| |
Lk21:36, But stay alert at all times, praying that you will have strength to
escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before
the Son of Man. (NASB)
Jesus taught the disciples about 3 periods of persecution.
1. The time between his resurrection and the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
2. The time from the fall of Jerusalem throughout the church age until the
great tribulation.
3. And then during that specific period of the tribulation.
The gospel writers recorded these times in different ways, but always
according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 21:12-19 was taught by Jesus with the pre 70 AD persecution in view.
At Luke 21:29-36, the focus is on the persecution during the tribulation.
Matthew 24:9-29, also looks at the persecution that will occur during the
tribulation.
The subject at Luke 21:25-36 is the return of Jesus, at which time the
events of the DOL will begin.
"There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth
distress among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the
waves, 26 people fainting from fear and the expectation of the things that
are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27
And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great
glory.
As we synchronize Luke's account with Matthew 24 and Mark 13, we understand
that Christ will return while the tribulation is going on, and in fact, His
return will truncate the tribulation and bring it to an end.
Mat. 24:22 Jesus said, "And if those days are not cut short, no life would
be delivered; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short."
And He said at Mat. 24:29-31
"immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the
Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will
mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with
power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with a great
trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect ones out from the
four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of
heaven."
At Luke 21:34, the focus is on the suddenness of Christ's return.
Jesus is teaching the disciples - and by way of application - to those who
will be alive during the tribulation.
"But be on your guard, so that your hearts will not be weighed down with
dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that this day will
not come on you suddenly, like a trap.
This indicates that -
(1) the return of Christ will come as a trap. That means that there will be
wrath and judgment when He arrives.
Paul called it, sudden ruin at 1Thes 5:3.
And -
(2) it states the possibility that the day of Christ's return could "come on
you (that is, believers) suddenly
and catch them unprepared.
This refers to the actual DAY that Christ will return. The wrath and
judgment will not be expressed immediately.
Verse 35 states the FACT that the judgment (the trap) of Christ's return
will most certainly come.
"for it will come upon all those who live on the face of all the earth."
The issue in Christ's words is that the judgment from God's wrath will most
certainly come upon the unbelievers who remain on the earth after the
rapture.
And even though all believers will be received to His side at His return,
there is the possibility for any believer to be unprepared and caught off
guard.
And so, the exhortation to be alert.
Being alert refers to the proper management of your spiritual health.
That means to learn and use the principles and viewpoint of God's word in
every area of your life.
If a believer does not stay alert in this way, he will become distracted by
the various worries of life.
Such a one will try to find solace in eating and drinking, and whatever else
he thinks will bring happiness.
This is described here, as being "weighted down with dissipation and
drunkenness and the worries of life."
In such a case he will be unprepared when the cosmic signs announce the
arrival of Jesus.
Now, this warning is given in the context of being alive during the great
tribulation of persecution from the antichrist; the beast of Rev. 13.
All believers who will be within reach of the beast, will either be killed
for their faith or live in a condition of homelessness and deprivation.
Some believers will live outside the immediate influence of the beast's
worship system but still be affected by the shortages of economic resources.
Believers in either environment can become disillusioned with God and with
life.
Those who have no spiritual strength will become depressed - and being
overcome with worry, they will seek the false consolation of drunkenness and
other distractions.
This possibility for the believer to be unprepared and caught off guard at
Christ's return
is also taught by Paul at 1Thes. 5:1-11.
First he states that the DOL will come like a thief upon unbelievers, and
that the destruction of the DOL will come quickly like the final birth pains
on a woman in labor.
Then he assures the believers that they are secure in God's kingdom of
light.
"But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you
like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of
night nor of darkness."
But it is possible for the believer to be out of fellowship and be asleep
spiritually.
So Paul exhorts us to be alert and prepared.
At verse 6, he urges, "so then, let’s not sleep as others do, but let’s be
alert and in control."
So Paul affirms that the believer is positionally prepared because he is a
child of God.
That is, because he is in relationship with God, he will be delivered from
the DOL judgments through the rapture that he wrote about in chapter 4.
But in his life, a believer can be unprepared for the arrival of Jesus by
failing to follow the standards of God's kingdom of light.
The absence of "experiential" preparation through failure to grow
spiritually or to maintain fellowship with God, will result in
(1) misery, worry and fear during his life on earth.
AND
(2) extreme shame when Jesus returns. This is seen with John's exhortation
at 1John 2:28.
"And now little children, abide in Him so that we may have confidence and
not shrink away from Him in shame at His appearing."
However, no matter how much of a failure any believer might be there will be
no forfeiture of the inheritance that God has promised. According to 1Peter
1:4-5,
The promised inheritance is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away,
reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through
faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, that is, at His
return.
