“Then people will treat you badly. People will give you \{to the rulers\} to be persecuted (hurt) and killed. All people will hate you. All these things will happen to you because you believe in me.
“People will say bad things against you and hurt you. They will lie and say all kinds of evil things against you because you follow me. But when people do those things to you, know that God will bless you.
“People will hate you because you belong to the Son of Man. {\cf2\super [117]} They will make you leave their group. They will insult you. They will think it is wrong even to say your name. When these things happen, know that God will bless you.
And what is the seed that fell on the good ground? That is like the people that hear God’s teaching with a good, honest heart. They obey God’s teaching and patiently make good fruit.
I have given them your teaching. And the world has hated them. The world hated these men, because they don’t belong to the world, the same as I don’t belong to the world.
Some people live for God’s glory, for honor, and for life that cannot be destroyed. Those people live for those things by always continuing to do good. God will give life forever to those people.
What great blessings there are for the person who is tempted and still continues strong. Why? Because after he has proved his faith, God will give him the reward of life forever. God promised this to all people who love him.
Don’t be afraid of the things that will happen to you. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison. He will do this to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But be faithful, even if you have to die. If you continue faithful, then I will give you the crown of life.
“I will give power to every person that wins the victory and continues until the end to do the things I want. I will give that person power over the nations:
“Every person that hears these things should listen to what the Spirit {\cf2\super [14]} says to the churches. To the person that wins the victory I will give the right to eat \{the fruit\} from the tree of life. This tree is in the garden of God.
“I will let every person that wins the victory sit with me on my throne. It was the same with me. I won the victory and sat down with my Father on his throne.