Chapter 7 – The Endurance of the Saints
We have seen in previous chapters that the ambushes of the enemy are many, and
this book cannot attempt to relate every specific snare and trap of the enemy. Yet all
of the ambushes of Satan serve a purpose in the life of the Elect of God. To the extent
that the saint overcomes the flesh, the world, and Satan, they are conformed to the
image of Christ. Yahweh does not present tests and trials to the saint that they might
fail, but that they might Overcome and share in the victory of Christ.
It is to be noted that most of the trials spoken of here relate to attitude. Will the saint
allow his or her hurts and offenses to produce bitterness in their life, or will they put
on a heart of forgiveness, mercy and love? Will the saint fall to the peril of self-pity,
or will they put on a heart of faith and look to the joy and reward set before them?
Will the saint allow their tongue to slash and cut others who stand as enemies before
them, or will the saint exercise self-discipline by ruling over their tongue?
If the Father were simply interested in His Elect being born again of the Spirit, then
He could easily have chosen to catch the saints up to heaven at the moment of their
new birth. Yet He does not do so. He leaves the newborn saint in an often hostile
environment where growth is mandatory. He causes the saint to undergo one test of
faith after another in order that their faith might be perfected. A perfected faith is the
object of the Father’s working in our lives, and it is a most precious thing in His
sight.
I Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if
necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof
of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even
though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and
honor at the revelation of Yahshua the Messiah…
When we have been made outcasts, when we have been scorned and rejected, when
our words have been twisted and our motives impugned, when we are persecuted for
the obedience we walk in, it is in these circumstances that we have opportunity to
have the life of Christ revealed to all of creation through these vessels of clay. When
we have been given promises, and the promises are delayed; when we have hoped
against hope for something, and the hope has tarried; when our hearts have wept
with the bitterness of this cruel world and we have longed for love and justice and
righteousness to break forth; it is then that patience is acquired to the perfecting of
our faith.
James 1:2-4
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let
endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and
complete, lacking in nothing.
It takes endurance to bring the saints to the place where they are “perfect and
complete, lacking in nothing.” The Father is patient in His activity toward us. If we
fail the test the first time, He will bring us to the test yet again. He is persistent
because He yearns for maturity and perfection in His children.
This is perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of the road to Zion. It is a seemingly
endless road. It is not a road that is traversed in a moment, but a road that requires
endurance if one would reach the end. The saint that goes a distance and then
refuses to go any further will fail to reach the destination and receive the prize. The
saint must endure to the end of the race.
Hebrews 10:36-39
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of
God, you may receive what was promised. FOR YET IN A VERY
LITTLEWHILE, HEWHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT
DELAY. BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF
HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. But we
are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have
faith to the preserving of the soul.
Note once more the use of the word endurance in this scripture. Yahweh has no
pleasure in the saint that lacks endurance. The last days have been foretold to be
perilous time where the love of many will fail. Many who once professed faith in God
will fall away, but the Overcomers will endure to the end.
Matthew 24:12-13
“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”
Mark 13:13
“You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures
to the end, he will be saved.”
I know many of those reading these words feel that they are at the end of their
endurance. The way has been bitter and hard. Your heart has been broken time and
again, and your hope has been deferred. Thinking about enduring yet more trials,
suffering, and delays tears at your heart. Yet the reward is great for the one who
overcomes to the end. If we could see the reward we would say with Paul, “I consider
that these momentary, light afflictions are not worthy to be compared with the glory
to be revealed in us.” Look at some of what is promised to the one who overcomes to
the end.
Revelation 2:7
“To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in
the Paradise of God.”
Revelation 2:11
“He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death [the lake of
fire].”
Revelation 2:17
“To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna,
and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone
which no one knows but he who receives it.”
Revelation 2:26-28
“He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM
I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; AND HE SHALL
RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE
POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority
from My Father; and I will give him the morning star.”
Revelation 3:5
“He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will
not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name
before My Father and before His angels.”
Revelation 3:12
“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God,
and he will not go out from it anymore; and 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 My new
name.”
Revelation 3:21
“He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My
throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
Revelation 21:1-7
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the
first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the
holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made
ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from
the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and
He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God
Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from
their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be
any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things
new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then
He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning
and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the
water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things,
and I will be his God and he will be My son.”
Please note that these promises are all for the Overcomer. It does not say that
everyone who confesses the name of Christ will receive these promises. It does not
say that everyone who has at some time in their life followed Christ will partake of
these things. It says, “He who overcomes.” These promises are for the Overcomer,
only. Many are the children of God who will fail to attain to these things and there
will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth among multitudes of those who
filled the pews of their local church building week after week and year after year.
Did you note that Revelation 2:11 stated that “He who overcomes will not be hurt by
the second death”? Revelation 21:8 clearly identifies the second death as the lake of
fire.
Revelation 21:8
“But for the cowardly and unbelieving…, their part will be in the lake
that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
How many of the saints have been falsely taught that the lake of fire is only for those
who never confessed faith in Christ? It is only the Overcomer who has been promised
to be spared from the second death which is the lake of fire. Many who are of the
household of God will share a place with the unbeliever, and that place is in the lake
of fire. Yahshua spoke of servants in His household who acknowledged Him as Lord,
but who acted in a wicked and unbelieving manner. He stated that they would share
the following punishment.
Luke 12:46
The Lord of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him
and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign
him a place with the unbelievers.
