Matthew 24-25 Saved From What?

Jesus says that "Those who endure to the end will be saved." (24:13) What did Jesus mean by being "saved?" It's one of those words used often by evangelicals, when we ask someone on the street corner, "Are you saved?" But in these two chapters, there are several warnings Jesus Himself gave to tell me what to be saved from. It's chilling to see the alternative.

First, I am to be saved from the "wrath to come." Jesus says that Jerusalem will be left "empty and desolate." (23:38) He says that the temple buildings will be completely demolished, so that "not one stone is left on top of another." (24:2) He says that when the abomination of desolation is in the Holy Place, (24:15) that everyone should flee, and that it will be a time of "greater horror than anything the world has ever seen or will ever see again. In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, the entire hyman race will be destroyed." (24:21,22) Almost certainly, this warning has to do with the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, which occured in A.D. 70. Many Christians saw the signs coming and fled Jerusalem, and therefore were saved!

But there's another, more eternal, meaning. We commonly refer to it as hell. Here's what Jesus said about it:

"He will tear the servant apart and banish him with the hypocrites. In that place there wil be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (24:51)

"...the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked." (25:10)

"Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (25:30)

"Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, 'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his demons!" (25:41)

"And they will go away into eternal punishment...." (25:46)

This is by no means a complete study on the subject of hell. But it is enough for me to see that Jesus believed there was definitely something to be saved FROM, as well as saved TO. I want to go to heaven, but I also am motivated to avoid hell, this locked door, this outer darkness, this banishment from the Presence, this eternal fire, this eternal punishment.

"LORD, I thank You for Your great and precious promises, as well as for these strong and stern warnings. I look forward to eternity, because I will spend it with You, in Your presence. And I can make this bold claim because of the blood of Jesus, not because of any righteous merit of my own. Thank You for giving us Your masterful Book, which condemns me as a hypocrite in one chapter, and warns me of judgment in the next. Jesus, I fall upon You, I stand under Your blood to plead for me, and I fully trust in Your salvation. Hallelujah!"
-ker