Endure to the End and be Saved
Matthew 10:22, Matthew 24:13, Mark 13:13
Can you can lose your salvation if you fail to stand firm or endure to the end? What if you stumble at the end?
There are about two dozen scriptures that have some bearing on this question. Here we will look at three of them. (The others are found here.) These three scriptures are all from Jesus and they are all variations on this:
All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Matt 10:22, 24:13, Mark 13:13)
What does it mean to endure to the end and be saved?
At first glance Jesus seems to be saying, “Salvation hinges on your endurance. If you don’t endure, you’re not fit for the kingdom.”
This is not good news.
You may wonder, “What if I don’t stand firm to the end? What if I have a bad day, a bad month, or a bad year? What if I stray?”
Christians who stray are not booted out of the kingdom. There are bad consequences for wandering but eternal damnation is not one of them.
Is Jesus saying something different here? Is he saying that life is one big probationary period and only those who perform flawlessly every day will qualify for the kingdom? If he were, he would be contradicting many good promises he made elsewhere.
Jesus is not talking about eternal salvation but staying alive in the face of persecution. He is describing what would happen to the apostles when they preached the gospel.
This becomes clear when we compare what Jesus said would happen with what happened to Paul:
| What Jesus said would happen (Matt 10)… | What happened to Paul… |
| They will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. (17) | Paul was flogged by the Jews on five separate occasions (2 Cor 11:24) |
| On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. (18) | Paul was brought before two Governors (Felix and Festus), one King (Agrippa), and Caesar and witnessed to them and the Gentiles (Acts 24-26) |
| But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. (19) | Paul didn’t worry but was happy to speak before these guys (Acts 26:2) |
| At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (20) | Paul’s words to these men in authority made it into the Bible, so they must’ve been inspired |
| Brother will betray brother to death… (21) | Paul’s Jewish brothers tried to kill him in Lystra and plotted his murder in Jerusalem (Acts 23); his Roman brothers beat him with rods in Philippi (Acts 16) |
| All men will hate you because of me… (22) | Paul was hated by all men – not just Jews but even Gentiles on occasion (see above) |
| When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. (23) | Paul typically left any place he was persecuted (Acts 13:51, 14:20, 16:40, 17:10) |
How do we endure to the end?
There’s a time to be take your stand and a time to run. If men are coming at you with stones and whips, it’s time to get out of Dodge. Better to live and fight another day than satisfy some zealot’s lust for blood.
In Lystra, Paul was dragged outside the city, stoned, and left for dead (Acts 14:19). The next day he quit the town and went to Derbe.
Imagine what might’ve happened if Paul had remained in Lystra. The angry Jews might have tried to kill him again, perhaps using bigger rocks. That would’ve meant the end of Paul and a thinner New Testament for us.
In Thessalonica and Berea, same story. As soon as trouble started brewing Paul left before it got out of hand (Acts 17).
Paul stayed two years in Ephesus, then left after a riot (Acts 20:1).
In other words, when faced with mortal persecution, Paul walked away – he endured and stayed alive.
Paul was one of the bravest men in the Bible, but he was no fool. He knew that a dead apostle serves no one and that the best way to keep preaching the gospel is to stay out of trouble.
Paul was frequently persecuted but when persecution came, he heeded Jesus’ words and moved on. He endured and stayed safe.
But not always.
On one occasion Paul, for reasons known to himself, ignored the warnings of the Holy Spirit and headed to Jerusalem (Acts 21:11). In other words, Paul did the opposite of what Jesus advised and soon found himself chained and on a boat to a Roman prison.
Persecuted for proclaiming the gospel
The good news of God’s grace has always brought a hostile reaction from religious people (the leaven of the Pharisees) and oppressive states (the leaven of Herod). Nothing has changed.
Don’t believe me? Share this post on repentance or this one on God giving and taking away and watch what happens! Preach grace and you’ll lose half your friends. Tell Christians that women can lead and you’ll lose the other half.
Jesus knew that if they persecuted him they would persecute us as well. But while Jesus had to go to the cross and die, we don’t have to. His is a finished work. Our deaths add nothing to it.
Far better to follow Paul’s example and live to preach another day than die at the hand of a madman or an unjust state. Especially if your kids are depending on you.
