Matthew 24:13-22

Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Endure.

If we endure it means we are going through something to endure, right? Do you endure pleasure? Most would not say they endure pleasure, why? Because they are enjoying it and it's something they don't mind experiencing. When we endure we are putting up with a certain situation because it's necessary. We must endure unto the end of the world and we will be saved. We cannot give in to worldly ways, sins, lusts, deception, the fact of the matter is we will STAND OUT as something odd to the world. And in a world where people long to experience acceptance by their peers and likewise, very few will want to stand out for Christ and His truth. Many will stand out for Christ and deception- which is the trap of Satan, but very few will stand for the absolute truth found in Jesus. We have to endure living in a world ruled by Satan and Satan's followers- disguised and undisguised, and we have to endure all the way to the end not give up as it gets harder and harder to stand for truth, only then will we be saved. As we endure by relying completely upon our Savior's righteousness when the world wants us to rely on ourselves or other people, or false Christ's. Only by trusting wholly in our Savior will we be saved.


Mat 24:14 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.

The gospel of the kingdom- Salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. This gospel has been preached far and wide and there are very few, if any places that have not had the opportunity to know of the gospel of the kingdom.

Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

The book of Daniel. We've just completed a long study in which we delved into the books of Daniel and Revelation. We studied the 'abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet' and we know that Jesus has guided us fully each step of the way- with broad overviews of our past, present, and future and then more detailed accounts. When we read of this prophecy and by the grace of our God are given understanding we have to be prepared, not clueless, not helplessly ignorant, we have to watch all these signs and know.

Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
Mat 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day

Such imagery! Flee! Flee so quickly you don't run into your house and get anything, just FLEE. Flee if you are out working, don't think about going back home to retrieve a single thing… FLEE! And how hard, how difficult it would be if you were pregnant or had young children! How trying it would be to have to flee in the winter cold, or on the sabbath when you are meant to be wholly immersed in God and not caught up in self in any way.

There have been times we can look back to where people saw signs and they fled… yes?

Luk 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Luk 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

Jerusalem compassed with armies- this happened! Remember history? In 66AD Jerusalem was surrounded by armies, but NOT destroyed. In 70AD Jerusalem was destroyed by armies. So, if you were a Christian believing in the prophecy of Jesus and you saw the armies surrounding your city and then they left without capturing the city, what would you have done? Would you have relaxed in relief being thankful they were gone? Or would you take that sign as the one Jesus gave when He told you to FLEE, and would you then FLEE? All the Christians that listened and fled the city in haste were spared. All those who stayed in Jerusalem suffered terribly, many dying as the temple was destroyed and Jerusalem captured and the city overthrown. People were warned! People lived because they took heed to the warnings. Praise God!

Now we know for a fact the signs are all mingled and again it's with good reason, so a discerning heart motivated and guided by the Holy Spirit would be able to comprehend and those who would not fully give their hearts to the Lord would not be able to understanding. The blind will remain blind, the deaf will remain deaf.

Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

Remember this… Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Now we read this…except those days should be shortened there should no flesh be saved.

The GREAT TRIBULATION- this will be endured by the elect, this will be endured by those who are saved at the very end of the world as we know it before our Savior returns.

The great tribulation is coming and it will be so much worse than we can imagine, yet maybe not in the ways we sometimes do imagine. The deceiver will be using all his lying wonders and the urge to conform to a world who has suddenly joined in believing in Christ, will be so tempting! Only the Christ they'll believe will be a false Christ and ONLY those who understand this fully right now before it comes to pass will be prepared to understand it when it happens. We can't wait to accept the truth, it must be accepted now. Things will NOT happen as the movies predict, things will NOT happen as the many books predict, things will happen as GOD alone predicts and His prophecy is given to us in the Holy Bible. We are not to be spoon fed His word but we are to eat of it eagerly growing quickly from suckling babes into adults as we feast on the word of truth to gain understanding given to us by the Holy Spirit that our Lord promised to send to us.

Please Lord God, Savior, King, Almighty Heavenly Father, please, save us!


By Your amazing LOVE!

Through Your grace and mercy in all YOUR righteousness always through faith.

AMEN.