How to Endure to the End

The name of this blog is the Reaper because I wanted to draw attention to the fact that God will reap a final harvest - both of our lives and of the world in general. Paul puts it this way -

"For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." - Galatians 6:8,9

As we observe the world around us, we can easily see the increase of lawlessness. Riots are breaking out almost weekly as economies fail and accustomed lifestyles are threatened. The nightly news alerts us to the increase of earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, all around the world. Ethnic and religious violence are intensifying and rumors of war are again reverberating throughout Africa and the Mideast. "The love of many" is growing cold just as Jesus warned (Matthew 24:12). This lawlessness has also invaded the Church and Jesus also reveals that many will betray one another and hate one another in the Church. Nothing hurts quite as much as when friends and family turn against you and betray you. The great falling away that Paul warned about (2 Thessalonians 2:3) is upon us.


We are living in this day. Already false prophets are arising saying "Peace, Peace" but there will be no peace. They are predicting great revivals when Jesus says "unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved, but for the elects sake those days will be shortened." (Matthew 24:22). Doctrines like the "prosperity teaching" and the "pre-tribulation rapture" will be shown to be false hopes of escapism from Scriptural realism. But, there is a message of hope that the Holy Spirit is revealing. It is the same message that John the Baptist preached and that Jesus preached when He began His earthly ministry -

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" - Matthew 3:2

There is no entering the kingdom of heaven without repentance. When Jesus dictated His letter to the seven churches of Revelation, His first commandment to five of them was to repent. If Jesus could get into today's churches, (There was one church in Revelation where He had to stand outside the door and knock!), He would say repent! Repent for the broken covenants and promises you made in your marriages, for the lies you have told in your businesses, for the promises you made to God and have not kept, for the lack of prayer and fellowship with Me, for your lack of submission to one another, for not preferring others above yourself, for preferring the wicked above the righteous in your voting. Just as when Jesus stooped down and wrote in the sand as self-righteous Jews were condemning the harlot, I'm sure His list of sins would convict us all!


Jesus taught, "Broad is the way that leads to destruction, but, narrow is the way that leads to life and few there be that find it." But, there are preparations that can help us find that 'narrow way'. After all, Jesus also said "He who endures to the end shall be saved." So, how can we endure to the end?


Revelation 4 reveals to us the road map to navigate the days ahead. In this short chapter of 11 verses the word throne appears 14 times. The message is that everything is under the control of the One who sits on the throne. This chapter reveals four aspects of God's nature. 1) He is holy - the single most important revelation of God given in Scripture. If we do not submit to this aspect of God's nature, we will never find the 'narrow way' to salvation. 2) God is almighty - His wisdom is greater than man's or the devil's and His plans are right on schedule. He alone is controlling destiny. Only Jesus could open the scroll that is God's plan to close the age (Revelation 5). 3) He is eternal - He was, He is, and He is to come and He is the same today as He ever was! 4) He is the Creator of all things - and He did it just the way He said He did it in Genesis!