Steadfast and Cheerful Endurance

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Short Summary
The discourse emphasizes the vital importance of patient endurance and cheerful perseverance for believers during the challenging final period of the Church, particularly the Laodicean age. It highlights that enduring trials with steadfast faith, love, and obedience is essential to overcome worldly influences, maintain loyalty to God, and ultimately attain the promised eternal rewards and divine nature. Biblical examples like Job and scriptural teachings underscore that such patience is a character trait developed through adversity, crucial for standing firm until the Lord’s return.

Long Summary
Detailed Summary of the Discourse on Patient Endurance and the Hour of Trial

Introduction and Context
– The speaker opens by acknowledging the troubled state of the world: disputes, wars, and widespread problems.
– Emphasizes the importance of gaining spiritual “food for endurance” and lasting blessings from the convention.
– Centers the discourse on Revelation 3:10 (Amplified Bible):
*”Because you have guarded and kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial which is coming on the whole world…”*
This verse is a vital scripture for understanding the trials facing the Church today.

The Hour of Trial
– The “hour of trial” or testing is a special period of persecution and trials during the harvest times of the Church.
– It applies especially to the Laodicean period—the final stage of the Church.
– The primary adversary during this hour is Satan, influencing mankind with evil traits described vividly in 2 Timothy 3:1-4:
*”But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come, for men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”*
These characteristics mirror modern societal conditions.

Need for Patient Endurance
– The trials surrounding believers require great patience to avoid being diverted from the prize.
– 1 Peter 4:17 underscores that judgment begins with the household of God, implying the necessity of endurance among believers.
– Revelation 3:21 promises the reward for overcomers:
*”He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame…”*
This requires patient endurance to be “more than an overcomer.”
– Ephesians 2:6-7 speaks of the eternal nature of this reward: believers are raised and seated with Christ to show the riches of His grace “in the ages to come.”

Patience as a Spiritual Character Trait
– Patience is not merely passive waiting but a cheerful, hopeful endurance (Greek: *hupomone*, Strong’s 5281).
– It signifies perseverance through evil in a willing, joyful manner.
– Other Greek words for patience include *makrothumia* (long-suffering, self-control) used in Hebrews 6:12.
– Scriptural examples of patience include Job’s endurance (James 5:10-11) and Paul’s appeal for patient hearing (Acts 26:3).
– James 1:4 encourages letting endurance have its perfect result to become “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
– Romans 5:3-5 links suffering to endurance, endurance to character, character to hope, and hope to God’s love poured into hearts by the Holy Spirit.

Practical Guidance and Warnings
– The world’s evil influences (media, spirit of the world) must be carefully controlled to avoid contaminating believers’ hearts.
– Luke 21:36 advises constant alertness and prayer to escape the coming trials.
– The parable of the sower illustrates varying responses to the truth; only the seed sown on good soil, which endures trials patiently, produces fruit (Matthew 10:22).
– John 16:33 acknowledges tribulation but encourages believers to “be of good cheer” because Jesus has overcome the world.
– The process of tribulation is likened to threshing wheat, separating the true followers (wheat) from the worldly (husks).

Biblical Examples of Patience
– Daniel’s refusal to bow to the idol despite peril.
– David’s patience and restraint toward Saul.
– Job’s patient endurance through immense suffering and loss, culminating in his restoration and double blessing (Job 42:10-13).
– These examples demonstrate the necessity of cheerful endurance even unto death.

Love, Patience, and Endurance
– Patience is closely linked to love (agape), which is the highest degree of character development (Matthew 22:37-40).
– True love is based on knowledge of truth and unity of mind and spirit (Philippians 2:2).
– The fourth quarter mark (final stage) of the Christian race requires crystallized character, love, and patient endurance.
– Matthew 24:12-13 warns that lawlessness will increase, causing many to grow cold in love, but “he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

The Danger of Lawlessness and Deception
– The world and even some within the church are influenced by lawlessness and Antichrist spirit.
– 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 warns of Satan’s lying wonders and strong delusions sent to those who reject the love of the truth.
– The love of truth is the final test of faithfulness.
– Believers are encouraged to be vigilant and reject false teachings and influences.