Whether you’re preaching the gospel in China, Eastern Europe, Afghanistan, or California, it’s always a good idea to avoid trouble, flee to the proverbial mountains, and stay safe.
Peace in a hostile world
I hope you can see now that Jesus is not threatening the saints. There is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus. Rather, the Prince of peace is giving us practical instructions on how to proclaim the gospel of peace in a hostile world.
When you go some place to reveal the gospel, let your peace rest on that place. But if the people are not receptive to your message, meaning, there is no peace, shake the dust off your feet and move on (Matt 10:12-13).
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)
Those who preach the gospel of peace should endeavor to live at peace with everyone. When that’s not possible, then it may be time to move on, change the subject, change the conversation, perhaps even change town.
To recap, “endure to the end and be saved,” is not the bad news of conditional salvation. Jesus is simply saying you cannot fulfill the Great Commission if you’re dead.
If you are being persecuted for the gospel in Lystra, move on to Derbe. “When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another” (Matt 10:23).
The gospel of peace is not proclaimed by digging in and engaging in a religious war. No one ever got saved through an argument.
The last thing an angry and violent world needs is angry and violent Christians. What this world desperately needs is a revelation of the Prince of peace by those who have embraced his gospel of peace.
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Escape to Reality 
Thanks Paul for another great post! You are a blessing!
Amen, Paul.
Good stuff!
Thanks Paul, Good stuff. My take on Matt 12:22, Matt 24:13 and Mark 13:13 was that you can make an observation that if, in the face of persecution, one still proclaims Christ as Lord and Savior and does not deny Him then that is a pretty good indication that that person is truly a christian and is sealed and being kept by the power of Jesus Christ. Note I did not say that person was enduring and being kept by his own fleshly strength and efforts but by Christ power and the Holy spirit because they have a right relationship with Christ and have placed their faith and life in His hands. Those who are religious and only feigning a relationship with Jesus will change their tune when push comes to shove concerning Jesus, espiecally when their life is on the line.
@ TB, hahahaha you’re really funny. Your balancing attempt is bizarrely!
funny how this works,people don’t want to believe it,because it sounds to good to be true….. [ if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.] reminds me of something Thomas Jefferson said [I care not if my neighbor worships 1 god or 20 gods, he has not broke my leg nor stole my purse] and Jefferson admired Jesus so much and his principles he wrote a book called the Jefferson new testament, he was Anglican and sometimes said some things that make you question hes belief, but then again I can do that some times,I am glad HE DOES NOT LEAVE ME NOR FORSAKE ME. I have been in a situation now for about 6 years that has put me to the test, especially the last year,I have wanted to throw in the towel,,to many times, but he is right there,when I look for hes support he is right there…..being a movie person, I am reminded of a quote from the movie Wyatt Earp [ Kevin Costner] Wyatt was a alcoholic in his younger years and had to leave home and family behind, after a couple of years hunting buffalo, he came back to a town,a well meaning man wanted to BUY HIM A DRINK , he said coffee will be fine,the well meaning man was insulted and a scuffle in sued, to which ,Wyatt said [ MISTER I’VE HAD A BAD COUPLE OF YEARS AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD LEAVE ME ALONE……..I get that way,but the Lord always shows up to lift me up.
I’ve heard most of my life that if you really love Jesus, he expects you to be persecuted…and he actually expects you to want it Your article dispells the notion that we shouldn’t desire a peaceful (blessed) life. I’ve noticed that some kind of brag about the level of persecution they have endured — like it is a badge of honor. Now I realize that this posture is subtly religious…and deals with self-sacrificing. Thanks, again.
I heard someone say once Jesus is the rub and he always will be,what makes us so dangerous,most Christians are great people, you always get a few bad apples,but I sincerely believe that the name of Jesus ALONE has so much power in it that the world and the enemy doesn’t want to hear it.
A lot of times it comes down to problems with translations and misunderstandings about how various words are being used with the context. The Message Bible gives a much better picture of the meaning in context for Matthew 10:21-23, “When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don’t quit. Don’t cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you’ve run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.”
