It is not luxury, ease, health, and abundance which build

character, faith and endurance.  It is persistent pain,

suffering long, merciless persecution and all manner of 

hardship (tribultion) which builds those elements of 

character, faith, endurance and spiritual stamina. Easy

times build nothing but fat, weakness, laziness and the illusion 

of entitlement.  That is why the Apostle Paul extolled 

"tribulation" as the root of "patient endurance".        

"We glory in tribulations ... knowing that tribulation 

worketh patience". Rom. 5:3.     The Greek word translated 

"tribulation", in the New Testament, is "thilipsis" and means

"affliction".  The Greek word translated "patience" is 

"hupomone" and means "patient endurance".

Jesus forewarned Christians that in the last days, a time of 

Great Tribulation would engulf the people of earth.     "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."  Matt. 24:21.        Leading up to that "great tribulation there will be events and conditions alerting the world of what is coming like thunder clouds warn of a storm. Signs of the times warning Christians to get busy about gathering in the lost to Christ ... with patient endurance.  But Christians will be spared, by the rapture, from the full force of evil in the Great Tribulation.  The prophet Jeremiah calls the Great Tribulation, "Jacob's trouble" in Jer. 30:7.  And that, because those seven years are a completion of God's seventy weeks of years dealing with the Jews after setting them aside at the crucifiction to deal with the Gentiles during the "Church" dispensation of the New Testament.  In the second half of the Tribulation, after the Anti-Christ consolidates his power in the first half, he then revolks his treaty with religions and churchiantity.  At this mid-tribulation point the persecuted Jews will come to realize their error concerning Christ and accept Him as Messiah and Savior.          

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." Zech.12:10.         Jesus also warned us that lesser tribulations, presceeding the rapture, will weed unbelievers out of His churches.      "Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." Matt. 13:21. 

In the end times, persecution and lesser tribulations will purge true Christian churches of pretenders and unbelievers. That is why the Apostle continually traveled back to the churches he had established ... to "confirm" the legitimacy of their church  membership and to strengthen the true believers.....

"Confirming the souls of the desiples, and  exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."Acts 14:22.      Paul also reminds us that for followers of Christ, tribulation is so certain as to be "appointed" to us by our God. We have an appointment with it.     "That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto." 1 Thess.3:3.

Even so, our Lord, who suffered every kind of abuse and persecution, will be there with us to comfort and strengthen us and use the trials and afflictions of this world to build patience (spiritual endurance) into our character.

"Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." 2 Cor.1:4.
So we now "see through a glass darkly" that it is true that                 "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose" Rom. 8:28.      Because of Paul's understanding of these deeper truths of God, he was victorious in every trial, persecution and hardship he suffered .... and he rejoiced in them.        "Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulations." 2 Cor.7:4

It was so real to Paul that he could clearly see the spiritual growth and benefits which grew out of tribulations... even in the tribulations of his fellow Christians.

"So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure." 2 Thess. 1:4.      

"By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Rom.5:2-5.

Tribulation is absolutely necessary for spiritual growth and endurance.  The true churches of Christ have never been greater than in great times of tribulation such as we are beginning to see in the world today... even in America.  RB