Devotion in Motion
Monday Meditation
06/21/2021
Mark 13:9-13
“But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.” “And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.” “But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.” “Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all men for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. The word that Jesus uses here is the greek word(Thelipses) which means trouble or anguish, or afflicted depending on the context and it can also mean persecuted. This was a warning from the Lord to his followers that because you follow me as your Lord and savior. You will have tribulation. Why? because he said a chapter before in John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
The world will hate you because it hated me 1st. That’s really heavy, All Jesus ever did was come on the scene and offer the world salvation and peace, he healed the sick, raised the dead, the lame could walk, the deaf could hear, the blind could see; But because he didn’t conform to the world’s way of thinking, of order they hated him and they will hate us too. “But be of Good Cheer for I have overcome the world” For a follower of Jesus this world is hostile territory. We’re guaranteed to take some licks and absorb some jabs. At times we’ll feel like the devil’s dartboard. But in the midst of this tribulation, Jesus says to “be of good cheer” for He promises us His perfect peace. Here’s a great definition for peace, “It’s knowing that you possess adequate resources.” Peace is knowing I’ve got whatever I need for the challenges I face. It’s the assurance I can tackle life – head-on – in Christ! Notice too, Jesus says “I have overcome the world.”
When the great French reformer, Theodore Beza, was brought before the king, he made this statement, “Sire, it is truly the lot of the Church to endure blows and not to strike them. But please remember that the Church is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.” The Protestant Reformers in England had a motto they lifted from the burning bush passage in Exodus. “Nevertheless, it was not consumed.” This is how you have to close each new chapter of church history. Though the world beats at us and rips us apart we’re not consumed. When Jesus rose from the dead He defeated all the forces that nailed Him to the cross. We too are now overcomers when we put our trust in Him.
Jesus has been telling the disciples, 4 of them Peter, James, John, and Andrew about the end times and has just finished telling them of what will happen in accordance with the world. False christs will come on the scene, earthquakes, famines, wars and rumors of wars that will increase on a worldwide scale. Now here in Vs. 9 he begins to be telling them that they personally will need to endure. “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.”
Remember, the Olivet Discourse was a private conversation addressed to Jesus’ Jewish disciples. In verse 3, this is a rabbi speaking to His followers – Peter, James, John, and Andrew. Jesus speaks to Jews about Jews, “watch out for yourselves.” He warns them, you “will be beaten in the synagogues.” Gentile Christians didn’t go to the synagogue. Synagogues were Jewish places of worship. Here’s the point, Mark 13 doesn’t address the Church. It speaks to Jewish believers who are alive after the Church is raptured, and living on earth before Jesus returns.
Remember the Bible predicts a final seven year period of history known as “The Great Tribulation.” Daniel 9 gives us details of this period. It begins when Israel signs a treaty with a Roman ruler – and it ends when Jesus returns. Again, Today, Christians experience tribulation – this world wants to persecute the Church. But on that day, a tribulation will come from God upon this wicked world. The Tribulation will be a devastating time for planet earth. Revelation 6-19 speaks of cataclysmic judgments. You see God’s purpose for this Great Tribulation will be two-fold. 1st: He punishes the unbelieving and wicked and 2nd: to purify the Jews. So an escalation of warfare, earthquakes, famines are all “the beginnings of sorrows” – but the Tribulation period will also be characterized by two other events…
Verse 9 notes there will be an increase in Anti-Semitism. Particularly, Jews who embrace Jesus, and are loyal to God, Because of all that is going on the world will want to take out its hatred against the jews and the tiny nation of Israel. He says You will be brought before councils – they’ll be beaten and persecuted. And then verse 10 tells us, “And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.” I’ve heard folks use this verse to teach that before the Church is raptured, we have to spread the Gospel to every corner of the earth. That’s part of what is known as Kingdom Theology, But that’s not its meaning… According to Revelation, after the Church is raptured an unprecedented revival will take place on the earth. God will use special means to spread the Gospel… He starts with 144,000 supernaturally-protected Jewish evangelists.
Imagine 144,000 Billy Grahams let loose on the planet… Along with them are two special witnesses who are raised from the dead in the streets of Jerusalem… In Revelation 14 an angel flies through the sky proclaiming the everlasting Gospel…And if the Gospel is preached, the implication is people will be saved. There are three types of believers in the Bible: First, Old Testament believers who trusted in a coming Messiah… Second, those of us who are the Church… And third, Tribulation saints… These are people who decide to follow Jesus during the Tribulation – who’ll have to endure to the end to be saved.
The Great Tribulation will be a difficult time to be a believer. Persecution will be intense. Opportunities to stumble will be great. Only those with a persevering faith will be saved. For the tribulation saints, martyrdom will become the norm. In the Tribulation, even without the Church on earth, God will see to it the Gospel is preached in all the world. And where the Gospel goes, folks get saved. But if you come to faith in Jesus during this time, you will be persecuted. Verse 11 warns Jewish believers, “But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”
I think we can apply this verse to believers today – God’s Spirit always gives bold words to quivering lips. In a tight spot He gives a witness exactly what needs to be said Like Peter in Solomon’s porch or Steven to the council as he is defending himself. . “Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all men for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” Again, the Great Tribulation will be a difficult time to follow Jesus. Persecution becomes intense. Families turn on one another. It’ll be easy to fall away.
Only those believers who maintain their faith until the end will be saved. The only escape from this terrible time is at its beginning – the rapture. When Jesus snatches up His Church. As Paul is teaching the Thessalonians about the day of God’s wrath upon the world he says in 1 Thess 5:9 ” For God did not appoint us to wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. That’s why it’s best to give your life to Jesus now. Besides, if you can’t live for Jesus today, how are you going to live for Him when it really gets tough? And it will get tough. Only those that endure will be saved. How do you endure? by having your faith tested now!
Romans 5:3 “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance” (or Endurance)
During times of tribulation now and during the great tribulation, it is going to be very easy to give up but don’t because Jesus said “I have overcome the world”
It’s been said “A faith that can’t be or refuses to be tested now cannot be trusted later.
Victor Tafoya
www.devosinmotion@gmail.com
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