Warnings and The Escape

There is a growing chorus of voices warning about impending judgement and calamity for America. Along with the chorus of voices I hear little to nothing about "the escape." Here we are in a pre-flood day, a pre-brimstone day, and already the capitulations have begun. As we approach the tribulation hour, the voices of the "pre-wrath (which isn't pre-wrath)" and "post-trib" teachers grow louder and louder, while those who have believed (in good times) in the pre-trib rapture are fading into the woodwork.

I am amazed that we have'nt even entered into the tribulation yet, and already people are treating all christians entering the time of Jacob's trouble as a foregone conclusion. As I drove into work this morning I spoke with the Lord about his word for us today, and everything that came to mind had to do with Him keeping his promises, about fundamentals of the faith, about us holding onto his promises without wavering. In the book of Isaiah it says "if you do not stand on your faith you will not stand at all," to which I say AMEN.

There are many voices in the world today who would have you believe that there is no escape. They would have you believe that Noah went into the flood, not into the ark. They would have you believe that Lot never left Sodom but stood there to be burned alive by the fire and brimstone. They would have you believe that the coming of the Son of man would occur during a time of tribulation and distress, of judgement and gloom. Guess what? None of that is biblical, not one shred of it. It could very well be that we will see some kind of faith testing event before the escape occurs. This faith testing event will lead many more to think "there is no escape" and they will give up their hope, their faith will no longer support their inclusion in the escape when it comes....and it is coming.

Todays so called christianity would have you believe that regardless of what a person believes about the rapture/escape, they will go up in the escape when it happens. Maybe that's true, but take for example the woman with the issue of blood. Let's assume she was a model jewish lady who did everything right in the eyes of the Lord, except....she did'nt believe the Lord could/would heal her. She believed everything else mind you, just not that Jesus would heal her, do you think she would have been healed? You know the answer to that don't you? The answer is NO. Her faith drew power from the Lord, he felt it leave him. She believed specifically that the Lord both could and would heal her.

There is no question, that the people who preach and teach a "pre-wrath" and "post-trib" rapture, have nothing, zero to boast over those who believe the there is an escape from all. Which point of view develops more holiness? The view that tells you Jesus will come for you 4+ years from now, or the view that tells you he could show up today for you? Which view is 100% in line with the bible when it tells us to be watching and ready today for the Lord's return? The pre-wrath and post-trib teachers complete disregard that entire line of instruction from the Lord's own mouth. They specifically do not believe Jesus, our master will show up today, or tomorrow, or even next year for us! They willfully defy the very scriptures they quote in a buffet style serving to mankind. "Here" they say, "take a little of this and a little of that, but lets just disregard everything written about that (pre-flood, pre-brimstone escape from all).

There is a price associated with disbelief. Don't take my word for it, read your bibles. When the Lord speaks a promise to us, we are to believe it without wavering. A double minded man is unstable in all he does. What does the devil come to do? Introduce doubt. Remember this one "hath God really said do not eat from the tree?" Doubt...

You can be sure that many people will enter the tribulation period. In fact think about this for a second. With the majority of so called christianity today being apostate, and that same majority accounting for the bulk of the pre-trib view, what's going to happen when most of them are left behind, along with all the people who never believed that there was an "escape from all (luke 21:36)? Think about it. The apostate church is all left behind, and even people who are believers in most things, but do not beleive there is an escape from all, and they get left behind too, what kind of situation does that create?

That situation, combined with ignorance of what Daniel 9:27 says "one week" not "he" shall establish a covenant with "many" not "israel." Could very well result in the escape from all taking place, the anti-christ being revealed and most never know it. If there has been a coverup and deception regarding Daniel 9:27 do you suppose there will be a coverup and deception regarding the escape from all? You bet there will be. Satan already has pre-planned counterfeits, sleights of hand, magical ruses, signs and wonders, and every other attention getting scheme and device at his disposal to make the systematic working out of our God's promises almost invisible to those without the faith to see them.

The first thing our Lord said when the apostles asked him "when will all these things happen" is "be not deceived...." Deception deception and more deception is the order of our day. I hear lots of warnings, and they are well warranted, but where's the remembrance of the promises? The Lord ALWAYS lays out both sides of his case, the warnings AND the promises.

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Jeremiah 21:8 "You shall also say to this people, 'Thus says the
... "Say to these people, 'This is what the LORD says: I amgoing to give you the choice of life or death.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free
... For the wages paid by Sin are death; but God's free gift is the Life of theAges bestowed upon us in Christ Jesus our Lord. ...

Romans 5:21 So that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace
... That as sin hath reigned to death; so also grace might reign by justice unto life everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Showing us a mystery.....Most people did not go into the ark with Noah, most people did not leave Sodom with Lot, most people will not leave this world in the escape that is coming. Just like the days of Noah and Lot, so shall the coming of the Son of man be. In this light, I understand the growing voices of warning with no entreaty to the escape that's coming. Most people are not ready today, and won't be when the escape shows up.

1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all
... Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

Being counted worthy of the escape that is coming means being ready when it shows up. As we know from the parable of the virgins, those who were not ready at the time the bridegroom appeared, who went to "buy some oil" they were left out and told "I don't know you" by the Lord. That's some harsh language is it not? Noah's preparation was building and ark, Lot's preparation was to just gather his family together for the walk out, and our preparation is TO WATCH and PRAY.....We are told to watch and pray specifically for what? To be counted worthy to escape all that's about to happen. The "pre-wrath" and "post-trib" crowds today specifically refuse to do this. How do I know they refuse to do this? To pray to escape all, while simultaneously arguing and debating till blue in the face that nobody will escape all would make them insane...

Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 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 warning voices we hear today are well justified. I will be amazed if something cataclysmic does not happen in the coming days and weeks. One last thing I'll mention this morning is the Lord showed me that despite all the fear, bad news, layoffs, collapsing economy in the world today, today, these days are still good days...normal days. When the people of the world see with their own eyes what's coming, they will beg to see days like today again. The contrast will be so sharp, the differences so profound that men will look back fondly on days like today. The world has'nt seen bad yet, but its coming. An escape from all is also coming, and only a fool would not take the Lord's word on this, and do what Jesus told us specifically to do, which is PRAY TO ESCAPE ALL OF IT. How many more times does it need to be said before it sinks in? One of the greatest tragedies of the days ahead, aside from the human suffering, will be the chance people had to avoid the suffering but chose it anyway through unbelief.

The men who think "its escapist" to believe in an escape that Jesus told us to pray for, and mock it with derision have a day coming that will test what kind of heroic christians they really are. I count myself to be foremost among the "escapist" mentalities of our day. I hold doggedly, steadfastly, without moving an inch on the promise and command of our God to pray that we may be counted to escape all. Soon, very soon we shall see who the wise and the foolish are. There is a price for unbelief and that price can be heavy indeed.

Keep the faith, remain "in Christ," grace and peace