Such circumstances ordinarily would doom any other movement besides that which God himself determined to establish. After the beginning of the kingdom, it became the object of intense scorn and persecution by the government and the Jews. The new kingdom s principals and members alike were hunted, imprisoned, beaten and killed. That this kingdom succeeded and encircled the globe and has stood so far for thousands of years attests the glory of Almighty God, and not the contributions of mere mortals. People should not stay out of the church because it is small in some places.
Rejection is unpleasant.
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. Later, Jesus Christ s earthly ministry abruptly concluded with his crucifixion. The apostles needed frequent encouragement. Additional to these discouragements, some of our Lord s parables were depressing, too. The Parable of the Mustard Seed , though short, is rich with meaning for children of the kingdom in every generation.