Session 1 Betrayal: Its Prominence & Importance in God’s End-Time Plan
Mike Bickle
I. THE END-TIME CHURCH IS TRANSFORMED IN CONTEXT TO BETRAYAL
A. The combination of an unprecedented outpouring of the Spirit with betrayal is part of the optimum environment for the Church to be transformed in order to relate as an unified international family of
affection (Jn. 17:22-23). Multitudes in the end-time Church will be progressing toward mature love,while others will be overcome with offense that will lead them to betray other believers (Mt. 24:10). The gospel is made known to all nations (Mt. 24:14; Jn. 17:23) in context to betrayal and pressure.
22“And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
23…that the world may know that You have sent Me…” (Jn. 17:22-23)
10“And then many will be offended, will betray one another...12the love of many will grow cold…
14This gospel…will be preached in all the world…then the end will come.” (Mt. 24:10-14)
16“You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends…” (Lk. 21:16)
1. We must be alerted to the two extreme social and spiritual developments occurring simultaneously in the global body of Christ in the end times. They are total opposites—a culture of betrayal (Mt. 24:10) in contrast to a culture of deep love and unity (Jn. 17:23).
2. Betrayal creates urgency in us to go much deeper in our relationship with God to find understanding, reconciliation, healing, and peace for the pain that is caused by betrayal.
3. Note the sequence in verse 10—most betrayal starts with being offended and is expressed verbally—it occurs when we say negative things about the person that we are offended at. We can be offended at a brother but it is not betrayal until we verbalize that offense to others.
4. Those relating in godly ways contend for the destiny, honor, and family blessings of others. Hundreds of millions will respond to betrayal in a godly way resulting in the supernatural end-time unity of the Church. What Satan means for evil, the Lord uses for good (Gen. 50:20)
B. By definition, betrayal is in context to a close relationship—including family and friends.
C. Betrayal is both a demonic attack to hinder our spiritual growth and a divine gift to enhance it. God granted and appointed that His people endure being persecuted and betrayed (Phil. 1:29; 1 Thes. 3:3) that they may be transformed by it—leading to great benefit to them in this age and the age to come.
29For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ…to suffer for His sake… (Phil. 1:29)
D. Paul rejoiced in the opportunity to magnify how attractive Jesus is to an unbelieving world by loving and trusting His leadership while being persecuted. Believers who faithfully love Jesus even when persecuted or betrayed are a “living portrait,” giving a public display of how glorious Jesus is to them. They give an incarnational witness to His beauty, majesty, and excellent leadership.
24I rejoice in my sufferings…and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ… (Col. 1:24)
E. Betrayal is an “accelerant” that leads to faster growth in humble love or in bitterness and offense.
F. It is normal to be tempted to be offended with those we feel are responsible for mistreating us or blocking our expectations and goals (that we feel entitled to). When we are offended with someone, then it is easy to betray them and justify it biblically as contending for justice and righteousness. Not all persecution is betrayal, and not all betrayal is persecution. Most betrayal is the result of being offended, but some betrayal comes out of fear (social credit score) or for financial gain, etc.
G. One of Satan’s most destructive weapons against God’s people is accusation (Rev. 12:10). That is one reason why the Lord has prophetically emphasized Zechariah 3-4 to our spiritual family.
10…the power of Christ [is manifest]…the accuser of our brethren…has been cast down. 11They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb…they did not love their lives to the death. (Rev. 12:10-11)
II. SEE OTHER MIKE BICKLE MESSAGES ON PERSECUTION AND BETRAYAL
A. Four messages given in 2023 related to end-time persecution and betrayal from John 15-16:
The Certainty of Persecution in the West & Its Blessing (Jn. 15:18-24)
Persecution: The Seminary of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 16:1-4)
Encountering God’s Glory in the Face of Betrayal (Jn. 16:2)
How Jesus Prepares Us To Overcome Offense (Jn. 16:5-7)