God’s Justice, Mercy, and Patience
– God’s long-suffering patience is highlighted, as He waits for repentance (Numbers 14:18).
– James 5:7 compares God to a patient farmer waiting for precious fruit, symbolizing the Church awaiting Christ’s presence.
– The divine plan unfolds in God’s time as promised in Habakkuk 2:2-3: “Write the vision… it will not fail.”

Encouragement to Persevere
– Revelation 3:20 invites believers to open the door to Christ’s fellowship, promising a spiritual feast.
– The importance of recognizing the Lord’s presence and the “meat in due season” (spiritual truth) provided by the faithful servant.
– The final period is unprecedented, with God’s guidance evident especially in Israel’s restoration.
– 1 Corinthians 13:13 encourages standing firm in faith, courage, and doing everything in love.

Conclusion and Final Exhortation
– The speaker prays for all to be patient, persevere, overcome, be cheerful, and faithful.
– Encourages motivation by agape love to become “more than overcomers” and members of God’s divine family.
– The discourse stresses that enduring patient love and faithfulness are essential to receiving eternal rewards and fulfilling God’s plan.

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Key Bible Verses Cited:

– Revelation 3:10 (Amplified)
– 2 Timothy 3:1-4
– 1 Peter 4:17
– Revelation 3:21
– Ephesians 2:6-7
– John 21:4-13
– Hebrews 3:14
– James 1:4
– Romans 5:3-5
– Luke 21:19, 36
– Hebrews 6:12
– James 5:10-11
– Matthew 10:22
– John 16:33
– Numbers 14:18
– James 5:7, 10-11
– Job 42:10-13
– Matthew 5:44
– 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
– 2 Peter 1:6-7
– Habakkuk 2:2-3
– Revelation 3:20
– 1 Corinthians 13:13-14
– Matthew 24:12-13

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Summary of Themes:

– The necessity of patient endurance (cheerful perseverance) amid increasing worldly evil and trials.
– The final test of faith is to maintain love and truth despite lawlessness and deception.
– Believers are called to be steadfast, self-controlled, loving, and enduring to inherit eternal rewards.
– The hour of trial is a focused period of testing during the Laodicean Church age.
– Biblical examples (Job, Daniel, David) show the blessing of patient endurance.
– The believer’s victory depends on continual endurance in faith and love, trusting God’s timing and justice.
– Encouragement to avoid worldly influences, to pray, and to remain vigilant until Christ’s return.

This discourse deeply explores the spiritual quality of patient endurance as essential to overcoming the final trials of the age and fulfilling God’s divine plan for His faithful Church.

Transcript

Well, it’s a good evening, brethren, from me, and it is such a joy to be with you again and to share some thoughts with you. All around us we see all sorts of problems and disputes and wars, and it is so important really that we carry home in our hearts and minds from this convention food for our endurance and a lasting blessing, and Revelations 3 and 10 appears to me a vital scripture to our day.

Because you have guarded and kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial or testing which is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell upon the earth, and that’s from the amplified version. So it’s a call to patient endurance during special persecutions or trials of the harvest times. It applies to the Lord’s people in their experiences and trials that can divert them away from the prize. So it’s very important to consider the facet of patience relating to the hour of trial.

The time setting of this text concerns the Philadelphian and Laodicean period of the Church. So I’d like to examine this hour of testing and relating to the final stage of the Church in the Laodicean period that we’re in. The FEET members recognize the prime influence in this hour of trial is the adversary, and a very graphic picture of this is given to us in 2 Timothy chapter 3, verses 1 to 4. But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come for men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips without self control, brutal haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than the lovers of God. Do not these verses remind you of today’s headlines?

It takes a lot of patience to be surrounded by such various characteristics of evil today, and 1 Peter 4:17 reads, but it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God, and it begins with us first, that it will be outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God. So judgment begins with the house of God, and the Greek word for judgment is the final decision. So we have instructions for the home stretch of the last quarter mark of the race we are running. As the tendency of the FTES members is to grow weary, we so much need patience to endure the trials around us.

It is this patience of enduring in all these conditions or trials that we are given that warning as we can also be drawn away from the prize. The Church needs to be aware of the surroundings and trials for Deliverance and exaltation comes to those who faithfully and patiently endure to the very end. So why is patience a requirement for the Lord’s children? We find the answer in Revelations chapter 3 and verse 21.

