Being seized for loyalty to Christ and dragged before religious courts, rulers and kings, shut up in prison and threatened with death will be turned into a chance to speak for him and to defend the truth. Though spoken of the fall of Jerusalem and the coming of Christ, the warning reaches those living at the very end, telling what to expect in the final days and urging the message to be carried plainly to the cities. It has already been seen when Stephen faced his accusers and when Paul made Felix tremble by speaking of righteousness, self-control and coming judgment, and in the long train of hatred, imprisonment, exile, torture and martyrdom from the crucifixion cry through the Dark Ages to Smithfield. Before the final crisis the faithful who keep all of God's commands including the Sabbath will stand clearly separate, and when many are arrested, driven from towns, brought on false charges before councils and rulers, and some put to death, their trial will become a still greater witness. They are not to worry beforehand how to answer, for Christ will supply words and wisdom no opponent can refute, while God gives grace and strength suited to the day, and their bold stand will open ears that never heard the truth, win some hearers and even some judges to decide for God.
Meaning and Prophetic Setting
Being laid hold on for Christ's name, delivered to synagogues and prisons, brought before councils and before kings and rulers, imprisoned or threatened with death, will turn into an occasion to bear testimony for Him and to vindicate the truth. The opposition and trials met with while bearing the message become the very opening for witness. When brought before authorities under false, absurd and lying accusations, the accused are given opportunity for testimony while sustained with grace, comfort and steadfastness.
It was spoken in the prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction and of Christ's coming, and the words also address those living in the last scenes of earth's history. The chapter represents what may be expected in the last days. It gives a solemn message for the present work, to be carried clearly to dwellers in the cities by those who live out the truth and obey God's commandments.
Christ's teaching would divide minds, with one part receiving Him and the other taking sides with Satan to oppose Him and His followers. Hence His followers would have tribulation, have hands laid on them, be persecuted, be delivered to synagogues and prisons, be brought before kings and rulers for His name's sake, be betrayed by parents and brethren and kinsfolks and friends, and some be put to death. This outward strife does not remove the peace Christ gives, which is inward rather than outward and remains amid division.
Fulfillment Past and Future
The promise that persecution would turn into testimony was fulfilled at the mock trial of Stephen and at the trial of Paul, when his reasoning on righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come made Felix tremble. The prophecy has been fulfilled in a marked manner in the hatred that cried for crucifixion and in the persecution of the disciples. It has been fulfilled in the same marked manner in Dark Ages imprisonments, exiles, and burnings, in Inquisition tortures, in the St. Bartholomew massacre, and in the Smithfield fires.
Prior to the last closing conflict the two armies will stand distinct and separate, with God's commandment-keeping Sabbath people marked off from Sunday observers, so that many convinced of the truth will join them. In that battle many will be imprisoned, many will flee for their lives from cities and towns, and many will be martyrs for Christ's sake in defense of the truth. Being brought before kings, rulers, and councils to meet false, absurd, and lying accusations will give opportunity for testimony in a yet more marked manner, with every indignity, reproach, and cruelty that Satan can instigate.
Witness and Faithful Preparation
When brought into trial for faith, disciples are not to be anxious beforehand about how to defend themselves, for Christ will give them a mouth and wisdom that all their adversaries cannot gainsay nor resist. Being laid hold on, brought before authorities, imprisoned, or threatened with death will turn into an occasion to bear witness while God sustains them with grace, comfort, and steadfastness. Strength will be given equal to the day, and none will be permitted to be tempted above what can be borne, following Jesus who bore all this and far more. This was fulfilled at the mock trial of Stephen and at the trial of Paul when he made Felix tremble as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come.
Standing in that trial requires standing firm as a rock to principle, living out the truth and obeying the express command of God. It calls for thorough and intelligent knowledge of Bible truth through close study rather than mere agreement, since believers may face critical questioning and severe criticism of every position of truth they hold. That intelligent knowledge prepares men and women to contend zealously for the law, to reestablish the holy law, to make up the breach made in the law of God, and to restore the tables of stone to their ancient, exalted, honorable position, and when brought into straight places God's faithful servants are not to confer with flesh and blood. Standing will require intensity of zeal, piety and devotion, and both their own salvation and the destiny of other souls depend on the preparation they make now, so the time now being wasted must be devoted to preparing for the approaching crisis.
Bold witness for Christ will cause men to hear sacred truth they never heard before. Through arrest, trial, and imprisonment, God gives people a witness and a last opportunity to repent that brings them to decide for or against Him. In some hearts the seed will take root, and the converting power of God will win souls from darkness to light. Those who view the wrongly condemned with sympathy and without bitterness show their attachment to Christ.
Even some of the very men on the judgment seat, lawyers and jurors, will embrace the truth. In their turn they will confess Christ before kings and rulers by loyalty to all the commandments of God, especially the Sabbath command, which will be made the test question, as it has ever been.