And even though his life on earth may have produced very little if any
God-glorifying deeds, he will still be embraced as a child of God - he will
still be saved.
Every believer starts his Christian life on the foundation of his initial
faith in Jesus. 1Cor. 3:12-15.
"Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, or straw, 13 each one’s work will become evident; for the day
will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself
will test the quality of each one’s work. 14 If anyone’s work which he has
built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned
up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet just barely, so
as through fire."
So - now to Luke 21:36,
Of first importance is the translation. The translation in the KJV, “counted
worthy,” is inaccurate. The Greek word is katischuo, and it means to have
strength as is seen in the NASB translation.
Now, in view of the possibility that the believer might be unprepared for
His return, Jesus exhorts them - and of course, by application - He exhorts
all of us as well -
"But stay alert at all times, praying that you will have strength to escape
all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son
of Man."
So, the issue here is, "have strength to escape all these things."
The "these things," refer to the events that take place during the
tribulation, BEFORE Christ's return. Specifically, the oppressive
persecution from the beast. Luke does not record the details of THE
tribulation,
but Matthew does at 24:9-28.
The two passages need to be synchronized to see an accurate time line and
harmony. And that is another study.
Now, the believer does not need "strength" to escape the DOL judgments
because every believer will be raptured and taken to heaven before those
judgments come upon the earth.
Strength is needed to joyfully and fruitfully survive the tribulation -
and to stand before the Lord without shame when He arrives.
The factor of being alert refers to character strength through knowledge and
application of God's word.
The factor of prayer is the faith-rest prayer of trusting in God's character
and plan based on knowledge of that plan and of His promises.
These two things together give the believer the strength he needs to endure
the persecution and hardship.
They give strength to remain in fellowship with God, serving Him with
confidence and joy.
As Peter wrote,
"to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing,
so that at the revelation of His glory, you can rejoice, being overjoyed."
It is during this time of tribulation and hardship, when the enemies of
Christ will be seeking to kill anyone who will not worship the beast, that
the believer needs to be prayerfully alert and prepared by knowing and
applying the truths of God’s word for strength and endurance.
If he is not prayerfully alert, then he will be unable to withstand the
persecution wrath from Satan and the beast.
Or, if he is outside the beast's influence, he will be unable to handle the
hardship environment that will exist.
The result for him in either situation is that he will live in constant fear
and worry, instead of experiencing the peace and joy from trusting in the
wisdom and timing of God.
In any time of affliction, Christ promised peace and joy for the believer
who prayerfully trusts in Him.
At John 16:33 He said, "These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you
may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have
overcome the world."
But the believer who is out of fellowship; the one who is burdened by worry
and fear - this one is ripe for the deception from the beast system.
And there even exists the very real possibility that these unprepared
believers will seek to take the mark of the beast in order to escape the
hatred and persecution.
But of course, God won't allow His child to receive the mark. In all
probability, when any believer attempts to take the mark, God will use
“ultimate divine discipline” and remove him from the earth through physical
death.
The principle of this extreme degree of discipline is taught at 1Cor 11:30
and 1John 5:16.
Now whether he is disciplined by God or not, he will be unprepared and
“caught off guard” when Jesus comes back.
It's true that because believers are “sons of light and sons of the day,”
that the DOL SHOULD not overtake them like a thief (1Ths5:5). But 1Ths5:6
indicates the possibility for this child of God to “sleep as others do” and
thus be unprepared.
However, there is no reason for the believer to be lulled to sleep like
that.
God has provided everything we need to rest in Him peacefully and joyously -
even in the midst of the most severe persecution and hardship.
No matter how severe the trouble and persecution, the prayer of Philip 4:6-7
and 1Pet.5:8, where we cast all our concerns upon Him - no matter what it
is, we can experience the peace of God which surpasses human logic.
But - if we don't trust Him for our daily needs in that future time of
severe oppression, we won't have strength to escape. And even though we will
still be taken at the rapture, we will initially shrink away from Him in
shame at His appearing instead of being able to “stand before Him” in
confidence (1Jn2:28).
Now, the confidence and strength that we can have while here on earth -
is just a relaxed trust in God that He will protect His people ON HIS TERMS.
Of course, many of the believers during that time of tribulation, will be
betrayed by others and end up killed (V. 9-10). But the principle as stated
by Jesus at Luke 21:18 is that even though a believer is martyred, “not a
hair of his head will perish.”
This promise is stated in the context of persecution during the 40 years
before Jerusalem is destroyed.
It doesn't mean they won't be killed. It's a symbolic expression that means
- even if they are to be killed -
their entire life is secure in their salvation relationship with God - not
even a hair of his head will perish.
The promise declares the principle of salvation security no matter how
severe physical suffering might be.