He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my Father in his throne. What an incredible promise. Indicates that we need patience to be a more than an overcomer. In Ephesians chapter 2 and verses 6 and 7 we have and raised up with him and seated with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come we might show the surpassing riches of his grace in the kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. Note, in the ages to come is all eternity and infinite time.

Wonderful advice that through all eternity we need to have developed this patience to the very maximum. This side of the veil. The church as we know is promised in Genesis 12:3, the promise given to Abraham to bless all the families of the earth. To accomplish this great work, it’s a necessity to deal with evil tendencies. That is why we need real patience to accomplish this work.

So along the way, it’s imperative to show our loyalty to our Heavenly Father with patient continuance in the hope that is set before us.

Volume 3 and page 187. Brother Russell has a little bit there. He has a lot of information, but testing and sifting of the sanctuary, and the pastor suggests that having left that baby condition not to become complacent because wheat is to all weather has all test for who endures to the end shall be saved, and I quote, though coming out of Babylon is one step and a long one in the direction of a complete overcoming, it is by no means the last one.

And we should be careful to guard against the disposition of to rest after every advanced step of the way. The step out of Babylon has generally been preceded by other steps of obedience, which in turn have exercised and strengthened the character for subsequent conflicts and victories, and we are warned in John, in 2 John chapter 1 and verse 8.

Look to yourselves that you may not lose all that we and you have labored for, but that you may win and receive back a perfect reward. So we have to focus on what we laboured for, as we can receive a lesser reward. We need to stand up for the truth despite much opposition around us, and this exercises the very quality of character in being patient to the very end, bringing into play every aspect of Christian development and trust in the Heavenly Father. He is at the helm in all the Experiences of our life trials on brethren are pleasant and unpleasant, but it’s all managed or arranged for our good to work out for us.

A far more exceeding weight of glory assures us, if we accept it in the right way, with a cheerful endurance.

In Hebrews 3:14 we read, for we have become partakers of Christ if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end. Note that if condition only if we hold fast. In 2 Timothy 3:14 we read, you, however, continue in the things you have learnt, and become convinced of knowing from whom you have learnt them. We are tested during the hour of trial to see if we remember where and from whom we learned that wonderful vision of the truth. Sadly, as we know, it got dim for some who once knew it.

So the Scripture has a very special application to us at the end of this gospel age, those who will join the Heavenly Father must have characteristics like him in order to share in his glory.

So endurance and patience are essential, and we now can see different words are used for these to underline and stress them. In Revelation 3 and 10 the word for patience there is Strong’s 5281. It actually comes from Strong’s 5, 2, 7, 8, indicating a cheerful or a hopeful endurance, and there’s many instances like Luke 8 and 15 and the Lord uses bring fruit with patience there and Romans 5 and 3 is good as well, and reflects the same word. The Greek word is hupamine, as I pronounce it correctly, and it has a much deeper and fuller significance than attached to our English word patience.

It signifies constantly an endurance or perseverance of evil in a cheerful, in a willing, and in a patient manner. It represents therefore an element of character and not merely a temporary condition. This trait is lacking in the majority of the fallen human temperament principles. During our trials we are to be enduring, to be patient, be cheerful, even unto death, and that is the reason we go through these often fiery experiences.

And the same Greek word appears in Luke 21:19 and 1 Peter 2:20. Our master’s words in Luke 21 and 19 by your endurance you will gain your lives in your patience or endurance or consistency by keeping the new creature and the spiritual hopes alive. It’s not just for a moment, but from the start to the very end, for he who endures to the end he shall be saved. An example of a different word for patience is in Hebrews 6:12 and Strong’s word there is G 3115 macrothumia if I pronounce it, and the word Patience here is to put up with things like control our temper, in other words, self control in Hebrews 6:12 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith, faith and patience inherit the promise in James 5:10 as an example, brethren of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Oh, the patience of Job, you all know about him, but it’s worthwhile going there.

James mentions that these obtain promises by patience in the self control under adversity. Also in Acts 26:3 Paul addressing their Herod Agrippa, he says there hear me patiently. In other words, be patient and listen to what I have to say.

Excuse me a few ways. The word endurance is meaning is used in Scripture. Its means to last the time to the endurance in 1 Peter 2:20 for what credit is there if when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it, you patiently endure it? This finds favor with God.

