Drawing Nigh

It may be that I will change my homepage from Google/MSN to FaceBook or something equally innocuous, because whenever I sign on the news sources I selected, they are pouring out the latest headlines and deadlines of bombings and other species of man's violent acts. The sum of it all is I find it distressing.
I asked the Lord to give me a topic...some days the mind is empty of ideas. The words, "...lift up your heads..." came to mind so I turned to Luke chapter 21 and started reading at verse 25:
"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
Jesus is speaking here, answering the question of the disciples; "...but when will these things be?" There will be two classes of people living on the earth in the end times...and in my opinion those times are here. One class will be so fearful that their hearts fail them. This could mean two things: 1). either they are so frightened that they suffer literal heart failure, or, 2) they have no courage or hope; as in when one is encouraged to "take heart."
The other class of people find strength in what they have read and studied in the Word of God. In the same chapter Jesus says; "But not a hair of your head shall be lost" and "By your patience possess your souls." [vs. 18 and 19]
What does it mean to possess one's soul? and how do we do this?  It involves patience, and that is something possessed by the saved [Revelation 14:12]. Interestingly, the Complete Jewish Bible rendition of Rev. 14:12 reads as follows: "This is when perserverance is needed on the part of God's people, those who observe his commands and exercise Yeshua's faithfulness."
To possess one's soul is to patiently persevere in Jesus Christ having confidence that our salvation is secure in Him. "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." [1st John 5:13].
Take heart dear soul.
Blessings. e.c.