Matthew 10:22, Matthew 24:13, and Mark 13:13
- And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 10:22)
- But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (Matthew 24:13)
- And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (Mark 13:13)
These verses are often used to teach that our eternal salvation depends on us persevering in holiness until the end of our lives. However, the terms "salvation" and "being saved" in the scriptures don't always refer to our eternal destination.
Examples of earthly (flesh prevented from dying) salvation:
- And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. (Exodus 14:13)
- For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest [it], and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? (1 Samuel 19:5)
- Ye shall not [need] to fight in this [battle]: set yourselves, stand ye [still], and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD [will be] with you. (2 Chronicles 20:17)
- And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants. (Genesis 47:25)
- Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. (Exodus 14:30)
- Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. (1 Timothy 2:15)
- Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. (1 Peter 3:20)
And I believe we find a perfectly acceptable answer here, just a few verses later:
- And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:22)
- And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. (Mark 13:20)
So, it seems to me these verses are describing what is or was required to make it to the end of the tribulation period without physically dying.