God to bear trials in the end smooths ways for acquisition of all other traits of character. As we are sustained by every trial, we have to keep on going, enduring self discipline. So we have to really endure, and as the English saying of one sister to me was from America, we have to keep on keeping on in James 1:4 and let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in Nothing.

In Romans 5:3, five in the standard Revised we read more than that. We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character. Character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, which has been given to us so long. Suffering and cheerful endurance are two types of patience, the latter being a higher development. As long suffering leads to endurance, all the faithful jewels must pass tests of loyalty and patient endurance, as when raised from a human body and given immortality.

What would they do with that life? How long would we remain absolutely loyal? Need always be patient long enduring and obedience to the will of God. That is the reason for our tests. Back to Revelation 3:10 because you have guarded and kept my word of patient endurance, I will also I also will keep you safe from the hour of trial or testing which is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell upon the earth.

He gives the thought, I will prove the hearts of mankind by creating a spirit having such a dominating force on earth society that you will be subjected to this snare or rebellious concept around you, but avoid it creeping into your lives and homes.

What the world seeks in their pursuits will be subtle unless we are very careful. Avoid sharing the spirit of the world since we are exposed to it much via multimedia today. So control it, turn it down, pray to a scrape a bit and we have the fig tree parable as well as in Luke 21:36 for time. I’d like to read that scripture, but keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place and to stand before the Son of Man during the Lord’s second presence. Some practical advice to the Spirit dominating this world of ours which is leading the world to a destruction time as we can well see.

Pray to avoid the concept of the Spirit polluting your mind. In other words, make yourself fireproof, and that’s From Reaper in 2975 as it is so vital that you stand before the Lord with patient endurance, showing absolute loyalty to him and his will. In the Old Testament we have many examples. Take Daniel.

You all know how the decree went out. He did not bow to that idol. He placed his life in peril. David’s zeal and patience along how many times he could have killed Saul, but he didn’t because he was the Lord’s anointed. So all these are noble examples, giving us a vivid picture why patience and obedience to God is paramount.

Remember brethren, the thousand year millennium is just the tip of the iceberg. There are ages to come that we do not know about. On that divine plan of the ages. When the earthly phase is over, we see what work lies before us. That’s why we are so interested.

Patient endurance in reprint 5650 the brother Russell under patient Endurance as the heading the final test, and I quote, development of this quality is one of the conditions which God has attached to the call for joint heirship with our Lord in blessing all families on earth. In God’s millennial kingdom, this mighty work requires those accounted worthy not only appreciate his goodness, his glorious character, but demonstrates their total loyalty and joyful willingness to suffer to the principles of righteousness and to his will. Only by a patient cheerful endurance through many trials, even unto death, would we be necessary to demonstrate such a character for righteousness.

That is the reason we go through these experiences.

In reprint 2627 the Good Seed is given in that parable of the Sower as the Word of God, and in the parable of the Sower the seed on stony ground had no chance. The ground represents the heart the stony ground not being in a proper condition to receive the seed and to bring forth fruitage. The seed sprouted, but its roots were not deep enough, and this class did not rejoice in truth have joy as they spring up but when the trails came, the tender plant just did not have the proper roots it withered and died. This class were faithful for a few months or years, but they were unworthy of sharing that great reward, as they were not faithful to the very end.

In Matthew 10:22 other seed fell on thorny ground, and the cares of this world, the pleasures of this life and its ties could not let it go on to a faithful conclusion. The seed on good soil developed fruit with patience. In the parable the Lord shows that patient endurance is the character of constancy, as it survived the final test, having received the seed, professing love, faith, and joy that springs forth, showing the promise of fruitage and such patient endurance is required, so the grain may be fully developed and ripened for the Garner.

In John 16:33 these things have I spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace in the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world Wheat symbolizes the Lord’s true followers Tribulation Tribulum is a Latin name for a farm tool for threshing to remove husks from wheat in old times and the definition of tribulation in the Webster dictionary is depressed to afflict an appropriate symbol of getting the real grain, the treasure of our new nature. The husk is the earthly condition and its tendency, and how each grain is prepared for the garner for the kingdom. Each grain must pass through tribulation, and the threshing removes husks, the worldly condition separate from the kernel of wheat before it is fixed the Master’s use. So we submit to these experiences, coming to a happy, positive frame of mind, enduring trials and to come to a point that we can say as is given of our lord in Psalms 40 and 8 and you know it well, I delight to do thy will, O my God. Thy law is within my heart.