Darnit – why didn’t I read this first? This happens so often. You think you’ve got this brand new revelation only to learn that Eugene Peterson (or Spurgeon) got it years ago. And he said it in far fewer words too.
Thanks for the heads up Brandon. Once again, the Message shines!
🙂 No problem. I actually have you to thank for it. When I read your post, it got me thinking about why it might be taken the wrong way and wondering what some translation comparisons might show. Many of your posts are focused around illuminating problems with translation and context and audience. When I have difficulty with a particular verse, I find that I can often see more clearly when comparing multiple translations, something I picked up from study training and following your posts. Many translations have culture and language barriers or even outright theological bias. I know you’re aware of all that, just explaining that your previous posts have helped me think more carefully about such things.
What do you say where the bible clearly says about people who take the mark of the beast aka the RFID chip. Doesn’t the age of grace end then? Please reply many thanx.
There is nothing in the Bible about RFID chips.
DO I DETECT SOME SARCASM HERE? id go kick his butt Brandon.
Haha, no I don’t think he was being sarcastic. 🙂
Wow Brandon, such a fresh and clear translation! Thanks a ton Brandon. You should have translate the whole book!
So very true ‘the gospel of peace is not proclaimed by digging in and engaging in a religious war. No one ever got saved through an argument. The last thing an angry and violent world needs is angry and violent Christians. What this world desperately needs is a revelation of the Prince of peace by those who have embraced his gospel of peace.’
I’m blessed by these truths..
Great post Paul I believe that what is being said is, You know you are saved so endure to the end. It is the same in many instances where a absolute is translated as stating a condition and not a fact. Mistranslated this way it contradicts the overriding theme.
I agree, it seems,so many things in this world are conditional or interpreted as conditional, a God whose love is unconditional is, to many,not within grasp, especially when true reality is invisible [what did I just say?]…….. that’s kind of a heady brew.
Thank you so much!
“saved” (sozo) also means a quality of life and doesn’t only mean on your way to heaven. My dictionary tells me that sozo also means delivered, protected, healed and whole.
Could it be that Mat. 10:24 is assurance and encouragement from the Lord. Like He is saying to us….. even though you are experiencing persecution and hatred, don’t give up, I will (sozo) deliver you.
or… If their hatred is extreme and you get beat up, don’t give up hope and I will (sozo) heal you.
that’s excellent euan!
sozo is such a lovely word… and it makes me smile because that is what Jesus’s name means 🙂
LOVE THIS! Thanks for the encouragement!
Hi Paul to support what I have said it is quite insightful to look at the possibility that the original text was written in Hebrew. There is a karaite Jewish scholar Nehemia Gordon who gives valuable insight into this if you have not already listened to him try search U tube Nehemia Gordon, The Hebrew Yeshua vs. the Greek Jesus. I know this comes from an unusual source and needs to be filtered, but it still gives some valuable insights into translation issues.
You know Paul, I was talking about this subject the other day. Many religious born again and non-saved individuals have died prematurely while preaching the gospel in hostile environments globally. I use to wonder why then I go figure so thanks for the confirmation. Religion can lead to early death anyway. This topic is so important; this is where many are trapped in to thinking wrong. So thanks once again for this important topic and well written. Thanks too that we can add it to facebook, I will do that later and comment properly again later. I sometimes like to talk general first and thank you first.
God bless you.
Wrong thinking is simply believing that a believer can die.
Try this, If God were to heal everybody we pray for and answer all of the ” believers prayers ” would this help in bringing the dead into life.
My guess is that you would have the whole world following a magician.
chrisvanrooyen, I don’t know what you mean or where you are going with this. So I will say this which may not make sense to you only cuz what you said, sorrry to say brother, does not make any sense to me. Many Believers have died prematurely. I know of some and I don’t mean to perish, of course, but die in the Lord. Many missionaries have fallen asleep in the Lord and they were religious and under condemnation, which destroys. It is not God’s will. “Long life will I satisfy you and show you my salvation.” Christ died young so that we can die old. Two biblical examples come to mind, “Many get sick and weakly and many sleep,” I Corinthians 11:30 and another example is Philippians 1:21 where Paul had a choice to live or be with the Lord and the way he puts it, it was like, he can choose. I prayed for a 6 year old born again who died of cancer. She died any way but her parents being saved, decided to go back to a religious traditional formula whereby you offer fruits to the Lord as a way of covering sins and they only wear white and go through a lot of traditional crap and subjected their little daughter to that and cursed her a lot. If it was not for Andrew Wommack and Joseph Prince who taught on death and explained how a man of God died prematurely cuz he committed infidelity while his wife was faithful and he condemned himself until he died, I would probably have never pray for anyone again.
