Many are caught unawares by persecution
and behave badly

Jesus knew how Peter would act, and told him it was coming.

“Jesus said to him, “Most assuredly I tell you that tonight, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.””
Mtt 26:34 WEB

It is an advantage to know it is coming. You can think, practice in your mind how you will act, you can “prepare your minds for action,” 1Pe 1:13 WEB. But if it hits you all of sudden, you may be so surprised that you will not act in any sensible manner.

Peter clearly did not know himself very well, didn’t really believe what Jesus said would happen, and so was caught unaware, and reacted poorly.

Jesus was going to show Paul “how many things he
must suffer for my name.” Acts 9:16 WEB

Surely that was a great advantage to Paul in steeling in his mind for what was to be. Similarly, the church at Smyrna was given warning.

“… Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life. ”
Rev 2:10 WEB

It is good to have warning, and to then pay attention to the warning.

The Storm Clouds of trouble normally give
signs of coming

There were plenty of signs of trouble in a German politician by the name of Adolf Hitler. Despite being financed by German and British and American financiers, most should have known better, and many did. Some listened and read and watched what was going on, and took appropriate warning, and fled in time. Many though, both Christian and Jews, were not watching as they should have been, and were trapped into bad circumstances that they were unprepared to resist or avoid or cope with.

It is a great advantage that American churches
have been given warning

American’s have been living in a fairly land that does not really exist. They have been foolishly ignorant and misinformed as to the anti-Christian nature of their “establishment,” their media, and many of their corporations and leaders and organizations. The true nature of much of Western “Liberalism” is being revealed and much of it is neither pretty or liberal.

Only a few years ago perhaps most American’s did not believe that persecution could “really happen here.” Now those illusions are being stripped away.

These things are are to our advantage if … we will learn our lessons and watch.

“We must through much tribulation enter the
kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22 KJV

This is still true, and always has been. The world is still not our friend, and it never really has been, 1Jn 2:15-17.

“Behold, I have told you beforehand.” Mtt 24:25 WEB

Jesus did tell us in advance, of the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD, of the end of this present universe, of persecution, and of this present world. If we will watch, that information can be used to our advantage.

To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

KJV is the King James Version, 1611

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901