B. Three messages related to betrayal and my prophetic encounter with the Black Horse in 1984.
Link to Mike’s message “Embracing God’s Narrative When Mistreated” (My Black Horse encounter) (Sept. 13, 2020)
https://mikebickle.org/resource/mature-love-embracing-gods-narrative-when-mistreated/
See Link to Mike’s message “The Blueprint Prophecy and the Black Horse” (Sept. 14, 2019)
https://mikebickle.org/resource/the-blueprint-prophecy-and-the-black-horse/
See Link to “The Black Horse: Zechariah 3-4 unto Isaiah 19 and John 17” (Aug. 30, 2020)
https://mikebickle.org/resource/the-black-horse-zechariah-3-4-unto-isaiah-19-and-john-17/
III. THE IMPORTANCE OF PREPARING GOD’S PEOPLE FOR PERSECUTION
A. Jesus wanted them to know that some would be betrayed in being put out of their spiritual families (synagogues; 16:2). All the apostles were cast out of their synagogues, killed, or imprisoned.
26When the Helper [the Spirit] comes…He will testify of Me [reveal more of Me]. 27And you willbear witness…16:1These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble [be overcome by offense]. 2They will put you out of the synagogues…[and] kill you…” (Jn. 15:26-16:2)
B. He will testify of Me (15:26): In the context of persecution, the Spirit will teach God’s people to understand and align themselves more to Jesus’ heart, leadership, and eternal values—so they grow in love for God and people by growing in purity, humility, mercy, generosity, and gratitude.
C. Jesus’ reason for emphasizing persecution and betrayal (Mt. 24; Jn. 13-17) was so that they would not stumble (16:1). The Greek verb, “stumble,” (skandalizmao) means to be offended (KJV), or go stray (NIV). Our greatest danger is not in being betrayed but in responding to it in a wrong way, leading to our spiritual failure and falling short of the grace of God (Heb. 12:14-15).
14Pursue peace with all people…15looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness [offense] springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.(Heb. 12:14-15)
D. An offended believer who verbally betrays another believer can be a “stumbling block” that is used by the enemy to defile and tempt the very person that they betrayed to become offended and thus to respond back to them in a similar ungodly way. Speaking negatively about people can easily
provoke those very people to sin—by stumbling into a new season of offense, bitterness, anger, etc.
1“Temptations to sin are sure to come [via betrayal], but woe to the one through whom they come!”(Lk. 17:1, ESV)
1It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come [betrayal], but woe to him through whom they come! (Lk. 17:1, NAS)
E. I have often witnessed the offense-betrayal cycle that results in an increase of broken relationships. An offended person is vulnerable to betray the one who offended them. Then the betrayed believer becomes vulnerable to be offended and then betray the one who initially betrayed them, etc.
F. The promise of the seal of divine love in Song 8:6 includes the Lord giving the worldwide body of Christ grace to love even the offended ones who betray us—“love as strong as death”(Song 8:6). Specifically, this love is love for the Bridegroom King who loves us and those who betray us. The “oil of intimacy” is cultivated best in the fires of persecution including being betrayed.
6Set Me as a seal upon your heart…for love is as strong as death… (Song 8:6)
IV. DAVID IS A MODEL OF HOW TO RESPOND TO GOD WHEN MISTREATED
A. Through the life of David, scripture gives far more information about how to respond to God when betrayed by those in close relationship than it gives through any other. He is a witness or model (Isa. 55:4) of how to respond to God so as to be equipped to a be leader “after God’s heart” (Acts 13:22).
4I have given him [David] as a witness [model] to the people, a leader… (Isa. 55:4)
22“…He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David…a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’” (Acts 13:22)
9The eyes of the LORD run to and fro…[to find] those whose heart is loyal to Him.” (2 Chr. 16:9)
15I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge… (Jer. 3:15)
B. Over a 50-year period, David was betrayed by family members (Saul, Ammon, Absalom, Michal, Adonijah, Joab, Ish-bosheth, his own brothers; Ps. 69:7-12), by his own men (Ziklag; 1 Sam. 30), by top political (Ahithophel) and military leaders (Abner; 2 Sam. 3:9), by his countrymen (Ziphites and at Keilah), the army of Israel (with Saul, then Absalom), and others (Shimei, Doeg, etc.).
