Blog

Perseverance and endurance by the saints are mentioned numerous times in the Book of Revelation, as well as elsewhere in Scripture.  A vital command in order to overcome the dreadful times ahead.

The Book of Revelation writes of perseverance starting right in Chapter One and proceeds through the seven year Tribulation period.

John, apostle of the Lord and writer of the Book of Revelation wrote:

“I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus …” – Revelation 1:9

Jesus commends the church in Ephesus:

“ ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance…and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary.’ ” – Revelation 2:2-3

Perseverance – endurance – is also a part of the praise that the Lord gives to the church in Thyatira:

“ ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first.’ ” – Revelation 2:19

Letter to Philadelphia:

“ ‘Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth.’ ” – Revelation 3:10

Concerning God’s people who MUST REFUSE to take the mark of the Beast, that MUST NOT worship the Beast or his image:

“ ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God…he will be tormented with fire and brimstone…and the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever…Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.’ ” – Revelation 14:12

“…and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand…” – Revelation 20:4

Other warnings to believers about enduring during the Tribulation:

“If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed.  Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.” – Revelation 13:10

“ ‘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.’ ” – Matthew 10:22

“ ‘But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.’ ” – Matthew 24:13

“ ‘You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.’ ” – Mark 13:13

“ ‘By your endurance you will gain your lives.’ ” – Luke 21:19

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.” – 2 Timothy 3:1

God endured the Israelites in the wilderness:

“With mighty power He led them out of that country and endured their conduct for forty years in the desert.” – Acts 13:17-18

“…regard the patience of our Lord as salvation…” – 2 Peter 3:15

God is indeed patient, however He does not tolerate wickedness forever:

“So the Lord was no longer able to endure it, because of the evil of your deeds, because of the abominations which you have committed…” – Jeremiah 44:22

And so it will be again:

“But who can endure the day of His coming?” – Malachi 3:2

“Who can stand before His indignation?  Who can endure the burning of His anger?  His wrath is poured out like fire and the rocks are broken up by Him.” – Nahum 1:6 – however, read the very next verse:

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him.” – Nahum 1:7

The Lord Jesus endured pain, suffering and death on the Cross for all of us:

“…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2

More Scripture on Perseverance and Endurance:

“…we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” – Romans 5:3-5

“… pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.” – 1 Timothy 6:11

“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” – Romans 15:4

“… we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.” – 2 Thessalonians 1:4

“… when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure…’ – 1 Corinthians 4:12

“ ‘But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.’ ” – Luke 8:15

“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” – Ephesians 6:18

“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” – 2 Timothy 2:1

“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:5

“Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.” – 1 Timothy 4:16

“Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 15:5-6

Even though we might be tempted to cave in:

“God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13

The Lord rescues those who would endure for His name’s sake:

“Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!” – 2 Timothy 3:10-11

“…and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:10

“For He is the living God and enduring forever…He delivers and rescues…” – Daniel 6:26-27

Submit to the Lord:

“…but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults…” – 2 Corinthians 6:4-5

“…after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings…through reproaches and tribulations…by becoming sharers with those who were so treated.” – Hebrews 10:32-33

Believers are to persevere and endure in order to be made complete and receive His promises:

“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.” – Hebrews 10:36

“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” – James 1:12

“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.” – James 1:2-4

“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.” – James 5:11

“But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.” 1 Peter 2:20

“… to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life…” – Romans 2:7

“The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure for ever.” – Psalm 37:18

“…applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ…be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.” – 2 Peter 1:5-11

“ ‘Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.’ ” – Acts 14:22

“Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them.  And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” – Revelation 20:4

A Call to Endure:

“It is a trustworthy statement: ‘For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.’ “ – 2 Timothy 2:11-13

A Call to Perserve:

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever.  Amen.” – Jude 1:24