Compare Mark 13:9-13; Luke 6:40; 12:11-12; 21:12-19; John 13:16; 14:26; 15:20; 16:2
What is notably absent from the litany of oppression and persecution given in these passages is any promise of this-worldly success. There’s nothing along the lines of “Just hold on, and your efforts will be crowned by success! Everybody will eventually honor and respect you, and the Church will triumph! Christendom will spread throughout the earth!” Instead, the message to the original apostles is “endure to the end, and you’ll be saved.”
That’s striking.
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