Testing the Endurance of the Saints

Things globally are in decline. And those things are almost every element of the environment, the destruction of our forests around the equator, which provides so much of the oxygen changing out from the carbon dioxide that humans make. We have the species of almost everything in decline, and then we have the invasion of other species that are coming in and complicating the decline of local species. We have human relationships that are in decline among people within nations and between nations themselves. We see things that humans have set up, like their economic industries and their physical production industries, being challenged and also in decline.

There are things that are getting worse, it seems, everywhere. They seem a little bit better, sort of like a graph. This fire season will end, and then ultimately something else will come along. And next year and the year after, the forecasts are for the difficulties, the catastrophes, to actually increase, for wars to increase and the potential for wars to be worse, according to the news, not just the Bible. Conditions in nearly every category are going downhill. Now, the important thing about this isn't just to sort of be a downer or be some sort of negative, followed by the positive of God's kingdom, but to actually help us understand Bible prophecy a little bit better.

Because, historically, when a populace becomes worn down, worn out, when what they want is not met, their expectations are not met, they begin to get restless, they feel disenchanted, they become sort of worn down mentally, and then they begin to throw off controls and restraints. You look at almost any civilization down through time, and what you might call the order and the establishment break down, and revolt and revolution take place. For replacing with something better, the fix then emerges.

And there's always a fix. And as more and more people feel disenfranchised, they strive for salvation or a salvation of this situation by finding a more and more radical fix, perhaps than anyone has thought of before. We might call it the Third Reich style of a solution. So filled with angst and frustration that you'll reach out for a solution that would not really be rational to human thought in other circumstances. They are radical, but they become attractive, and somehow to that mindset becomes logical. Let's go to Revelation 13, verse 2.

Revelation 13, verse 2 takes us to this type of a radical solution that is coming for humanity. It would help us to be aware of how these mounting frustrations within society, within the human world, that is denied their personal freedoms or access to first world comforts, the stream of things that they want. Here is the solution that will be embraced. Revelation 13, verse 2. Now the beast, which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, his mouth was like the mouth of a lion, and the dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.

So we're going to see society established by its god a solution. And this solution, as we go on in verse 3, and I saw one of its heads as if it had been mortally wounded, its deadly wound was healed, and all the world marveled and followed the beast.

So this will be, oh, the great solution. This will somehow fix all of these issues and problems that we as a human race have brought upon ourselves. And so, in verse 4, so they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him? All of these issues of wars and rumors of wars and escalations and threats and the breaking apart of communication, of transportation, of denial of what one wants as its pleasures, the goods and services.

This will fix it. So they followed and worshipped and said, ah, this one's undefeatable. This will see us through. This indicates a world that is very troubled at that point. Seriously troubled. Problems among societies, problems among nations. The fix, of course. Let's go to verse 16. This second beast, the religious icon, he causes all both great and rich and poor and free and slave to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads. So in what they think, in their value system, and their support of the authority of this government, of this kingdom, they go for, and they participate in it with what they do.

They are involved in that. So that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name.

Fully supporting that system. That is the great solution. And biblical prophecy shows that society is marching towards that as its solution for its ills. And that is the direction, that's the place, this is all going. We do not want to get involved in any part of that. We don't want to sort of mix in with that. We don't want to join the politics leading up to that. We certainly don't want to be part of that solution and have that mindset and be involved in those actions.

Rather, we want to have quite a different mark, as we will see soon. What is prophesied for the church? Let's step back from society a minute. Let's step back from the march of civilization to that fulfillment. What during this interim between now and the return of Jesus Christ happens to the church? Let's examine today what Jesus Christ said we're up against. Let's see how we can succeed to be his bride, to rise and meet him when he returns as our solution, as the one who will fix everything with a new kingdom or authority, government, with laws.

We are living in perilous times. The seeds of the end times are everywhere. They are growing. But what about the church? What about the church and the end time? What is the risk to you and me during this era? What we call the end time, or that time leading up at the end of Satan's rule, the end of man's domination and the beginning of the kingdom that is reigned by Jesus Christ and the saints?

Well, let's notice in verse 6 here in chapter 13. Verse 6, And he opened his mouth, this first beast, now he opens his mouth in blasphemy against God. See, it's really important for you and me to not be associated with society of this world, to come out of that society, because this society is with a different God. Verse 4, they worship the dragon.

