Apostle Peter tells:

1 Peter 5:8 Be clear-minded and alert. Your opponent, the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Psalms 11:2 Look, the wicked have bent their bow and placed their arrow on the string, to shoot from the darkness at the upright in heart.

Paul tells us:

Ephesians 6:16 In addition to having clothed yourselves with these things, having taken up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one,

2 Timothy 4:16-18 At my first trial no one came to my defense. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be held against them! (17) However, the Lord stood by me and gave me strength so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and all the gentiles could hear it. I was rescued out of a lion’s mouth. (18) The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will take me safely to his heavenly kingdom. Glory belongs to him forever and ever! Amen.

We are told Paul fought lions, could he also be talking about Satan.  We have this same promise.

We realize really quickly; life have many physical and spiritual problems for us today.  It is an endurance race.  Staying home, not meeting with fellow Believers and family members. Wear a mask.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, having so vast a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, and throwing off everything that hinders us and especially the sin that so easily entangles us, let us keep running with endurance the race set before us,

Hebrews 12:7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?

Acts 14:22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith, saying, “We must endure many hardships to get into the kingdom of God.”

1 Corinthians 4:12 We wear ourselves out from working with our own hands. When insulted, we bless. When persecuted, we endure. 

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it.

Matthew 10:21-22 “Brother will hand brother over for execution, and a father his child. Children will rebel against parents and have them put to death. (22) You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved.

James 1:12 How blessed is the man who endures temptation! When

he has passed the test; he will receive the victor’s crown of life that God has promised to those who keep on loving him.

Matthew 24:13 But the person who endures to the end will be saved. 

{some translations has stands firm or perseveres to the end, instead of endures}

Why did Jesus say this, during the Signs of the End of the Age, This verse is part of Jesus’ Mount Olives answer to His disciples about things to come.

Matthew 24:3-5 While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things take place, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (4) Jesus answered them, “See to it that no one deceives you, (5) because many will come in my name and say, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many people.

True Christian faith would be tested by deception, false prophets, and the increase of the wicked.

Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are savage wolves.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Stop being deceived: “Wicked friends lead to evil ends.”

Matthew 24:6-8 You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See to it that you are not alarmed. These things must take place, but the end hasn’t come yet, (7) because nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. (8) But all these things are only the beginning of the birth pains.”

Matthew 24:9 “Then they will hand you over to suffer and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations because of my name.

Jesus’ said His followers would be persecuted and put to death. From the time of the apostles until present day, millions of Christians have been persecuted and put to death. We are seeing an escalation of that in more recent days with global terrorism, but martyrdom has always been common in most areas of the world.

Jesus then say Christians will “be hated by all nations because of me.” As Islam and other religions increase in nations we are seeing a greater fulfillment of this prophecy. Hatred can be expressed in many ways, one of which is the radical secular culture and governments that once honored time-tested morality and faith.

When a culture actively strips from its history and public life any God involvement in its success, that nation is displaying hatred toward Jesus.  Governments says Christians cannot meet, sing or other things during this virus. 

Matthew 24:10 Then many people will fall away, will betray one another, and will hate one another.

Jesus said many will turn away from the faith, they will “betray and hate each other.” With so many internet websites, blogs, and Facebook pages, we are seeing opinions leading to angry arguments and un-Christlike words.

Everyone has an opinion about everything, and opinion, it seems, has become a god of this world, worth defending through anger. Even among professing “Christians,” the comments have taken a downward turn. Issues not worth dividing over have become hot-button topics that separate brothers and sisters and, sadly, the unbelieving world.

Issues that are worth dividing over have been swept under the rug in the name of “tolerance.” Anyone who does not bow to the god of tolerance becomes an object of ridicule and self-righteous hatred.

Those who endure to the end and are saved will stand firm through false teaching.

Matthew 24:11 Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people,

Jesus warns us many false prophets” appearing and deceiving the masses. We tend to imagine a “false prophet” as a flamboyant type, easily spotted and easily rejected. However, if this were true, then many would not be deceived by them.

Instead, the false prophets are men and women with outward displays of Christianity, very charming, great and inspiring speakers and has a way with words. They weave their heresies with Scripture, just as Satan does, so that those who do not know God’s Word thoroughly are taken in by their great-sounding teachings.  Jesus and Satan in the Desert.

This is one of the reasons I like to use many Scriptures, to be exposed ourselves to the Word and the Holy Spirit will let you know if the words you hear is truth or false.    

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when people will not tolerate healthy doctrine, but with itching ears will surround themselves with teachers who cater to their people’s own desires. (4) They will refuse to listen to the truth and will turn to myths.

Millions of people are being deceived today, with Bibles in their laps, because the words of the false prophet are soothing, exciting, inspiring, and more desirable than Scripture’s focus upon the Gospel, Jesus Words and How do we please Our King and High Priest, Jesus our Lord.

Matthew 24:12 and because lawlessness will increase, the love of many people will grow cold.

This is a cause-and-effect statement that we are seeing played out before our very eyes. United States culture is now being redefine to its lusts and depravity, those of us who cling to scriptural definition of sin are being quickly outnumbered. Satan is binding Americans as low level servants.

As wickedness becomes more popular and socially acceptable, people without a solid biblical understanding and knowledge will fall for this. They are “rethinking” and “reevaluating” the Bible’s relevance in our modern world.

The definitions of gender, sexual, and moral has been challenged, even within churches, causing those who do not know the truth to accept these new insights.  It is no wonder that the love that may have been ignited by the Holy Spirit is squelched or put down in favor of a new love and a new god created in the image of our culture.

Matthew 24:13 But the person who endures to the end will be saved.  

Mark 13:13 You will be hated continuously by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved.”

Jesus is speaking of us who has received the Holy Spirit and our lives have been changed by the power of the Holy Spirit.  By the Holy Spirit we are sealed and then can withstand the wickedness in our society, recognize and reject false teaching and especially cling to the truth of Jesus Word and Teaching.

Remember, we have been sealed and protected by the Holy Spirit until our changed, 

Sealed {G4972} just means to stamp, for security or preservation.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, (22) set his seal of ownership on us and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Jude 1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

John 10:27-29 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (28) And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (29) My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

1 Peter 4:18-19 “If it is hard for the righteous person to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and sinful person?” (19) So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do what is good.

We think we have it bad to endure, what about the Apostle Paul

2 Corinthians 11:23-28 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.  (24)  Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.  (25)  Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,  (26)  I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.  (27)  I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.  (28)  Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

For us, yes it is hard to endure, we know we have reward waiting for us

Revelation 3:10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

Revelation 14:12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.

Example, Jesus says these are His Feast, Leviticus 23 

Hebrews 12:2 fixing our attention on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of the faith, who, in view of the joy set before him, endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

This is what we have to look forward too. 

Hebrews 10:35-36 So don’t lose your confidence, since it holds a great reward for you. (36) For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will you can receive what he has promised.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Let me tell you a secret. Not all of us will die, but all of us will be changed–– (52) in a moment, faster than an eye can blink, at the sound of the last trumpet. Indeed, that trumpet will sound, and then the dead will be raised never to decay, and we will be changed.

Revelation 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

Hebrews 11:10 For he {Abraham} was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Revelation 3:12 He who overcomes {endures}, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

Let me say this, on our part as followers of Jesus who has the Holy Spirit in us, we understand what it means to endure, we know it will happen, but we have a way out of our problems with promise, the Holy Spirit will lead us in the right way.  Enduring builds patience.   We know this in our minds about enduring.  It is just one small part of our life.

Let’s be like the Believers in the past