Worthy to Escape . . .

Our salvation cannot be obtained by works, but our rewards certainly are.  One of the most coveted rewards in the near future may be to be ‘accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass’ . . . And how can we be ‘accounted worthy’?  Jesus tells us:

‘Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.’  (Luke 21:36)

Watch and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy.

‘But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

[Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] OUGHT YE TO BE IN [ALL] HOLY CONVERSATION AND GODLINESS, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

WHEREFORE, BELOVED, seeing that ye look for such things, BE DILIGENT THAT YE MAY BE FOUND OF HIM IN PEACE, WITHOUT SPOT, AND BLAMELESS.’  (2 Peter 3:10-14)

‘FOLLOW PEACE with all [men], AND HOLINESS, without which no man shall see the Lord: LOOKING DILIGENTLY lest any man fail of the grace of God; LEST ANY ROOT OF BITTERNESS SPRINGING UP trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled . . .  let us HAVE GRACE, whereby we may serve God acceptably with REVERENCE and GODLY FEAR: For our God [is] a consuming fire.  (Hebrews 12:14-15, 28-29)

Jesus would not give us false hope.  There WILL be a remnant who are spared, saved, and protected from the things that are coming to pass.

‘And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days.’  (Revelation 12:6)

‘And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man [child]. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.’ (Revelation 12:13-14)

‘My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek [after them]. . . For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, [even] I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.

As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep [that are] scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.

I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and [in] a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.  I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up [that which was] broken, and will strengthen that which was sick . . .’  (Ezekiel 34:6, 11-16)

‘Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey . . . And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, [even] my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken [it].

And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.

And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make [them] afraid. And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.  Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God [am] with them, and [that] they, [even] the house of Israel, [are] my people, saith the Lord GOD. And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, [are] men, [and] I [am] your God, saith the Lord GOD.’  (Ezekiel 34:22-31)

And now we can understand the full meaning, and timing, of the 23rd Psalm:

”[[A Psalm of David.]] The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.’

Earth Will Be Utterly Destroyed

For centuries, when enemies attacked, they used a threefold method of invoking terror: rape, pillage, and burn.  Today in America, the same method is being used, but on a much grander scale.  We are still in the early phases, but we can expect these means to continue, and worsen.  TSA agents have been posted at airports to grope people and view their naked images.  The economy has been pillaged and the wealth of many families has been transferred into the coffers of the international bankers.  Now the stage is being set for the country to burn.

The military is manipulating the weather.  Whether they created the drought of 2012, I don’t know.  I suspect they have.  But they are certainly working to intensifying it  (1,2,3).  In fact, we are told that the current weather pattern will continue until October.  As far as I can remember, I don’t recall weather forecasters being able to predict the weather three months in advance.  Whether this is advance warning, or code-speak, is open for debate.  The ongoing drought in the center of the U.S., will create tinder dry conditions that will favor the spread of catastrophic wildfires.

In addition to being able to manipulate the weather, our government is able to use its technology to create earthquakes (4) and destroy buildings (5).  Welcome to the advanced weaponry of twenty first century warfare.  Taking it even further, a (vile, drunk) Russian official claims that Russia possesses weaponry that can change the Earth’s magnetic field and (if I understood him correctly) tilt the Earth on its axis (6).

Events are going to continue to escalate, until the end of the age.  The Bible foretells events of such magnitude that the whole Earth is affected.

‘And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;  Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.’  (Luke 21:25-26)

‘. . . and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, [and] so great.  And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell . . . ‘

(Revelation 16:18-19)

‘And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.   And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, [every stone] about the weight of a talent* . . . ‘  (Revelation 16:20-21)

*about 100 pounds

‘ . . . there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;   And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.  And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.’  (Revelation 6:12-14)

‘Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof . . . The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word.

The earth mourneth [and] fadeth away, the world languisheth [and] fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.’  (Isaiah 24:1-6)

‘ . . . the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.  The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.’  (Isaiah 24:18-20)

Satan, in his rebellion against God, seeks to take as many down with him as he can . . . and to destroy the beautiful Earth that God created for man.   The damage that has been done, and will be done, is irreversible.

