Word of Jesus Part 43

Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

The rest of this chapter is discussed in the accounts of the gospel of Matthew.

Many teach that this verse hints of an escape or rapture just prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In this rapture believers who are spiritually ready will go to be with the Lord at that time and return with Him at the appearing or Second Coming. Some do not teach this. I sincerely hope this version is correct and believers escape the coming great tribulation. We know for sure that not all faithful believers escape all tribulation for many have died for the cause of Jesus Christ for centuries and even now many suffer and even are killed for believing and teaching salvation by Jesus Christ. Those that believe in the rapture are not trying to escape all persecution and tribulation as they are accused of by those that take the opposite view. Many pioneers of the faith who also believed in the rapture suffered persecution. They are not guilty of trying to escape this. I was raised among those of that school of thought that believed in the rapture. I know their hearts and minds. I know they were not trying to escape any suffering and persecution.

Since I was raised among people who believed in the rapture, no one can convince me that they were trying to escape any persecution or have an easy way out. They did not have it easy. Another thing they were accused of many times were being legalistic. Again since I knew those people and grew up among them, I know they were not harsh legalistic people like the Pharisees but sincerely lived holy lives because they thought that is how the bible taught them to live.

I sincerely believe the church now has gone too far the opposite direction.

Back to the subject though. The ones that do not leave during the rapture are those that were not spiritually ready. In other words they allowed the world to crowd in and make them unfruitful. That is why Jesus says to watch and pray that we enter not into temptation.

I will say this. No matter whether we believe in the rapture before, during or after the tribulation is not the main point to consider. We have to be ready spiritually no matter what version of teaching is true. We would need to be spiritually prepared for persecution and tribulation just as much as being spiritually prepared for a rapture of  believers.

I will use other verses though to support the rapture theory.

Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

This promise was given to the church of Philadelphia. They were promised to be kept from the great hour of temptation that would try the world.

Some who believe in the dispensation theory of the seven churches might conclude that these died off before the great tribulation. However, I believe that there are existing Philadelphia type churches who are on fire for God. 

In contrast here is a warning to another church:

Rev 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
Rev 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
Rev 2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

The message to these churches does hint of a way of escape. Yet we know that we don't escape all tribulation but only the final great tribulation. There is one church who suffered persecution and yet was not a church that was apostate or away from God.

Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

There are innocent ones who suffer tribulation but they do not suffer the wrath of God that is poured out on unbelievers during the great tribulation.

Another hint of the rapture is

1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

These verses hint of a rapture type catching away because it states that Jesus is going to bring with Him the dead in Christ at His second return. If that is the case they rise first and then other believers are caught up and meet the Lord in the air. Then they seem to return when Jesus returns to set up His kingdom.  It really doesn't matter at what point of the tribulation this occurs but it will occur. Whether the kingdom is set up seven years after the rapture at the same time or during the tribulation is not anything to quarrel about but we must stress readiness. We must watch and pray. We can't slack off from this.

 1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
1Th 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

God has not appointed us to wrath. We can know assuredly that we will not suffer the wrath of God poured out upon the kingdom of the beast in the book of Revelation. That part is for those who rejected Christ, persecuted believers and cursed the name of God. The wrath was poured out when it was finally clear that men would not repent. That we know for sure  true believers will not be a part of.

1Th 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.
1Th 5:20 Despise not prophesyings.
1Th 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

It is okay for believers and unbelievers to ask questions. It is okay to search the scriptures to make sure your pastors and teachers are teaching right. There is nothing wrong with proving all things. Just do it in meekness and love, not to purposely cause trouble.

2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

We should not fear the coming of Christ and these believers were fearful so we see a hint that the day of Christ and the gathering together with Christ may be two separate events. We can continue to search the scriptures and judge for ourselves.

One is a gathering together of believers to be with the Lord and the other is a day of judgment. No true believer will suffer the actually wrath of God in judgment if they are spiritually ready at His coming so there may be two separate comings. One quietly and one with 10,00o of his saints at the visual Second Coming to bring judgment upon the anti-christ and his kingdom.

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Before the anti-christ can have full power the true church full of the Holy Ghost has to be removed because true spirit filled people will hold back evil. This can happen two ways. They can be raptured out or else the believers have become so apostate that they have no oil in their lamps. They lights may have gone out. That would make the way for evil to gain power and authority.

I believe both will be the case at the Lord's coming. I believe some will be taken to be with Christ and some will be asleep spiritually like the parable of the seven virgins indicate. Read Matthew 25.

2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

This could mean he that will hinder will keep hindering until he is removed.

Some believe the one hindering lawlessness is the Holy Spirit. However I believe the Holy Spirit can never be removed from the earth or else how can any find salvation and we see from scriptures that many are saved during the tribulation. I believe believers that are spiritually ready will be taken out of the way and then the wicked one will be revealed. Again I say these things are my own opinions and I admit I could be mistaken about some things. No one knows the day or hour and know one knows exactly what is going to transpire when Jesus comes. Maybe it will be one whole event or maybe it will be two events. Some teach several catching away of believers one being when the two witnesses are caught up to be with God.

We don't have to be troubled unless we are not ready. We don't have to worry about it if we are faithfully watching and praying to make sure we have been saved from sin and are abiding in Jesus Christ. We have to make sure we are watchful and alert to the voice of God. When He comes, let us not be spiritually asleep worrying only about the cares of this life.

I read the other day that some parents are more concerned about their children's education than they are about their children's salvation. I'm not against education but what profit is it to have a great education and lose one's soul for eternity. We need our priorities right.

We can have a fine high paying job, have a PHD beside our name and be highly esteemed among men but if we have not been "born again" by God's spirit it will profit nothing in eternity. A small child can be mentally impaired and unable to achieve all the above and simply believe and trust in Jesus as Lord and spend eternity in Heaven.

Whatever state we are in, rich, poor, highly educated, unknown, famous etc, in order to be ready for the Lord's coming we must be born again by God's spirit by repenting of sin and turning to Jesus Christ with all our hearts holding back nothing.

2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

It is dangerous not to love the truth. If we continually reject the word of God even after becoming a Christian there is a danger of believing a lie and deceiving ourselves.

Many have left the word to follow a famous religious leader or an organization that teaches false doctrine.

Stay with the word of God. That is why God provided us with it. Men and women were burned at the stake by the Catholic Church of Rome for translating that bible into a common language all could understand. I hope and pray their deaths were not in vain.

Some modern preachers are rejecting sound doctrine because they think it causes division. Some go so far as to say that there would have been no break with the Catholic Church if men would not read the bible but trust the priests to interpret it correctly.

That puts something so important as the eternity of our souls into man's hands. We can't do that. Many are trusting in an institution to save them. We are not saved by any church organization. We are saved by repenting and trusting Christ alone for our salvation. No ritual, no rite, no mass and no one else can save us except Jesus Christ and our faith that reaches out to Him. No one can pray us into heaven. We have to get there by the door and that door is Jesus Christ. That is why He suffered and died to save us from sin.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Reject the word and we open ourselves up to deception.

2Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
2Th 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Th 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
2Th 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
2Th 2:17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

Words of Jesus 44