We Are Called to Be Rejected and Persecuted by Men
Believers are promised persecution and suffering, and we must prepare the church for this reality.
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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"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.
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction
- A. The promise of persecution for believers
- B. Jesus' teaching on tribulation and rejection
- II. The Experience of Jesus and the Apostles
- A. Jesus' rejection by His family and the world
- B. The apostles' suffering and rejection
- III. The Lot of God's Greatest Servants
- A. Suffering and rejection as the appointed lot
- B. The example of Paul and other apostles
- IV. The False Teaching of the Rapture
- A. The doctrine of the rapture and its origins
- B. The contradiction with Jesus' teaching in Matthew 24
- V. Conclusion
- A. The need to prepare the church for persecution
Key Quotes
“All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” — Zac Poonen
“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).” — Zac Poonen
“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.” — Zac Poonen
Application Points
- We must be prepared to suffer and be rejected for our faith in Jesus.
- We must teach the truth about persecution and prepare believers for the suffering that lies ahead.
- We must be faithful to Jesus, even in the face of rejection and suffering.