Jesus Christ foretold persecution many times. He warned His hearers that persecution would accompany the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. In Revelation, He warns future generations of the persecution they would face because of their faith in Him. He warns His church that at the close of history a time of trouble “such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time” will occur (Matthew 24:21). For God’s people to endure these times without wavering in their faith, Christ offered the words of encouragement we find in the...