7. Promises to the Persecuted

18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

Luke 21:5 ¶ And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, 6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but

(1)when shall these things be?
and (2)what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
[false christs]

8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

Be Not Terrified, end is not yet

9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: 11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

PERSECUTION, vs. 12-19

12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. 13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

Introduction: Persecution

"Persecution isn't something I have to worry about."

DEFINITION: PERSECUTION: any hostility, ill-treatment, or systematic oppression directed toward an individual or group specifically because of their identification with Jesus Christ.

Unlike general suffering (which is a common human experience), biblical persecution is distinguished by its source and its purpose.

I. Persecution Will Come

1 Kings 18:4, 13 (Jezebel Slew) - The first great religious persecution we have of any record was that which broke out when Ahab was king of Israel who at the instigation of his wife Jezebel, sought to exerminate the worship of Jehovah and substitute in its place the worship of Ashtoreth and Baal.

Ahab and Jezebel's example was followed by Manasseh, who "shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another"

2 Kings 21:16 — Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. [The sins of Manasseh; 2 Kings 24:4 "would not pardon"]

David chose rather to trust God's justice than to seek revenge and writes about this is Psalm 7. ["persue hotly"]

Psalms 7:13 — He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

but know this ...

12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you ...

II. Persecution is Not Foreign

1 Peter 4:12 — Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: [don't think this as something foreign to you]

A. Exmaple of Jesus (Jesus has Come, Jesus Will Come)

John 14:6 — Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

#	Detail from Luke 21	Cross Ref	Jesus’ Fulfillment (Parallel Reference)
1	Laying hands on you	Matthew 26:50	"Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him."
2	Persecution	John 15:20	"If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you."
3	Delivering to synagogues	Mark 14:53	Jesus was brought before the High Priest and the Sanhedrin
4	Into prisons (custody)	Matthew 27:2	"And when they had bound him, they led him away..." Lu 22:63 ...men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. ..., blindfolded him, struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? 65 And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.
5	Before kings and rulers	Luke 23:1, 7	He was brought before Pilate (Governor/Ruler) and Herod (King/Tetrarch).
6	Mouth and wisdom	Matthew 22:46	"And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions." --- Isa 53:7 He was oppressed ... yet he opened not his mouth:
7	Adversaries unable to resist	Luke 20:26	"And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace."
8	Betrayed by kinsfolks/friends	Matthew 26:48-50	Judas, one of the Twelve, betrayed Him with a kiss. --- John 7:5 also notes His own brethren did not believe Him initially.
9	Put to death	Luke 23:33	"And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him."
10	Hated of all men	John 15:18	"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you."
11	Not a hair shall perish	John 19:36; Acts 2:31	"For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken." — "...his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
12	Patience (Endurance)	1 Peter 2:23	"Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:"

Luke 21:27 — And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

B. Example of Apostles

SEE EXTRA #1

C. Eusebius 10 Plagues / 10 Roman Persecutions

SEE EXTRA #2

III. Persecution will Come to an End

Protection and Preserveration in Perseuction
GOD WINS! 1 Kings 21;23 <= "Jezebel will be eaten by dogs -- IT WILL END
BUT ... Its gonna hurt right? (contradiction?) --- THERE IS PURPOSE

Luke 21:17b-18 — … and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

While Christ died physically, this points to Divine preservation and ultimate Resurrection. Even when ALL IS LOST , ALL IS NOT LOST! -- a better resurrection

Hebrews 11:35 — Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

Joh 11:25 — Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Ac 24:15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

in the likenss of Christ's resurrection

Ro 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

1 Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

ENDURE TO THE END!

Luke 21:19 — In your patience possess ye your souls.

Mt 10:22 — And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Extra

1. The Apostolic Fulfillment in the Book of Acts

#	Detail from Luke 21	Cross Ref	The Apostolic Fulfillment in the Book of Acts
1	Laying hands on you	Acts 4:3	"And they laid hands on them [Peter and John], and put them in hold unto the next day."
2	Persecute you	Acts 8:1	"And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem."
3	Delivering to synagogues	Acts 22:19	Paul recounts his former life: "I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee."
4	Into prisons	Acts 12:4	Herod "apprehended [Peter], and put him in prison." Also Paul and Silas in Acts 16:23.
5	Before kings and rulers	Acts 24–26	Paul stands before Governor Felix, Governor Festus, and King Agrippa.
6	Mouth and wisdom	Acts 4:13; Acts 7	"When they saw the boldness of Peter and John... they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." Stephen's sermon in Acts 7
7	Adversaries unable to resist	Acts 6:10	Of Stephen, it says: "They were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake."
8	Betrayed by kinsfolks	Acts 13:50	While specific family names aren't always given, the "chief men" and "devout women" (often family of Jewish converts) stirred up the city against them.
9	Put to death	Acts 7:59	Stephen is stoned. Acts 12:2: James (the brother of John) is killed with the sword.
10	Hated of all men	Acts 28:22	"For as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against."
11	Not a hair shall perish	Acts 27:34	During a shipwreck, Paul tells everyone, "There shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you." (See also Peter’s rescue in Acts 12).
12	Patience (Possess souls)	Acts 5:41	They departed "rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."

2. The Ten Great Roman Persecutions Framework

during this period TERTULIAN wrote "the blood of the martyers is the seed of the church"

#	Emperor	Dates (approx.)	Primary Characteristics & Events
1	Nero	64–68 AD	Triggered by the Great Fire of Rome. Nero used Christians as scapegoats. Includes the martyrdoms of Peter and Paul.
2	Domitian	81–96 AD	Focused on the refusal of Christians to participate in Emperor Worship. During this time, the Apostle John was exiled to Patmos.
3	Trajan	98–117 AD	Established the policy of "don't ask, don't tell" (documented in letters with Pliny the Younger). Notable martyr: Ignatius of Antioch.
4	Marcus Aurelius	161–180 AD	Christians were blamed for natural disasters (famine/plague). This era saw the martyrdom of Polycarp and Justin Martyr.
5	Septimius Severus	202–211 AD	Prohibited conversion to Christianity or Judaism under pain of death. Notable martyrs: Perpetua and Felicitas.
6	Maximinus Thrax235–238 AD	Targeted church leaders specifically, believing that if the "shepherds" were removed, the "flock" would scatter.
7	Decius	249–251 AD	The first empire-wide systematic persecution. Required citizens to carry a libellus (certificate) proving they sacrificed to Roman gods.
8	Valerian	257–260 AD	Confiscated church property and prohibited assemblies. Notable martyrs: Cyprian and Lawrence (the deacon).
9	Aurelian	270–275 AD	Often described as a brief but intense wave. He was assassinated shortly after issuing a decree against Christians, which limited its reach.
10	Diocletian	303–311 AD	Known as the "Great Persecution." The most severe attempt to eradicate Christianity. Churches were razed, and all Bibles were ordered to be burned.