The reference to the Passion belonged as a matter of
course to the eschatological prediction. A time of unheard
of affliction must precede the coming of the Kingdom. Out
of these woes the Messiah will be brought to birth. That
was a view prevalent far and wide: in no other wise could
the events of the last times be imagined.

According to this view Jesus' words must be inter-
preted. It will appear then that in his preaching of the
Kingdom he brought into sharp prominence the thought
of the Affliction of the last times. We always assume that
when he speaks of persecutions which his Disciples shall
encounter he means to predict what they must go through
when they are left alone and orphaned on earth after his
death. That is totally false. After his death Jesus will be
Messiah through the Resurrection, and therewith the
glory of the Kingdom dawns. Not what they must with-
stand after his death, but what they are to be in the
Kingdom is the thought which concerns the Disciples on
the way to Jerusalem.

When Jesus speaks of suffering and persecution it is a
question of the afflictions which his followers must bear
with him before the dawn of the Kingdom. What is meant
is the last desperate attack of the powers of this world
at enmity with God, which shall sweep like a flood over
those who in expectation of the Kingdom represent the
divine power in the godless world. Hence Jesus constitutes

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