Chapter 8
Jesus sends out his disciples to preach to the lost sheep of Israel. He instructed them to preach, “Repent,for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” At hand sounds imminent. He goes on to say that they, his disciples, would be persecuted for their words. If they don’t listen to you or receive you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than that city. Jesus is prophesying that the Kingdom is coming in their lifetime and those cities that they are speaking to will be judged.
Jesus literally sends his friends out as sheep among wolves. They are going to be scourged,beating, and brought before governors and kings for his name’s sake. And even put to death! These things he told them would happen, and their reward would be great. For he who endures till the end will be saved. This is serious stuff. If he isn’t a prophet and has no authority to do this, he just sent these men out to die.
I can see that he’s not speaking to anyone else except to the lost sheep of Israel. He told them not to preach in any city of the Samaritans or of the Gentiles. This is a prophesy directed at Israel. Plain and simple. Telling them to repent,for the Kingdom of God, is at hand or imminent.
This most certainly would be considered a cruel joke if he doesn’t follow through with his words of prophesy. Telling everyone the kingdom is being ushered in and giving your life for it. These men had families. I have to add that they were given power to heal the sick and even raise the dead, which would really strengthen your faith. I don’t know of anyone today who’s doing that. If this prophesy was for us, today, who is raising the dead! No one. If this is an end time prophesy and we are living in the end times like the church teaches today, I want to see the lame walk, lepers cleansed, and the dead raised to life! Maybe we’re living in the age of deception, Satan’s short season spoken of in Revelation 20? I need more evidence. Let’s look at some more prophesies.
JESUS RULES 