Then, at verse 19 Jesus explained the basis for having a successful
experience of peace, joy and testimonial impact.
He said, "By your endurance - which is knowledge and application of God's
word - you will possess or maintain your lives."
This concept of possessing your life is a common expression that indicates
finding true fulfillment in life through
faithfulness in growth and service. The Greek word is ktaomai.
It is used this way at 1thes. 4:4.
Paul exhorts the believers for them to know how to "possess" his own body
(or life) in sanctification and honor."
Of course, this goal should be the focus of each one of us as we encounter
all the various pressures and afflictions of this life.
And it will certainly be crucial during the time of the tribulation.
However, the focus during the tribulation is not just quality of life and
testimonial impact.
It is also on “physical” protection which will find many believers still
alive at the end of the tribulation.
Those believers will be “physically” delivered by the return of Jesus, and
hopefully, stand before him, “unashamed.”
Matthew recorded it as, "he who endures to the end will be delivered."
And this physical deliverance will occur just in time - as it were - based
on Mat. 24:23, where Jesus taught that the tribulation would be cut short in
order for the elect not to be killed by the beast.
So, returning now to Luke 21:36,
The staying alert factor - or “watchfulness” - is kind of like the three
disciples whom Jesus told to watch and pray - but when He returned, they
were all asleep (Mt26:40-41).
The believer who maintains watchfulness through knowledge and application of
God's word is the one who is abiding in Him. This believer will be well
prepared to remain faithful during the oppressive reign of the beast - and
for that matter, any hardship situation - so that, as John wrote, when Jesus
returns, “we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at
His appearing,” (1Jn 2:28).
Now, to be sure, the one who is martyred during that time is not an
“unfaithful” believer. Martyrdom is actually a testimony to God's character
and plan. The Bible shows that God does not keep ALL His people alive in
persecution situations - like with Stephen and James and ultimately Paul and
Peter. That does not mean that they did not “endure” spiritually.
Again, the issue here is endurance “physically,” that is, they remain alive
until the end of the tribulation which will be cut short by the return of
Jesus.
The one who remains physically alive during this time is the one who will be
DELIVERED from the oppressors. Paul describes this at 2Ths1:6-7,
“For after all it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict
you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well at the
revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming
fire,” (NASB).
Mt 24 explains HOW that “physically” alive believer will be delivered.
If the tribulation is not cut short, then ultimately ALL flesh (that is, all
believers & those who resist beast worship) would be killed.
"But for the sake of the elect (believers in Jesus, or more specifically,
those chosen by God to be His representatives on the earth) those days will
be cut short.” Jesus will return and gather His elect at the rapture (V.31).
The “elect ones” also refers to those who will believe in Jesus AFTER His
return & after the rapture.
There needs to be believers alive on the earth during that time in order to
continue evangelistic activity to the many who have not taken the mark
of the beast.
Also there needs to be believers alive after Armageddon in order to populate
the earth at the start of Christ’s earthly kingdom.
Thus, “for the sake of the elect” refers to both the present & the future
believers.
If the tribulation is not cut short and the subsequent Day-of-the-Lord
judgments do not curtail the severity of the beast’s persecution activity,
then there would be NO ONE alive on the earth except the beast worshippers.
God’s plan and promises would be frustrated & Satan would win his reprieve
from divine judgment.
So now lets keep encouraging one another and building up one another because
He who called you is faithful, and he will bring it to pass.
Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling, and to make you stand
in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy, to the only God our
Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and
authority from before all time and now and forever. Amen.
---------
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 (KJV).
This is perhaps the strongest verse that can be proffered in support of
partial rapture and granted, is one of the so-called “problem passages” for
rejection of that theory.
But it does have an answer.
First of all the translation, “counted worthy,” is inaccurate. The Greek says,
“have strength” (ischuo) to escape (as seen in the NASB).
Second, there are TWO things in view here. At verse 34, the issue is, “that
day come on you suddenly like a trap.”
This refers to the actual arrival of the Day of the Lord. If the believer is
out of fellowship with God, which is described as being “weighted down with
dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life,” then he will be
unprepared when the signs in the sun, moon and stars appear that announce the
arrival of Jesus. But as already demonstrated, his preparation for
participation in the rapture is salvation itself. Any lack of “experiential”
preparation through failure to grow spiritually or to maintain fellowship with
God, will result in extreme shame at His presence. But not a forfeiture of the
inheritance which is waiting to be given to all believers in Christ at the
last time, the time of the rapture.
“And now little children, abide in Him so that we may have confidence and not
shrink away from Him in shame at His appearing,” (1 John
2:28).
And at verse 35, the issue is, “have strength to escape all these things.”
