Introduction
   If one has any inclination toward Biblical prophecy, he realizes that in the end time there will be great troubles in the world directed towards Yahweh’s people in an attempt to dissuade them from following the truth. But we receive consolation from the Scriptures know ing that if we remain steadfast until the end, that the blessings promised to the overcomers far exceed the materialistic benefits of this world in both quality and quantity. But first we must prove ourselves worthy to receive these future blessings. One can easily equate this future time of trouble to the enslavement of the Is- raelites in Egypt and since Egypt typifies sin, the world in tribulation can be seen as Egypt. We read of this enslavement in Exodus 1:8-14:
   Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we. Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. Therefore, they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

Satan’s Plan
   One would not have to have a very big imagination to believe that this was instigated by Satan, himself, in an attempt to break the spirit of the Israelites and make them to forget their Creator. Certainly, similar times are ahead for us in the time of great tribulation under the great beast system:
   And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads. And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name, Revelation 13:13-17.

Be Alert
   In these times we will certainly have to keep our cool. We must not lose our faith but we must keep our minds alert and not lose hold of our conviction of remaining true. We must be discreet (have good judgment) and be on a continuous lookout for Satan’s influence because no one will be totally free of such during this futuristic time:
   Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, 1 Peter 5:8.
   When bondage became so great the Israelites cried because of their distress and Yahweh heard them:
   During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to Elohim. Elohim heard their groaning and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So Elohim looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them, Exodus 2:23-25 NIV.

Yahweh Hears and Answers
   Certainly, Yahweh hears our prayers and will answer them as He tells us how He answered the cries of the Israelites in Egypt.
   Yahweh said, "I have indeed seen the misery of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey — the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you (Moses) to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt," Exodus 3:7-10 NIV.

Being Rescued
   During this time we must not lose our grip on reality and the reality being that there is always hope in every trying situation. The unfortunate part is that for the most part man looks to man for deliverance. This we can not afford to do, otherwise our cry of hope will not be heard but will fall on deaf ears.
   If you were literally lost, whether in a big city or out in no-man’s land, then you know that the feeling of anxiety increases with each passing moment. You may even become somewhat hysterical until you see a familiar landmark or another person who knows the way out. In a sense, we read of this in Proverbs 13:12:
   Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life, Proverbs 13:12 NIV.
   A feeling of great relief overcomes a person when he finds his way back home as if the burden of the whole world is lifted from his shoulders. Even in time of tribulation, one can obtain hope through faith as Paul writes in Romans 5:1- 5:
   Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with Elohim through our Master Yahshua Messiah, through Whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of Elohim. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because Elohim has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us, Romans 5:1-5 NIV.
   This very thought is also expressed in Gal. 5:5:
   But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope, Galatians 5:5 NIV.
   The hope of being rescued is freely given to us:
   He called you to this through our good news, that you might share in the glory of our Master Yahshua Messiah. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Master Yahshua Messiah Himself and Yahweh our Father, Who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word, 2 Thessalonians 2:14-17 NIV.

Rescued By What?
   Yes, it is given to us by Yahweh through the power of the Holy Spirit:
   May the Elohim of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, Romans 15:13 NIV.
   If we have faith then Yahweh’s Word can also give us hope:
   For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope, Rom. 15:4 NIV.
   If you haven’t done so, then you have either led a peaceful life not requiring the use of Scriptures for consolation, or you didn’t feel you needed to or didn’t know you could.
   For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the good news... If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the good news, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven, Colosians 1:5, 23.

Where to Place Your Hope
   Should one place their hope in worldly possessions? The thought of doing this is alluded to in Job 31:24-28:
   If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, thou art my confidence; if I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much; if I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; and my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand, this also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the Elohim that is above, Job 31:24-28.
   Therefore, the answer to the above question is a definite no, for we read what will happen to such hope in the last part of Proverbs 10:28:
   The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
   The wicked place their hope and trust in themselves, in man and his shortcomings, and in the wealth they might amass while on the earth. But we should set our eyes a little bit higher — we should do what is written in Psalm. 39:7:
   And now, Yahweh, what wait I for? My hope is in Thee.
   1 Peter 1:17-21 tells us the same thing:
   And if ye call on the Father, Who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Messiah, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by Him do believe in Yahweh, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in Yahweh.
   Our hope, our expectation, our confidence lies in the Heavenly Father, for we read in 1 Timothy 1:1:
   Paul, an apostle of Yahshua Messiah by the commandment of Yahweh our Saviour, and Master Yahshua Messiah, Who is our hope.

