"But before all this happens they will set upon you and persecute you. You will brought before synagogues and put in prison; you will be haled before kings and governors for your allegiance to (The Christ)…Even your parents and brothers, your relations and friends, will betray you. Some of you will be put to death⁽¹⁾; and all will hate you for your allegiance to me…By standing firm you will win true life for yourselves." (From Luke 21:12-19 NEB).

To God's chosen ones Christ said: "I know how you are slandered by those who claim to be Jews but are not--they are satan's synagogue. Do not be afraid of the suffering to come. The devil will throw some of you into prison, to put you to the test; and for ten days you will suffer cruelly⁽²⁾. Only be faithful till death, and I will give you the crown of life." (From Rev 2:8-10 NEB).

"Because you have kept my command and stood fast, I will also keep you from the ordeal⁽³⁾ (hour of test. NWT) that is to fall upon the whole world and test its inhabitants. I am coming soon". (Rev 3:10 NEB).

"This takes into account that it is righteous on God's part to repay tribulation to those who make tribulation⁽⁴⁾ for you, but, to you who suffer tribulation, relief along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels". (2 Thess 1:6,7 NWT).

"It will be a time of great distress⁽⁵⁾; there has never been such a time from the beginning of the world until now, and will never be again. If that time of troubles were not cut short, no living thing could survive; but for the sake of God's chosen it will be cut short." (Matt 24:21,22 NEB).

"While there are talking of peace and security, all at once calamity is upon them, sudden as the pangs that come upon a woman with child; and there will be no escape." (1 Thess 5:3,4 NEB).

"In the last days, then, the inhabitants of the world will be punished for their arrogant lives by bitter sufferings." (2 Esdras 8:50 NEB).

"I will bring dire distress⁽⁵⁾ upon men; they shall walk like blind men for their sin against the Lord. Their blood shall be spilt like dust and their bowls like dung; neither their silver nor their gold shall avail to save them. On the day of the Lord's wrath, by the fire of His jealousy the whole land shall be consumed; for He will make an end, a swift end of all who live in the land." (Zeph 1:17,18 NEB).

"The man who holds out (has endured. NWT) to the end will be saved." (Matt 24:13 NEB).

Of the "great crowd" of "other sheep": "These are the men who have passed through the great ordeal (great tribulation. NWT); they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Rev 7:14 NEB).