But the tone of Jesus’ teaching that follows—even though every sentence describes in some kind of catastrophe or deception or persecution or brokenness or hatred—it’s not a pity party, that things are going to get bad and then worse and some of you will even be killed at the hands of your own families, THE END. It’s a pep talk, that as hard as it’s going to get and as bleak as it’s going to look, you’re on the winning side. By standing firm you will gain life.