So we must have cheerful endurance. Examples where patient endurance is evident is in numbers 1418 from the king James Version. Here the Lord is long suffering and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression and by no means cleaning, clearing the guilty visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation note the word it’s slow to anger in the NASB. Long suffering in Hebrew from King James is Strong’s 750. A rake is the word, and it’s made up of two Greek words, actually patient suffering.

God’s long suffering and mercy endureth forever. For those who repented he waits for their repentance. He shows mercy on ignorant, but not the willful, so that they may learn his ways hopefully.

In James 5:7 Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husband and waiter for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receives the early and the latter rain. The coming there is parousia, the presence of the Lord, the husbandman God waiteth. The special outpouring of truth was at the beginning and the end of the harvest of the gospel age. Oh, God is so patient because he is looking for the last members of the little flock.

In James 5:1011 we read as an example, brethren, of suffering and patience. Take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. I’d like to recall that patience of Job and his experiences of suffering and affliction and loss.

In verse 11 you recall at the conclusion of his trial Job could be said to be happy, but during his long trial he found no relief, either according to the flesh, or from his three supposed supporters in a leech shoe. Hebrews 12:11 tells us, now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous. The grievous. Nevertheless afterward it yielded what the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are rightly exercised thereby. Job was considered by others to be unfaithful, but his suffering proved the very opposite, that he had God’s favour.

We too should be tenaciously faithful under affliction. We are to obey faith, conscience, and principle, and then hold fast. Job had physical sufferings, temporal deprivations, criticism from his wife, and ridicule from others. Previously he had been effectively a judge. With great respect paid to him.

He has experienced a real reversal in his circumstances afterwards. Because of his patient endurance, he was blessed abundantly. Job’s designed experience revealed his good character. His character became more fully developed through his trials, and his subsequent restoration and reward more than compensated for his sufferings.

In Job 42:10 we read, the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold. By knowing about Job’s experience and being captive to evil circumstances and happenings, we Understand better the meaning of the expression Job had been under restraint physically, mentally and emotionally by Satan, and the term indicates too, that God forgave Job for words spoken under duress, although Job needed some correction. Nevertheless, notice that God restored Job’s fortunes of captivity when he prayed for his friends. Our Lord said in Matthew 5:44, Pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.

Here the three comforters, we could say, got a taste of their own medicine because they were telling Job to repent. They were willing to pray for Job, but they were waiting for him to confess his sin. But Job maintained his integrity all the time.

When comparing Job chapter one and verse three with Job 42:10 and the verses there 10 to probably 13, we have a list of what he had and what he lost. Then what he received. In job one and three. On the left column he had 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen. That’s a pair.

That’s a thousand, actually five hundred she asses. These all were lost as well. His seven daughters and sons. In a left column on the right column, in 4210 it states, he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels. Now a thousand yoke and oxen and a thousand che asses.

With the remarkable increase of sheep and camels, oxen and cheasses, it would have been obvious to all those around that the Lord was really blessing Job. You see, before his affliction he was the richest man. Now he was twice as rich. God was blessing Job, and it was marked markedly evident in job 42 13. We also said he also now had seven sons and three daughters.

You see, originally job had seven sons and three daughters. Now he had seven new sons and three new daughters to replace those who died in job one and two. So job’s designed experiences revealed his good character. His character became more fully developed through all his trials, and his subsequent restoration and reward more than compensated for his suffering.

The reward for the church, or the bride of Christ, if faithful to the very end, is brethren, the divine nature. The Lord is very pitiful and tender. He is so full of mercy, and the word endurance in our verse 11 then signifies constantly perseverance, and Job’s perseverance is an example of holding on, no matter what.

Continuing.