Being seized for loyalty to Christ and dragged before religious courts, rulers and kings, shut up in prison and threatened with death will be turned into a chance to speak for him and to defend the truth. Though spoken of the fall of Jerusalem and the coming of Christ, the warning reaches those living at the very end, telling what to expect in the final days and urging the message to be carried plainly to the cities. It has already been seen when Stephen faced his accusers and when Paul made Felix tremble by speaking of righteousness, self-control and coming judgment, and in the long train of hatred, imprisonment, exile, torture and martyrdom from the crucifixion cry through the Dark Ages to Smithfield. Before the final crisis the faithful who keep all of God's commands including the Sabbath will stand clearly separate, and when many are arrested, driven from towns, brought on false charges before councils and rulers, and some put to death, their trial will become a still greater witness. They are not to worry beforehand how to answer, for Christ will supply words and wisdom no opponent can refute, while God gives grace and strength suited to the day, and their bold stand will open ears that never heard the truth, win some hearers and even some judges to decide for God.
Meaning and Prophetic Setting
Being laid hold on for Christ's name, delivered to synagogues and prisons, brought before councils and before kings and rulers, imprisoned or threatened with death, will turn into an occasion to bear testimony for Him and to vindicate the truth. The opposition and trials met with while bearing the message become the very opening for witness. When brought before authorities under false, absurd and lying accusations, the accused are given opportunity for testimony while sustained with grace, comfort and steadfastness.
It was spoken in the prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction and of Christ's coming, and the words also address those living in the last scenes of earth's history. The chapter represents what may be expected in the last days. It gives a solemn message for the present work, to be carried clearly to dwellers in the cities by those who live out the truth and obey God's commandments.
Christ's teaching would divide minds, with one part receiving Him and the other taking sides with Satan to oppose Him and His followers. Hence His followers would have tribulation, have hands laid on them, be persecuted, be delivered to synagogues and prisons, be brought before kings and rulers for His name's sake, be betrayed by parents and brethren and kinsfolks and friends, and some be put to death. This outward strife does not remove the peace Christ gives, which is inward rather than outward and remains amid division.
Fulfillment Past and Future
The promise that persecution would turn into testimony was fulfilled at the mock trial of Stephen and at the trial of Paul, when his reasoning on righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come made Felix tremble. The prophecy has been fulfilled in a marked manner in the hatred that cried for crucifixion and in the persecution of the disciples. It has been fulfilled in the same marked manner in Dark Ages imprisonments, exiles, and burnings, in Inquisition tortures, in the St. Bartholomew massacre, and in the Smithfield fires.
Prior to the last closing conflict the two armies will stand distinct and separate, with God's commandment-keeping Sabbath people marked off from Sunday observers, so that many convinced of the truth will join them. In that battle many will be imprisoned, many will flee for their lives from cities and towns, and many will be martyrs for Christ's sake in defense of the truth. Being brought before kings, rulers, and councils to meet false, absurd, and lying accusations will give opportunity for testimony in a yet more marked manner, with every indignity, reproach, and cruelty that Satan can instigate.
Witness and Faithful Preparation
When brought into trial for faith, disciples are not to be anxious beforehand about how to defend themselves, for Christ will give them a mouth and wisdom that all their adversaries cannot gainsay nor resist. Being laid hold on, brought before authorities, imprisoned, or threatened with death will turn into an occasion to bear witness while God sustains them with grace, comfort, and steadfastness. Strength will be given equal to the day, and none will be permitted to be tempted above what can be borne, following Jesus who bore all this and far more. This was fulfilled at the mock trial of Stephen and at the trial of Paul when he made Felix tremble as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come.
Standing in that trial requires standing firm as a rock to principle, living out the truth and obeying the express command of God. It calls for thorough and intelligent knowledge of Bible truth through close study rather than mere agreement, since believers may face critical questioning and severe criticism of every position of truth they hold. That intelligent knowledge prepares men and women to contend zealously for the law, to reestablish the holy law, to make up the breach made in the law of God, and to restore the tables of stone to their ancient, exalted, honorable position, and when brought into straight places God's faithful servants are not to confer with flesh and blood. Standing will require intensity of zeal, piety and devotion, and both their own salvation and the destiny of other souls depend on the preparation they make now, so the time now being wasted must be devoted to preparing for the approaching crisis.
Bold witness for Christ will cause men to hear sacred truth they never heard before. Through arrest, trial, and imprisonment, God gives people a witness and a last opportunity to repent that brings them to decide for or against Him. In some hearts the seed will take root, and the converting power of God will win souls from darkness to light. Those who view the wrongly condemned with sympathy and without bitterness show their attachment to Christ.
Even some of the very men on the judgment seat, lawyers and jurors, will embrace the truth. In their turn they will confess Christ before kings and rulers by loyalty to all the commandments of God, especially the Sabbath command, which will be made the test question, as it has ever been.