Hope you understand.
God bless and peace
chris i had to think about what you said for a couple of days,because it is a simple statement but true,i understand what you mean but don’t know if i can explain, even to myself, Im thinking perfect love casts out fear,but also the wisdom of God is much deeper then we know, the enemy never plays fair. Im thinking about a quote from, CS Lewis,the lion ,the witch and the wardrobe. Aslan the lion says, the white witch does not understand the deep magic, Aslans death and Resurrection,surprising and defeating the white witch, am i making any sense here,also “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” Job 13:15. I think we need just believe,and trust until the end. Love is a commitment.
Hi Earl
I am a new believer only two years, have not had time to go through CS Lewis teaching but what I hear of Him is inspiring. Job 13:15 is evidence of the same faith that Abraham had . there is good reason that Job got into the scriptures cannot wait to speak to him one day.
two years,it sounds like you’ve been around awhile,be glad you understand grace,even though I grew up under some great teachers,who in essence were grace teachers,my mind set didn’t help me,always thinking all i had to do was tick the lord off enough and that was it,,it wasn’t there fault,of course then again they got them selves in enough trouble,but all is forgiven and healed.
ps: read the screw tape letters.cs Lewis its a eye opener.
Hi Earl
To help look at Hebrews 11:19 there are many different takes on this verse the Greek implies that we should believe that Issac was dead. and resurrected.
In the same way when God says you will return to Dust you are DEAD.
Jesus is the Resurrection, being born again could mean much more than we think.
There are many other examples in scripture of this if you are looking you will see .
Don,t believe me look and check everything against scripture.
Chris i have not seen that before,you my be right, ya learn something everyday.
And yes I believe God heals and his desire is to always in all situations do this.
Amen to that Chrisvanrooyen, as long as we know that what God desires, he cannot always achieve and it is nothing to do with him, but with our Beliefs. “if we have it, we shall have it, if we do not have it, even what we have shall be taken away.” so we have everything that pertains unto life, Godliness and holiness. If we don’t think we have healing, health, wealth etc, then thou we do have it, but it shall be taken away so yes, God’s desires is to always heal. but it don’t always happen.
re your comment above… i heard someone teaching (i think it was creflo dollar) that pretty much from adam to moses everybody lived long lives… until the law was given. the law brought sin-consciousness and condemnation… and shortened life spans…
Yea Jennie, no wonder God found fault with the Law, thou the law is perfect and the main reason why most Believers don’t believe they have it is cuz they are under condemnation, religion, legalism, tradition, which teaches you are not worthy to have it and also, you have to earn all what Christ has already given. So know that condemnation will produce wrong thinking like, I am not worthy to have it or I don’t have it. Even those under grace have to continue to work to believe, cuz believing is work and it never stops; least the tempter draws near to achieve his goal of destruction.
FIFI It has been great chatting with you, you are a awesome, blessed, victorious, invincible, eternal child of God.
Acceptance of Jesus,s life is rejection of all fear, doubt, sickness, poverty, in its essence it cannot accommodate any of these.
The original lie was you shall surely not die, this lie has now become the ultimate truth.
Jesus..
Hi FIFI.
All I would ask you to do is read the story of Lazarus,s ,Jesus said he was asleep, the disciples said he was dead. they then say Jesus saw the light and realized he was dead. “He spoke plainly”, they had said this before.
Remember Jesus said Lazarus was his friend, Listen to what he says to Martha. then listen to his Prayer to the father.
Now the question why was he brought to tears .
Because Lazarus had died. Jesus is the Resurrection he met with Moses and Elijah.
I believe Jesus still cries for the same reason because we do not believe, this is why we get sick and die early we fear death and this fear is in many ways an idol it destroys our bodies and prevents us from living a full life.