Going Back to reprint 5650 titled Patience, Endurance as the final test, I asked myself a question. What prompted Brother Russell in writing this in Romans 2:7 to them who by patient continuance, in well doing, seek for glory, honour, immortality and eternal life eternal life is the gift to all the faithful believers, whereas glory, honour, and immortality are they the reward for the elect few and in Hebrews 10:36 we have for you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

These scriptures do not exclude love, but included as continuing and enduring as that must be practice to obtain the prize. So you see, patience is closely allied to love and mercy agap you Love is the highest degree of character development, and the Lord stressed that in Matthew 22:37, 40 but love is not unintelligent, as we need knowledge of the truth before we can love properly. One cannot truly love the Heavenly Father or the brethren without the truth. In 2 Corinthians 5:16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh, as though we have known Christ according to the flesh. Yet now we know him in this way no longer.

Our love has to take on significance to deal along spiritual rather than fleshly lines. In Philippians 2:2 we read, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. We see love is associated with those of one mind. They love meeting together, though they may not totally agree that they dwell on in agreement on that same truth, loving the same things, the same pearls, the same jewels. Thereby we are magnetically attracted to one another.

The highest degree of love has its basis on truth and righteousness as justice is the foundation and love comes with both pleasant and unpleasant experiences among the brethren, our Heavenly Father’s actions come to mind have to consider the fact that Adam’s life was conditional and he progressed to death. The Heavenly Father caused the flood on earth to destroy all except Noah and his family. We recall the Heavenly Father required the life of his only begotten Son. Consider the Heavenly father has permitted 6,000 years reign of sin and death, and yes, you can rightly say God is so, so patient and so loving.

Consider the Heavenly Father permitted the hour of temptation. Manifesting love is not always associated with pleasant experiences. Just like we correct our children to show love.

The fourth quarter mark is such a critical period. It’s the home stretch of the last hundred meters of a 400 meters race in the Olympic stadium. I used to be a runner so I can associate to this the crystallization of character is what is needed not only to stand at that mark and be firm up to the very end at that fourth quarter mark is the mark of love as we know we have to endure after that to stand and to take Whatever tribulation we’re faced with, endurance is so much needed with cheerful patience. After that fourth quarter mark of agape love, we see continuance in a close bond between love, endurance and patience. In Philippians 4, 13 and 14, the thought is to keep pressing on and not to stand or stop.

Stretch yourself for the finish line. It’s a real straining forward like that of that finishing line coming up with self examination and scrutiny of our conduct, our doctrine, and our walk in the Narrow Way. Matthew 24 tells us why endurance is so important at the end of this age. Because it is so very difficult in verses 12 and 13 in Matthew 24, 12, 13, because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will what grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

And the dialogue uses lawlessness as well. The tendency in the world today is impatience leading to rebellion, anarchy, spontaneous demonstrations, instant reaction to anything totally against any restraint, and the worldly attitude can influence those on a narrow way. We need to resist lawlessness with the assistance of divine grace to make poor progress in trying to obtaining Christ likeness.

The conditions of the world today in are in 2 Timothy 3, 15 are quoted earlier, and we are to avoid at all cost the spirit of that world creeping into our lives. In reprint 2792, column two, parallel one, Brother Russell says, and I quote, if ever patient endurance was necessary, it is necessary now. If ever it was true. So now those running this race acceptably, and possessing patient endurance, will be able to stand in its evil day, so others will be able to stand. For, as the apostle says, the fiery trials of this day shall try every man’s work of what it is.

In 1st Corinthians 3:13 we have indications of these conditions in the world today in Acts 20 and verses 29 and 30. I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock, savage wolves kill the sheep. The spiritual lesson is that savage wolves can destroy our spiritual life. It is a possibility, hence the warning, and verse 30 says, Watch out for them.

And I read verse 30, and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them. You see, brethren, the problem in today’s world, in the world churches lately, is a lack of restraint of liberty, or misunderstanding as to what liberty entails. We see these experience of trials with patient endurance helpful to note that lawlessness, the Antichrist, is creeping into the church at the end. So be on guard, follow our Lord’s example in Jordan, and that famous Psalm of 40 and I I delight to do thy will, O my God, my law is within my heart. That motive is to be in our hearts and not a lawless attitude.

So the church still develops an iniquity at this harvest age end and his return, and he is interested in his church being properly developed for the mission.

Other types of experiences highlighted main words on the screen just for the time. Or maybe I’ll just read them anyway. In 2 Thessalonians 2, 9, 12 after Jesus’s presence there’s signs and lying wonders, unrighteousness, receiving not the love of the truth, and the heavenly Father sends strong delusions so that they believe what a lie. They did not receive the love of the truth, and they followed iniquity.