They opened his mouth, verse 6, in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name. What do you have to do with the name of God? You are a son of God. You are a daughter of God. You are in the family of God. They are blaspheming your family name. That's what it has to do with. His tabernacle. They're blaspheming his tabernacle. What is God's tabernacle or temple?

It's you with the Holy Spirit. And those who dwell in heaven, they blaspheme. So you see, we have a choice here as to which kingdom we are of every day, which rulership we are under, which laws. So it's very, very important for us to know this, because in verse 7, it was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. You see, by lining up with God, we put ourselves at risk of being at war, being the targets, as it were, of this particular solution, this ruler, these co-rulers, and the God at the end of this age.

That's where the risk is. So this time is a time of testing, testing to see who we're of, which kingdom we're of. Do we honestly pray to God daily, your kingdom come into my life today? Your will be done. Help me to obey your laws. I'm within your realm. I'm a son. I'm a daughter of yours. I am betrothed to your son Jesus Christ.

I'm of a heavenly country here, and I'm fully devoted to you. Or do we say, well, like James 4, verses 1 through 4, I have these physical comforts and these physical things, you know? And I'm all about those. So I'm going to jump in with society and try to find a solution, somebody or something, or some way to bring back what appeals to me personally. We each have that choice every single day. So which kingdom or society are you of?

We should ask ourselves. If children of God, who is being blasphemed, then we will be persecuted and hated. In Matthew chapter 10, in verse 16, Jesus Christ says, you know, put on your big boy pants and, you know, walk this walk. This isn't some, you know, little fake, you know, easy little life that you're called to, and you know, just you're here to have a good time. You know, we are being offered the greater resurrection because we take it on the chin with Jesus Christ. We have to suffer with Him in order to be raised.

So once again, we have to mature and come to that point and say, well, okay, this shouldn't be negative because even Jesus said, with great desire, I desire to take this Passover. It shouldn't be negative because of the great cloud of witnesses we have in Scripture who have forged ahead with courage and said, this is going to be great for society. It's going to be great for me because we'll all actually be part of an eternal solution.

But He says in verse 16 of Matthew 10, behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Do you know what wolves are like? I once was in a circle of wolf-like animals, coyotes in a desert, and I had no defense whatsoever. And all I could think of was if those mouths decided they wanted me, there's going to be a whole lot of teeth. They didn't. They moved off in a line and left. But you couldn't help thinking that these wolf-like animals that rip and tear, if you're a helpless, defenseless sheep, it's not going to be pleasant, is it?

Did Jesus try to dress that up and say, oh, it's going to be real nice? No. I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. That's your calling. That's what the prophets did. That's what He did. Therefore, because of that, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Now, verse 21, He says, Brother will deliver up brother to death, and father his child, and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. This is what society around and heading for this solution in hating God and those who have His Spirit, the tabernacle, the temple of God's Spirit, will be persecuted. In fact, as we saw, delivered into the hands there of those.

And verse 22, And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. Welcome to the church of God.

How many would like to join up? You know, it's not quite the advertising that one would expect for building God's church, but this is the time in which we live. This is the risk to you and me.

Notice, you will be hated by all for my name's sake, but he who endures to the end, the same will be saved.

So, what you and I have to do here is be godly to the very end in all situations, all circumstances. That gives us focus, doesn't it? It tells us clearly, no surprises. It's not going to be an easy walk. The closer we get to the return of Jesus Christ, the more difficult it will be upon the church. At some point in time, it'll be so difficult that there's a group of the church that will be taken to a place of safety for three and a half years. And Jesus said, pray, be the person of prayer and obedience so that you can be counted worthy to escape all these things. But for others, there will be a walk through a very difficult time for three and a half long, long years. Verse 23, when they persecute you in this city, flee to another.

For assuredly I say to you that you will have not gone through the city of Israel before the son of man comes. So, there's some indications here that these will be tough times for everyone.

This is part of the Olivet prophecy directly connected with Matthew 24.

If we go to throughout the scripture, we go to Mark chapter 13.

Mark chapter 13 and verse 3.

Now, as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, so this is the parallel to Matthew 24, the disciples asked him privately, tell us when these things will be. What will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled? Of course, he said there's going to be deception. In verse 7, wars and rumors of wars don't be troubled for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. Earthquakes, various places, famines and troubles. All those things are physical.

