2010

I asked the Lord before new years, what should we expect this year? I asked him to give me something to give you. What I believe he has spoken to me are:

1. Endure patiently
2. Watch always

I asked him today as I often do, "Lord, please speak to me," and he responded immediately saying "I AM ALWAYS SPEAKING....THROUGH MY WORD."

All I could say was "Amen." The word of God is living and active, sharp as a double edged sword. Our Lord gave us a book full of living words. If we want to know the mind of God today, we need to read what has already been written and let it speak to us.

People on the internet are slinging around all kinds of ideas for 2010 to include alien invasion, world war, the tribulation, the anti-christ revealing himself and about everything else you can think of. Any of that can happen, but I hear the Lord saying to be at peace, wait patiently and keep watching. I find it interesting that these ideas of watching and patient endurance are at the heart of the Pre-tribulation/pre-time of Jacob's trouble/pre-time of 7 years of hell on earth etc etc.

Consider:

Rev 3:10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 11I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

and

Luke 21:36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

There is an event coming that people can call whatever they want. That event will see some people escape ALL that's about to happen. This group that will 100% guaranteed escape all that's about to happen will be those who are watching and ready like the 5 wise virgins of Matt 25. They will be those who have prayed to be kept from all.

There are many foolish virgins in the world today who will get right in your face and shout you down about being "kept from all" that's about to happen. They will tell you that "escaping from all" is just a feel good escapist fairytale. They will wear your eyes and ears out trying to prove to you how much hell on earth we are all going to go through before anyone sees any "escape." These foolish people argue not with us, but with God himself. God's word, not brother D tell's us there is an escape from all coming.

I am more convinced than ever before that the Spirit is telling us to hold on to what we have until Jesus shows up. Satan is a thief and a liar, if he can steal your "escape from all" then he will try to steal it. That explains the fiery opposition we have been witnessing against the pre-trib/time of Jacob's trouble rapture. Satan wants you on earth to take both barrels of the shotgun blast this world has coming to the face. Our Lord tells us that there is a test coming but not for everyone. The test is for "the whole world to test those who live on the earth." Test who? Those who live on the earth. Are people who have been caught up in the clouds "on the earth?"

Rev 4 shows us an open door in heaven and redeemed men in heaven (the 24 elders). How did redeemed men get into heaven? How about through that open door..Speaking of open doors, I think I've seen that before, maybe here:

Matt 25:1“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11“Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’
12“But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’
13“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

A door was open for those who were ready, you know, the people who were watching and praying to escape all that's about to happen like they were commanded to in Luke 21:36? Those people, also known as wise virgins went in through the open door. When the other virgins figured out "OOPS, I guess we were wrong and the bible was right, there WAS an escape from all!" by then the door will be shut. 5 were wise, 5 were foolish and only the wise went through the open door. Rev 3 , 4 and 5 are shown to us before even a single seal has been opened in Rev 6. Redeemed men are in heaven before Rev 6. The "other tribbers" have no explanation for how their theories can be right and some of us can escape ALL as we are told in Luke 21:36. The "other tribbers" have no explanation for how redeemed men can be in heaven before Rev 6 and their theories and opinions can be right too.

The point of all this is to tell you that the bible means what it says. If Jesus commanded you to pray that you may be counted worthy to escape all, then you better do it.

If Jesus told us there is an escape from all then there is one, period. The debate ends where the Lord's commands and words start.

Those of us who hold onto the hope of escaping all that's about to happen will not be dissapointed. We are told that according to our faith things are done to us:

Matthew 9:29 Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to ... Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you";

People who are have no faith for an escape from all will likely not experience an escape from all. There is a worthiness factor for experiencing this escape from all, its not for everyone. Part of the worthiness is "praying" as we were commanded that we may be counted worthy. To both escape all and stand before the Son of Man.

Terrible times are ahead somewhere. Who knows how long we have to wait. When Jesus shows up for us its going to be with no warning. No warning is the sign...no sign. Just like the days of Noah and Lot (Luke 17, Matt 24).

I don't read many religious websites anymore, but when I do and I see anything about the pre-time of Jacob's trouble, escape from all rapture, something inside of me leaps. I believe that's the witness of the Spirit of God confirming in me not to let go of this hope. Satan has stolen enough from you in this lifetime, don't let him steal your escape too. If you are "in Christ" today you are part of the church. The church is not "Jacob." The time of "Jacob's trouble" is not the time of the church's trouble. Yes, there will be believers on earth during the tribulation that will suffer. The 24 elders who are redeemed men in heaven are an example of a small number who will not be on earth during that time.

If you are still debating when the escape from all will happen, you really need to answer how redeemed men are found in heaven in Rev 4 and 5 before any of Rev 6 takes place. The "other tribbers" have no answer for this just like they cannot answer how some of us will escape all.

Remember, according to your faith it will be done to you so you really need to figure out for yourself what you believe. Forget what I've written to you and everything you've seen and heard from anyone else and go to the Lord in prayer and meditation on his word to figure it out. What you decide on will have tremendous impact on your future.

grace and peace