The Great Escape......

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The Great Escape

By Grant Phillips

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3:10 NIV

The Lord Jesus Christ promises His bride, the Church, that He will keep us “from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world.” The word “from” in the Greek is “ek,” and it means: out of, from, by, and away from. It doesn’t say that He will keep us through it, but He will keep us from it.

In John chapter fourteen Jesus tells us that He is preparing a place for us in Heaven and will come again to receive us unto Himself.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 He tells us by the Apostle Paul how this will take place. He will come for us before the seven years of Tribulation starts. He will call for us to meet Him in the air. Those who have already died at that time will precede those who are alive when He comes for us and we will all meet Him in the air and be taken to Heaven.

Revelation 4:1 is clear that when the Church age ends the Church is no longer on earth but in Heaven. Chapters two and three of Revelation speak of the Church age from the first century to the end of the Church age. Chapter four verse one begins, “After this” and ends “I will show thee things which must be hereafter.” In other words, after the Church age ends the seven years of Tribulation begins. He will show the Apostle John things that will happen after the Church is removed. The Church (the bride) is not mentioned again until chapter nineteen of the book of Revelation, at the end of the Tribulation period.

Many have said that we who look forward to the Rapture simply want to escape. We are accused of wanting to throw in the towel and bail out. So let’s just call this commentary “The Great Escape.”

An old song called “This World Is Not My Home” pretty much says it for those who long to see Jesus.

“Oh Lord, you know, I have no friend like you. If heaven’s not my home, Oh Lord, what will I do? Angels beacon me, To heavens open door, And I can’t feel at home, In this world anymore.”

Do I want to “escape?” Let me answer that with a question. If I could choose between a world of lying, murder, hate, perversion, sickness, death, grief, greed, poverty, fear, calamities, etc. or a world of no lying, no murder, only love, no perversion, no sickness, no death, no grief, no greed, no poverty, no fear, no calamities, etc., which do you think I would choose? And to top it off, instead of Satan and his cohorts constantly trying to devour me, he is out of the picture, and I get to live with and worship Jesus in all His glory. Heaven or hell? For me, that’s a no-brainer. Heaven means always with Jesus. Hell means apart from Jesus.

Is it wrong to want to escape? Some think it is. Some think we, as the Church, should suffer by going through the Tribulation with all of Satan’s kids. Why? Are you nuts? What good would that do anyway?

The Church is not going through the seven years of Tribulation on earth. Why?
1.     These particular seven years are the remaining seven years that belong to Israel. The Church dispensation must end before the remaining seven years due Israel begins. God tells us about the 490 years due Israel in Daniel chapter nine. They are for Israel, not the Church. 483 of those years ended with the first advent of the Messiah. The remaining seven years are yet to come. These particular seven years are God’s judgment upon Israel and His drawing them to Him. They have nothing to do with the Church.

2.     These particular seven years are also a time of God’s judgment upon the world. This judgment will be carried out by the Lord Jesus personally. He is not going to administer judgment upon His own bride, the Church. Why? He has already taken our judgment upon Himself. Also, the bridegroom, Jesus, is not going to beat the crap out of His bride and then say, “Okay honey, let’s go celebrate with a big wedding feast.” Think “spouse abuse” and “domestic violence.” I don’t think so.

3.     The judgment that Jesus administers during this time will be a time of wrath like the world has never seen, even surpassing the flood of Noah’s day. Jesus isn’t mad at His bride, the Church. He loves His bride and will remove her from His wrath, but He isn’t too happy with Satan and the world.

Some will say, “But the Church has suffered since its inception. Why shouldn’t it suffer during the Tribulation?” Because all the suffering the Church has endured since its inception has come from Satan and his followers, not from God. The suffering handed out by the Antichrist during the Tribulation won’t be toward the Church, because the Church won’t be here. God is administering justice through Satan’s puppets in the first half of the Tribulation, and then the last 3 ½ years will be direct judgment from God upon a fallen world. Satan is not in control, and neither are the Antichrist and the False Prophet of course. God is in control and His judgment will be fierce.

No member of our Lord’s Church wants anyone to experience this time of misery that is coming upon the world, but it is coming. We are so thankful that our Bridegroom loves His bride and will remove us from harm’s way. We will escape His fury. We are also most grateful for those He will save during this terrible time and there will be many. Yes, many will be saved, but through much suffering and probably death.

