by Dennis Gladden, By Green Pastures, ©2026
(Jul. 29, 2026) — Our son-in-law runs in multi-day relay races here in the Southeast. Weeks before an event, he runs several miles a day, gradually increasing the distance and the difficulty. He trains to build his endurance.
He doesn’t want to start well and then fizzle.
Jesus doesn’t want us to wash out, either.
“The one who endures to the end shall be saved,” He said to the four disciples who asked Him to explain His shadowy remarks about the future.
They had just left the temple in Jerusalem, and a disciple marveled at the magnificent structure.
“Do you see these great buildings?” Jesus asked. “Not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down” (Mark 13:2).
A while later, as they surveyed the city from the Mount of Olives, Peter, James, John, and Andrew approached Jesus privately.
“When will this be?” they asked. “What sign will there be when it’s time?”
Just like us, aren’t they? Mention the future, and we want the timetable.
Jesus gave a lengthy answer. (Matthew gives an even longer account than Mark. Forty-eight verses in Matthew 24 parallel the 37 verses in Mark 13, but Jesus’ response extends into Matthew 25 if you include its parables.)
Anyone who wants specifics will be disappointed because the schedule is secret. Jesus explained, “Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (13:32).
This secrecy brings out an important contrast. Jesus’ followers want to know when He will return, but Jesus has a different concern: How will they fare during His absence?
To make His point, Jesus concludes with a parable (13:32-37) that is the framework for this article.
A housemaster has a trip to take and leaves the care of the house to his servants. He assigns them jobs and authorizes them to work, then posts a doorkeeper to whom he says, “Keep watch. I don’t know how long I’ll be, so watch for me.”
As he heads out, he worries the servants may tire out and fall asleep.
“Watch!” He repeats, “Because you don’t know when I am coming.”
The house, where the servants are busy inside managing their master’s affairs, provides a framework for Jesus’ concern. While He is away, they can expect three things:
- Pretenders who will try to get in;
- Persecutors who will strive to drive you out;
- Perpetrators who want to destroy the house altogether.
Pretenders who want in (Mark 13:5–6; 21–22)
This was Jesus’ primary concern. The first words in His answer were this warning, “Take heed that no one deceives you.”
Jesus identified them as false prophets and false Christs. The prophets come in Christ’s name, asserting that, “We’re Christians, too! Take us in.” They will say Christ has returned and give credence to the pretenders who claim, “I am He!” They will report the Second Coming has occurred.
Their message, even backed by signs and wonders, will deceive many, much like Pharaoh, whose wise men and sorcerers replicated the initial signs of Moses and Aaron, and he hardened himself against God.
The deception Jesus warned about is here. Under the banner of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), churches have embraced the rainbow of religions—Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. Whereas Christ said, “I am the Way and the Truth,” these proclaim in Christ’s name that all ways lead to God—embrace the truth in each.
Persecutors who want you out (Mark 13:9;12–13)
If the enemies of the church cannot get in, they will strive to drive you out.
“Watch out for yourselves,” Jesus warned. Expect legal and political oppression as antagonists summon you to government councils and courts. Expect beatings. Even in families, siblings will betray one another, and parents and children attack each other.
Not so long ago, persecution horrified us as we watched the Islamic State, ISIS, sweep through the Middle East and broadcast beheadings of Christian captives. Around the world, Alliance Defending Freedom recounts case after case of Christians defending in court their right to practice their faith.
“You will be hated by all for My name’s sake,” Jesus said. You will be pressed to walk out on Christ.
Perpetrators out to destroy the house (Mark 13:14;19–20)
When the pretenders cannot infiltrate the church, and persecutors fail to overrun it, all Hell will break loose.
“The Gates of Hell shall not prevail,” Jesus promised (Matthew 16:18), but they will assail with such force that God must intervene; otherwise, “no flesh would be saved.”
Jesus described its intensity: “There will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be” (Mark 13:19).
John was shown in the Revelation that it will be all-out “war on the saints to conquer them” (Revelation 13:7).
