
I) JESUS’ WARNING AND JESUS’ PROMISE
It is disturbing that the schools will herald the virtues of a book about witchcraft and will read and promote the book in our schools, but will not allow the reading of the Christmas story during the Christmas season and is, in fact, trying to strip the word Christ from Christmas and replace it with “Season’s Greetings,” or “Happy Holidays.” It is disturbing, but it is not surprising. Let’s look at the words of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel, chapter 21, and verses 10 through 19:
10 Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
12 "But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 This will result in your being witnesses to them. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 All men will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By standing firm you will gain life. NIV
Let’s explore the words of Jesus here. He begins in verses 10 and 11 describing a time of global war and social and environmental upheavals—wars, earthquakes, famines, pestilences, fearful events and great signs from heaven. Then Jesus says, “But before all this . . ..” If verses 10 and 11 are describing the Great Tribulation period (Matt. 24:21; Rev. 2:22, 7:14), then what Jesus is describing in verses 12 through 19 will take place before the Tribulation. In other words, while the church has not been appointed unto wrath (1 Thess. 1:10, 5:9), that is, God’s judgment upon a sinful world (Rom. 5:9), we have not been exempted from persecution at the hands of a sinful world. In fact, Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (Jn. 16:33, NIV). We have peace, not from the storms of life, but in the midst of the storms.
A) The Warnings
Look at what Jesus warned will take place prior to the Great Tribulation period:
1. They will lay hands on you and persecute you
2. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons
3. You will be brought before kings and governors
Jesus pauses to tell us the reason for our persecution [look at it in your text] “and all on account of my name.” In other words, we will be persecuted because we claim to be Christians, which contains the word “Christ” in it. We will be persecuted because we observe a Holy Day called Christmas, again containing the name “Christ.” We will be derided and shouted down when we say that we believe that Jesus Christ is the only hope of salvation. We will be persecuted because we claim Christ as Lord.
After the recent terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, DC, there were a number of prayer services and religious observances, but if you listened very closely you found that while God, love, tolerance, faith, and religion were all talked about the name of Jesus was excluded from the prayers and conversation.
Dr. Lamar Vest is the current president of the American Bible Society, a society that is over a hundred years old. He is also the General Overseer—or the Administrative Bishop—of the Church of God of Cleveland, TN. Recently I was at a minister’s meeting where he spoke. He told us that as the president of the American Bible Society (ABS) he’d had doors opened to him and our denomination that would not have otherwise been opened. ABS had him flown to New York a couple days after the attack and he met and prayed with many of the policemen and firemen. He was invited to several of the prayer services and politely refused to attend anywhere he would not be permitted to use the name of Jesus. Some of the newspapers will no doubt note his absence and when they find out why, he will come under attack.
B) The Promise
Along with the warning that Jesus gives us, He also gives us a promise: “This will result in your being witnesses to them.” In other words, their persecution of us, their taking us into courts and before kings and governors, will provide us with the opportunity to speak the name of Jesus. When they ask Dr. Vest why he refused to attend, he has the opportunity to say for the record that he will not go where he cannot speak the name of Jesus.
I would recommend that every one of us refrain from pledging allegiance to any organization, no matter how many public service projects they do, which will not allow us speak the name, or pray in the name of Jesus. I would not wear their rings, I would not pay their dues, I would not have my name on their rolls, and I would not claim membership in any organization that forbids the use of the name of Jesus.
Jesus said, “You will be persecuted for my name sake, but in so doing you will have the opportunity to be my witnesses.” He goes on to say, “But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.”
That’s an exciting promise! We don’t have to worry about or try to memorize our defense. All we have to do is pray, read the Word, and let the Holy Spirit take over when it’s time to talk. He will bring to our remembrance, the Scriptures we’ve read. He will give us the words we need to speak and our words will be so powerfully anointed that they will not be able to resist or contradict.
C) The Warnings
But then Jesus returns to the warnings”
4. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends
5. They will put some of you to death
6. All men will hate you because of me
Again, the warnings are followed by promises. Jesus says something that sounds like a contradiction. Notice, in verse 16 Jesus says, “they will put some of you to death,” and yet in verse 18 he says, “But not a hair of your head will perish.” How do you reconcile these two promises?