They're about loss of physical opportunities, physical comforts, physical freedoms, things for me.

He says don't worry about those. These are the beginning of sorrows.

Verse 9. Here's what you're to watch for. Watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils and you will be beaten in the synagogue. Watch here. Stay endure in godliness.

Stay and endure in obedience. Stay and endure in your affiliation, your citizenship, with heaven.

In that way, we can endure to the end. How long can an individual endure such things that he's describing there? For weeks? Some things become difficult to endure, depending on what part of the world you're in. Some individuals are used to challenges and difficulties. Others are, quite frankly, spoiled. Small things that inconvenience them really bother them. But in these situations that he's describing, how long can you and I endure? Would it be weeks, months, years? Will we give up?

It says in verse 12, now brother will betray brother to death. Father is child. Children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all nations for my namesake, but he who endures to the end. You have the enduring, all the way to the end shall be saved. So there's no wearing out, is there? There's no giving up for those who are successful. And then he says, amidst all this unimaginable mental turmoil, verse 22, for false Christ and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonder to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

You know, a little bait. You know, oh, you don't have to go through this anymore. You know, God wants you to have it this way. Kind of like the serpent said to Adam and Eve. It sounds good. But take heed. See, I have told you all things beforehand. So when we think of challenges that are ahead, we need to simply determine one thing. Which kingdom am I of? Now we're here today celebrating the kingdom of God. On the Feast of Trumpets, we celebrate the solution that God has for all the troubles of this world, the reign of Jesus Christ. On atonement, we celebrate the removal of all the problems, the author of the problems, Satan the devil, and an atonement, a unity between God and man being made possible. And then we go to the Feast of Tabernacles, and we actually physically participate in the symbols of a wonderful, enriched life with Festival Ty, the tenth of an entire year's income, to physically portray the blessings and the beauty of the solution that God has for mankind. And on the eighth and last great day, we celebrate that opportunity being given to all humans who have ever lived through a second resurrection of all human life. So we need to be fixed mentally, emotionally, spiritually on who we are. We're the people of God. Amidst all the threats of the beast, we see that Revelation 14, 12, here is the patience or the perseverance of the saints.

Here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

We are to know who we are and keep walking through that at all times, not get distracted.

The Apostle Paul said, I have fought the good fight, showing us that this way of life is a wrestling match. We're to put on the armor of God and resist the devil. And at the end, he says, and having done all to stand. That's how we endure to the end. He said, a good soldier does not entangle himself with society. That's what Paul says. A good soldier does not entangle himself with society. Know who your king is. Know who the realm belongs to.

Go with the laws. Be part of that system.

Don't entangle yourself with the other one. Let's go to Hebrews 11.35. These are sobering things to think about. But once we realize who we are, what we're called for, then we realize we are lined up with God who is hated, reviled, Jesus Christ who is hated and reviled. And those who associate with God and the family of God will make themselves a target. Hebrews 11.35, breaking into the middle of this, others were tortured, not accepting deliverance.

See, there's torture and then wearing down, wearing out. And then there's torture and not accepting deliverance. Saying, no, I know who I am. That they may obtain a better resurrection. So others had trial of mockings and scourgings. It's pretty hard. We all like to be liked, don't we? And when you're being mocked and made fun of and scourgings, yes and of chains and imprisonment that shows that you are totally wrong in the eyes of society. You are guilty. You're so bad you have to be chained up and imprisoned.

Stone, sawn in two, tempted, slain with the sword, wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the society was not worthy. They wandered in the deserts and mountains and dens and caves of the earth. Verse 39, all these having obtained a good testimony in heaven through faith did not receive the promises yet, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. This family of God, you see, is harmonized. It's united. It goes together. No one's going to be left behind. No part's going to be resurrected without the other. Jesus Christ is going to have all together, all one. The only question is, are we part of that? Do you and I individually decide to be part of that?

We go something very encouraging, just a little bit over here, in Hebrews 13 and verse 5.

