6    The Bible and the Future of the World 

when  the world opposes the Church, a treacherous and difficult time for 

God's people. 

    The difficulties for the Church are so great during these years that the 

Church appears to be nearly overcome, like a sinking boat. But the Church 

appeals to Jesus for help and the troubled time ends suddenly, not gradually. 

All the faithful are amazed at God's power and mercy. Jesus' comment to 

His disciples is also His comment to the faithful who will endure this time of 

trial:  Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?  

Future Persecutions (Mt 10:16 23) 

      `Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in 

their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my 

sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles.'   (Mt 10:17 18). 

      `Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and 

children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will 

be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be 

saved.'   (Mt 10:21 22). 

    Jesus is describing what future persecutions of Christians will be like. 

These descriptions apply to many times and places, but especially to the 

time of the Church's Passion, the time of the Church's great suffering, 

described in the book of Revelation. 

    During the worst of the sufferings, Christians are delivered up to death 

even by their own family members. But it is also true that Christians refer to 

one another as brother and sister, even if they are not related by blood. And 

the early Christians referred to anyone who brought them into the Faith as a 

parent; and anyone they brought into the Faith they called their child. Thus, 

there is another meaning to this warning about betrayal. Some Christians, 

during the worst of the persecutions, will be delivered up to death by their 

brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers in the Faith, that is, by fellow 

Christians. 

    Jesus gives further instruction to His followers concerning future 

persecutions. 

      `So every one who acknowledges me before  men, I also will 

acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me 

before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.'   (Mt 

10:32 33). 

      `He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and 

he who loves  son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he 

who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who