Well, good morning. Please take out your Bibles and turn to Luke chapter 21. Luke 21, we continue in our study through Luke's gospel. Our passage this morning is Luke chapter 21, verses 5 through 19. So let's just start by reading through the passage, Luke 21, 5 through 19. This is God's word for you this morning. And while some are speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, He said, as for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down. And they asked him, teacher, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place? And he said, see that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name saying, I am he, and the time is at hand. Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and of tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once. " Then he said to them, nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and pestilences and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 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. " This is the word of the Lord. So we continue to make our way through the Gospel of Luke. And if you've been here in recent months, you'll remember that we spent several weeks covering chapter 20, the back and forth between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders. And then last time, from the first four verses of chapter 21, we covered the widow's offering. And I mentioned last time that the chapter break there isn't super helpful because of the continuity of themes between the end of chapter 20 and the beginning of chapter 21. Like the scribes, they're devouring widows' houses, end of chapter 20, and now here is a devoured widow in the beginning of chapter 21 who only has two small coins to give. Well, here's another reason why that's an unfortunate chapter break, and it's because of location. Everything in chapter 20, and the first four verses of chapter 21. All of that happens in the temple, on the temple grounds. So look at chapter 20, verse 1. One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple, and then the rest of chapter 20 happens in the temple. And then chapter 21, verse 1, Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting in their gifts into the offering box, which as we said last time, is located in the temple. So everything in chapter 20 and the first four verses of chapter 21 happens in the temple. But then starting in verse 5, our passage today, the setting changes. And you wouldn't know that from just reading Luke, because he doesn't give us those details. But Matthew and Mark fill us in through their parallel accounts. This passage that we read earlier, the teaching of this chapter, it happens not in the temple, but after Jesus and his disciples have left the temple and have gone to the Mount of Olives. Which, by the way, is why you'll sometimes hear this chapter referred to as the Olivet Discourse. But just because they've left the temple, doesn't mean that the temple has left them. Because look at verse 5. Look at the topic of conversation here. Some were speaking of the temple. I think it's hard for us to grasp, as 21st century Americans, we're thousands of miles removed, we're thousands of years removed, just how important the temple of Jerusalem was for the first century Jew. Like it was the place. where God's presence was manifested through the Holy of Holies in the temple, which is why faithful Jews would pray facing towards Jerusalem, wherever you were. It was the place where animal sacrifices, pointing to the atonement of sins, where those animal sacrifices would all take place. It was the place where God was worshiped. Which is why Jews would make annual pilgrimages to that city from all over the nation. It was unquestionably the religious and spiritual and cultural center of the nation. But how did that come about? Well, if you're familiar with the Old Testament, you'll know that the Ark of the Covenant, the physical manifestation of God's presence with his people, it was originally housed in a tent, in a tabernacle, a portable worship center. But one day, King David, whose throne by that point had been firmly established in the city of Jerusalem, he says to himself, see, now I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent. So I got to build a house. I got to build a temple for the Lord right here in Jerusalem. But it's not David. It's ultimately going to be David's son, Solomon, who actually builds the temple in Jerusalem. It takes him seven years to build it, utilizing the best building supplies available, employing the best craftsmen available. And God blesses that endeavor. We're told in 1 Kings that when it was completed, the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. But because of the nation's idolatry, because of Israel's unfaithfulness, it's only a few hundred years before God sends the Babylonians, Nebuchadnezzar, to destroy Jerusalem, to demolish the temple in the year 586 BC. So there's an exile for several decades that follows that. But then God allows the Jews to return, and one of the first major projects that they undertake upon their return is to rebuild the temple, led by men like Zerubbabel and Ezra. And while the temple is rebuilt, the second temple is not nearly as glorious as Solomon's temple. Well, the temple continues in that state for several hundred years, but then a man named Herod the Great comes along. So in order to read the New Testament, you basically need like a Herod tracker because