We'll break into the middle of the verse, Hebrews 13.5. For he himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. So we have some... it's not a walk on our own. We have something powerful, something mighty, something that opens doors. We have someone who inspires what we say and what we do if we're led by that spirit. And I will never leave you or forsake you. So we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper. I will not fear. See, in all of this, fear should not be relevant. We should not fear for me. That's what fear is. I worry. I fear about me. No, we should be thinking about God, about loving and serving and obeying God and fulfilling our calling. What can man do to me? Well, he can do something temporary, physical, but nothing eternal. We can expect increasing difficulties and challenges because society is walking down a path. But what effect will they have? Let's go to Daniel 7 and verse 25 and be aware of something here. Daniel 7 and verse 25. If a person wants something really badly, they will sacrifice to get it up to a point. Because they want something, but that something might not really be them. It's just that they want something. And so they will sacrifice up to a point, but if it becomes too difficult, they'll drop out. Satan knows this tactic. It works, and it has worked down through time quite well. In Daniel 7 and verse 25, when we see this end-time scenario, we find that this second beast shall speak pompous words against the Most High. Maybe it's the first piece. One of the beasts we read in Revelation speaks these words of blasphemy against God. And he shall persecute the saints. We read that as well. The saints of the Most High. Now, let's pause there. Who is he persecuting? He's persecuting the saints of the Most High. This is the children of God. This is the begotten bride of Christ. This is a great group to be in.

And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. So we see some of those saints will not go to the place of safety. For those three and a half years of the Great Tribulation, they will be given into his hand.

That's a tough time. We find that persecution, the word persecute, in fact, is a word from Aramaic.

And that word means to wear out mentally or emotionally.

Wear out. Thayer's defines it as to wear away, to wear out, to harass constantly.

So when Jesus says we are going to be persecuted, and we see these in-time events come along, the term is an attempt to wear you out.

Just keep it coming until you finally give in.

Some saints will evidently really have a tough time with that. And yet, as we've seen back in Hebrews, the 11th chapter, they do fine. They come through it just fine. And in Revelation, we find those who died during the Great Tribulation. We see them before the throne of God.

Now, what is the effect of this current world's situation having on you, having on me? It's a good question for all of us to look at. Am I getting over to the physical side of it, or am I staying on the spiritual kingdom of God side of it? That's what I like to ask. And it's a daily decision as to who am I going to be of today. There are dangers, there are catastrophes, there are interruptions of supplies, there's pandemic politics, there's revolt, there's chaos. Any one of those I should be involved in delving into? You need to be careful to separate the physical from the spiritual, because when we have restricted access to the physical, first world comforts, conveniences, this is about the self. And you can go right over to James, as I said a while ago, go right over to James chapter 4. Where do wars and fights come from among you? You want these things, you don't have them, so you fight in war over them. That's not of God. He indicates there that that is of a different mindset. Restricting access to God and restricting ability to keep his commandments, now that is something spiritual. See, that's what we've been reading about here.

About obese power, about Satan, about being given into his hand and denied and threatened. And if you obey God, if you are of God, if you want to keep his commandments, see, that involves salvation. That has nothing to do with personal comforts. That involves salvation. So which should you and I be about? Should we let these physical things discourage us and weaken us and wear us out because we're thinking about ourselves? Or should these things actually strengthen us, strengthen our resolve, strengthen our commitment to God, strengthen us in additional Bible study and prayer and diligence to carefully obey God and follow all of his laws even more carefully? We must not allow these difficulties, inconveniences, to wear us down.

The operations manager for Ministerial and Member Services once told me, he said, the biggest reason people leave the church throughout history, he said, is they tire of keeping God's laws in Satan's society.

You know, you want the kingdom, but it's so difficult to obey God in a society that you finally tire of it. You wear down over time. It starts with little things, he said, then slackness towards the law, then compromise a little with society. You back off from involvement. You flirt around. You eventually drift away. Isn't that just what Jesus Christ said? All these things are going to come up, and then the love of many will wax cold and so on and so forth.

I like to ask myself occasionally, will I be in the kingdom of God and then try to prove it?

How do we prove that? You know, we love the first resurrection, the appearing of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the bride, reign with Christ, you know, Feast of Trumpets. We're all about that.

We're all about the removal of Satan the devil, all about the millennial reign of Christ, the second resurrection. One interim assessment that we could each make is this. The Bible says that there is a sign of who God's people are. It's not the sign. It says there is a sign of God's people. We read there in Daniel, you know, the people of God and the saints of the Most High.