C. God trained him in the “seminary of the Spirit” using a jealous king and others who betrayed him.David was betrayed many times yet showed kindness because he looked to God to vindicate him in His own way and timing. He invoked God’s intervention saying, “let God decide” (1 Sam. 24:15),knowing that in God’s timing, he would be vindicated without David taking matters into his hands.
15“Let the LORD be judge, and [decide; NAS] between you [King Saul] and me…” (1 Sam. 24:15)
D. David found Saul sleeping and refused to harm him but entrusted his cause into God’s hands (1 Sam. 24), and later David again found Saul asleep and refused to vindicate himself (1 Sam. 26).
E. In Psalm 31, we see how David interacted with the Lord when he was mistreated and betrayed. By trusting God to intervene and by refusing to retaliate, David brought God into the conflict.To commit our spirit into God’s hands is to commit to God all that deeply touches our spirit—our reputation, promises, money, etc. Jesus committed His promises into God’s hand (Lk. 23:46).
5Into Your hand I commit my spirit…15My times are in Your hand. (Ps. 31:5, 15)
F. My journey in the “seminary of the Spirit’s training” related to betrayal began in my first prophetic encounter as a pastor (Dec. 19, 1976), when the Lord told me that in the future I would be opposedby many but my “greatness” would be related to receiving God’s gentleness and responding to my adversaries in gentleness and in growing in the ability to impart this to others (Ps. 18:35; Mt. 5:44).
35…Your right hand has held me up. Your gentleness has made me great. (Ps 18:35)
G. The Lord is leading His people into a John 17:22-23 transformation by embracing and imparting Matthew 5:44—to be like our Father (5:45). Embracing this ushers us into a supernatural lifestyle as we love those who betray us. (Jesus was not here addressing self-defense against physical harm). The call to love our enemies includes our words (bless), deeds (do good), and prayers (Mt. 5:44). It is an act of our will that transcends negative feelings. As we obey this, our feelings will change.
44I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you…45that you may be sons of your Father…for He makes His sun rise on the evil… (Mt. 5:44-45)
18Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity…because He delights in mercy. (Mic. 7:18)
H. Jesus spoke of the blessing of not being offended at God (Mt. 11:6) when He does not lead or intervene in their life in a way or a time frame that His disciples expect and understand.
2John…from prison…sent two of his disciples 3and said to Him, “Are You the One…?”
4Jesus answered…6Blessed is he who is not offended [skandalizo] because of Me.” (Mt. 11:2-6)
I. God wants us to have compassion on those who betray us, knowing plight of a betrayer is very hard. People who betray others suffer in ways that they did not anticipate (1 Pet. 4:15; Jas. 3:15). Satan stirred Judas to betray Jesus (Jn. 13:2). He was unable to get free from the dark dynamics of despair and hopelessness that resulted from opening the door to demons by his choices—he hung himself.
J. Jesus felt anguish about Judas’s betrayal (Jn. 13:21) not because He felt rejected by it. Jesus had anguish over the fate of a man whom He loved but who refused His kindness and delight in mercy.
21Jesus…was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “…one of you will betray Me.” (Jn. 13:21)
K. The apostolic team was hurt by Judas’ betrayal, which in essence also betrayed them. Those who betray often do not consider the pain that others will suffer as a consequence of their betrayal. They saw how to respond to betrayal by watching how He responded to it (Mt. 26:50; Lk. 23:34).
49…[Judas]…kissed Him. 50Jesus said, “Friend, why have you come?” (Mt. 26:49-50)
23While being reviled, He [Jesus] did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously. (1 Pet. 2:23; NASB)
L. Jesus knew Judas would betray Him when He chose him (Jn. 6:64-71). God allows those who will betray to get into the inner circle of a leadership team in order to train and transform His servants.