So the love of truth is the final test, and I read in verse nine, even him who is coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved, and for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie, and finally that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in righteousness, and in 2 Peter 1, 6, 7 and in your knowledge self control, and in your self control, endurance and in your endurance, godliness and verse seven and in your godliness brotherly affliction and your brotherly affliction love. In reprint 4044 a short paragraph ties into the thought of how the vision of Habakkuk 2 in that second chapter we well know, and it fits into the hour of temptation.

And I quote, in a time of the harvest, the wheat and tares are to separate. When the true light shines in the harvest time of this age, all the awakened world will see the day star and the dawning millennium. Being awake and loyal to him and to the principles of his government, they will promptly recognize the truth as the voice of God saying to them, come out of her, my people, that you may not be partakers of her sins, and receive not of her plagues, and that’s a citation from Revelation 18:4.

Apostle Paul to Timothy gives advice for us in 2 Timothy 3:14.

You, however, continue in the things you have learnt, and become convinced of knowing from whom you have learnt them. Patient endurance constantly. But brethren especially, take note of that last portion of the verse, knowing from whom you have received these things. It gives us what I call a litmus test. For today, when you Test acidity and alkaline substance liquids rather in Habakkuk 2 and 2 and 3.

Then the Lord answered me and said, record the vision. Inscribe it on tablets that the one who reads it may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time. It hastens towards the goal. It will not fail, though it tarries.

Wait for it, for it will certainly come. It will not delay a lasting thing. The Lord tells the prophet Habakkuk there, write on tablets of stone, unchangeable. You cannot erase it. It’s the vision of the divine plan of the ages, manifest in the Lord’s due time and understood in his time.

Let us have faith, let us study it to be found faithful in the sight of the Lord. The divine law arrangement was given to Moses. God gave provisions to keeping the law. It’s the same way judges today get laws, and legislative bodies are given provisions for trying to maintain that law and order that deals with disobedience, and brethren, we may question, as Habakkuk did in verse six, how long, O Lord, as we have faith and patience, that the fulfillment of God’s plan is according to his time, not ours and our impatience.

The means used to bring the present evil world to a close may appear discouraging to some, but we will find peace in God’s absolute justice and compassion. That’s why we pray for God’s kingdom to come and God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Revelations 3:10, the returned Lord is to keep the church from the hour of temptation. Our heavenly Father and our returned Lord are always there for our protection in the hour of temptation, and the verse, I think, is specific to the manifold truth that came at the end of this gospel age.

A special trial and a special blessings and special provisions. In Revelation 3 and 20 I read, Behold, I stand at the door, and what I knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with me. To sup is the principle of the evening meal. We say it’s a feast.

You all Remember in John 21 and verses 4 to 13. It’s an incident on the Sea of Galilee. Our risen Lord there prepared first meal for his disciples and gave it to them. When? In the morning on the shore of the sea of Tiberius or Galilee.

And you know what it was? It was bread and fish for breakfast. The first meal in the gospel age. We have the Lord’s own words from John the river lady to assist us in the special trials and the end times to have a benefit in the special hour. It’s important to hear his voice, recognize his presence, and to feast on the fat things of what the meat in due season he has provided also the means by which he is giving us this truth by the wise and faithful servant.

If we fail to recognize this, we will not have that keeping power.

We then have special blessings as we open the door to the Lord to have fellowship with us in this closing Laodicean period My dear brethren, we are living in times prophets only dreamed of. Look what’s going in Israel and how the Lord is guiding never so available before in other period of the church. Let us then study his word and not be deceived in any way. I’d like to close with 1 Corinthians 13:13 14 My dear brethren, be on guard, stand firm in the faith, be men of courage, be strong, do everything in love so that we live with a victorious faith through much to overcome with love and mercy of our Heavenly Father in this battle to show our dear Heavenly Father, we desire to be obedient to his will. My dear brethren, from the bottom of my heart, may the Lord bless you all to be patient, to persevere, to overcome, to be always cheerful and to be faithful to endure with that agape love motivating it all so that we all may be more than overcomers and be members of the Divine family.

Amen.

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