‘For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.’  (Romans 8:22)

Nevertheless, we are reminded to fix our hope on the Creator, not on the creation.

‘And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.’  (Revelation 14:6-7)

‘For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.  And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient*’  (Romans 1:20-28)

*fitting or proper

This world will come to its end, but God has promised His people a new Earth.

‘For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.’  (Isaiah 65:17)

‘For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.  And it shall come to pass, [that] from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.  And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.’  (Isaiah 66:22-24)

‘And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God.  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.’  (Revelation 21:1-4)

‘But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

[Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.’  (2 Peter 3:7-13)

 

1)  https://dontbefooled666.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/did-we-do-this-haiti-earthquake-part-2/

2)  http://drjudywood.com/wtc/

3)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ExfLOwmSD88#t=261s

Heartbreak

‘What a heartbreak it would be to live an Almost Christian life, and then almost get into heaven.’   (Sarah Rominger)

Sacred Name, Keeping Torah (The Law), etc.

If you are getting involved with the Sacred Name movement, you should be aware where that road leads.  It directs you into the Hebrew Roots movement, and the Hebrew Roots movement teaches that you should be under The Law.  From what I’ve seen, they also deny the Trinity.  And they lead you to submit to the rabbis who adhere, not to the Old Testament as you would suppose but, to the (occult) Talmud/the ‘oral tradition’/the interpretation of the rabbis, etc.  Some even go so far as to throw out the books written by Paul, and to declare him a false apostle!

If you wish to try to live by The Law, that’s your choice, but understand this:

‘We [who are] Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, Knowing that a man is NOT JUSTIFIED by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the FAITH of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall NO flesh be justified. . . .  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.‘ (Galatians 2:15-16, 21)

Your justification can never come by the law, but only by your faith in Jesus Christ.  Furthermore:

‘For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that continueth not in ALL things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

But that NO man is justified by the LAW in the sight of God, [it is] evident: for, The just shall live by FAITH.  And the LAW IS NOT OF FAITH . . . Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through FAITH.’  (Galatians 3:10-14)

It’s a VERY good thing that Jesus Christ died to redeem us from that curse of The Law, because NO ONE is able to keep all things which are written in the book of the law (Law of Moses).  If you doubt me, read the book of Leviticus and see what you are signing up for.  The Apostles rightly characterized The Law as being ‘a yoke . . . which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear‘.  Beyond that, there are things which the Law of Moses was not able to justify!

‘ . . . through this man [Jesus] is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:  And by him all that believe are justified from ALL things, from which ye could NOT be justified by the law of Moses.’  (Acts 13:38-39)

You may TRY to keep The Law–but no one can.  And if you don’t keep EVERYTHING written in it, you’re under a curse.  And even if you COULD keep it, it wouldn’t justify everything! Only Jesus Christ can justify us in ALL things.

Now, if you wish to live by The Law as a matter of lifestyle preference, that’s your choice.  While I DO believe that most of the early Jewish believers still did their best to live according to The Law, they trusted in Jesus’ sacrifice to cover them when they fell short.  I suspect they kept The Law as a matter of CUSTOM, and as a witness of their continued commitment to righteousness, for their Jewish family and friends.

But, it is clear that GENTILE believers are definitely NOT required to keep the Law of Moses.  Notice the wording of the decision made by the (Jewish) Apostles, in regards to whether the Gentiles should keep The Law:

‘Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have TROUBLED YOU with words, SUBVERTING YOUR SOULS, saying, [Ye must] BE CIRCUMCISED, AND KEEP THE LAW: TO WHOM WE GAVE NO [SUCH] COMMANDMENT . . .it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

(1) That ye abstain from meats offered to idols,

(2) and from blood,

(3) and from things strangled,

(4) and from fornication:

from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.’

(Acts 15:24, 28-29)

We are told, throughout the Scriptures, both old and new testaments, to keep God’s (ten) Commandments.  Other than that, the above four things are all that is binding upon Gentile believers.