D) The Promise
Verse 19 gives us the clue, “By standing firm you will gain life.” Jesus is contrasting the temporal with the eternal. In the world ye shall have trouble, but the very world that is persecuting the church doesn’t know that Jesus has already won the victory. Looking through our natural eyes it looks like the world is winning, but look a little higher, Jesus is still on the throne, and justice delayed is not justice denied.
We will be persecuted, and we may pay with our lives, but we will not perish. When we became believers we gained eternal life as our birthright, it is our inheritance in Christ Jesus. Man may destroy the body, but God can preserve our spirit and souls unto the day of when the Bridegroom returns for the Bride of Christ, the Church, believers of all ages. At that moment we will be given a glorified body, a body that will never taste death again. A body that be raised to an eternal existence in Christ.
I was watching a PBS special last night and they were talking about a tree that is five thousand years old. They call it the Methuselah tree. They were curious as to the source of its longevity and they found that in the DNA of the cellular structure of this tree there is no gene for aging. In other words, all other living things have a gene that causes our bodies to age, but this tree doesn’t have that gene. As a result, that tree could conceivably live forever as long as no one cuts it down. When God raises us to eternal life the curse will be removed. The gene that causes us to age was introduced to humanity through the sin of Adam. God said, “in the day that you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will surely die” (Gen. 2:16-17, paraphrased). On that dreadful day death was introduced, but when we are raised up from the grave we will be given a glorified body in which the curse is reversed and we will live forever.
If we deny Christ, if we compromise and give in to those who would silence our confession of faith and stop us from speaking the name that causes demons to tremble, then we may save our life here, but we have forfeited eternity. If, however, we stand in faith on the Rock Christ Jesus and speak His Name, the Name at which every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess, then we will gain eternal life. Speak that powerful Name, say the Name of Jesus and watch what happens—demons tremble.
II APOSTLE PAUL’S WARNINGS AND PROMISES
In addition to Jesus, the Apostle Paul gives us some warnings and promises with regard to our faith in Jesus Christ as it relates to the last days. Look at 2 Timothy chapter 3, and verses 10 through 15:
10You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11persecutions, sufferings-what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. NIV
Look at Paul’s words in verse 10. He reminds Timothy that he knows the type of uncompromising life that Paul lived, and he lists the areas of his life that were evident to anyone watching:
1· My teaching
2· My way of life
3· My purpose
4· Faith
5· Patience
6· Love
7· Endurance
A) The Warning
What was the result of Paul’s life in Christ?
1· Persecutions
2· Suffering
3· Persecutions
B) The Promise
But Paul doesn’t sound a note of despair or defeat; he goes on and says; “Yet the Lord rescued me from them all.” That’s not fear or compromise talking—that’s victory talking. That’s commitment and confidence in the Lord!
C) The Warning
Paul goes on and gives us these warnings:
1· Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted
2· Evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
This is a description of the days we’re living in now. You can be religious, and you can believe in a deity, or in witchcraft, and you’ll be left alone. But when you declare that your life is not your own, you were bought with a price and you belong to Jesus, you’re saved by Jesus, you’re looking for Jesus, your hope is in Jesus, and neither is there any other name given among men whereby ye must be saved, you’re going to be persecuted. And while the persecution of Bible Believing Jesus Speaking people increases, there will be a rise in evil, evil men and seducers (or imposters) will go from bad to worse. They will deceive others because they themselves are deceived by the father of lies, Satan, whose bidding these evil men and women do.
D) The Promise
How should we respond to a time of growing persecution and evil? Paul told Timothy, and he’s telling us, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (vv. 14, 15). What’s Paul telling us to do in these times? He is saying, “Keep your feet on the Rock and have your mind made up!” He’s saying, “Keep on keeping on!” He said, “Continue in what you’ve learned, do what the Bible tells you to do, and keep your faith in Jesus!” Keep talking the talk and walking the walk and don’t let anything deter you from your heavenly destination.
Paul started by telling us of his persecution and he followed up with the triumphant note that “the Lord rescued me from them all.” Then Paul goes on to say that just as he, Paul, was persecuted, “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (KJV). Implied, then, is that just as every believer can anticipate persecution, so too, every believer can claim the promise, “the Lord rescued me from them all.” The Psalmist said:
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate. (Ps. 34:19-22, KJV).
Again, the contrast is between the here and now, and the then and there. Here and now we are persecuted, we are afflicted, we suffer tribulation, trials and troubles, but the Lord our deliverer is coming. Paul said:
Rom 8:18-21
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. (NIV).
