12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. 13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head shall be lost. 19 By your patience possess your souls.
In verses 12-19, Luke depicts a coming persecution of believers from the government, family, and friends.
21:12
But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.
“Before all these things” refers to verses 9-11, which include both the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and the future Tribulation. There will come a time of persecution of genuine believers.
21:13
But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.
The future time of judgment will offer an occasion to proclaim the gospel.
21:14
Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;
Believers are not to be concerned about how they will answer their accusers.
21:15
for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.
Believers do not need to worry about what to say because the Lord will direct them what to say
21:16
You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.
Jesus warned genuine believers that their own relatives will betray them. Some will die due to their betrayal.
21:17
And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.
All will hate strong believers because of the name of Jesus.
21:18
But not a hair of your head shall be lost.
During a given period, Jesus assures courageous believers that they will not be harmed without God’s permission. No one will be able to take their mortal life from them until it is God’s will.
21:19
By your patience possess your souls.
The primary concern for believers during this time is to persevere through all these things. Those who remain faithful to the end of the Tribulation will enter the millennial kingdom without dying (Mt 24:13; Mark 13:13). Some who remain faithful to the end of the Tribulation will enter the kingdom without dying.
PRINCIPLE:
God will usher those who remain faithful through the Tribulation into the Millennial kingdom.
APPLICATION:
God’s judgment upon Israel will begin with Rome’s destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in A.D. 70, but Israel’s judgment will continue until Christ comes in His Second Coming. God will protect believers under persecution during the Tribulation so that He will usher them into the Millennial kingdom at the Second Coming of Christ.
