The enemy and his servants hate any idea that Christians might escape their new world order so they mock, ridicule and in general attack any thought that our Lord will fulfill His promises to us. What kind of promises?
Luke 21:36Watch 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 Lord does not tell us this ^^ is the rapture. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't what is important about this promise is 1. He tells us to pray for escape and 2. He tells us to pray for escape from all that is about to happen. This flies in the face of all the arguments the enemy tries to throw back at us as to why we 'have to go through the tribulation.'. Yes, we are told to pray for escape and to do it always. That's quite 'escapist' isn't it? Why would our Lord tell us to pray to escape all that is about to happen? Because our Lord prayed for escape too:
Luke 22:39And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 40And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
What was our Lord doing here ^^? He was praying for escape...
The Lord tells us to pray for escape because there will be alot of escaping going on in the last days. One of the best examples is in Revelation 12:6:
5And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. 6And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
So here ^^ we see two escapes: 1. the woman escapes the worst half of the tribulation where the Lord will take care of her in the wilderness and 2. the child escapes by being "caught up" unto the Lord (sound familiar?).
Want more escaping in Revelation? Sure, how about:
Rev 3:10Because 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.
When is the "hour of temptation?" Well, the Lord saw fit to leave that vague. You aren't going to find another direct reference to it in the Bible but what He does tell us is whatever we will be kept from 1. comes upon all the world and 2. is designed to try/test them. Gee, can you think of any upcoming event in the Bible that fits those criteria?
This world is beginning to tear itself apart. Mankind is filled with rage and hate at our Lord and His servants (us). The Lord, in His great wisdom and power has given us this window in time to see how this world despises both Him and us. Every day some new person or organization or government exposes themselves as an enemy of the cross of Christ. We see this as for the moment Trump is the pincushion receiving all of the flaming arrows of the enemy that are really directed at us. Trump is no saint, but it appears he is more for us than against us. That fact alone absolutely infuriates the demonic hordes that have cast off all restraint in their attacks.
This entire world is in the process of uniting itself against our God and therefore against us. Things are happening exactly as our God said they would. When you look around and see how widespread the demonic hatred is, it can be discouraging but be of good cheer. Our God is all powerful and all knowing. He likes these seemingly overwhelming odds to show us who is really in control. One of the best parallels to where we stand now is when Israel was backed up against the red sea with Pharaoh and his hordes bearing down on them with no apparent escape. But we know how that ended right? No apparent escape was irrelevant because the Lord had prepared an escape for them they never could have imagined. So it is with us. We have His promises. He told us to watch and pray always for escape:
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.
Mankind says there is no escape from any of it, but our God says there is an escape from all of it. Who will you believe? Our Lord prayed for escape and we should too.
grace and peace
Be Anxious For Nothing
6 years ago
