were told to expect persecution, not only at the
hands of irresponsible individuals, but at the instance of the officials
such as they who were at that moment intent on taking the life of the
Lord Himself, and who would scourge them in the synagogs, deliver them
up to hostile tribunals, cite them before rulers and kings, and even put
some of them to death--all because of their testimony of the Christ. As
they had been promised before, so again were they assured, that when
they would stand before councils, magistrates, or kings, the words they
should speak would be given them in the hour of their trial, and
therefore they were told to take no premeditative thought as to what
they should say or how they should meet the issues confronting them;
"for," said the Master, "it is not ye that speak, but the Holy
Ghost."[1151] Even though they found themselves despized and hated of
men, and though they were to suffer ignominy, torture, and death, yet as
to their eternal welfare they were promised such security that by
comparison they would lose not so much as a hair of their heads. In
consoling encouragement the Lord bade them possess their souls in
patience.[1152] In face of all trials and even the direst persecution,
it was incumbent upon them to persevere in their ministry, for the
divine plan provided and required that the gospel of the kingdom be
preached amongst all nations. Their labors would be complicated and
opposed by the revolutionary propaganda of many false prophets, and
differences of creed would disrupt families, and engender such
bitterness that brothers would betray one another, and children would
rise against their parents, accusing them of heresies and delivering
them up to death. Even among those who had professed discipleship to
Christ many would be offended and hatred would abound; love for the
gospel would wax cold, and iniquity would be rampant among men; and only
those who would endure to the end of their lives could be saved.

From this circumstantial forecast of conditions then directly impending,
the Lord passed to other developments that would immediately precede the
destruction of Jerusalem and the total disruption of the Jewish nation.
"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by
Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place," said He, according to
Matthew's account, and virtually so also as stated by Mark, or "when ye
shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies" as Luke wri