You see? How do we know that we are that? Well, one sign of God's people is how they keep the Sabbath.

And you find that people, when they come to this way, they're very eager, very excited, they really work hard, they're careful. How are we doing now? Are we still diligent? Are we still keeping the Sabbath holy? Or do we wear down over time? Say, you know, another Sabbath, a requirement, kind of a burden, too hard to really get that involved. You can't wait until it's over. You find these things in Scripture, actually. People saying, how long till the sun sets? God says, how about us? How about the Holy Days? How about all of the Holy Days? And our mental attachment, involvement, interest in this plan of salvation that God's rolling out? Things like the focus, the involvement, the participation, our intent in those Holy Days. How are we growing and developing in that? That can be, again, a good litmus test. Obviously, circumstances for every individual vary, so it has to be a personal question that one would ask. But are we wearing out? Are we wearing down? Sabbath, the word Sabbath, is mentioned more times in the Bible than grace or faith.

We tend to, perhaps, put it in its own little box, but the Sabbath and the Sabbath of God, including the Holy Days, are mentioned more times than some of the things that we might put up higher.

In Leviticus 23, as we think about those festivals, notice how God describes them. Leviticus 23, beginning in verse 2, speak to the children of Israel and say to them, the feasts of the Lord, and we in the new covenant, are called the Israel of God. So, the feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are my feasts. So, it's kind of like everything else in this calling that we have.

It's God's kingdom, it's God's rulership, it's God's laws, it's God's plan, it's God's church, and he has his festivals. How do we feel about all of those?

Are we really connected? Is that my kingdom, my God, the realm? Is that the realm that I desire, this heavenly country? Do I want to enter that literally as a spirit being?

Is that where my mind and heart is?

Verse 3, Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy assembly.

You know, the Sabbath that we're keeping, it pictures the kingdom of God. That's what we strive for. Satan hates the kingdom of God. He has a plan to try to get us out, keep us out.

And his little plan isn't a one-time shot. It's a lifetime of stress to try to discourage you, to get someone else somehow to say something or do something that makes you upset, somehow sows a root of bitterness, if possible, anything to break a person out and say, I've had enough! I'm out of here! That's what he's after.

Why did Israel go into captivity? Let's see in Ezekiel chapter 20, beginning in verse 12. Ezekiel chapter 20 and verse 12. It involved disobeying God and the laws of God, but notice how God frames this. Ezekiel chapter 20 and verse 12. Moreover, I also gave them my Sabbaths, the weekly Sabbath and the Holy Days, to be a sign between them and me that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. And that is our sign between God and us. Not that we just say, oh, I keep the Sabbath, but we actually observe this Holy Day that we might know that He is the Lord who sanctifies us. Verse 13. Yet the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not walk in my statutes. They did despise my judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them. And they greatly defiled my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my fury on them in the wilderness to consume them. The Sabbath is a very, very important element of the kingdom of God, the family of God, and us fulfilling our calling.

In Isaiah chapter 56 and verse 1, we see who's going to be successful. If you want to use that term, who will inherit, as it were, the first resurrection when the seventh trumpet blows. We all look forward to that. Isaiah chapter 56 and verse 1, thus says the Lord, keep justice and do righteousness, for my salvation is about to come.

What are we supposed to be doing? Focus on His righteousness.

Matthew 6, 33, Jesus said, seek you first the kingdom, that government, that rulership of God and its laws and His righteousness. The physical things, don't worry about it. He said, those things will take care of themselves. We'll work that out for you.

Verse 1, and my righteousness is about to be revealed, the seventh trumpet. 2, Blessed is the Son of Man who lays hold on it, who keeps from defiling the Sabbath.

Look at that. Here He's coming back, and we're told that righteousness and those who don't defile the Sabbath, He who keeps His hand from doing any evil, that's righteousness.

