PERSECUTION – TARES, TRAITORS AND TURNCOATS

When we look at the history of the Church, we find, beginning with Judas Iscariot, many who have betrayed the LORD Jesus Christ, and His Church. It would be naive, and ignorant of us, to assume that, all who profess their faith in Jesus Christ, are his followers, actually, and Christians in the true sense. In fact, when we read what the LORD Jesus had said in Matthew 24:9-12, it would open our eyes.
– “9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” – Matthew 24:9-12

– they will deliver you up to tribulation
put you to death
– you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake
– then many will fall away
– they will betray one another
– hate one another
– many false prophets will arise
– lead many astray
– increase of lawlessness
– the love of many will grow cold

What should bother the Christians, world over is that, *many will fall away, and they will betray one another, hate one another, many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray.* These are the tares, traitors and turncoats, that are sown by the eternal enemy, about which, the LORD Jesus spoke about in Matthew 13:24-30.
– “24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” – Matthew 13:24-30

A simple and straight reading of the two texts, helps us see that, tares, traitors and turncoats will be plenty to find. When the flame of persecution begins to increase its heat, the true nature of these people will come into light, as Jesus had warned about.

Tares are not, people who “believe” in wrong doctrines. Traitors are those who are with us, and demonstrate all visible sings of being with us, but all along they never belonged to us. Rather, they were always looking for an opportune moment, to sell us, to the highest bidder. To betray us is, at the very core of their heart and their thinking. Judas Iscariot is a very fine example. He never was one of the twelve, even though he was chosen by the LORD Himself, and was among the twelve, holding a very important post. He heard the words of the eternal Word of God, and saw the mighty and unheard-of miracles, by the LORD Jesus Christ, with his very own eyes. Yet, he is called the “son of perdition” by the LORD Himself – John 17:12.
– “For you will certainly carry out God’s purpose, however you act, but it makes a difference to you whether you serve like Judas or like John.” – C. S. Lewis

May the good LORD help us to be wise and alert, to see through the tricks of our enemy, the Satan. May the Omniscient God, grant us His grace to know these tares, and carefully navigate through their trickery. Even so the LORD help us.