And, since I started out with a mention of the Sacred Name movement, you should know that nowhere in Scripture is there any sort of fuss made as to how we address our Father in Heaven.  This is the same sort of silly superstition that leads Kabbalistic (occult-involved) Jews to not speak the name of God.  (Or perhaps that is merely their excuse, because they do not wish to use the name of God, since those in the Kabbalistic/occult ‘Synagogue of Satan’  are actually worshiping Satan/Lucifer.)  Look deeper into who is leading the Sacred Name and Hebrew Roots movements, because I suspect that is who you will find working behind the scenes.

The Lord knows our heart, and He knows when we are calling out to Him.

‘All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUT.’  (Jesus–John 6:37)

(Not even if you are mistaken about His name.)

‘Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his . . . ‘  (2 Timothy 2:19)

‘But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.’  (John 4:23-24)

In spirit and in truth–not in form and ritual (which are hallmarks of the occult).  Jesus went all the way to the cross, and gave His life for you– He wouldn’t turn you away for something so small as if you were in error about His name!!

‘Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.’  (Luke 12:32)

‘Jesus’ is Coming!

A False Jesus

I have always assumed that WHEN the Antichrist and the False Prophet came, they would persuade people to follow them.  However, what I’m seeing is really disturbing . . . what I’m seeing within so-called ‘Christianity’.

If we put names aside . . . the one that so many in ‘Christianity’ are following is not the Jesus that was born of the virgin Mary and ministered in Israel 2,000 years ago.  The modern, self-professed Christian will not follow a savior that tells them to leave all behind for Him . . . that tells them to take up their cross daily . . . to crucify their flesh . . . that calls on them to love their enemies and to turn the other cheek . . . that expects them to endure tribulation and suffering for His sake, yet wait until after death to receive their rewards . . . that calls them to repentance . . . that expects them to follow God’s Commandments . . . and to be holy.

The ‘savior’ they will follow is one who says ‘do as thou wilt–grace will cover it’ . . . and ‘if you sin you will not surely die’. . . who tells them ‘come as you are’ and ‘you’re special’ . . . and ‘let me show you how to have your best life now’ and ‘you deserve to be prosperous’ . . . who leads them to believe they are little gods . . . who doesn’t require them to submit to his authority (yet) . . . who has no expectations of them . . . who has created the universe to satisfy THEIR needs and desires . . . who is supremely tolerant, even of sin, and never judges . . . who promises to deliver them from tribulation . . . and who ever lives to serve them.

They may call him Jesus . . . they may even BELIEVE he was born of the virgin Mary and ministered in Israel 2,000 years ago . . . but they have been duped by an identity thief . . . the consummate con man and father of liars.  You see, mainstream Christianity has already been cleverly, covertly, introduced to The False Prophet.  They will CONTINUE to follow him when he comes.  All he’ll have to do is ‘clarify’ a few Scriptures that would show him as an imposter.  He already fits all their beliefs.  He IS the one they believe in . . . the one they are serving already. He’s even been appearing to them in dreams and visions.  What he says when he comes, will be consistent with what their churches are teaching about ‘Jesus’.  He is the one, of whom it is said, will be Buddha to the Buddhists, The Mahdi to the Muslims, and Jesus to the (not) Christians.

If you doubt me–try telling today’s mainstream ‘Christian’ about the real Jesus and watch how they react.

‘They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.’ (1 John 4:5-6)

Let me tell you about their ‘Jesus’ . . .

‘And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number [is] Six hundred threescore [and] six.’  (Revelation 13:11-18)

UPDATE 12/18/12:

Have we been VISUALLY set up to accept an ‘ascended master’ (fallen angel) as Jesus, but who would actually be the ‘False Prophet’ of Revelation 13? 

I think we may have been set up for the arrival of a fallen angel posing as an ‘ascended master’ called Sananda Emmanuel.  Pictures representing this ‘ascended master’ look very much like the face on the Shroud of Turin (which I now strongly doubt is the burial cloth of Christ).  His pictures ALSO look very much like the typical ‘Jesus’ portraits that have been representing our Lord for the last several hundred years.  (In fact, the model who posed for the famous portrait was the homosexual lover of the artist.  The model was Cesare Borgia the illegitimate son to Pope Alexander the VI!)