Look carefully at these three scriptures side by side:
But for the cowardly and unbelieving…, their part will be in the lake that
burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
The Lord of that [wicked] slave will come…, and assign him a place with
the unbelievers.
He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death…
If you wonder what benefit there is in your enduring so many trials, taking up your
cross and following in the path of Yahshua when so many other saints treat the cross
as an optional part of Christianity that they have opted out of, then consider these
scriptures. These lukewarm saints will be spewed out of Yahshua’s mouth. They will
be assigned a portion with the unbelievers. They will endure the second death, the
Lake of Fire, which purifies all those who would not voluntarily submit to the
purging processes of God while in this life. They will endure the fires of purification
until all that is not of Christ in their life is burned away.
[To read more of this matter of Yahweh’s purpose for the Lake of Fire, I would
encourage you to read the book “God’s Plan of the Ages” which can be found at
http://heart4god.ws/]
It takes endurance to be accounted as an Overcomer, and this endurance is possibly
the hardest thing to attain on the Road to Zion. We are told that “for the joy set
before Him, Yahshua endured the cross.” What a joy is set before the Elect of God,
as well. The Overcomer is promised all of the following:
To eat of the Tree of Life that is in the Paradise of God.
To be spared from the second death.
To eat of the hidden manna reserved for the Overcomers.
To be given a name written on a white stone that only the Overcomer
and God know.
Authority over the nations, and the right to rule over them.
The morning star.
White raiment to clothe themselves with (Righteousness).
Their name will be confessed before Yahweh and before His angels.
They will be made a pillar in the house of God and they will not go out
from there anymore.
They will have Yahweh’s name written on them, and the name of the
New Jerusalem, and Yahshua’s new name.
They will sit with Yahshua on His throne.
They will inherit the New Heaven and New Earth, and the New
Jerusalem.
They will have every tear wiped away.
They will know death no longer.
Mourning and crying and pain will be no more.
They will be able to drink of the water of life freely.
Yahshua will be their God and the Overcomers will be His son.
Such are the awesome promises reserved for the Overcomers in Christ. Yahweh does
not bestow such valuable treasures lightly. This life on earth is a proving ground to
determine who will be worthy to receive such things. When Yahshua comes He will
bring His reward with Him and give to each saint according to their works.
Revelation 22:12
“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to
every man according to what he has done.”
With all this in mind, we are exhorted to not grow weary in well doing, but to
persevere.
Galatians 6:9
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do
not grow weary.
II Thessalonians 3:13
But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.
Hebrews 12:3
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against
Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
We have need of this endurance on the road to Zion. It is one thing to exclaim as did
Peter, “I am ready even to die with You”, but can we endure a thousand deaths to the
life of our soul over a prolonged period of time? This same man who said he would
die with Christ asked Him, “How many times must I forgive my brother?” It is often
a more difficult thing to bear up under insults and offenses over a prolonged period
of time than it is to give one’s life as a martyr for Christ.
You who have committed your life to Christ, do you have the endurance to be falsely
judged and misunderstood by family today, and tomorrow, and the day after
tomorrow, and the day after that with no end in sight? Will you graciously bear this
and choose to forgive all who offend day after day? You who hope in God for some
promise, will you continue to wait months, years and decades, if the promise should
tarry, without becoming embittered toward God? You who are undergoing financial
lack, are you content to remain in this state of lack when you see the wicked
prospering around you and you know God could do so much more for you? Will you
remain patient and not murmur and complain against God?
Believe me, I know these are difficult things, and often my flesh and my soul want
to cry out, “Enough! I can endure no more! I will endure no more!” Yet the Spirit
within restrains me from these rebellious declarations. Inside I have felt crushed and
broken time and again, but obedience demands that I do nothing but submit to the
crushing of God. I know that as the hard outer shell of the old man is crushed, the
sweet and aromatic fragrance of Christ is released to come forth.
It would be nice if such transformation to the image of Christ could occur in a
moment of time, but for the last two thousand years man has known this rending of
his being that the life of Christ might be manifested. As a seed that spends much time
under the soil being subjected to drought, flood, frost and heat that the husk might
be broken open and new life spring forth, even so has the germ of Divine life within
man’s flesh been seeking to burst forth in new life without the restraint of the shell
that has hindered it and held it back for so long.
The time is near at hand for man to cast off this mortal shroud and put on
immortality, to put off this body of corruption and put on incorruption. It was
prophesied that after two days (two thousand years) of this torn and anguished state
where our flesh and spirit have waged war in our members that Yahshua would raise
us up and heal us. We are now entering the third day and the promise of Sonship is
at hand, yet it is reserved for those who exercise endurance and walk as Overcomers.
Hosea 6:1-3
“Come, let us return to Yahweh. For He has torn us, but He will heal us;
He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. He will revive us after two
days; He will raise us up on the third day, that we may live before Him.
So let us know, let us press on to know Yahweh. His going forth is as
certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring
rain watering the earth.”
As you journey to Zion, keep in mind these words of the apostle Paul.
Hebrews 10:36
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of
God, you may receive what was promised.
Selah
I surely understand these words…I have seen and gone through the fire and the rain and I see no end in sight.Howrever I know there is an end to it someday.Praise the Lord for that day…Thank you brother Joseph for continuing to put forth these truths that bring understanding to the weary ones who are still on the path that leads to Zion.