“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed
down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on
you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on
the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you
may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to
stand before the Son of Man.”
—Jesus
(Luke 21:34-36)
Nothing seems to cause people to debate one another more than topics like The Rapture.
And in case you've never heard of the Rapture, it is the biblical doctrine of Jesus Christ coming and suddenly, instantly, catching up all born again Christian believers, and taking them safely to Heaven to be with Him; prior to God pouring out His wrath on a Christ-rejecting, sinful world during the Tribulation period, (also sometimes referred to as the Last Days, the End Times, The Great Tribulation, or the End of Days).
The Tribulation period is seven years—the final seven years of the "world as we know it."
Many today hotly contend that the Rapture will not happen until halfway through this seven year period, or, not until the end of the seven years is up.
And only the Pretribulation Rapture allows for the unknown time of the Lord’s return.
According to Daniel’s prophecy (See Daniel 9:24-27), three and a half biblical years (a Biblical year being three hundred sixty days) from the day Antichrist enters the temple and demands worship midway through the Tribulation, the Lord will return. Consequently, if believers were on earth during the Tribulation, they would be able to predict the exact time of the Second Coming—three and a half biblical years, or forty-two months, or one thousand two hundred sixty days after Antichrist enters the temple. The problem is, 1 Thessalonians 5:2 and Matthew 24:36 make it clear that no one knows the day or hour of His coming. Therefore, it follows that Christian believers must be absent at this time.
Another amazing proof that the Church does not go through
the Tribulation, but is with Jesus in Heaven, and then comes back to earth at the Second Coming, is found in Revelation 19:11-14,
"Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse.
And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He
judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head
were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He
was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of
God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean,
followed Him on white horses."
We (The Church/Bride of Christ) come, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, riding on
white horses back to earth with Jesus at the Second Coming. And it is the Jews - the remnant of Israel, who will still be here.
"And one will say to him, ‘What are these wounds between your arms?’ Then
he will answer, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of my
friends." (Zechariah 13:6)
Jesus said only to the Jews (not to the Church): "And
you will see Me no more until you say, "Blessed is He who comes in the
name of the Lord."
Further proof that we the Church saints all come back to
earth with Jesus:
"So that He may establish your hearts blameless in
holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ WITH
ALL HIS SAINTS." (1 Thessalonians 3:13). (My emphasis)
The Jewish remnant are the only remaining covenant people to
whom Jesus is coming to fulfill His covenant with at the Second Coming. They
are blinded now. But when they see Him coming on the clouds of Heaven, in power
and great glory, then will their eyes be opened, and then will they finally
say, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"
There is undeniable, overwhelming proof in the scriptures of
the Pretribulation Rapture, to all those whose hearts are open to receive it.
One of the many other reasons I am fully convinced of this truth, is the amazing promise Jesus made to His faithful church in Revelation 3:10. (See Love Never Fails: "The Promise" July 8, 2013) http://marriage-miracles.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-promise.html
“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will
keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test
those who dwell on the earth.” (Revelation 3:10)
"Keep you from" means to literally be kept out, or completely taken out of a time, or place.
"Keep you from" means to literally be kept out, or completely taken out of a time, or place.
"Well, people looking for a Pretribulation Rapture is escapism!" you may argue.
Exactly!
Jesus had been teaching in the Temple and had told people to pray that they be counted worthy to escape the Tribulation (the "hour of trial").
Let's read our opening scripture passage from Jesus again:
Let's read our opening scripture passage from Jesus again:
“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36)
Why would Jesus give people the command to "pray always" that they be "counted worthy to escape" all the dreadful things that are going to be poured out on all people on earth during The Tribulation, if He meant for His people to be here and go through The Tribulation?
Escape to where? Where was Jesus talking about?
He gave the answer by saying, "And to stand before the Son of Man." Where is Jesus right now? In Heaven. Jesus will not be on earth during the Tribulation. So if He was talking to unsaved Jews only when He gave the command to pray that they be counted worthy to escape the Tribulation, the only place to escape to, to be able to stand before the Son of Man would be in Heaven; where Jesus is.
So how can one "escape" the Tribulation and enter Heaven?
Escape to where? Where was Jesus talking about?
He gave the answer by saying, "And to stand before the Son of Man." Where is Jesus right now? In Heaven. Jesus will not be on earth during the Tribulation. So if He was talking to unsaved Jews only when He gave the command to pray that they be counted worthy to escape the Tribulation, the only place to escape to, to be able to stand before the Son of Man would be in Heaven; where Jesus is.