I believe the Bride is moving into a prophetic time , the time of Ester. We will see revelation of more amazing grace than the Church has ever seen. I believe God is raising up people to bring this revelation we are those people.
yea, I agree Chrisvanrooyen, I believe they fear death cuz of the law. Thats why those in the biblical days were all the long time subject to bondage and feared death, cuz the law brought death and its the same today. Only grace words can free us of that fear. I got that same revelation of why Christ cried, he never intended man to die and his love for Lazarus an all produced the tears; but I aso believe that while we should not mourn, like the world when they loose their loveones, we should have hope in our hearts cuz our lost loveones have entered into peace and it is not wrong to cry, we are not robots, we have feelings and crying is normal as long as we don’t allow our feelings to control us. I also got that revelation and Christ is our perfect example.
I feel like I am deviating from the topic, but unless Believers understand the death nature and how not to apply it, considering ourselves dead from that old Adamic nature and to know that it is still God’s enemy, and that words are like seeds that spring forth, “death and life is in the power of the tongue,” the words out of our mouths, will take root, and bear fruit unto life or unto death. Also, if our thinking is wrong, it wont help. It is an Interesting, yet horrible subject cuz even now, I detest death, or premature falling asleep in Christ. Its just the way i’m wired lol.
God bless.
Likewise Chrisvanrooyen, interesting chat. thanks and God bless you and urs.
Have a great day
Chris, for you to have been a believer for only two years is amazing, because I think you have discovered the truth that many who have “grown up in the church” have missed! It makes complete sense to me now, that if we truly died to sin through the body of Christ, then sin should no longer have power over us to put us to death. He truly came to restore Life back to mankind. Man was deceived when he ate the fruit of the knowledge of sin, but Christ came to destroy the Accuser and his power over death…and to set us all free from the bondage of the fear of death. I am in complete agreement with what you have said about Life and healing. And I agree with what you said about wrong thinking and death. Paul wrote that the true gospel brings Life and immortality to light (2 Tim. 1:10). If death no longer has any power over Christ….and we are the SAME as He is in this world….we should count (Logizomai) the same for ourselves. It’s all about hearing the truth and having the EXPECTATION of Life in exchange for our sins! These are the wonderful things I’m just now figuring out after all these years of growing up in a church which would say this kind of thing is foolishness. It makes me so happy to hear someone finally speak the truth, and not be afraid of being criticized.
God bless you and stay on this path, because it’s the right one!
Hi Gail
I am glad God has blessed you with this revelation , it is so simple most people miss it. We all have the truth in Jesus, it is just that there is so much of him.
Hi Doug, I heard those words from two preachers, “finding fault with the law and at first, I was as puzzled as you may have been until they went through scriptures. When they nailed it, I then got it. I tried to find my notes on it but I have so many notes on the gospel of pure grace, I gave up lol. These Great preachers compared scriptures with other scriptures, if they did not do that so accuratly, I would not have believed it either but I did my own research too and I found that
“For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he said, behold, the days come said the Lord when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; etc.
Hebrews 7:22 because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. That tells me, the first covenant failed cuz the people could not keep it. The people of Israel did not remain trying to obey the law so the old covenant failed them; therefore, God’s protection was withdrawn at intervals.
Hebrew 8:9 suggest that faults were found with the people who did not remain in the covenant and the covenant. So God ignored them. The fault with the law was that man could not keep it but Christ became the law, he fulfilled the law so all those in him does not have to, otherwise why secure a second covenant if the first was good enough . The law killed people. For up before the law came, the children of Israel sinned and sinned but they did not die, God was gracious until the law came. Have you noticed in the wilderness, they complained and complained but they did not die until the law was given. That was not God’s original plan. No this thou, the law is perfectly strict and upright and so holy but it is at fault because no one cannot keep it and if Jesus did not die on the Cross, many people would perish far more every day than it’s happening now. MY brother, please google Andrew Wommack and Joseph Prince based on their teachings of the Law. They can really explain it well.