Do I believe in the “Great Escape?” You betcha, and I’m all for escaping the wrath of God. Would you like to escape? Notice these words of Christ.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20
He is speaking to the Ladicean church, the apostate church of this age that does not know Him. Oh, they claim they do, but they do not. Come to Him today and you will not be disappointed. How?

“…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”

“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:10

Is it wrong to want to escape the Tribulation and be with Him at the Rapture? Would you rather die in a burning house or put your faith in the fireman to rescue you? I’m for the fireman.

But what if I die before the Rapture? Are you a child of God? Have you come to Him through His Son Jesus? Then what’s the problem!? If I die before the Great Escape (Rapture), I get to be with Him even sooner. By the way, if that happens, I’ll see you at the Rapture. I’ll be coming with Him to pick up my new body.

“and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we who 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.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

The world around us, which includes pseudo Christians, will continue to mock what they call our Great Escape, but for those of us who believe, just keep looking up. It is going to happen, and it could happen at any time.

Grant Phillips

Subject: Re: The Great Escape...... Sun Nov 10, 2013 8:23 am

After watching how the voices of America thwarted the government's plan of retaliation against Syria, I do believe that the antichrist could not make his stand if the church, even as messy as it is, was still on the earth.

   I want to know the thoughts of God. Everything else is just details.
     A Miracle is when God makes His Reality our Experience

Subject: Re: The Great Escape...... Sun Nov 10, 2013 9:48 am

Indeed, soon He will take away His Son's bride, those He has shown to His only Son Jesus with Love, out of the way of His wrath.

He will do exactly what He has said He would do, and no one or nothing will stop Him.

I believe the Bible as the literal and completed Word of God!

Elite Posts : 1827 Reputation : 169 Join date : 2011-08-11

The Saints are getting worn out already, at least mentally, I feel. I can only speak for myself but if it wasn't for the promise of his return I would be a mess.

Subject: Re: The Great Escape...... Sun Nov 10, 2013 11:15 am

Delfi wrote:: The Saints are getting worn out already, at least mentally, I feel. I can only speak for myself but if it wasn't for the promise of his return I would be a mess.

Hang on!!

[that was good...I thought I deleted this one. Oh boy!]

   I want to know the thoughts of God. Everything else is just details.
     A Miracle is when God makes His Reality our Experience

Subject: Re: The Great Escape...... Sun Nov 10, 2013 11:36 am

Delfi wrote:: The Saints are getting worn out already, at least mentally, I feel. I can only speak for myself but if it wasn't for the promise of his return I would be a mess.

Me as well. Smile

I believe the Bible as the literal and completed Word of God!

Subject: Re: The Great Escape...... Sun Nov 10, 2013 11:46 am

Me three...thud.

   I want to know the thoughts of God. Everything else is just details.
     A Miracle is when God makes His Reality our Experience

Elite Posts : 1827 Reputation : 169 Join date : 2011-08-11

Don't drop yet Dovie! Smile

Grab a tassel and hang on! Smile

Subject: Re: The Great Escape...... Sun Nov 10, 2013 10:21 pm

This article 'The Great Escape' has so many wrong interpretations, it's unbelievable. For one thing the Great Trib is not 7 yrs, but 1260 days or about 3.5 yrs.

Nowhere in the Bible can you find a verse that says the GT is 7 yrs., so where did the 7 yrs come from? The proponents of this view came to this conclusion only from a cryptic verse in Daniel about a certain "he" who will confirm a covenant with the many for 7 yrs., that's where they picked it up and run with it.

Regarding the Pre-trib rapture... the author like many believers confused the 7 Bowls (or Vials) of God's Wrath with the GT. Since these 7 last plagues come after the 1st Resurrection and Rapture, they concluded the Rapture will happen right before the GT, so it is the 'escape' that God planned for the Church. Is this correct?

To understand the timing of the Rapture, we must have a correct definition of the GT. What is the GT that Jesus warned us about?

In the Book of Rev, after the Beast went into the Temple to stop the daily sacrifices and declares himself "God", the False Prophet orders the set-up of the Beast's image for worship, anyone who defies his order will be beheaded. From this point on to the end has 1260 days. Can you see it? This is the GT!

It is at the end of 1260 days that the 7 last Plagues are poured out. The 7 Bowls of God's Wrath which based on the chronology, happen after the 1st Resurrection and Rapture.

During the GT of 1260 days, one needs to take the Mark to be able to buy food and supplies; one must also worship the image or face beheading. Who would be so strong and faithful enough to defy the order? Who are the 'great multitudes' who chose martyrdom?

