Progressive Persecution

On our Red-Letter journey, we just stepped onto the ground of Matthew 24. This is where many modern wannabe prophets will hang their hat and create grandiose predictions about raptures and end times and date setting and all that.

Spoiler alert, we are not trying to figure out when the end of the world will come. I think about this when people ask me why I don't want to go there. First, I can't deny that I have gone that. I have. But I think about this as a reason why I don't. I used to work in a huge multi-billion-dollar corporation. People were always jockeying for pay raises and promotions. In that environment, I had a boss who I never forgot. He said: "You don't have to be political, but you do have to be politically astute.". The point he was making is yes pay attention but consider the task at hand and be good at your job.

Matthew 24 is like that! Yes! Pay attention but ultimately, "Pick up your cross daily and follow me." It is human nature to ask "When?". In fact, that was one of the very questions the disciples asked Jesus leading up to the Olivet Discourse. But notice that Jesus doesn't say April 21st, 2030! (That's Easter in 2030 by the way, but I digress). There is a reason Jesus doesn't do that and why you shouldn't either. Jumping right to when all this will take place can have some devastating effects. The worst effect among many I could name is that often the arguments are so convincing that many jump on board. Then when the prediction fails, the followers don't just stop following that person (some actually will stay followers) but they jump off the train altogether.

So let me just say this plainly. Do not set dates and do not follow date setters. Neither is biblical. The only right way to approach the day is to consider that today could be your last. Even if someone does get the date right, you could get hit by a bus tomorrow. Hopefully you will have been carrying your cross when that happens.

Today, we cover the progression of persecution. The progression of persecution is intense enough without worrying about when the man of lawlessness will arrive. Just knowing that he will arrive is enough! Be assured, you'll know when that happens. And if it happens in your lifetime, you'll be ready.

Notes for Progressive Persecution

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