God bless you
I got it! I thought so but just curious. At first glance it looks as if God made the mistake? However it was the people who were not able to keep such a “taskmaster?” Makes one that much more aware of the beauty of grace!
just connecting some dots from your post and a few of the comments…
during His ministry, even Jesus slipped away from enraged pharisees when they were ready to stone Him and headed off to other towns to teach those who would hear Him…
This concept is provocative, but I have some issues. If to endure He meant their life shall be spared in persecution, why is it worded, “he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” You’re making this say, “he who endures to the end (of persecution) shall be saved (through persection).” Doesn’t make grammatical sense. Additionally if this was his promise, not only does Paul gets killed, (who wasn’t there when Jesus said this), but 10 out of 12 disciples were all killed from persecution. So was Jesus’ words a lie, or are you sayin that all 10 of them + Paul didnt listen to his words to run? Also vs 28-33 deal specifically with their coming death for their testimony. Which ends by Jesus’ warning that whoever denies Him during their witness, He will deny before His Father. How does this fit into your thesis?
Verse 22 is explained by verse 23.
What do you think endure to the end means?
Hello brother, thank you for your reply. I don’t mean to be critical, just a lover of the Word, trying to understand it better, like yourself. 🙂 I wont pretend to have complete understanding of this passage, but a few things to consider contextually in addition to what i already stated.
1) vs 21 shows that the subject in the next verses are explicitly about the possibility of their coming deaths. “….cause them to be put to death.” along with vs 28.
2) We have to determine what event or time period is being alluded to by “end” in verse 22. Possibly be the duration of their persecution, (either any given act of persecution, or their whole lives, as they should expect to always be under persecution.) Also possibly, (but I don’t believe) is the event Jesus addresses in verse 23. “…Til the Son of man be come.” This would mean that he considered the time of the remainder of His ministry a time in which they were to especially remain faithful, due, perhaps, to their privilege of being allowed to minister IN POWER (vs 1), alongside of Him.
3)v 33 may shed light on the extreme actions of Judas and Peter after their denial’s of Jesus. Judas hangs himself and Peter weeps bitterly. Is it possible that Peter remembered the mercies of God whereas Judas could not believe he could find mercy because of the “size” of his sin. Is it possible that while Peter cried, he was reminded of Jesus’ parable of the prodigal, and he repented?
4) #3 begs than this understanding. Though we can know God (be saved), and then deny Him, and by which be in danger of damnation, that if there is time and if our heart is repentful, be then forgiven and once again enter into the graces of God. This of course flies in the face of calvinism and the like, but that is how i see it. Peter was in relation to the Lord, then denied him, then repented and came back. So either Peter wasn’t saved until after his denial, or calvinism isnt true. (but now ive digressed a lot!!! ha) Also I lean to an understanding of salvation being in stages. All of which, though cant be taken, can be forfeited: Justification eph. 2:5,8; 2 Tim. 1:9; Tit. 3:5, then Sanctification (only while we endure)1 Cor. 1:18, 15:1-2; 2 Cor. 2:15, and finally at the end, Glorification (if we’ve endured until death or rapture) Rom, 5:9; Phil 3:11-12; 1Thess. 5:9-10; 1 Pet. 1:5.
God bless!
brian, peter wasn’t saved until Jesus was resurrected… the Holy Spirit couldn’t live in anyone until the penalty for the world’s sin was paid. once a person is born-again spiritually he is a new creation – united as one with the Holy Spirit of Christ… and what God has joined together let no man separate. 😉
When Jesus said that the ten disciples would end their lives in this world for their testimony it was a prophecy not a instruction. A great compliment and an expression of Jesus,s faith in them.
Thanks Jennie for the timely reminder!
What does Jesus mean in v23 when He says,
‘Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.’
I’ve seen similar statements repeated in the gospels and always get confused.
“When the Son of Man comes” is a phrase Jesus uses elsewhere to describe his return to earth (eg: Mt 25:31). In Mat 24:14 he says, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” In other words the gospel will be revealed everywhere before the Son of Man returns. So when he says here, “I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes,” he could be saying, “This job, this Great Commission, is bigger than you are.”
