If forced to choose a key verse in Revelation, it would probably be the last sentence in 13:11:
“This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.”
These words refer to the qualities believers will need in order to make it through the difficult days of the Antichrist.
As stated in an earlier lesson, faithfulness is an unshakeable loyalty.
“Endurance” implies the ability to withstand hardship and adversity. Synonyms would be perseverance … fortitude … toughness … tirelessness … backbone … tenacity … even guts! Restated, the end-times will not be all that easy for Christ-followers.
“Patient endurance” suggests a strength derived from the hope that Jesus will soon return as promised and set all things right. It’s a characteristic with which John is identified. Revelation 1:9 states, “I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus…”
In the days of the early Church, Christians were accustomed to such challenges from their leaders. Paul wrote to Timothy, “Endure hardship with us as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:3). He greeted the Thessalonians with these words, “We continually remember … your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 1:3).
Endurance tends not to be preached all that often in places where people are relatively well-off. Congregations don’t usually recognize the need for it in settings where they’re accustomed to “instant gratification.” My guess, however, is that throughout much of Asia and many parts of Africa, for example, patient endurance is a sermon topic that gets a good amount of pulpit time.
A bottom-line teaching in Revelation is that in spite of repeated attempts by Satan to exert his will in this world, it is inevitable that Christ will still emerge victorious. Because of this alone, the response of Jesus’ followers should be to exercise patient endurance and faithfulness.
———————————————
Please click here to visit David Mains’ Sermon-Coach.com website.
You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Please click here.
