DAY 25 - For My Name’s Sake - 2
Since the Antichrist will “cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease” in the Temple, the Jews must once again be sacrificing in the Temple.
This necessitates some other group of people being able to be hated and killed for Jesus’ name sake in the verses prior to the “Abomination of Desolation”.
Since it is the name of Jesus Christ for which these people are being hated and killed (no other reason is ever given here), is it possible that these are people who choose to call themselves by His name, the “Christians”?
It is important to realize that no new information was given to the disciples pertaining to being hated, and even killed, for the name of Christ.
Jesus had already specifically told this to His earthly followers, so the message that He shared with them on the Mount of Olives would not have sounded like a message pertaining to the eventual Jewish inhabitants of the earth who would be living millennia later.
The familiar words and point of the message would have sounded very familiar.
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.” (John 15:18-21)
Jesus warned His followers that they would be hated and persecuted.
He also elaborated and mentioned that it would be for His “name’s sake”.
At one point or another, it appears that all men are hated and persecuted, both believers and nonbelievers.
However, the hatred and persecution that Jesus spoke of was not your average, everyday, generic, freely-applied-to-all-regardless type hatred and persecution.
This persecution was only afflicted upon His followers for His name’s sake.
Therefore, this type of persecution and hatred (for my name’s sake), can only be applied to believers.
Jesus warned the twelve disciples of the same thing before He sent them out into the world for the first time.
“But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 10:17-22)
This hatred will only happen to people because of the name of Jesus.
There is no other reason given.
Suffering for Christ is a purely Christian experience.
Since being hated and killed for the sake of Jesus’ name has been a major part of Christianity throughout the world and throughout the ages, there is no logical reason to assume that the “Olivet Discourse” passages are not speaking to Christians on this issue.
Point #1: Being hated and killed for Jesus’ name sake is a purely Christian experience.
Point #2: From the very foundation of our faith, this has been the Lord’s message to believers.
2+2=4
Thanks, @narrowminded
In case you missed them,
Introduction
Back Cover
1 : The Foundation
2 : The Tribulation
BONUS : A Biblical, New Testament Understanding of Tribulation
3 : The Seventieth Week of Daniel
4 : Not Appointed to Wrath
5 : Wrath vs. Tribulation
6 : The Day of the Lord
7 : The Lord Alone
8 : The Exaltation of the Antichrist
9 : Promises
10 : The Presupposition
11 : 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
12 : The Revealing of the Antichrist
13 : Same Day - 1
14 : Same Day -2
15 : Hand in Hand
16 : Overtake You as a Thief
17 : Another Thief
18 : Not Knowing the Day or Hour - 1
19 : Not Knowing the Day or Hour - 2
20 : Not Knowing the Day or Hour - 3
21 : Ignorance
22 : "Olivet Discourse": Armageddon or Rapture? -1
23 : "Olivet Discourse": Armageddon or Rapture? -2
24 : For My Name's Sake -1