3, Also the sons of the foreigners, the Gentiles, who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast my covenant. Even Him, verse 7, I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer. So, just one, you know, barometer we might say is, how am I doing with God's Sabbath? How am I doing with those? I'd like to give three principles for Sabbath and holy daykeeping. First principle is, the Sabbath and holy days are days of rest from our personal pursuits. No seeking of our own business, our own thoughts. We shouldn't compromise on this point. We shouldn't double dip. We shouldn't start saying, oh, but there's society. Oh, I can make this call. I can dive over here and enjoy some of society on the Sabbath. I can have my mind over here, but technically, you know, I'm so-called keeping the Sabbath. In Isaiah chapter 58, just page over, verse 13, here's what God says, if you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day and calling the Sabbath a delight the holy day of the Lord, honorable, and shall honor him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the Lord. You know, the Sabbath day is a day for us to be focused on the kingdom of God. The second principle is it's a day for worshiping and assembling together, as it says in Hebrews chapter 9 and verse 25. Hebrews 9 and verse 25.

10, Hebrews 10 and verse 25.

Not... well, let's go to verse 24, start there. Verse 24.

Let us consider one another. This is agape love. It's not about me. It's not about self.

It's not about me and how I feel or what I want, etc., etc. This is sacrificing one's self for God and for fellow man. And he says, let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.

When we think about other individuals, we actually are giving a part of our mind, sacrificing a part of our energy, our time, our mind, our thoughts. We are giving that to others, just like God has done for you and me for billions of years in this whole plan of creation and salvation, just like Jesus Christ gave his literal self and 33 and a half years of his life and torture and death and continues to give themselves. Where is God right now? He's in your mind through the Holy Spirit. What's he doing? He's counting your hairs among a whole lot of more important things. And so we are to consider ourselves, consider one another, in order to stir up this agape love and the good works that flow from that. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, but exhorting one another and notice so much more, so much the more as you see the day, the day of the Lord approaching. We need to encourage one another because we have the great discourager who wants to wear us out. Part of the Sabbath observance is to assemble, to be together, to communicate, to join with God and join with each other to encourage one another. And it's tied in so much more, he says, as you see the day approaching.

The third element is the Holy Days are for doing good to others. As we just read here, in verse 24, before the first not forsaking of ourselves, he says, stir up love and good works.

And then he says, don't forsake the assembling of yourselves, the holy assemblies. Sabbath and Holy Days are holy assemblies. Jesus said in Matthew 12 verse 12, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. So those three principles, first of all, make it a holy day of God. And then secondarily, it's a day of assembling together. And thirdly, doing good. This has nothing to do with society. See, those are not society's mindsets whatsoever. So when we stop and we think now that the end time scenario is going to be trying to wear out the saints, wear down the saints, what persecution means, you and I need to decide very clearly every day who we are of, who we belong to, what we're here for, what we're of, in a sense, as children of God Almighty, a bride of Jesus Christ. In conclusion, we see two fronts on Satan's battlefield at the end time. The first is society, and that's one of his fronts. Wars and interaction and clashes. Satan wants humanity dead, and Jesus said if he didn't return, that would be accomplished. So he's he's fighting an entangled Gordian knot of a mess that cannot be solved. Don't even go there. Don't try to think about it. Don't get involved in it. Don't waste your time and energy on it, because that's a front that Satan the devil has all sewn up. He has a great plan. He's trying to exterminate humanity in. There's going to be faltering economies, political pressures, survival tactics. That one last great survival tactic we see is the final culmination of these great powers trying to fight Jesus Christ and the army that comes with him, the saints, dressed in white. Once again, who are you of? Who am I of?

And second front is against the church. He does not want the church to succeed. He does not want Jesus Christ to succeed. So he's bringing challenges from inside from outside, everything possible to wear out and wear down the saints. Don't get worn down.

Simply focus on God and who we are and let the power of God through his Holy Spirit energize us and give us greater and deeper resolve to do greater and more wonderful works that reflect well on God. We have the armor of Jesus Christ, and that is powerful armor, and we can rely on his power to survive, to endure, and to succeed. I'd like to conclude with Jesus's words in Luke 6, verse 22.

Luke 6, verse 22 and 23.

These are sobering times that we are in and that are ahead, and Jesus Christ himself doesn't sugarcoat it, but he sure offers us a co-inheritance of everything with him. It's a wonderful future. It is good news for the family of God. So he says in Luke 6, verse 22, Bless! Oh, how supremely blessed are you when men hate you and when they exclude you and when they revile you and cast out your name as evil for the Son of Man's sake, not for your own sake, but for the God that you serve. Verse 23, Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for indeed your ward is great in heaven.