there's so many different guys named Herod. This Herod, Herod the Great, he is the Herod who is ruling when Jesus is born. Go and search diligently for the child. And when you have found him, bring me word so that I may go and worship him. Well, of course, he has no intention to do that as evidenced by the fact that he murders all the babies in the region of Bethlehem after the wise men don't come back. Anyway, this Herod, this Herod the Great, he's really into big building projects. And so he builds a port city with this artificial harbor. He builds some impressive fortresses. He builds some theaters. But his masterpiece, like his lasting legacy, was what he did with the temple at Jerusalem. So starting around 19 BC, so this is before Jesus is born, Herod begins to renovate and reconstruct and expand and beautify and improve the temple. And while most of the main structures are completed during his reign, other aspects of that project actually continue on after his death for decades. You remember when the Jews say to Jesus, it has taken 46 years to build this temple? That's what they're referring to. And so over decades, lots of tax money being raised and spent on the project along the way, Herod and his successors, they make this temple even more beautiful than it was in Solomon's day. And so the temple of Jerusalem in Jesus's day, sometimes it's referred to as Herod's temple, It was one of the most spectacular, glorious buildings in the entire world at that time. It was an enormous building, an enormous complex. Like Herod basically doubles the area of the Temple Mount. He uses massive stones of white marble and he puts gold plates on the outside of those stones so the sun would basically shine off of the facade of the temple. Apparently that year's Christmas offering for the temple was taken so that they could have new carpet. All the carpet in the temple was brand new. It was like in every way an awe-inspiring, like jaw-dropping building. Here's one quote I came across from that time period. Quote, he who has not seen the temple in its full construction has never in his life seen a glorious building. It's kind of a strong statement. But as glorious as the temple in Jerusalem might have appeared, like as magnificent of a building as it was, as central as it was to Jewish life back then. If you've been around in this Luke series, you'll know that several times already, Jesus has prophesied of its destruction. Luke chapter 13. Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it. How often would I have gathered her children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings and you were not willing. Behold, your house is forsaken. Your house, of course, refers to the temple. Or Luke 19, this is when Jesus weeps over the city. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you because you did not know the time of your visitation. And here in our passage in Luke 21, Jesus once again says the same thing. Look at verse 5. Some of the disciples, they're talking about the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings. And what does Jesus say in verse 6? He responds with similar words as before. As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down. Why? Why would the temple be destroyed? Because the entire temple system, its leadership, everything it represented, it was completely corrupt. It was wicked. It was rebellious. We saw that in the verses that we just read, how they were not willing to receive Jesus. How they did not know the time of their visitation, that the Messiah was among them. We saw that when Jesus, at the end of chapter 19, cleanses the temple. They'd made God's house into a den of robbers. We saw that when Jesus, in chapter 20, he tells the parable of the wicked tenants. That ends with God's judgment on the Jewish religious leaders, the guys who ran that temple system. And now here's a prophecy that's as clear as day. Everything that you see here, all of its splendor and glory and majesty, everything is going to be completely destroyed in judgment. And that happened exactly as Jesus prophesied. In the years leading up to A.D. 70, the Roman army, led by a general named Titus, they besiege the city. And then in the summer of A.D. 70, the Romans completely level the city, burn everything down, demolish the temple. The historian Josephus tells us that over a million people were killed in that siege. That number is probably a bit exaggerated. It seems a little too high for the population of Jerusalem back then. But it gives us an idea of the enormous scale. Not one stone upon another. There's some figurative language that describes this complete destruction, this massive annihilation. And that's exactly what happened. accounts tell us that the city was basically unrecognizable after the invasion. Now to us, all of that, the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem, it's just kind of a fact of history that we can look back on. But to a first century Jew, as in everyone who would have heard Jesus say these things, That would have been an incomprehensible idea, like a preposterous idea, an unfathomable idea. How could? I mean, look at that thing. Look at this beautiful stones. Look at the glory of that building. How could that ever be destroyed? And a related and very important question. The temple is going to be destroyed? How could the true worship of God possibly continue without that temple? You see, for most of Israel's history up to that point, whether it be through the tabernacle or through Solomon's temple or through the second temple, Herod's temple, the worship of God was always centered on a location. The Jews had to go to a certain place. like the Jerusalem temple, to do things like offer their sacrifices. That's why, and remember that all of this is happening during Passover week. That's why even that week in this city, hundreds of thousands of Jews had come from all over the nation to make their sacrifices and offerings. Worship was always centered on a location. Which is what makes Jesus' words to the woman at the well so surprising. John chapter 4, verse 21. Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain, Mount Gerizim, nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. He said, forget about Mount Gerizim. What do you mean not in Jerusalem will you worship the Father? How could anybody possibly worship God without Jerusalem? How could there ever be sacrifices for sin without Jerusalem? And the answer, of course, is the incarnation. The incarnation, the second person of the Godhead taking on human flesh by being born of woman, Merry Christmas, So that now the presence of God with man, the presence of God with man is not localized in a building, like the temple, but in a person, the God-man Jesus Christ. That's John 1.14. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, literally tabernacled among us, or we might say, templed among us. God became a temple among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. In Jesus, something greater than the temple is here. not only in the sense that he is Emmanuel, God with us, but he's greater than the temple in the sense that all of the elements of temple worship, whether it be the priests as mediators, or the sacrifices and offerings for sin, all of those types and shadows, as the book of Hebrews makes so clear, all of those find their fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus, the great high priest who is himself the final and perfect sacrifice. Jesus lived the perfect life that we never could. He died as an atoning sacrifice in our place on the cross, taking upon himself all of the sins of all of his people, and then he rose again from the dead to demonstrate that his sacrifice was indeed accepted. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. so that all who would trust in him and him alone for their salvation might indeed have their sins forgiven and be made righteous. He intercedes for us as our great high priest that he might reconcile sinners like us to a holy God. And so now, for those who have placed their trust in him, for those who have repented and believed, for those who have thus been united to the Son of God, We, his people, are God's temple. It's exactly what the New Testament says on several different occasions. 1 Corinthians 3, 17, for God's temple is holy and you are that temple. 2 Corinthians 6, verse 16, we are the temple of the living God. As God says, I will make my dwelling among them, and walk among them, and I will be their God and they will be my people." Or consider what it says in Ephesians chapter two. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him, you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. So, how could the true worship of God possibly continue without that temple? Once that temple is destroyed? Well, the God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by man. That temple was just to serve as a picture of a greater reality. And now that something greater than the temple is here, that building in Jerusalem is obsolete. The greater reality is Jesus, the one who redeems for himself a people for his own possession who are then themselves the temple of God. Is there some practical application here for us? I think so. Remember, the New Testament's priority on the people of God and not a building, not a place. The central building of the Old Covenant was completely destroyed and never rebuilt. But the idea of the temple, God dwelling with man, well, now that exists through the people of God. I think that's a really important thing for us, First Baptist Church, to remember, particularly because we have such a wonderful building ourselves. God has been so kind to this congregation to not only allow our predecessors to build this thing, but also to allow our church to keep it and to maintain it through many generations. You think about it, most buildings that look like this in this city, they're not preaching the gospel anymore. Some of them don't even call themselves churches. Like what a kind gift from the Lord for our church body that we can use this building for the sake of gospel ministry. And so we should be good stewards of this gift that God has given us. Like we should replace the carpet. We should restore the roof. We should take good care of this building. But let's not forget that God cares more for the people he's redeemed who happen to worship in this building than the beauty and the splendor and the majesty of the building itself. And God's priorities ought to be his people's priorities as well. But back to Luke 21. So the disciples are wrestling in their minds with this idea that this beautiful temple that they're looking at from their vantage point on the Mount of Olives, as they look down into the Old City, that that thing is going to be destroyed. And they ask two very reasonable questions. Verse 7, Now before we look at Jesus's