The disciples may have been worried that if they were forced to flee a lot of cities, that whole cities would miss out on the gospel. Jesus is saying, “Don’t worry – there’s going to be a lot of time for that gospel seed to spread and germinate before I return.” Imagine if Paul had dug his heels in in Lystra. Imagine if after being stoned and left for dead he thought, “No, Jesus died for Lystra, I’ve got to stay and finish the job even if it kills me.” The Jews would’ve attacked him again and this time really finished him off. But Paul didn’t stay. “Plenty of cities in the world.” He moved on to Derbe.
Hi Paul
It is also important to understand the mindset of man in this time frame , the idea of giving up your life for the King was not foreign to them from an early age they understood that this is just a normal thing to do. A dangerous mindset with the revelation of the one true King.
Could lead to reckless unproductive sacrifice.
Seems to fit your thesis well.
Thanks Paul! That last comment of yours just illuminated the entire passage for me! I’m finally like, ‘Wow, I get it!’
Amazing stuff!!!!!
Would love to get your interpretation of the ‘deny yourself’ and ‘take up your cross’ statements of Jesus, as well as ‘whoever loses his life for me and the gospel will save it’ (Mark 8). I would say many see this as Jesus advocating self denial even if it means physical death.
I look at the context of the verse and Peter has just claimed Jesus as the Christ. He’s probably thinking Jesus will soon be this earthly king and have this huge physical kingdom and then Jesus explains that He will suffer and be rejected and Peter is confused. Is Jesus specifically speaking to his disciples in these verses about taking up one’s cross? I would think not because it says there was a gathering of people. I would have to assume that the people would immediately think death when He used the metaphor of the cross. Could he be referring to death in terms of our sin, like in Romans 6 where Paul says that our old selves died?
Laura, I talk about that in the book and on Sunday I shared a tidbit from that on E2R’s Facebook page. Check it out.
Hi Laura I believe that was exactly what he was referring to. To realize that you were once dead but now have life, real life not postponed death.
Come on! Yes, I just found your site and I love it. PREACH!
Welcome Adam! We’re glad you found us.
FIFI you said earlier that “no wonder God found fault with the Law.” Curious what you mean since it was given by God?
Amen to that Doug.
God bless
It is almost midnight and I cannot get enough of this website. This is good news, Grace is so amazing.
thats life jumping out at you michael, grab it and hang on,the words are alive.
KJV 1 Corinthians 1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Regarding ” those who endure to the end shall be saved ” I always believed this was after the rapture. Ie the Bride of Christ , the church was caught up and the 7 yr tribulation had begun, The bride who was saved by grace obviously does not depend on works endurance or anything else other than the blood of Jesus for their salvation. However those who didn’t accep Jesus as their saviour and are left behind can be saved by refusing to take the mark of the beast, fleeing to the hills to avoid capture etc, therefore when Christ returns after the 7yrs with his bride the church , these will be those who go into the melenium age, and those who have the mark destroyed. The ones who endure will live have families die etc and ultimately be deceived again once satan is released from the pit after the 1000yrs, However the Bride will not die , having new immortal bodies and shall rule and reign with Christ over those who endured for the 1000yr reign. Tribulation comes from tribulim which is a board with notches on it to separate wheat and barley etc , therefore forcing the wheat to either stay on or come off , no middle ground , the tribulation will in effect force those to devise one way or another , either endure to be saved or take the mark.
Hope this view is helpful , God Bless
I was raised on that view, but it doesn’t square with scripture. I am unlikely to be flogged in a synagogue, yet for the apostles, this actually happened.
Thanks
Can I just add , you don’t need to endure, or be flogged because you are saved , therefore gone in the rapture . Praise God . And missing the time of endurance . But ! If you weren’t saved and left behind having knowledge of God and the gospel but never accepted it then the chances are you may be flogged , tortured or even killed in defence of not taking the mark etc . I’m just thinking as Mathew is primarily to the Jews Jesus does not Does not address the rapture in Mat 24 as they would have no concept of it, therefore to the Jews it’s about his second coming ,ie 7 yrs after the rapture , so from a That point of view enduring is for those left behind , fleeing to Petra etc , but refuse to take the mark , remembering too that the age of grace is finished, as the full number of the church has come in. The only determining factor after that age is therefore accepting Jesus and taking the mark or not . Trubulation is a forced decision , no more sitting on the fence etc
, with respect , Harry
It is perfect
Well dang. That last part though.
❤