No wonder that Jesus, aware of the threats, laced His answer with warnings:
- Take heed that no one deceives you.
- Do not be troubled.
- Watch out for yourselves.
- Endure to the end.
- Don’t fall asleep.
- I say to all, “Watch!”
Behind His words is His heart: How will you be doing when I come back?
His absence presents us with decisions:
- Jesus vs. Pretenders. Do I know Christ?
- Jesus vs. Persecution. Will I stand with Him?
- Jesus vs. Preservation. Do I trust Him with my life?
3 things to do to stay safe
As frightening as these threats are (Luke 21:25–26), Jesus has not left us to fend for ourselves. “I will not leave you as orphans,” He promised (John 14:18).
For each danger, we can take steps to remain ready when Jesus returns.
1: Spot pretenders by knowing the genuine
You may have heard how tellers were trained to spot counterfeit bills by concentrating on genuine currency. They learned the marks of legal tender so well that they could quickly detect counterfeits.
Jesus said He is the good shepherd, and His sheep know His voice.
The better you know Jesus, the better you will discern the false Christs. Get to know His voice (see my recent post). Study His ways in the Bible. Keep company with other believers. Watch how He works in the lives of His people.
When Jesus says, “Don’t be deceived,” the original language means, “Don’t roam.” When you are with Jesus, stay there. Spend time with Him. “No longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14).
2: Endure persecution
The siege to drive you from your faith will come from many quarters—personal enemies, the government, and even family. Jesus said there is one thing to do about it: endure. According to Strong’s Concordance, endure translates the Greek compound that means to stay under (or behind); to remain; to undergo; to have fortitude; to persevere.
Endure has the same effect as when Jesus says not to be deceived—“Don’t roam.” It is another way of saying, “Stay under my roof,” no matter the circumstances.
Deception requires awareness; endurance takes fortitude.
Persecution will weigh on you, but you do not bear it alone. Jesus endured, exactly as He tells you to. He endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). He endured the “contradiction of sinners against Himself” (Hebrews 12:3).
“We have a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
Martin Luther put it this way, “If the world cannot enthrall us with its delights and draw us into its sins, then it tries to drive us out with suffering and torment.”
Understand that persecution comes in many forms. You may never face a terrorist, finger on the trigger, demanding if you are a Christian. But whatever would drive you away from Christ is persecution, of a sort. It can even be the wrestling of the flesh against the Spirit that Paul describes in Galatians 5:17.
Be courageous. Don’t give ground. When you feel under it—whatever “it” is—that’s the time for the endurance Jesus is talking about. He will give you the strength, just as He promised Paul, “My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
3: Trust God when everything is rattling
The destruction of the world is not far-fetched. We live in the nuclear age, terrified that Iran will build a bomb, worried that we are on a hair trigger with Russia and China.
The earth is on life support, if you believe the climate crisis.
A time to run for your life may come (Mark 13:14–16). Through it all, trust God. He’s got this.
He has told us what’s coming. “The heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10).
He has also shown what’s on the other side. “We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).
God, who will save us in the end, is certainly able to keep us until the end. Remember the Hebrews in Goshen when God rained the plagues on Egypt. Remember Daniel in the lion’s den.
Mankind will not destroy the world. When it looks like we will, the Lord will cut the days short for the sake of His people.
I love this about God. In parable after parable, Jesus shows that God’s eye is on His people. He compares His work to sowing crops, which He guards through the seasons up until the end.
His eye is on the harvest.
His eye is on the sparrow.
His eye is on you.
Rest assured, God, who is able to fireproof His people when the elements melt with fervent heat (2 Peter 3:12), will get you through any fiery trials in the meantime.
He has told us how to endure. Know Jesus. Stand by Him. Trust Him. And in the end, you will be saved.
In your own words
I assert that mankind will not destroy the world. This does not jive with what most influencers are telling us. What do you think?
Have you encountered any of the dangers mentioned in this article? How have you handled them? Can you think of other strategies that would help the rest of us?
I include the internal struggle of the Spirit and the flesh as a form of persecution. Do you agree? Explain.