answer, let's make two general comments first. Number one, whatever Jesus's answer is, we need to think about how the original audience, so that's his disciples who asked him these questions, how they would have understood his words. So for example, look at verse eight. See that you are not led astray. Who is that you? Well, it's most immediately the disciples who asked the question, because Jesus is speaking to them. Now, does that mean that there is no application here for us? No, of course not. We can and we should think about ways in which these principles apply to us as believers. But proper interpretation, if we're trying to use fancy words, hermeneutics, that requires that we acknowledge that first and foremost, these words were spoken to Jesus' disciples who were present on that day. And I think that guards us from unnecessarily projecting everything in this chapter into the future. This was most immediately to be applied by his disciples in their day. Notice that Jesus doesn't actually answer their questions about when the temple is going to be destroyed or what the sign would be until verse 20. We'll get to verse 20 next time. But first, before answering their question, there's this kind of parenthetical set of verses in 8 through 19, and that's where I want to spend the rest of our time this morning. So everything up to this point was just introduction. Now we get to our sermon. In our verses, Jesus is not going to talk about the destruction of Jerusalem itself yet. Rather, he's going to tell them about the time before the destruction of Jerusalem. He's preparing them for that time because he's not going to be with them anymore after his ascension. And so he prepares them by giving them four promises. Two of them are promises of warning, trials that still lay ahead of them. Two of them are promises of comfort. Precious words that surely they held on to very tightly in the midst of some of those trials. So let's think about these one at a time. First promise number one. Pretenders. Promise number one. Pretenders. Look at verse eight. See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name saying, I am he, and the time is at hand. Do not go after them. Pretenders, false teachers, false messiahs, false prophets. Full disclosure, the only reason I'm using pretenders is because my other points are all going to begin with the letter P, and so you're going to have to massage it a little bit. That's all right. We're going to go with pretenders. Jesus tells his disciples that in the time to come there would be many pretenders, those who would claim to be the Messiah or those who would claim that the time of the end is near. History tells us that in the decades after Jesus' ascension, there's records of many such pretenders, people who would gather large followings. For example, there's a reference in the book of Acts to the Egyptian. It's a Jewish false prophet who amassed some 4,000 followers. But why? Why would there be such a temptation to be led astray by these pretenders? Well, Jesus tells us in the verses to follow. It's because that time period would be characterized by various things that ordinarily cause people to panic and be afraid. Like when you hear of wars and tumults. Or as he says in verse 10, nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. The time period in which Jesus himself lived was a relatively peaceful one. But in the decades that would follow, there would be several wars throughout the Roman Empire, including several rebellions, tumults, involving the position of emperor of Rome. And then there's verse 11, great earthquakes. And in various places, famines and pestilences. We're told about a great famine over all the world in Acts chapter 11. And there's many other historical records of earthquakes and pestilences from that time. How about verse 11 again? Terrors and great signs from heaven. What specifically that's referring to? There's a lot of speculation. Maybe it's comets or something like that, but whatever it is, where all of these things are the kinds of things that can tempt people to fear and panic and potentially allow a false prophet to capitalize on that fear and panic. Such pretenders are going to come. That's promise number one. And the accompanying warning is, do not be terrified. Do not go after them. Promise number one, pretenders. And that, of course, is a warning for every age of believer. A warning repeated throughout the New Testament. We need to hear that warning just as clearly as those disciples did. Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Beware of anybody who preaches to you a gospel contrary to the one you received. Beware of anybody whose ministry is primarily characterized by speculative fear. dates and times and prophecies and predictions, rather than the simple message of the gospel, which is of first importance, that Christ died and rose again for our sins. Promise number one, pretenders. The first promise of warning is about pretenders. Promise number two is persecution. The second promise of warning is about persecution. Look at verse 12. But before all this, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake." Again, Jesus is speaking first and foremost to the disciples who asked him these questions, and he tells them that before anything happens with Jerusalem, they're going to be persecuted. Well, Were they? Now, if you've read through the Book of Acts, you know the answer to that