CONCLUSION
From one Christmas to another we see in increasing measure the distance between the world and God. Once it was common to have Nativity scenes on the courthouse lawn, the Ten Commandments on the courthouse walls, and prayer before high school football games.
Who could have imagined forty years ago the extent to which the Christianity would be attacked and pushed into the shadows while Muslim clerics are invited to hold religious services in the Whitehouse and a movies of witchcraft have record attendance? Who would have imagined a time, when after a tragedy of epic proportions, when it would be forbidden speak the Name of Jesus in prayer services?
Now, even colors hinting at the Christian meaning of Christmas are forbidden in some places. In one city, the leaders forbid red poinsettias in government buildings because red is associated with Christmas. When a lady had the audacity to bring a red poinsettia she was disciplined by her boss.
Let me tell you that what we need to do is keep speaking the name. If we’re going to be persecuted, let it be for the name of Jesus, and in so doing rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer for the sake of the gospel. When a person says, “Happy Holidays,” respond with, “Merry Christmas.” Whenever and wherever the opportunity arises speak the name of Jesus.
It isn’t going to get any better. But Jesus said, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28, KJV).
© Dr. Mark E. Hardgrove
Texts: Luke 21:10-19, 2 Timothy 3:10-15
Yesterday my wife and I were going into a store and I dropped some change into the Salvation Army bucket. The man thanked me and said, “Happy Holidays.” I said to my wife, “Did you hear that? Why didn’t he say Merry Christmas?” Let me read you some accounts of the attempt of the world to strip Christmas of its Christ centered focus. The following comes from the NewsMax.com America’s News Page (Dec. 11, 2001).
The county school board in Covington, GA, censored the word “Christmas” from the school calendar after the fanatically anti-religious group that calls itself American Civil Liberties Union threatened to sue, sue, sue.
Two middle-school students in Rochester, MN, were punished for—the horror, the horror—wearing red and green scarves in a Christmas skit and for concluding, “We hope you all have a merry Christmas.”
New York City’s notoriously rotten government schools have banned Nativity scenes but allow the display of the Jewish menorah and the Muslim star and crescent.
The school superintendent in Silverton, OR, demonstrated anti-religious bigotry by allowing secular decorations but forcing students to remove all religious holiday decorations from their lockers.
An educrat in Fredrick County, MD, banned employees from handing out Christmas cards in the school because cards with a Christian message (but not a non-Christian message!) supposedly “may not be a legally protected right on a public school campus.”
A fourth-grader in Ephrata, PA, was kept from handing out religious Christmas cards to classmates.
The Politically Correct patrol told two ninth-graders in Plymouth, MA, that they could not make Christmas cards saying “Merry Christmas,” or depicting a Nativity scene.
A Principal in Plymouth, IL, warned a teacher not to read a book about Christmas to her second-grade pupils—even though the book was in the school’s library. (What will leftist American Library Association have to say about this one?)
And the accounts of discrimination against Christians go on and on and become more and more ridiculous. Where is the church? Where are the Christians? Why have we allowed a minority of vocal non-Christian activists take control of the government, the schools, the media, and the courts? The current rise of anti-Christian sentiment in a nation that appears to be growing more and more religious is disturbing but not surprising.
I) JESUS’ WARNING AND JESUS’ PROMISE
It is disturbing that the schools will herald the virtues of a book about witchcraft and will read and promote the book in our schools, but will not allow the reading of the Christmas story during the Christmas season and is, in fact, trying to strip the word Christ from Christmas and replace it with “Season’s Greetings,” or “Happy Holidays.” It is disturbing, but it is not surprising. Let’s look at the words of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel, chapter 21, and verses 10 through 19:
10 Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
12 "But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 This will result in your being witnesses to them. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 All men will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By standing firm you will gain life. NIV
Let’s explore the words of Jesus here. He begins in verses 10 and 11 describing a time of global war and social and environmental upheavals—wars, earthquakes, famines, pestilences, fearful events and great signs from heaven. Then Jesus says, “But before all this . . ..” If verses 10 and 11 are describing the Great Tribulation period (Matt. 24:21; Rev. 2:22, 7:14), then what Jesus is describing in verses 12 through 19 will take place before the Tribulation. In other words, while the church has not been appointed unto wrath (1 Thess. 1:10, 5:9), that is, God’s judgment upon a sinful world (Rom. 5:9), we have not been exempted from persecution at the hands of a sinful world. In fact, Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (Jn. 16:33, NIV). We have peace, not from the storms of life, but in the midst of the storms.
