Enduring to the end in Matthew 24:13 means surviving the seven-year Tribulation, not receiving salvation by endurance.
Les Feldick teaches that Jesus is not speaking about salvation as we think of it. Instead, the person who endures to the end is the one who has the physical and mental strength to come through the terrible seven-year period and be spared from its horrors. Matthew 24 is entirely about the Tribulation, and the last half is called the great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world.
Matthew 24:13 — This is the verse in question, where Jesus promises that the one who endures to the end will be saved.
In Matthew 24, Jesus sits on the Mount of Olives and responds to His disciples' question about the sign of His coming and the end of the world (Matthew 24:3). He warns of deception, wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, and says, "All these are the beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:8). Verse 13 states: "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." In verse 21, Jesus adds, "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."
Les teaches that Matthew 24 is totally dealing with the Tribulation, and that "he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved" is not talking about spiritual salvation. Enduring does not save anybody; rather, it means having the wherewithal physically, mentally, and every other way to come to the end of the Tribulation and be spared from the horrendous things of that seven-year period. The first three and a half years are bad enough, but the Bible does not refer to the Tribulation as the actual wrath of God until the last three and a half years. That final half will be beyond human comprehension, with plagues and cosmic disturbances one after another until Christ appears, and His appearing is the delivery.
No. Les directly asks, "Does enduring save anybody?" and answers no. He says Jesus "isn't talking about salvation by virtue of enduring the tribulation." Instead, it means surviving the terrible events of the seven-year period so that the one who endures is spared from their horrors.
Les says the end is the end of the seven-year Tribulation. He points out that all of Matthew 24 is "tribulation ground," even the introductory verses 1 through 14. The one who endures is the one who has the wherewithal to come to the end of the Tribulation, and that person will be spared from the horrendous things of the period. At the close of the last three and a half years, Christ appears, and that appearing is the delivery.
Les explains that the Bible does not refer to the Tribulation as the actual wrath of God until the last three and a half years. The first half, though terrible, is called the beginning of sorrows. The last half is described by Jesus in Matthew 24:21 as "great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world." Les adds that it will be beyond human comprehension and will involve both the wrath of God and the wrath of Satan.
Les connects the events in Matthew 24 with Revelation 6, noting that the appearance of the Antichrist, the great invasion, and tremendous loss of life are among the things taking place. These are called the beginning of sorrows, and they precede the final three and a half years of intense tribulation.
Beginning of Sorrows vs. Wrath
Les clarifies that the first three and a half years of the Tribulation, though terrible, are not called the actual wrath of God; that designation comes only in the last three and a half years.
Enduring to the End Means Physical Survival
Les gives the direct interpretation of Matthew 24:13, teaching that endure to the end is about surviving the Tribulation, not about earning salvation.
Matthew 24 Covers the Seven-Year Tribulation
Les connects Jesus' discourse in Matthew 24 with the seven-year Tribulation and shows the parallel with Revelation 6, including the white horse of the Antichrist.
The Great Tribulation Defined
Les explains that Matthew 24:21 refers to the final seven years and points out that this tribulation is not like the flood because the flood was not God's wrath.
The Delivery at Christ's Appearing
Les describes how plagues and cosmic disturbances increase until Christ appears, and says that appearing is the delivery for those who endure.
All of Matthew 24 Is Tribulation Ground
Les maintains that the whole chapter, including verses 1-14, is about the seven-year Tribulation, since Jesus is speaking to the Twelve and, through them, to Israel.
Why Did Israel Miss the Messiah? Romans 9:25-33 Explained
Now that's also referenced to Matthew 24, when it says, "...except those days be shortened, no flesh would be saved." Well you know how I've always taught that. That doesn't mean that He's going to shove the seven years down into six and a half, but it does mean that when that seven years is complete, God's through. He's in total sovereign control. Now verse 29.
The Incomparable Last Three and a Half Years
Les emphasizes that the last three and a half years will be so terrible that nothing in history compares, and it will involve both the wrath of God and the wrath of Satan.
Matthew 24:13: But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
This is the verse in question, giving the promise to those who endure to the end of the described tribulation.
Matthew 24:8: All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Jesus labels the preceding wars, famines, and earthquakes as only the beginning of sorrows, not the full wrath of God.
Matthew 24:21: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Jesus describes the unprecedented severity of the tribulation that makes endurance necessary.
Matthew 24:3: And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
The disciples' question prompts the discourse in which Jesus speaks about the end and the need to endure.
No. Les says Jesus is not talking about salvation as we think of it. Enduring to the end in Matthew 24:13 is about surviving the seven-year Tribulation period, not about earning or losing salvation.
The end is the end of the seven-year Tribulation. Those who come through the whole period alive will be spared from the horrendous things that will be unleashed during that time.
No. Les teaches that the first three and a half years are not referred to as the actual wrath of God. Only the last three and a half years are called the great day of His wrath, and those days will be beyond human comprehension.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens When God's Wrath Finally Begins — Revelation 6