Endure to the End?

“The one who endures to the end, he will be saved”

– Jesus, Matthew 24:13

Are you ever puzzled by some things Jesus says?

He says it again, “You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.” Jesus – Matthew 10:22

I have recently had some lively discussions about the meaning and implications of what JESUS said when telling His disciples about His coming and the end of the world. (Matthew 24)

Jesus tells His disciples they will face many trials, challenges, persecutions and even martyrdom. Many Christians will suffer tribulation just before His return and the end of the age.

He warns us that “it is the one who ENDURES TO THE END, is he who will be saved”.

Jesus’ plain words should be enough. So, why the puzzle? Why the controversy?

I believe there is controversy because many people, including many of my friends and acquaintances, jump to these conclusions:

1. Many jump to the conclusion that Jesus is NOT saying “You can lose your salvation” (And this can make them very angry because this view does not fit their religious doctrine of “eternal security) And, they are very adamant!

2. Many others jump to the conclusion that Jesus is saying that you CAN lose your salvation”. These folks say, “SEE, I TOLD YOU SO!!! (And this view makes them resolute because this DOES fit their religious doctrine.) And, they are very adamant!

3. While some jump to the conclusion that Jesus is saying it’s all about maturing in your faith, probably in an attempt to avoid controversy.

4. And yet, others say that they just don’t know what He means.

I have read many commentaries on these verses, and although these are studied opinions, most are a jumble of opinions based on denominational and religious doctrines.

Perhaps we are just asking the wrong questions?

Many theologians and bible teachers will hammer the pieces of this puzzle into place, to fit their religious doctrines, whether they fit or not.

These verses are very important to the believer. Ask yourself,

Does one perish if he or she does not “endure to the end”?

And, what is it we should ENDURE?

What END is it that I am to endure to?

What will I be SAVED to or from?

Why does it matter?

Believe me when I say that Jesus was clear. He has more to say on this matter in His discourse found in Chapter 24 of Matthew. He gives grave warnings about enduring and being ready for His Return and the End of the Age.

The most important thing about correctly understanding scriptures

and the Words of Jesus,

is this:

Romans 1:16-17 The gospel, is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

You cannot experience the power of God, and
You cannot experience the righteousness of God, and
You cannot LIVE BY FAITH
If You do not possess and believe the entire Word of God.

Want to know more? This is important because it affects how YOU respond to Jesus’ command to BE READY for “His coming, and of the end of the age”.

If so, then let’s first get these verses in CONTEXT and then we will look at the wording from the original language:

Matthew 24:3 As He (Jesus) was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age”?

4 ¶ And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.

5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.

6 “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.

8 “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

10 “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.

11 “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.

12 “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.

13 “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”

THE CONTEXT

of “the one who endures to the end, he will be saved” is: “the signs of Jesus’ coming, and of the end of the age”?

THE WORDS

Now, let’s take a closer look at the words Jesus used to tech His disciples:

Endures: #5278 ὑπομένω hupomeno hoop-om-en’-o

from Strong’s concordance, #5259 and 3306; v; TDNT-4:581,581; {See TDNT 481 }

AV-endure 11, take patiently 2, tarry behind 1, abide 1, patient 1, suffer 1; 17

1) to remain

1a) to tarry behind

2) to remain i.e. abide, not recede or flee

2a) to preserve: under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one’s faith in Christ

2b) to endure, bear bravely and calmly: ill treatments

The Tense: Aorist 5777, Active 5784, Participle 5796

The aorist tense is characterized by its emphasis on punctiliar action; that is, the concept of the verb is considered without regard for past, present, or future time.

The Greek participle corresponds for the most part to the English participle, reflecting “-ing” or “-ed” being suffixed to the basic verb form.

IN OTHER WORDS: “The one who HAS ENDURED, IS ENDURING and CONTINUES ENDURING to the end, he will be saved” in relation to “the sign of Jesus’ coming, and of the end of the age”

End: #5056 τέλος telos tel’-os

from a primary tello (to set out for a definite point or goal); n n; TDNT- 8:49,1161; {See TDNT 785 }

AV-end 35, custom 3, uttermost 1, finally 1, ending 1, by (one’s) continual + 1519 1; 42

1) end

1a) termination, the limit at which a thing ceases to be (always of the end of some act or state, but not of the end of a period of time)

1b) the end

1b1) the last in any succession or series

1b2) eternal

1c) that by which a thing is finished, its close, issue

1d) the end to which all things relate, the aim, purpose

2) toll, custom (i.e. indirect tax on goods)

IN OTHER WORDS: “The one who has endured, is enduring and continues enduring TO THE END, of “the signs of Jesus’ coming, and of the end of the age” he will be saved”.

HE: #3778 οὗτος houtos hoo’-tos including nominative masculine plural οὗτοι houtoi hoo’-toy, nominative feminine singular αὕτη haute how’-tay and nominative feminine plural αὗται hautai how’-tahee

from the article 3588 and 846; pron;

AV-this 157, these 59, he 31, the same 28, this man 25, she 12, they 10, misc 34; 356

1) this, these, etc.

2) himself, herself, themselves, itself

3) he, she, it

4) the same

IN OTHER WORDS: “THE ONE who has endured, is enduring and continues enduring TO THE END, of

“the signs of Jesus’ coming, and of the end of the age” HE “THIS SAME ONE, THESE SAME ONES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, who will be saved”.

SAVED: #4982 σώζω sozo sode’-zo

from a primary sos (contraction for obsolete saos, “safe”); v; TDNT- 7:965,1132; {See TDNT 779 }

AV-save 93, make whole 9, heal 3, be whole 2, misc 3; 110

1) to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction

1a) one (from injury or peril)

1a1) to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health

1b1) to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue

1b) to save in the technical biblical sense

1b1) negatively

1b1a) to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment

1b1b) to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance

Tense: Future 5776, Passive 5786, Indicative 5791

5776 Tense-Future

The future tense corresponds to the English future, and indicates the contemplated or certain occurrence of an event which has not yet occurred.

5786 Voice-Passive

The passive voice represents the subject as being the recipient of the action. E.g., in the sentence, “The boy was hit by the ball,” the boy receives the action.

5791 Mood-Indicative

The indicative mood is a simple statement of fact.

IN OTHER WORDS: “THE ONES who have ENDURED, are enduring and continue enduring TO THE END of

“the signs of Jesus’ coming, and of the end of the age”, HE “THIS SAME ONE, THESE SAME ONES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, will BE SAVED, from perishing, saved in the biblical sense, delivered from the penalties of the Messianic judgment; saved from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance”.

In JESUS’ Words: “The one who endures to the end, he will be saved” – PERIOD.

We must GET READY, BE READY and STAY READY and endure to the end.

Whether you believe

you can lose your salvation, or you believe
you cannot lose your salvation, or you believe that maybe
you were never saved in the first place or you think this is about
your maturing in your faith or
you just don’t know

One thing you better know is that you must

1. Get Ready – Make Jesus your Lord and Savior.

2. You can only come to God and be saved by His Grace and by your faith, believing that

3. Jesus died for your sins and that

4. God raised Him up from the grave after three days in the tomb,

5. Jesus saves you from your sins and

6. Jesus saves you from perishing (going to eternal torment in hell)

7. Jesus has forgiven you and given you a new life of hope, promise

8. The one who endures to the end, he will be saved” – Jesus, Matthew 24:13

In support of enduring to the end,

The Apostle Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day;and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7 – 8

Jesus said, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”Luke 9:62