A) The Warnings
Look at what Jesus warned will take place prior to the Great Tribulation period:
1. They will lay hands on you and persecute you
2. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons
3. You will be brought before kings and governors
Jesus pauses to tell us the reason for our persecution [look at it in your text] “and all on account of my name.” In other words, we will be persecuted because we claim to be Christians, which contains the word “Christ” in it. We will be persecuted because we observe a Holy Day called Christmas, again containing the name “Christ.” We will be derided and shouted down when we say that we believe that Jesus Christ is the only hope of salvation. We will be persecuted because we claim Christ as Lord.
After the recent terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, DC, there were a number of prayer services and religious observances, but if you listened very closely you found that while God, love, tolerance, faith, and religion were all talked about the name of Jesus was excluded from the prayers and conversation.
Dr. Lamar Vest is the current president of the American Bible Society, a society that is over a hundred years old. He is also the General Overseer—or the Administrative Bishop—of the Church of God of Cleveland, TN. Recently I was at a minister’s meeting where he spoke. He told us that as the president of the American Bible Society (ABS) he’d had doors opened to him and our denomination that would not have otherwise been opened. ABS had him flown to New York a couple days after the attack and he met and prayed with many of the policemen and firemen. He was invited to several of the prayer services and politely refused to attend anywhere he would not be permitted to use the name of Jesus. Some of the newspapers will no doubt note his absence and when they find out why, he will come under attack.
B) The Promise
Along with the warning that Jesus gives us, He also gives us a promise: “This will result in your being witnesses to them.” In other words, their persecution of us, their taking us into courts and before kings and governors, will provide us with the opportunity to speak the name of Jesus. When they ask Dr. Vest why he refused to attend, he has the opportunity to say for the record that he will not go where he cannot speak the name of Jesus.
I would recommend that every one of us refrain from pledging allegiance to any organization, no matter how many public service projects they do, which will not allow us speak the name, or pray in the name of Jesus. I would not wear their rings, I would not pay their dues, I would not have my name on their rolls, and I would not claim membership in any organization that forbids the use of the name of Jesus.
Jesus said, “You will be persecuted for my name sake, but in so doing you will have the opportunity to be my witnesses.” He goes on to say, “But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.”
That’s an exciting promise! We don’t have to worry about or try to memorize our defense. All we have to do is pray, read the Word, and let the Holy Spirit take over when it’s time to talk. He will bring to our remembrance, the Scriptures we’ve read. He will give us the words we need to speak and our words will be so powerfully anointed that they will not be able to resist or contradict.
C) The Warnings
But then Jesus returns to the warnings”
4. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends
5. They will put some of you to death
6. All men will hate you because of me
Again, the warnings are followed by promises. Jesus says something that sounds like a contradiction. Notice, in verse 16 Jesus says, “they will put some of you to death,” and yet in verse 18 he says, “But not a hair of your head will perish.” How do you reconcile these two promises?
D) The Promise
Verse 19 gives us the clue, “By standing firm you will gain life.” Jesus is contrasting the temporal with the eternal. In the world ye shall have trouble, but the very world that is persecuting the church doesn’t know that Jesus has already won the victory. Looking through our natural eyes it looks like the world is winning, but look a little higher, Jesus is still on the throne, and justice delayed is not justice denied.
We will be persecuted, and we may pay with our lives, but we will not perish. When we became believers we gained eternal life as our birthright, it is our inheritance in Christ Jesus. Man may destroy the body, but God can preserve our spirit and souls unto the day of when the Bridegroom returns for the Bride of Christ, the Church, believers of all ages. At that moment we will be given a glorified body, a body that will never taste death again. A body that be raised to an eternal existence in Christ.
I was watching a PBS special last night and they were talking about a tree that is five thousand years old. They call it the Methuselah tree. They were curious as to the source of its longevity and they found that in the DNA of the cellular structure of this tree there is no gene for aging. In other words, all other living things have a gene that causes our bodies to age, but this tree doesn’t have that gene. As a result, that tree could conceivably live forever as long as no one cuts it down. When God raises us to eternal life the curse will be removed. The gene that causes us to age was introduced to humanity through the sin of Adam. God said, “in the day that you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will surely die” (Gen. 2:16-17, paraphrased). On that dreadful day death was introduced, but when we are raised up from the grave we will be given a glorified body in which the curse is reversed and we will live forever.
