Matthew 24:9-14 9“Then they will deliver you up to persecution and kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations on account of my name. 10And then many will fall away into sin and betray one another and hate one another. 11And many false prophets will arise and deceive many.
Jesus gives more signs that should prepare his followers for his second coming. The subjects of the persecution are not named, just given the generic they. Many different kinds of people can bring suffering upon God’s people, including those close to us. The rest of verse 9 suggests that those who cause the persecution have authority and power over the nations (ethnōn). Persecution (thlipsin) can come in the form of various trials, hardship, oppression, tribulation, and various troubles. Jesus warns that the suffering can even reach the point of being killed.
People persecute believers because of hatred towards Jesus. Evil fights agains the good. The evil that infiltrates people’s hearts and deceives them leads them to hate God’s people, even when believers live by love and do good to others. Such hatred is sometimes caused by insecurity, fear, or hardness of heart, as shown by the Jewish leaders towards Jesus.
Not all who profess to be Christians will stand strong during persecution. Those who are weak in faith ir perhaps what are sometimes called “social Christians” cannot overcome the temptation to flee from persecution because they rely on their own strength. They are like the seed sown on rocky ground in 13:20-21. No one should think that he or she is above failure. Even Peter turned his back on Jesus at his trial. We need God to strengthen our weak faith. During the last days, many people will fall away because of pressure. Sin waits in the shadows, which is why we must walk in the light of Jesus.
Verse 10 refers to more than personal sins but how people will turn their backs on one another in betrayal. The same word is used for betrayal (misēsousin) as deliver in verse 9. Betrayal involves turning one’s back on a friend and can lead to his or her delivery to persecutors. It is said that those who will do the delivery used to be believers who will have fallen into sin. Sin can destroy people so severely that they turn their backs on brothers and sisters in Christ.
Another sign is the rise of many false prophets who will come with enticing messages that are false but convince people to believe them. The utmost concern relates to false claims about Jesus. There can be great flexibility in various opinions on many matters, but when it comes to essential doctrines like the humanity and divinity of Jesus, there cannot be any negotiation. Many corollary problems result from poor Christology, such as speculations about end time events and immorality. The deception of false prophets and teachers is a big topic in the New Testament, which has many warnings about holding to the truth of the gospel.
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