I often hear... Oh, they are the unbelievers who suddenly found religion after they saw the Christians disappeared! How absurd, if during this peaceful time they mock God, why would they suddenly repent, willing for their family to suffer and go hungry, under the threat of beheading?

So what is the escape promised by God to those who love him and obey his Commandments? The escape is the flight to Bozrah, an end time 'Great Exodus' to the wilderness!

No one knows how the multitudes of believers from all over the World would be given "two wings of a great eagle" to fly to Bozrah in Jordan, but it is going to happen. It is related to keeping the Feasts of the Lord, a part of the Sabbath Law in the 4th Commandment!

Believe it or not, the Commandments, the Great Escape to the wilderness, the Rapture, they are all related, just connect the dots.

Posts : 175 Reputation : 23 Join date : 2013-02-05

The 7 bowls of wrath only happen in about 10 days. We go at the FINAL trumpet...which is the 7th trumpet. Yes, God has a plan for His family to survive during it. It includes the same kind of escape plan he has used OVER AND OVER again with his people. That is to say....He gives a COMMANDMENT, and the people must OBEY it, in order to escape. Lot leaving, noah building the ark, the Israelites leaving Egypt, etc. Yes, God has a plan...unfortunately some will stay behind. Some genuine believers will be left behind because they trusted in the wrong thing. It is not a magical escape that will get us out of here...but the escape will be magical(miraculous to be more precise). We are the sheepfold. We will survive, and I have no doubt that everyone here that pays attention this much....that we will all make it out, because we will all listen to His voice when the time comes.

Yes, it is a little while yet...but not much longer.

"Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks."-Jeremiah 50:8

When the command goes forth...we will leave this place.

Posts : 175 Reputation : 23 Join date : 2013-02-05

Wil,

Right on man. Right on.

Subject: Re: The Great Escape...... Sun Nov 10, 2013 11:27 pm

Thanks onlyoneimage! Yes, the 7 Bowls of God's Wrath happen within the 10 days from the Feast of Trumpets to the Day of Atonement. Here I believe is the timeline:

A B C D E F
!----!---Great Trib-----!---!----!---Millennium--!

A. The Beast defiles the Temple and declares himself "God".1290 days to the end.

B. The False Prophet orders worship or beheading... the Great Trib. 1260 days to the end.

C. Feast of Trumpets- 1st Resu/Rapture. 7Bowls of Wrath.

D. Day of Atonement- Jesus and Saints touched down. Battle of Armageddon.

E. Feast of Tabernacles- Kingdom of God on earth begins. Saints rule w/Christ.

F. The Great White Throne Judgment. 2nd Resurrection.

Guest

Posts : 175 Reputation : 23 Join date : 2013-02-05

Don't forget the context of what he was saying to Philadelphia though. How did God keep his promise? To use that as a pretext for a magical rapture scenario in itself is not accurate. That doesn't mean it doesn't have merit to it, but by itself the context can't be trusted. God did NOT rapture the church of Philadelphia. So why does this promise mean something different to us?

Guest

Subject: Re: The Great Escape...... Mon Nov 11, 2013 3:49 am

Noah and Lot seemed to only suffer and grieve from the sins of the people. And the people were
marrying and giving in marriage, drunk and partying; oblivious to their own decrepitude, void
of the knowledge of God and His indignation ....

I am quite convinced that the true church [of the Indwelling Holy Spirit] will go, and then comes seven years
[according to the scripture lesson given] of Tribulation for the redemption of Israel; both the people and the land.
Many verses I see used to suggest otherwise are spoken to Israel alone, I believe.

I myself perhaps would not come to this conclusion based on the teaching of scripture we are exposed to. It is my understanding based on a supernatural experience and Bible lesson given by the Spirit just a few days after I had a visit from a helping angel, and while the 'connection' to the heavenlies was still very open. And it was a confirmation of a previous Word received in a most profound earlier encounter.
I 'hold' what He's said to me. I don't necessarily dissect it. I already am sure
of the Source; I know His Voice. I just go on in the faith that He'll give me
what He deems I need, whether better understanding or correction.
It's far more important that He finds us about the Father's business when He
comes.

Yet, I wouldn't expect you all to take that at face value. I'm just saying, pray and watch and be ready always at all times, regardless of our own best efforts towards understanding. We could easily be much closer than we think. So, the Bible
says 'press in' to the work and don't be slack in well-doing. angel bounce

   I want to know the thoughts of God. Everything else is just details.
     A Miracle is when God makes His Reality our Experience

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