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  WE ARE CALLED TO BE REJECTED AND PERSECUTED BY MEN
  by Zac Poonen
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Summary: Believers are promised persecution and suffering, and we must
prepare the church for this reality.

Topics: "Persecution", "Tribulation"
Scripture References: John 16:33

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DESCRIPTION
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Zac Poonen emphasizes the inevitability of persecution for those who
desire to live godly in Christ Jesus, drawing from biblical teachings
that highlight how tribulation is a part of the Christian journey. He
underscores that faithful followers of Jesus will face rejection,
slander, and dishonor, mirroring the experiences of Jesus and the early
apostles. Poonen challenges the popular belief of a pre-tribulation
rapture, asserting that believers must be prepared for persecution as
part of their calling.

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CONTENT
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"All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2
Tim.3:12)

Jesus told His disciples that in the world they would face tribulation
(Jn.16:33); and He prayed to the Father NOT to take His disciples out of
the world (Jn.17:15).

The apostles taught believers that only through much tribulation they
could enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22).

Jesus said that if people had called the head of the house Beelzebul,
the members of His household would be called by worse names
(Matt.10:25). It is thus that we know we are faithful members of His
household. Some of the names that I have been called, by other
"believers", have been: "Devil", "Son of the Devil", "Evil spirit",
"Antichrist", "Deceiver", "Terrorist", "Murderer", and "Diotrephes". It
has been a great honour to be identified thereby as a part of Jesus'
household. All who serve the Lord faithfully will experience this.

Jesus also said that a true prophet would not be honoured by "his own
relatives" (Mk.6:4). Jesus Himself was not accepted by His family
members. Every true prophet of God will be rejected and dishonoured by
his own relatives, even today. In the same way, a true apostle will also
be "slandered and treated as the scum of the world and the dregs of all
things" (1 Cor.4:13). Suffering and rejection have always been the
appointed lot of God's greatest servants.

The teaching that the church will be raptured before the "great
tribulation" is a popular one with most believers because it comforts
their flesh to hear it. But Jesus made it very clear in Matthew 24:29-31
that He will return to take His elect only AFTER the "great
tribulation". THERE IS NOT A SINGLE VERSE IN THE ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT
THAT TEACHES THAT THE CHURCH WILL ESCAPE THE GREAT TRIBULATION BY BEING
RAPTURED OUT OF IT. This doctrine was invented by a man in England in
the mid-1800 s.

We must now prepare the church for persecution.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/zac-poonen/we-are-called-to-be-rejected-and-persecuted-by-men/
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