If we deny Christ, if we compromise and give in to those who would silence our confession of faith and stop us from speaking the name that causes demons to tremble, then we may save our life here, but we have forfeited eternity. If, however, we stand in faith on the Rock Christ Jesus and speak His Name, the Name at which every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess, then we will gain eternal life. Speak that powerful Name, say the Name of Jesus and watch what happens—demons tremble.
II APOSTLE PAUL’S WARNINGS AND PROMISES
In addition to Jesus, the Apostle Paul gives us some warnings and promises with regard to our faith in Jesus Christ as it relates to the last days. Look at 2 Timothy chapter 3, and verses 10 through 15:
10You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11persecutions, sufferings-what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. NIV
Look at Paul’s words in verse 10. He reminds Timothy that he knows the type of uncompromising life that Paul lived, and he lists the areas of his life that were evident to anyone watching:
1· My teaching
2· My way of life
3· My purpose
4· Faith
5· Patience
6· Love
7· Endurance
A) The Warning
What was the result of Paul’s life in Christ?
1· Persecutions
2· Suffering
3· Persecutions
B) The Promise
But Paul doesn’t sound a note of despair or defeat; he goes on and says; “Yet the Lord rescued me from them all.” That’s not fear or compromise talking—that’s victory talking. That’s commitment and confidence in the Lord!
C) The Warning
Paul goes on and gives us these warnings:
1· Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted
2· Evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
This is a description of the days we’re living in now. You can be religious, and you can believe in a deity, or in witchcraft, and you’ll be left alone. But when you declare that your life is not your own, you were bought with a price and you belong to Jesus, you’re saved by Jesus, you’re looking for Jesus, your hope is in Jesus, and neither is there any other name given among men whereby ye must be saved, you’re going to be persecuted. And while the persecution of Bible Believing Jesus Speaking people increases, there will be a rise in evil, evil men and seducers (or imposters) will go from bad to worse. They will deceive others because they themselves are deceived by the father of lies, Satan, whose bidding these evil men and women do.
D) The Promise
How should we respond to a time of growing persecution and evil? Paul told Timothy, and he’s telling us, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (vv. 14, 15). What’s Paul telling us to do in these times? He is saying, “Keep your feet on the Rock and have your mind made up!” He’s saying, “Keep on keeping on!” He said, “Continue in what you’ve learned, do what the Bible tells you to do, and keep your faith in Jesus!” Keep talking the talk and walking the walk and don’t let anything deter you from your heavenly destination.
Paul started by telling us of his persecution and he followed up with the triumphant note that “the Lord rescued me from them all.” Then Paul goes on to say that just as he, Paul, was persecuted, “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (KJV). Implied, then, is that just as every believer can anticipate persecution, so too, every believer can claim the promise, “the Lord rescued me from them all.” The Psalmist said:
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate. (Ps. 34:19-22, KJV).
Again, the contrast is between the here and now, and the then and there. Here and now we are persecuted, we are afflicted, we suffer tribulation, trials and troubles, but the Lord our deliverer is coming. Paul said:
Rom 8:18-21
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. (NIV).
CONCLUSION
From one Christmas to another we see in increasing measure the distance between the world and God. Once it was common to have Nativity scenes on the courthouse lawn, the Ten Commandments on the courthouse walls, and prayer before high school football games.
Who could have imagined forty years ago the extent to which the Christianity would be attacked and pushed into the shadows while Muslim clerics are invited to hold religious services in the Whitehouse and a movies of witchcraft have record attendance? Who would have imagined a time, when after a tragedy of epic proportions, when it would be forbidden speak the Name of Jesus in prayer services?
Now, even colors hinting at the Christian meaning of Christmas are forbidden in some places. In one city, the leaders forbid red poinsettias in government buildings because red is associated with Christmas. When a lady had the audacity to bring a red poinsettia she was disciplined by her boss.
Let me tell you that what we need to do is keep speaking the name. If we’re going to be persecuted, let it be for the name of Jesus, and in so doing rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer for the sake of the gospel. When a person says, “Happy Holidays,” respond with, “Merry Christmas.” Whenever and wherever the opportunity arises speak the name of Jesus.
It isn’t going to get any better. But Jesus said, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28, KJV).