Isn't it interesting that Jesus told His disciples about events which would not take place until the end of world history? Today we can say with confidence that many of these things would not take place for at least years (1967 + 32 = 1999; This sermon was originally preached in 1999). Why would believers need to know about something that far in the future? Obviously, Jesus felt they did, as did Paul (2Th 2:5) and Peter (2Pe 3:1-13) and John (1 Jn 4:3). And, if the early church needed this information, then we who are nearly 2,000 years closer to His return need it as much or more.
Jesus knew that to protect believers from being spiritually deceived and to give them the strength, they need to endure persecution; they must have God's perspective of human history. The forces at work in the last generation are present in every generation. As history moves towards its end, hostile spirits have and will spring up and repeatedly express themselves in human society. So by learning to understand what afflicted the last generation, we will recognize the spiritual causes of that which opposes God in our generation. Jesus knew that: 1) every generation will experience these same forces; 2) every generation must be vigilant and informed; 3) every generation needs hope; and 4) every new believer needs to be told these things to protect them.
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