Who Will Make It in the End of Days?

Believers: Faith "IN" Y’hoshua — or
Disciples: Faith "OF" Y’hoshua?

The book of Revelation does not end with a call to belief only, but with a call to endurance—the kind that holds steady under pressure, refuses compromise, and remains faithful to Y’hovah’s TORAH (His full instruction in all of Scripture) and to the testimony and faithfulness of Y’hoshua HaMashiach.

Two translations capture Revelation 14:12 in a way that exposes the issue clearly:

“Here is the endurance of the set-apart ones, here are those guarding the commands of Elohim and the belief of יהושׁע.”
TS2009 — Revelation 14:12.

“This is when perseverance is needed on the part of God’s people, those who observe his commands and exercise Yeshua’s faithfulness.”
CJB — Revelation 14:12

Both translations point to the same end-time identity:
The set-apart ones endure because they guard/observe Elohim’s commands, and they cling to the faithfulness (belief) of Y’hoshua—not merely as a doctrine, but as a lived pattern.

The End-Time Remnant Has Two Identifying Marks

1) They guard the commands of Elohim

Revelation repeatedly identifies the faithful not as “those who once agreed with a message,” but as those who keep, guard, and do what Elohim commands.

“And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went to fight with the rest of her offspring, those guarding the commands of Elohim and possessing the witness of יהושע Messiah.”
TS2009 — Revelation 12:17

This is not “legalism.” This is covenant loyalty. Scripture consistently shows that love for Elohim is expressed through obedience.

“If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God… by loving the LORD your God, by walking in His ways, and by keeping His commandments… then you shall live…”
Tanakh (JPS) — Deuteronomy 30:16

Revelation ends with a blessing that again ties entry and inheritance to a cleansed life that walks in covenant faithfulness:

“How blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they have the right to eat from the Tree of Life and go in through the gates into the city!”
CJB — Revelation 22:14

Endurance is not passive. It is steady loyalty that refuses to release Y’hovah’s instruction (TORAH) even when the world demands compromise.

2) They hold to the faithfulness of Y’hoshua

The CJB’s phrase—“exercise Yeshua’s faithfulness”—pushes us beyond “I believe” into “I follow.” In other words, His faithfulness becomes the pattern we walk in.

This is why Revelation links endurance with faithfulness under suffering:

CJB — Revelation 13:10
“…This is where endurance and trust are needed from God’s people.”

Y’hoshua’s faithfulness was not theory. He heard from Avinu Elohei, obeyed what He was shown, and remained steadfast to the end. The remnant of believers in Revelation reflects the same faithfulness we need as disciples.

CJB — John 15:10
“If you keep my commands, you will stay in my love…”

So the “faith of Y’hoshua” is not an argument against “faith in Y’hoshua.”
It is the complete picture: true faith in Him produces the same faithful endurance that was in Him.

Ya’aqob (James) Confirms Revelation’s Standard

Revelation 14:12 describes the end-time remnant as those who endure, guard Elohim’s commands, and walk in the faithfulness of Y’hoshua. Ya’aqob (James) explains why this matters so deeply: faith that remains only in words—without obedience—cannot endure, because it is not living faith.

Many people imagine “faith” as a claim: “I believe.” But Ya’aqob tests faith by a different measure: does it produce action? Does it obey? Does it follow?

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith but has no actions? Can such faith save him?”
CJB — James (Ya‘akov) 2:14.

“So also belief, if it does not have works, is in itself dead.”
TS2009 — Ya’aqob (James) 2:17

“Thus, faith by itself, unaccompanied by action, is dead.”
CJB — James (Ya‘akov) 2:17

Ya’aqob is not teaching that works replace faith. We obey because we love. He is teaching that works reveal faith. Because we love the Father and belong to Him, living faith produces obedience the way a living tree produces fruit because of its attachment to the tree.

And he seals it with a final line that should shake every “belief-only” religion to awake:

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so also belief without works is dead.”
TS2009 — Ya’aqob (James) 2:26

This is precisely why Revelation’s remnant believers called disicples of the WAY is described as those who guard the commands. Because end-time deception produces spiritual talk, but the remnant walk, produces obedient endurance of the WAY.

“Faith IN” vs “Faith OF” Y’hoshua

This is where many discussions get tangled, but Scripture does not separate what Elohim joined.

Faith in Y’hoshua

Yes—salvation is not earned. We come to Elohim through Messiah, not through self-righteousness.

CJB — Ephesians 2:8-10
“For you have been delivered by grace through trusting… For we are his workmanship… created… for good works…”

Faith of Y’hoshua

At the same time, Revelation and Ya’aqob insist that genuine faith becomes visible as faithfulness—obedience that endures.

Tanakh (JPS) — Habakkuk 2:4
“…the righteous man is rewarded with life for his faithfulness.”

Here is the heart of what the Word stated so clearly:

This is the faith of Y’hoshua: He heard from Avinu and acted on what He was told.

. . . that the world may know that I love the Father, and that I do as the Father has commanded me. . .
Yoḥanan (John) 14:31.

And if Y’hoshua is our pattern, then His talmidim will do the same—hearing, obeying, enduring.

Ya’aqob even uses language that fits discipleship perfectly:

“You see that belief was working with his works, and by the works the belief was perfected.”
TS2009 — Ya’aqob (James) 2:22

“Perfected” here means brought to maturity. This is talmidut (discipleship): faith growing into faithful obedience.

