Yes — the glory that awaits believers and God’s sustaining presence make enduring suffering worthwhile.
Paul was sustained through intense, repeated suffering by what he saw and heard in glory. Les teaches that believers are not promised a rose-petaled pathway, but God says, “I’ll see you through it,” and He will never forsake us.
Romans 8:28 — This verse directly grounds the answer: God works all things together for good for those who love Him, giving suffering purpose.
Matthew 24:13 — Jesus’ statement about endurance shows that surviving to the end has a promised outcome, even though it is not salvation by works.
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” This promise tells believers that even painful experiences are under God’s sovereign purpose. Matthew 24:13 says, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” In context, Jesus is speaking about surviving the end-time tribulation, not about earning salvation through human endurance.
Les Feldick’s answer is a clear yes. He points to Paul, who was constantly suffering — whipped, beaten, and finally killed by Rome — yet kept going because he had seen and heard glory and because the Lord appeared to him. Les also teaches that suffering has purpose: times of testing prove to God that we love Him, and for genuine believers hard times make God more precious. At the same time, he cautions that believers are not promised an easy path; we remain in a world of trials, but God will see us through. Les also sets two boundaries. First, no believer has to go looking for persecution or prove his faith by suffering; our attitude can actually invite conflict. Second, enduring tribulation survival, while important, is not what saves anyone.
Les says no — suffering is not the evidence of saving faith. He recalls a young pastor who was constantly persecuted by the community, but Les suggested the man may have been promoting it with his own attitudes. Believers don’t have to suffer indignities just to prove they are Christians.
Les tells of a totally paralyzed young lady who had the best attitude and happiest disposition of anyone he knew. To her, her suffering proved to God that she loves Him. God brings times of testing and tribulation to test our mettle; when hard times come, a true believing heart finds God all the more precious. God may bring tough things into our lives for His own purpose, and all things work together for good for those who love God.
Les says Paul was sustained by what he saw and heard in glory, and also by the Lord’s appearances to him. Even though Paul suffered every day to get the gospel out to pagan heathens, he never gave up and kept going until Rome put him to death.
Les explains that when Jesus says, “he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved,” He is not talking about salvation by enduring the tribulation. Endurance does not save anybody. It simply means that if someone has the wherewithal physically, mentally, and every other way to come to the end of the tribulation, he will be spared the horrendous events of that seven-year period.
Paul Sustained by Glory
Les teaches that what Paul saw and heard in glory constantly sustained him through intense whippings and suffering, showing that the coming glory makes suffering worthwhile.
Suffering Not a Proof of Faith
Les corrects the idea that believers must suffer indignities to prove they are Christians, and adds that our attitudes may sometimes provoke persecution.
Suffering Proves Love
Les uses the example of a paralyzed young lady to teach that suffering can prove to God that we love Him, and that God uses testing to reveal a true believing heart.
Rooted in the Word to Endure
Les challenges believers to be so rooted in the Word of God that martyrdom and torture would not scare us, acknowledging that few would naturally endure such trials.
Enduring Tribulation Means Survival
Les teaches that enduring to the end of the tribulation does not save anyone; it simply spares a person from the horrific events of that period.
All Things Work for Good
Les assures believers that God may bring tough things into our lives for His purpose, and that all things work together for good for those who love God.
Paul's Perseverance in Suffering
Les marvels that Paul kept going despite constant daily suffering for the gospel, never giving up until Rome put him to death.
God Will See You Through
Les teaches that believers are not promised a rose-petaled pathway; we still live in times of trials and tribulations, but God will escort us and never forsake us.
Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Les explicitly cites this promise when teaching that God brings tough experiences for His own purpose in the believer’s life.
Matthew 24:13: But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Jesus describes those who survive the end-time tribulation; Les uses this to show endurance means survival, not salvation.
No. Les says just because you become a believer, you are not going to have a rose-petaled pathway. We are still in this old world, in a body of flesh, and living in times of trials and tribulations. But God says He will see you through and never forsake you.
Les teaches that God brings times of testing and tribulation to test our mettle. A true believing heart finds God all the more precious when hard times come. God may bring tough things into our life for His own purpose, and all things work together for good for those who love God.
No. Les is explicit that enduring does not save anybody. When Jesus says he who endures to the end shall be saved, He means that someone who survives the tribulation will be spared from its horrendous events — not that endurance earns salvation.
Les says Paul was constantly sustained by what he saw and heard in glory, and by the Lord appearing to him. Even though Paul suffered daily and was finally put to death by Rome, he never gave up.
Watch the Teaching: What Happened to Paradise After the Cross? (2 Corinthians 12)