Our paragraph topic is: (Opposition foretold) Part 8.
In the previous parts of this paragraph Christ has given his disciples tools of war, weapons to fight the evil spirits that they will encounter and do battle with. He has trained them for the spiritual realm in which they will fight. This battle is not in the physical realm but the spiritual realm, even though the results of the battle can have physical consequences. This is what Christ now shows his disciples. He tells them that there will be physical consequences to this battle. There will be separation. There will be division. There will be blood shed by the people. The demons will not go easily. They will cause their own evil disciples to bring about destruction and death and bloodshed upon the believers.
Christ gives his disciples a glimpse into the future, showing them the results of their teachings. He tells them, "Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and put them to death." All this will happen because of the spread of the message of the kingdom of heaven. The demons will cause believers to fight against unbelievers and this will bring about destruction. Brothers who grew up together and loved one another will turn and become enemies. One will give up the other to death because of the evil that is in man's hearts. Fathers will sacrifice their children to death because the children will not change from their belief in the message of Christ. Children will rise up against their parents because they think that their parents do not embrace the old teachings of the kingdom. Destruction will reign and this is the will of the evil one. They will not be able to change the beliefs of those who hold to the beliefs of Christ so they will persecute, and torture, and beat, and kill the bodies of those who believe. And Christ will accept them into his kingdom as saints.
Today in our society and in societies all over the world believers in the one true God face the same persecution. They are tortured, slain, and put to death for their beliefs because the devil has taken control of those areas of the world and invaded the hearts of men. In this society, in America and more civilized countries, we still have the same persecution but not quite as severe. Fathers deny their children and cast them out because of their beliefs. Children give up their parents when they enter into the world because of the teachings that their parents instilled in them . They are indoctrinated and blinded by the dazzle of the world and give up their spiritual values handed down by their parents. Brothers separate and build walls between themselves because of their religious beliefs. The principles of love and family die and the evil one cuts the ties that bind them together and places a wall of separation between them. We still face the same enemy today, only hidden from us in the cloak of industrialization, glitz and glamour.
Love conquers all and the love of Christ will open doors to fight the enemy. The lessons that Christ has given his disciples must be applied today. Do not be surprised if you are separated from your family for following the message of Christ . Do not be surprised if you are persecuted, ostracized at work, unpopular with friends, left out, denied opportunities, talked about, and looked down upon. All these are the tactics of the devil to sway you into his plan. Keep the faith. Hold the course. Rely on the Lord for your strength. He will provide. He will see you through. You will not be alone because there will be others to share your burdens and walk with you along the path of life given you by Christ . Keep the message of the kingdom of heaven and remember the words of Christ , "Do not be anxious!" Keep your hearts calm and free from anxiety, for the Spirit of the Father will come to you and will speak through you. Are you ready for the coming separation, brother against brother, father against child, children against parents? Prepare yourself.
In the previous parts of this paragraph Christ has given his disciples tools of war, weapons to fight the evil spirits that they will encounter and do battle with. He has trained them for the spiritual realm in which they will fight. This battle is not in the physical realm but the spiritual realm, even though the results of the battle can have physical consequences. This is what Christ now shows his disciples. He tells them that there will be physical consequences to this battle. There will be separation. There will be division. There will be blood shed by the people. The demons will not go easily. They will cause their own evil disciples to bring about destruction and death and bloodshed upon the believers.
Christ gives his disciples a glimpse into the future, showing them the results of their teachings. He tells them, "Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and put them to death." All this will happen because of the spread of the message of the kingdom of heaven. The demons will cause believers to fight against unbelievers and this will bring about destruction. Brothers who grew up together and loved one another will turn and become enemies. One will give up the other to death because of the evil that is in man's hearts. Fathers will sacrifice their children to death because the children will not change from their belief in the message of Christ. Children will rise up against their parents because they think that their parents do not embrace the old teachings of the kingdom. Destruction will reign and this is the will of the evil one. They will not be able to change the beliefs of those who hold to the beliefs of Christ so they will persecute, and torture, and beat, and kill the bodies of those who believe. And Christ will accept them into his kingdom as saints.
Today in our society and in societies all over the world believers in the one true God face the same persecution. They are tortured, slain, and put to death for their beliefs because the devil has taken control of those areas of the world and invaded the hearts of men. In this society, in America and more civilized countries, we still have the same persecution but not quite as severe. Fathers deny their children and cast them out because of their beliefs. Children give up their parents when they enter into the world because of the teachings that their parents instilled in them . They are indoctrinated and blinded by the dazzle of the world and give up their spiritual values handed down by their parents. Brothers separate and build walls between themselves because of their religious beliefs. The principles of love and family die and the evil one cuts the ties that bind them together and places a wall of separation between them. We still face the same enemy today, only hidden from us in the cloak of industrialization, glitz and glamour.
Love conquers all and the love of Christ will open doors to fight the enemy. The lessons that Christ has given his disciples must be applied today. Do not be surprised if you are separated from your family for following the message of Christ . Do not be surprised if you are persecuted, ostracized at work, unpopular with friends, left out, denied opportunities, talked about, and looked down upon. All these are the tactics of the devil to sway you into his plan. Keep the faith. Hold the course. Rely on the Lord for your strength. He will provide. He will see you through. You will not be alone because there will be others to share your burdens and walk with you along the path of life given you by Christ . Keep the message of the kingdom of heaven and remember the words of Christ , "Do not be anxious!" Keep your hearts calm and free from anxiety, for the Spirit of the Father will come to you and will speak through you. Are you ready for the coming separation, brother against brother, father against child, children against parents? Prepare yourself.
