For this reason i wrote above, "it is the word of his patience." We must indeed have patience to follow Jesus words in the sermon on the mount.
I agree with this wholeheartedly - all those steps during our walk and the struggles, all are commendable and legitimate.
I agree with verses which Bethwhite wrote - when I implied that I didn't agree, I meant that that was not the full picture.
There have been millions of followers of the Lord as well who have walked this world who have been "patient", for more than 2000 years who were not taken up to heaven while they were alive.
So is there a preparation needed in these last days? If so, what is it that needs to be prepared?
1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
We are subject to vanity, not willingly. Rom 8:20
The body, the flesh, and the world with all it's legitimate attachments have more of a hold on us than we realize.
How can this be loosened? By something better from the Lord, which is the "salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
Analogy of a Wedding:
As a wedding draws closer, the words of the Groom to the Bride become more intimate than ever before.
What was previously imagined to be important begins to fade - because of the wonderful anticipation of the loving union to come. 
Loving, in every facet of living, working together, and the great joy of the harmonizing of their characters.
So it will be with this Manna to come, it is not an abrupt change, but a very noticeable endearing tug on the hearts of his followers, and it will separate us from these last attachments to the world.
In fact it will be, and justly so, offered to the whole world.
This sanctifies the willing from the flesh and legitimate attachments to this world, as never before, in preparation for the wedding to come.
And also it will reap a great harvest.
[This is a final sanctification, for even though Christians hearts are sanctified from the flesh, the flesh still lusts after the spirit etc - this work removes that by giving something better. New wineskins]

If we place this last piece in the jigsaw, everything fits. Including the right to refuse this "word of His patience" - this was the meat Jesus had, which the others knew not of.
Footnotes:
1 Paul's exercised his right to refuse in regards to going to Jerusalem, and was not condemned.
2 Martyrs are honored in Revelation. They will not be condemned for exercising their right of refusal over this matter. Some were foolish (virgins) others made a choice for honorable reasons - I would that thou were "hot or cold".
3 Again, man's will cannot be encroached upon, that is the gross level where the Beast operates.
Upvote
0