So how can one "escape" the Tribulation and enter Heaven?
We're saved by grace alone. No one in of himself is "worthy" of anything but eternal hell. We're all sinners.
But to be counted "worthy to escape" all the things that happen in The Tribulation and to stand before the Son of Man, one must first believe in Jesus as Savior by faith, and be born again by the Holy Spirit. You can pray all you want to be spared from the Tribulation, but if you don't know Jesus and are not born again by the Spirit, your prayers will not help you one bit.
No amount of praying apart from knowing Jesus will save you. You must be born again.
But Jesus also says that to escape the hour of trial, you must be watching for His return, and be found faithful; not partying, not drunk, and not weighed down with the cares of this life.
No amount of praying apart from knowing Jesus will save you. You must be born again.
“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to
you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus
said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time
into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I
say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the
kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is
born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be
born again.” (John 3:3-7)
But Jesus also says that to escape the hour of trial, you must be watching for His return, and be found faithful; not partying, not drunk, and not weighed down with the cares of this life.
And this ties directly in with Jesus' promise to the faithful church in Revelation chapter 3:
“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door,
and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and
have not denied My name. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also
will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to
test those who dwell on the earth.” (Revelation 3:8, 10)
Jesus said to the faithful church; "You have kept My word, and have not denied My name." Those who are counted worthy by Jesus to escape the Tribulation have obeyed God's Word. They have not denied His name, (deity, authority, holy character).
This should be pause for many today, to examine ourselves, to see if we are truly in the faith.
Are you waking in obedience to the Lord today? Keeping His commands? Loving Him by your faithful obedience?
Jesus said,
Jesus said,
"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me." (John 14:21)
In reading these passages it seems pretty clear that if we are sons of disobedience, living and practicing sin, and unrepentant, that the Tribulation will come upon us unexpectedly, as a snare, as it will upon every person left here on earth after the Rapture.
It's easy to call yourself a "Christian" but, if you're living in sin, you'll be living in the Tribulation period. The following verse is pretty chilling:
In reading these passages it seems pretty clear that if we are sons of disobedience, living and practicing sin, and unrepentant, that the Tribulation will come upon us unexpectedly, as a snare, as it will upon every person left here on earth after the Rapture.
It's easy to call yourself a "Christian" but, if you're living in sin, you'll be living in the Tribulation period. The following verse is pretty chilling:
“These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame
of fire, and His feet like fine brass: “I know your works, love, service,
faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more
than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you
allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My
servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I
gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed
I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into
great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children
with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds
and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.”
(Revelation 2:18-23)
The first thing to note here, is this warning from Jesus is to one of the Seven Churches in the Book of Revelation—the church of Thyatira. Second, notice He acknowledges their works of "love, service and faith."
Nevertheless, He still has a few things against this corrupt church. In the midst of their love, service and faith, they were living in and practicing sexual immorality and adultery. He calls them out on this, and then gives a stern warning that if they will not repent, they will be cast into a sickbed of great tribulation. Since Jesus did not specify who He meant by, "I will kill her children with death" you will have to contemplate for yourself who He was referring to here, and how they will be killed.
How do I know that this warning was not meant only for
the church in Thyatira? The Holy Spirit closes out His message to the Corrupt
Church, with the same words as He does to each of the remaining six churches with
the following command:
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
churches.” (Revelation 2:29)
Sexual immorality is a killer.
Whether you're having sex outside of marriage with someone other than your spouse, or your single and shacking up with another person, you're practicing and living in sin. And you don't have to actually be doing the act. Jesus said if you even look on another person with lust, you have already committed adultery in your heart. If you're living a lifestyle of surfing pornography on the Internet and refuse to repent, Jesus spells it out that you will be cast into a sickbed of great tribulation. You will not be counted worthy to escape the tribulation coming upon the whole world that will test and try every human being on earth.
If you're openly carousing, in drunkenness, and sinning sexually, don't think for a moment that you will be counted worthy to escape the horrors of the Tribulation.
Jesus said: "Take heed to yourselves."
But He gives all a space of time to repent. He is loving, patient, merciful and compassionate.
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be
zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My
voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with
Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I
also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:19-21)
—God is Love and Love Never Fails.
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