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Hi! My name is Les Young. Encouragement for Endtimes Endurance was birthed in my heart during the last 2-3 of the 19+ years that I served as pastor of a local church in New England. For 23 years prior to that, I was a principal and CEO of a large independent insurance agency in Connecticut. Over the years I served as a Company Commander in the US Army Corps of Engineers (Combat) and earned a bachelor's degree from Gettysburg College and a master's degree from Duke University. In addition I have earned the professional certifications CLU and ChFC, and in 2011 I have achieved a Doctor of Biblical Studies degree from Master's International School of Divinity.

I am married to Barbara, a wonderful wife and a gifted worship leader. We have three grown children and six grandchildren. During our years of pastoring, we were involved in many of the "movements" of the past two decades and as an independent, non-denominational church, spent a lot of energy trying to establish our identity and purpose. That was finally settled in 2004, and in the process I noted that most of the emphasis in many of the movements, as well as in the growing mega-churches was to avoid social/moral issues anything to do with the biblical concept of suffering. So much of current preaching seems to focus on "the abundant life" NOW! In many cases the Gospel is presented as THERAPEUTIC rather than THEOCENTRIC.

If it involves God's dealings with Israel, gay rights, abortion, or suffering for righteousness, it is often avoided. All of this seems to dovetail perfectly with Western culture and the escatalogical view known as "Pre-tribulation Rapturism." The saints can enjoy the good life in the here and now, and before things get too tough, they will escape via the rapture. However, a big problem occurs when you try and reconcile this theology with the suffering church in China, Pakistan, Cuba, India, etc.

My study of the Bible and many trips to 3rd world countries reveal that, while Jesus did indeed come so that we might have life to the fullest, the fullest life we will get to experience because of Him will not be in this earth. Our journey towards the full life will be filled with tests and trials, in which we will get to know Jesus as the one who is faithful to make a way of escape so that we might bear up under them. (Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 2:12; 1 Corinthians 10:13)

My extensive and continuing study of eschatology has convinced me that there is a biblical view of the end-times that best prepares the church for the days ahead. It meshes perfectly with the teachings of Christ and it makes sense in light of the fact that Christians suffer greatly in many parts of the world. This ministry, while built upon a pre-wrath theology of end-times in no way is seeking to win any theological debate. Rather, we wish to make clear that while in the western world Christians enjoy prosperity and feel insulated from the sufferings of our Christian brethren. (Hebrews 13:3), the events of the 21st century indicate that the biblical concept of suffering and endurance really does apply to all Christians.

As the name implies, Encouragement for Endtimes Endurance will seek, by the grace of God, to be a source of information concerning our changing world, which coupled with the unchanging Word of God, will provide transformation in the lives of people so they might "endure to the end." Such a message, rightly received, will enhance any biblical goal or vision that the local church may embrace.

Those 19 years of pastoring taught me that messages such as this are not always the easiest to deliver from the pulpit. I have always appreciated those whom God has raised up to specialize in a topic that may be difficult for the "generalist" pastor to deal with. That is why I am offering the services of this ministry to the local pastor and his church.

A fellow servant of the soon-coming King,

Les Young

Why This Ministry? Why Now?

One of Jesus’ final commands is called the Great Commission, in which He said:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

Two of the things which Jesus commanded us to do were watch and pray. Jesus included in what is known as the Olivet Discourse, as recorded in Matthew’s gospel, three parables. The one in the beginning of Matthew 25 is known as “The Parable of the Ten Virgins.” At the conclusion of the parable, Jesus says:

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” Matthew 25:13 (ESV)

This word, “watch” in the Greek means, “to keep awake, to be vigilant.” It is the same word Jesus used three times while chastising His disciples for falling asleep while He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:38, 40, 41). Coupled with this idea of watching is the idea of being properly prepared while waiting for the approach of the bridegroom. We should note that all ten virgins were sleeping before the bridegroom arrived, and they all woke up when the shout of his arrival filled the midnight air. It was the preparation of their lamps that proved the difference between entering the feast or being shut out.

Jesus’ end-times teaching, as recorded by Luke concludes with this exhortation:

“But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21:36 (ESV)

In addition to being alert, Jesus said we must pray for strength to escape what is going to take place. Many people today do not pray such prayers because they believe that “the things that are going to take place” don’t apply to them. But the Great Commission applies to the church and Jesus’ commands which we are to obey are included in His end-times teachings, so we had better pay attention.

Throughout those teachings, Jesus warns of things that can become very oppressive, especially if they increase in intensity and severity: things like wars, earthquakes and famine. He also warns of things that will deceive many and cause those to stray from the truth – false Christs, false prophets, lying signs and wonders. Finally He warns of intense persecution against all who stay true to Christ, including being excluded from the economic system and even martyrdom.

There is a need for prophetic teachers to stand in these days, as watchmen on the wall, sounding an alarm to the church to be alert; to be prepared and to pray for strength. The church is so divided into views concerning the end-times that two dangers are present: 1) because God is not divided, there is a strong probability that only one of the views is the correct view; and 2) to avoid conflict and/or study, many believers just shrug their shoulders and say, “Whatever.”

Encouragement for End-Times Endurance has been birthed, I believe, because God will not let these last days come upon the church without first raising up prophets to awaken the church (Amos 3:7) and to prepare the church for holy living as the Day of the Lord approaches. (2 Peter 3:11). Thus the mission of this ministry will be to present the Word of God with accuracy and power so that knowledge might be mixed with faith concerning the days in which we live, and which are on the horizon. God has challenged me with these words, “If not you, who? If not now, when?”