Need Something Better?
   Yes, there are many things which are better than what this world has to offer.
   • There is a better covenant:
   By so much was Yahshua made a surety of a better covenant, Hebrews 7:22.
   • There are better promises:
   But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises, Hebrews 8:6.
   • There are better sacrifices:
   For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which Yahweh hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these, Hebrews 9:19-23.
   • There is a better substance:
   But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions, partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance, Hebrews 10:32-34.
   • There is a better resurrection:
   Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection, Hebrews 11:35.
   Yes, all of these things emanate from Yahweh and will be given to those whom Yahweh chooses — His righteous ones.
   We should place our hope and our confidence in heavenly things. Why?
   For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto Yahweh, Hebrews 7:19.
   With Yahshua’s appearance and the sealing of the new covenant with His blood, we do have a bertter hope for a more intimate relationship with Yahweh. This is brought out in 1 Peter 1:3-5:
   Blessed be Yahweh and the Father of our Master Yahshua Messiah, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Yahshua Messiah from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of Yahweh through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
   Our future salvation lies in the hope and the confidence we place in Yahshua’s life and death, as Paul tells the Thessalonicians in 1 Thessalonians 5:8-10:
   But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For Yahweh hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Master Yahshua Messiah, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

Benefits of Hope
   With Yahshua’s second coming at the end of this age we shall witness the fulfillment of the present hope we now have:
   Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great Yahweh and our Saviour Yahshua Messiah; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works, Titus 2:13-14.
   Certainly, this shall be a time of great joy because His coming again will initiate the resurrection to everlasting life of the firstfruits — those who remained faithful to the end. If we believe in what we read then this is our hope:
   That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life, Titus 3:7.
   In hope of eternal life, which Yahweh, Who cannot lie, promised before the world began, Titus 1:2.
   By placing our hope in Yahshua we know that this is a living hope (Blessed be Yahweh and Father of our Master Yahshua Messiah, Who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Yahshua Messiah from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3.), which is sure and steadfast (Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil, Heb 6:19.), and will lead to purity (And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure, 1 John 3:3.), to patience (But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it, Romans 8:25.) and to happiness (The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish, Proverbs 10:28.).
   Just as Moses forsook the physical treasures of Egypt and the pleasures of sin, and chose to suffer affliction because he knew the greater treasures of heaven were better, should we do anything less? No.
   Webster’s Dictionary defines hope as the desire accompanied by the expectation of or belief in fulfillment. If we should lose hope, then what is left? Only despair is left because despair is the utter loss of hope. Disparity is dangerous because it leads to continuation of sin.
   If a situation seems hopeless, remember that the feeling of hopelessness can be conquered by the power from on high.
   But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of Yahweh, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Master Yahshua, that the life also of Yahshua might be made manifest in our body, 2 Corinthians 4:7-10.

Preservation Agent
   Yes, Yahweh is our preservation agent against despair.
   Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in Yahweh: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance. O my Yahweh, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember Thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of Thy waterspouts: all Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over me. Yet Yahweh will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the Elohim of my life. I will say unto Yahweh my rock, Why hast Thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning because of the op- pression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy Elohim? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in Yahweh: for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the health of my countenance, and my Elohim, Psalm 42:5-11.
   My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding. Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding, if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures, then shalt thou understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of Elohim. For Yahweh giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of His saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul, discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee, Proverbs 2:1-11.

Conclusion
   Therefore, let your hope or your confidence not be in man or in worldly possessions, for they shall be extinguished in death, but let your hope be the hope of living again, guaranteed to Yahweh’s People through Yahshua’s acceptable sacrifice and resurrection from the dead to everlasting life.