Endurance and Perseverance in the Last Days

Revelation does not describe the last days as easy for the righteous. It describes testing, persecution, deception, economic pressure, and spiritual compromise. That is why this phrase in Revelation 14:12 is so intense:

“Here is the endurance…”

Endurance is not merely waiting—it is remaining faithful under pressure.

Messiah Himself warned that endurance would identify the genuine:

CJB — Matthew 24:13
“But whoever holds out till the end will be delivered.”

This is the difference between a moment of emotion and a lifetime of discipleship. Anyone can start; endurance proves who is truly walking with Y’hovah.

Believer vs Disciple in Revelation’s Seven Assemblies

Revelation 2–3 gives a prophetic mirror. Seven assemblies. Seven conditions. And a pattern that should sober every congregation.

Two assemblies with no rebuke

These picture disciple-quality endurance—not perfect people, but faithful people who refuse compromise.

• Smyrna — suffering, yet faithful
• Philadelphia — little strength, yet obedient endurance, guarding His Word

Philadelphia is especially striking:

CJB — Revelation 3:10
“Because you did obey my message about persevering…”

Notice: obedience + perseverance. That is Revelation 14:12 in assembly form.

Five assemblies rebuked

Each of these had something religious, something visible—yet Messiah corrected them for compromise, deadness, tolerance of corruption, or lukewarm self-sufficiency:

• Ephesus — works, but lost first love
• Pergamum — truth mixed with compromise
• Thyatira — tolerance of corruption
• Sardis — reputation of life, but spiritually dead
• Laodicea — lukewarm self-sufficiency

This is not about us labeling people. It is a warning from Messiah: many can look like “believers,” yet fail the test of enduring obedience.

And Ya’aqob explains why: faith that stays in words cannot stand in tribulation. Dead faith does not endure. Living faith obeys.

Ya’aqob’s Two Witnesses: Avraham and Raḥab

Ya’aqob proves living faith through two witnesses—one patriarch and one outsider—showing that true faith is revealed by obedient action.

CJB — James (Ya‘akov) 2:21-22
“Wasn’t Avraham avinu declared righteous because of actions when he offered up his son Yitz’chak on the altar? You see that his faith worked with his actions…”

CJB — James (Ya‘akov) 2:25
“Likewise, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also declared righteous because of actions…?”

Avraham heard and obeyed. Raḥab heard and obeyed.
That is faithfulness. That is endurance. That is the pattern of Y’hoshua our Rabbi.

So… Who Will Make It?

Revelation 14:12 answers plainly. The ones who make it are:

• Those who endure
• Those guarding/observing Elohim’s commands
• Those holding to (and expressing) the faithfulness OF Y’hoshua

A believer says, “I agree that Y’hoshua is Messiah.”
A disciple says: “Because Y’hoshua is Messiah, I will follow Him, obey, repent, endure, and remain faithful to Y’hovah’s Torah to the end.”

And that is the heart of the end-time call:

“Here is the endurance of the set-apart ones…”
TS2009 — Revelation 14:12

Practical Self-Examination for
Talmidim (Disciples)

Ask yourself the highlighted questions honestly: *With a commentary aid.

1. Am I guarding His commands and instructions—or redefining them?
   *From a biblical perspective, guarding His TORAH (instructions) means to treasure and live out the teachings of Y'hoshua, reflecting genuine love and obedience (Yoḥanan (John) 14:15). Redefining them could imply altering their meaning or intent, which may lead to misunderstanding the essence of YHVH's TORAH, as faithful obedience stems from a relationship with Him (Yoḥanan Aleph (1 John) 5 5:3).
2. Do I endure under pressure—or do I compromise to stay comfortable?
   *Enduring under pressure often requires standing firm in your emunah and trusting in YHVH's promises, as seen in biblical examples like Y'hoshua's temptations. Compromising may provide temporary comfort but can lead to spiritual challenges and failure, so it's essential to seek strength through prayer, scripture, and the Ruach HaKodesh to remain steadfast in your emunah (faith).
3. Does my life reflect the faithfulness of Y’hoshua—or only my words?
   *To reflect the faithfulness of Y'hoshua, your actions should align with your words, and align with the pattern that Avinu has given us through the life and testimony of the Mashiach. Demonstrating loyalty and love in all your relationships and daily life. Living out your emunah authentically can inspire others and keep you saved. Pilipiyim (Philippians) 2:12.
4. When corrected by Scripture, do I repent quickly—or justify myself?
   *Teshuvah (Repentance) involves recognizing one's sins and making up one's mind to turn away from them, while justification often leads to excuses or rationalizations for one's actions. A biblical guide encourages believers and disciples to respond to correction with humility and a willingness to change, as true teshuvah is essential for spiritual growth and restoration.
   
5. Is my emunah producing fruit over time—works that prove it is alive? (Ya’aqob 2)
   *To determine if your emunah is producing fruit, reflect on your actions and character in light of biblical teachings, particularly James 2:18, which emphasizes that emunah (faith) is demonstrated through deeds. Good fruit includes qualities like love, kindness, and good works that reflect a genuine relationship with the Messiah, as seen in (Yoḥanan (John) 15:5-8.

By Rabbi Francisco Arbas
📧 franciscoarbas.yisrael@gmail.com
Following His ‘WAY’ — Netzari Mashiach Judaism