The “these things,” here refer to the events that take place during the
tribulation. Specifically, the oppressive persecution from the beast. Luke
does not delve into that, but Matthew does at 24:9-28.
It is during this time of tribulation when the world will be caught up in
beast worship and enjoying “peace and safety” (1 Thes. 5:3) and the affairs of
life (Mat. 24:37-39, as in the days of Noah) that the believer needs to be
prayerfully alert and prepared by knowing and applying the truths of God’s
word for strength and endurance. If he is not, then he will be unable to
withstand the persecution wrath from Satan via the beast. The result for him
in this situation is that he will live in constant fear of death instead of
peace and joy at the privilege to represent Christ in this time of oppression.
There even exists the possibility that these weak believers will seek to take
the mark of the beast in order “to escape all these things,” but God will not
allow His child to receive the mark. In all probability, when any believer
attempts to take the mark, God will execute “ultimate divine discipline” upon
him and remove him from the earth via physical death anyway. (The sin unto
death: 1 John 5:16; 1 Cor. 11:30)
If not, he too will be unprepared and “caught off guard” (Luke 21:34; 1 Thes.
5:4-10) when Jesus comes back “like a thief in the night” to not only claim
His own through rapture, but to pour out divine wrath upon the kingdom of
Satan and the beast.
It is true that because believers are “sons of light and sons of the day,”
that that day SHOULD not overtake them like a thief (1 Thes. 5:5). But 1Thes.
5:6 indicates the possibility for this child of God to “sleep as others do”
and thus be experientially unprepared. However, there is no reason for the
believer to be lulled to sleep.
This is no different than the prayer of Philip. 4:6-7 and 1 Pet. 5:8, where we
cast all our concerns upon Him and experience the peace of God which surpasses
human logic.
If we are not trusting Him for our daily needs in this time of severe
oppression, we will not have strength to escape. And even though we will still
be taken at the rapture, we will shrink away from Him in shame at His
appearing instead of being able to “stand before Him” in confidence (1 John
2:28).
The “prayer” is a prayer of watchfulness, just a relaxed trust in God that He
will protect His people ON HIS TERMS. Remember, many of the believers during
this time will be betrayed by others and end up killed (V. 9-10) but the
principle remains that even though the believer is martyred, “not a hair of
his head will perish” (Luke
21:16-18). This then refers to spiritual protection within the midst of this
physical oppression. BUT the issue at Luke 21:36 is “physical” protection
which finds the believer still alive at the end of the tribulation to be
“physically” delivered by the return of Jesus, and hopefully, to stand before
him, “unashamed.”
The “watchfulness” is kind of like the three disciples whom Jesus told to
watch and pray - and when He returned, they were all asleep (Mat. 26:40-41).
The believer who maintains watchfulness through knowledge and application of
Bible truth (abiding in Him), will be well prepared to remain faithful during
the oppressive reign of the beast so that when Jesus returns, “we may have
confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His appearing,” (1 John
2:28).
The one who is martyred during this time is not an “unfaithful” believer. God
does not keep ALL His people alive in persecution situations - like with
Stephen and James and ultimately Paul himself and Peter. That does not mean
that they did not “endure” spiritually.
The issue here is endurance “physically,” that is, they remain alive until the
end of the tribulation which will be “amputated” (cut short) by the return of
Jesus.
The one who remains physically alive during this time is the one who will be
DELIVERED from the oppressors. Paul describes this at 2 Thes. 1:6-7,
“For after all it is {only} just for God to repay with affliction those who
afflict you, and {to give} relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well
when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in
flaming fire,” (NASB).
Matthew 24:22 and 31 explain HOW that “physically” alive believer will be
delivered.
If the tribulation is not “amputated” then ultimately ALL flesh (ie, all
believers and those who resist beast worship) would be killed, “but for the
sake of the elect (believers in Jesus, or more specifically, those chosen by
God to be His representatives on the earth) those days will be amputated.”
Jesus returns and gathers His elect at the rapture (V. 31).
The “elect” also refers to those who will believe in Jesus AFTER His return
and the rapture of the living believers. There needs to be believers alive on
the earth during the Day-of-the-Lord judgments in order to continue the
ambassadorship representation of Christ and evangelistic activity to the
unbelievers (the earth-dwellers). Also there needs to be believers alive after
Armageddon in order to populate the earth at the start of Christ’s earthly
kingdom (the millennium).
Thus, “for the sake of the elect” refers to both the present and the future
believers.
If the tribulation is not cut short and the subsequent Day-of-the-Lord
judgments do not curtail the severity of the beast’s oppressive reign, then
there would be NO ONE alive on the earth except the beast worshippers. God’s
plan and promises would be frustrated and Satan would win his reprieve from
divine judgment.
See Refutation of the partial rapture theory. |
|