If this ‘ascended master’ turns out to be The ‘False Prophet’, think of how many people have already been set up to accept him, with open arms. For some, all it will take is that he speaks well, makes them feel good, and looks like the pictures of Jesus they’ve always seen.

Check out the three photos below:

‘Ascended Master’, Sananada Emmanuel

A False Jesus, Cesare Borgia the homosexual, illegitimate son to Pope Alexander the VI

Shroud of Turin

The Beginning of Sorrows

The beginning of sorrows includes the first four seals.  Afterwards begins the time of great tribulation.  The first four seals:

‘And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals [the first], and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse [that was] red: and [power] was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and [see] thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.’

Compare with Jesus’ words:

‘And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

and there shall be famines,

and pestilences,

and earthquakes, in divers places.

All these [are] the beginning of sorrows.’

(Jesus, Matthew 24:4-8)

We are already having the earthquakes, and hearing of wars and rumors of wars.  The white horse appears to have gone forth.  Revolutions are happening, and nations are preparing for war against one another.  The red horse appears to have gone forth.  We are experiencing a serious drought, and grain prices have gone up.  Soon the price of many foods will rise.  Because of shortages of food and/or the inability to afford food, famine will spread further.  We can see the third horse now.

The fourth horse will bring pestilence and death.  According to Jesus’ words, and John’s vision (in Revelation), it will be coming next. After it will come great tribulation . . . severe persecution.

‘Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.‘  (Jesus, Matthew 24:9-13)

‘But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten. . . Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against [their] parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.  And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.‘  (Jesus, Mark 13:9-10, 12-13)

‘And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled.’  (Revelation 6:9-11)

For most of us, this comes as terrible news.  We worry and wonder how we will be able to endure.  But we need to understand that God has a purpose for this persecution.

‘ . . . and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be published among all nations.’  (Mark 13:9)

God will give us power, for what He calls us to do:

‘But when they shall lead [you], and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.’  (Mark 13:11)

‘But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.‘  (Acts 1:8)

We have to trust, that as well as giving us the words to speak, the empowerment by the Holy Spirit will enable us to endure to the end, through whatever we may suffer at that time.  And indeed, MANY are called to be His witnesses, and will endure to the end:

‘After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

And all the angels stood round about the throne, and [about] the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,  Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.  They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.  For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.‘  (Revelation 7:9-17)

Trust in Him.  He will not abandon you in your darkest hour.

‘ . . . and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.’  (Matthew 28:20)

‘ . . . Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called [thee] by thy name; thou [art] mine. When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.  For I [am] the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour . . . ‘  (Isaiah 43:1-3)

‘ . . . Thou [art] my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.’  (Isaiah 41:9-10)

If you look at where this verse is placed . . .

‘And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.’  (Matthew 24:14)

. . . in the midst of Jesus answering His disciples about the end of the world, you will see that this verse is referring to the witness that Christian martyrs will give to the world, at the end of the age.   ‘ . . . And then shall the end come’, Jesus explained.  And, sure enough, following the fifth seal are the signs in the heavens, and on the Earth, that Jesus said would precede His return:

‘And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;  And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.  And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.’  (Revelation 6:12-14)

‘And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.‘  (Jesus, Luke 21:25-28)

This has been God’s plan from the beginning.  This is not a mistake, or a sign that the enemy is prevailing.  It is God’s plan.  As much as it was a mystery that the Messiah should come to die on a cross, it is a mystery that multitudes of His people should suffer and die to overcome Satan.

‘I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment [was] white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne [was like] the fiery flame, [and] his wheels [as] burning fire.  A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened . . . and, behold, [one] like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.   And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed . . . I beheld, and the same horn* made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.‘  (Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, 21-22)

‘And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.‘  (Revelation 12:10-11)

*  the horn = ‘The Antichrist’:

‘And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.’  (Daniel 7:25)

‘And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty [and] two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.’  (Revelation 13:5-8)