question. You know that it's a resounding yes. But here's something fascinating. Because remember that Luke wrote both the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts, like Volume 1 and Volume 2. It's almost like Luke goes out of his way in terms of the language and the wording and the terminology that he uses in the book of Acts, like he goes out of his way to show how this promise of Jesus from the gospel of Luke is fulfilled in the ministry of the book of Acts. So look down at your Bibles, look at verse 12. We're gonna look at verse 12 one phrase at a time. Before all this, they will lay their hands on you. Well, did they lay their hands on them? Acts 12, verse 1. About that time, Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. Continuing in verse 12. They will lay their hands on you and persecute you. Did they persecute them? Acts 8, 1. There arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem. Let's keep going. Verse 12, delivering you up to the synagogues. Acts 26, 11. This is Paul describing the way he persecuted the church. And I punish them often in all the synagogues. Okay, back to verse 12. And prisons. Acts 8, 3. Basal was ravaging the church and entering house after house. He dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. And you will be brought before kings and governors. In the book of Acts, the disciples are brought before King Herod, King Agrippa, and the governors Festus and Felix. All for, look at verse 12 again, my name's sake. You see what I mean? It's like Luke goes out of his way to show how those things promised by Jesus in volume 1 are fulfilled in volume 2. But that's not all the persecution that's promised. Look at verse 16. 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 like Jesus would tell his disciples, the very next day in the upper room discourse, if the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. Promise number two is persecution. And again, that is a promise that stands for each of us who would name Christ as well. Now, what that persecution looks like is going to vary from time period to time period, place to place, context to context. Persecution is going to look different in the city of Jerusalem in A.D. 40 from New York City in the year 2025. But like Paul said in 2 Timothy 3.12, indeed all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. If we know that, if we have ears to hear what Jesus is saying here, if we're going to believe His promise, then to use Peter's words, we're not going to be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon us to test us as though something strange were happening to us. Promise number two, persecution. So promise number one, pretenders. Promise number two, persecution. These are promises that come in the form of warnings. Like here's some trials that are gonna come your way. Be prepared, be armed, be ready. Promises three and four, on the other hand, are promises in terms of comforts. Yes, those trials are headed your way. But here's two promises that ought to encourage you, dear child of God. And promise number three is presence. Here's the thing, that persecution we've been talking about, it's not all bad because it's going to give you, disciples, a great opportunity. Verse 14, this will be your opportunity to bear witness. And don't we see that so wonderfully played out in the book of Acts? It's only when Peter and John are arrested in Acts chapter 4 that they have the opportunity to proclaim the name of Christ to the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem. It's only when Paul and Silas are thrown into a prison in Philippi, Acts chapter 16, that they get to tell a Philippian jailer, believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household. It's only when Paul is wrongfully accused at the end of the book of Acts that he gets to talk to governors and kings like Felix and Festus and Agrippa and talk to them about righteousness and self-control and the judgment to come. It's only when Paul is imprisoned in Rome that he has this unique opportunity to bear witness in that context So that he could later say in his letter to the Philippians, But now put yourself in the shoes of the disciples who are hearing this. Opportunity to bear witness. That sounds great. But wait, I'm not going to know what to say. What if I freeze up? What if I panic? Verse 14. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. Now, if you ever hear a preacher use that verse to justify why he did not study or prepare, Jesus told me not to meditate beforehand. You should probably find another church. But remember, Jesus has already brought up this exact point, how he's going to be with his disciples in their persecution all the way back in chapter 12, where he says something very similar. When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say." Jesus promises to be with his people in those situations, particularly through the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit. And again, we see that so clearly demonstrated in the book of Acts. Peter, Acts chapter 4. The text says that the Holy Spirit fills him so that he boldly preaches before the rulers and elders. He tells them that they're the ones that crucified Jesus, but God raised them from the dead. He boldly proclaims to them that there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name given among men under heaven by which we must be saved. And then look at what Luke writes. Verses 13 and 14. That checks all the boxes. Persecution? Check. Opportunity to witness as a result? Check. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, giving his people the words to say, check. None of their adversaries were able to withstand or contradict. Check. Here's one more, just for fun. Think about Stephen. Acts chapter 6, verse 10. They could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking. And then that speech, you know that speech from Acts chapter 7, that sermon, that oration. You think Stephen had notes for that? You think he meditated beforehand what he was going to say? Or do you think that Jesus gave him a mouth and a wisdom so that his adversaries couldn't withstand or contradict it, but could only stone him? Promise number three is presence. And here's the precious promise for us, dear brothers and sisters. The same Holy Spirit who dwelt in Peter in Acts chapter 4, and the same Holy Spirit who indwelt Stephen in Acts chapter 6 and 7, and the same Holy Spirit who indwelt Paul throughout his ministry, well, he is the same Holy Spirit who indwells each of us. The same Holy Spirit who, when we face persecution, When we're caught off guard by a spiritual attack from an unbelieving co-worker. When we feel unprepared to answer the hostile questions from an unsaved uncle at a holiday dinner. He's the same Holy Spirit who gives us the mouth and wisdom that we need. So that even as we're always prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you, it's ultimately Jesus himself who gives us the right words, seasoned with salt, so that we may know how we ought to answer each person. And promise number three is presence. And that brings us to promise number four, protection. Verse 18, but not a hair of your head will perish. Now, at first glance, that promise makes absolutely no sense. Because look at the end of verse 16. Some of you they will put to death. So is this the promise only for those who are not going to be put to death in the aforementioned persecution? Like for those of you who will not perish, not a hair of your head will perish. Well, that's not really a promise at all. So what does it mean? Well, if only there was another passage in which Jesus spoke about hair in the context of persecution from which we could draw some clues, Luke chapter 12. I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body and after that have nothing more that they can do, but I will warn you whom to fear. Fear him who after he is killed has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why? Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, you are of more value than many sparrows. You see, in that passage, Jesus uses our hair, the fact that every hair on our head is numbered, the fact that not a hair of our head is unaccounted for by God, to illustrate not only that God is sovereign, but that we who trust them have nothing to fear. We have nothing to fear, not because we're physically immortal, not because our enemies and persecutors can't kill us, but because after that they have nothing more they can do. Because our souls, our eternal souls will not be cast into hell, into judgment, but upon death are brought into God's presence for eternity. Not a hair of your head will perish. That's not physical protection then as much as it is spiritual protection. We get confirmation of that in the very next verse. Verse 19, by your endurance you will gain your lives, not your physical lives. Just ask Stephen and James and all the martyrs if they gained their physical lives through their endurance. No, this is their spiritual lives, their eternal lives, not in the sense of earning salvation, but in the sense of demonstrating salvation. The one who endures through the end will be saved. Promise number four is protection. This is the glorious truth for every believer. that even as for your sake we are being slaughtered all the day long, we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered, at the same time, not death, nor life, nor anything can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is the glorious truth that for those who are in Christ, the worst thing in this life, though he die, is the best thing, yet shall he live. It's the most precious promise that Christ could give us, that of our eternal security in him, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. I'm so glad I learned to trust him, precious Jesus, Savior, friend. And I know that he is with me and will be with me to the end. But oh, for grace to trust him more. Promise number one, pretenders. Promise number two, persecution. Jesus warns his people of what's to come. And some of that is going to be very difficult. These are words that even we should hear soberly. But promise number three, presence. And promise number four, protection. His even greater promises for His people is that in the face of those trials, in the face of those tribulations, He's going to be with us. He's going to keep us to the end. That's a comforting thought for any season. Let's pray. Father, we believe Your Word. We believe the promises that You give us in Your Word. But Lord, we confess that we are prone to wander. Our hearts are prone to wander, and we are tempted to doubt Your love for us. And so we pray that You would grant to Your people a firm confidence and assurance and trust in the precious promises that are contained in Your Word. And we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.