The Lord will rescue me

from every evil work

and will bring me safely

into His heavenly kingdom

II Timothy 4: 18

There wasn't going to be any rescue.  Paul knew that.  The entire book is his final farewells, his last exhortations, his aching love for the man he considered his son. 

He was in prison.  He was cold and lonely.  He knew his race was over.  He knew he would shortly be killed.  So why would he write with such confindence of rescue? 

It wasn't a physical battle on his mind.  He had no fear of physical death.  He longed only for safe passage to the heavenly kingdom.  He rested at peace in unwavering faith that he would receive it.