Luke 21:16-19 (ESV)
You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.
In chapter 21 Jesus was asked by His disciples about the end of times. He gives them many signs we have heard or read many times. There will be wars. Their will be pestilence. There will be earthquakes. And, there will be family hatred of those who believe. That seems so harsh. But, Jesus is telling them that if you come to Christ, toward the end time, you will experience that ugly truth. It has been that since the church was established. It is increasing more and more as the end draws nigh. But, in the ends time it will be even more pronounced. It was recently reported that in China young school students are being told to turn in their parents for worshipping Christ in their homes. That is the fulfillment of what Christ is saying in these verses.
Notice the last line of the passage, however. We are to have “endurance” through even the worse of family betrayal. What is endurance?
Revelation 14:12 (ESV)
Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
Endurance is keeping the commandments of God and keeping faith Jesus. So, obeying His word to love those who hate you is one of those things we do to endure. So, when family, friends and country hate you because you are of the faith, keep His command and faith in Christ to bear the hatred in love.
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