In the book of Daniel we read that knowledge will be increased at the time of the end. As we draw closer to the time of the end, knowledge has indeed increased, and more of what the Lord has hidden in his word as treasure for us, is coming forth. I am amazed at how we can read the same passage of scripture time and time again and never "get it" until the Lord enables us to get it. Such was the case this morning, as I consider the major upcoming "escape" and tribulation hour, I felt led to re-read the story of Abraham and Lot.
The stories of Noah and Lot are a big deal, no, let me correct that..a HUGE deal. Why? Because our Lord clearly told us that his coming, the coming of the Son of man will be just exactly like the days of Noah and Lot, but he did not stop there, he pointed out specific elements of the stories for us to focus on.
Luke 17: 26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
We see eating drinking, marrying, buying, selling, planting building right up to the day that Noah entered the ark and Lot left Sodom, then the flood came, and fire and brimstone came, and destroyed them all, it will be just like this the day the Son of man is revealed.
31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. 34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. 35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.
On this day that the Son of man is revealed, there will be a "leaving" event just like Noah left the surroundings of the world to enter the ark, and Lot left Sodom, and there will be a destruction event on the same day. There will also be a revealing event, our Lord adds to the story of Noah and Lot the fact that on this coming day, he will be revealed. He does'nt stop there, on this same day there will be a time of decision when people will have a choice to lose his life to preserve it, or save his life and lose it. And last but not least, the Lord comes back at us with the one taken one left idea, that plugs into the stories of Noah and Lot. Now, regardless of who you think was taken or left, we know for a fact, that Noah and Lot went physically into places of safety and the godless were destroyed, so we know for a fact that the same event is coming in the future.
This future event of physical escape from flood and brimstone/fire is something we are told to pray for in Luke 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. I can assure you with 100% confidence that if the Lord told us to pray for an escape from all, there IS an escape from all. This escape is also known to many as the rapture.
This brings us to my reading this morning and another hint, another whisper, another clue as to what we are looking for in the day of Noah and Lot and the coming of the Son of man. In Matt 25 we see the parable of the virgins. 5 were foolish and 5 were wise. The wise virgins were ready when the master showed up, and they went into the wedding and the door was shut...
Noah went into the ark, and the Lord shut the door behind him..inside was safety, outside the flood. In Rev 4 we see an open door in heaven, then we see redeemed, rewarded men in heaven (crowns and white clothing). And here's this mornings tie in within the story of Lot:
Gen 19: 10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut the door. 11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.
It's written all over the place there, can you see it? Lot pulled through the door, into safety....outside the door, the men were smitten....remember the parable of the virgins? 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not
They wearied themselves to find the door....Lord open the door....the Lord says "I know you not." I know you not? Where have we heard that before? Oh yea, right here:
Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you ( I know you not): depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Its all there, tucked right inside the story of Lot, which along with the story of Noah, we know tells us everything we need to know about the coming of the Son of man. We have doors, opened when the wise go through them, then closed and the foolish are without trying to gain access. We have a few saved, Noah out of an entire world, Lot out of an entire city, we have "I know you not" told to the many....its all there. Why will so few be saved? Why will many be told "I know you not?" Why do people assume that God thinks like men think? Why do people assume that the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord equates to a license to sin and do whatever they want?
1 Chron 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
The Lord does not change. If he expected Solomon to serve him with a perfect heart, he expects us to, if he expected a willing mind from Solomon, he expects it from us. If we seek him, we will find him, if we forsake him, he will cast us off forever. John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. It's in the old testament, its in the new testament, if you abide not "in Christ" there is a terrible price to pay. Don't let the babylonian snake oil,religious salesmen/CEO "pastors" sell you sugar coated lies.
Before us today is laid both a promise, and a warning. This is nothing new, it has been the same from the very beginning. Seek peace and pursue it, kiss the Son lest he be angry and destroy you in your way(Psalm 2). KNOW HIM and be known by him today. There is an escape from all coming, if there were not, we would never have been told to pray for it. Noah was told to build and ark for his escape, Lot was told to walk out of Sodom for his escape..you are told to PRAY for your escape. The bible is clear, and there are no idle words within it. Blow off the commands, the warnings and the promises at your own peril. Will your own pet theories of how the escape will or will not happen prevent you from taking part in the escape? If the woman with the issue of blood never believed touching Jesus would heal her, she would not have been healed. If the centurian whose sick servant lay near death did not believe that Jesus could say the word and his servant be healed, there would never have been the healing. If Noah shrugged off the Lord's command to build the Ark, the flood would have had more victims. If Lot would not have walked out of Sodom (and life as he knew it), the fire and brimstone would have had more victims. If you do not pray for the escape from all as you have been specifically told to, the tribulation will likely have more participants.
The Lord meant what he said, every word of it. The day that the Son of man reveals himself to us is close. The time for debate is over, the time to get ready and be ready is today. The signs are all around us. You are dearly loved, keep the faith. Please pray for my family and for me, you are in my prayers. Grace and peace to you who are in Christ
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