Counted Worthy to Escape

[Vine Abider]

Read these verses this morning in a devotional (Daily Light) that I was struck with and thought to share.  (underlines are mine)

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor
the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighted down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.

The day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.

Matt. 25:13; Luke 21:34–36; 1 Thess. 5:2–6

There are conditions here . . . somethings to do, "that you may be counted worthy."  (also see Rev 3:10)

[tatwo]

6 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Greetings Abider...

"Escape?" only those who "fear death in the flesh" pray for escape Abider...what you are going to see is similar to Israel in Egypt...but not exactly. The difference is...the judgement is pronounced on the earth from the earth by the sons of God...known as Head and Body of the spiritual Man known as "Christ."

Watch and pray is not much of a preparation or path to maturity...both of which are required for the Kingdom of God to close out the age...as all...the living and the dead will realize.

Tatwo...:)

[Marilyn C]

13 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

Read these verses this morning in a devotional (Daily Light) that I was struck with and thought to share.  (underlines are mine)

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor
the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighted down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.

The day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.

Matt. 25:13; Luke 21:34–36; 1 Thess. 5:2–6

There are conditions here . . . somethings to do, "that you may be counted worthy."  (also see Rev 3:10)

Hi VA,

`Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.` (Matt. 24: 42) 

Jesus said this warning to the people of Israel who are in darkness. Whereas to His Body the Lord says -

`But you, brethren are NOT in darkness, so that this Day (of the LORD) should overtake you as a thief. ` (1 Thess. 5: 4)

`Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another and so much the more as you SEE the Day (of the LORD) approaching.` (Heb. 10: 25)

Big difference there.

[Marathoner]

With regard to "escape" and the context in which it appears, our brother quoted from scripture; specifically, Luke 21:36. Here's the passage in question (verse 34-36):

“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; for it will come upon all those who live on the face of all the earth. 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.”

It's clear that the Lord refers to steadfastness and remaining true to Him, framed by "praying that you will have the strength to escape all these things that are going to take place." The Lord warns those who hear not to be swept away by the world so that His return will not be a shock nor an unwelcome surprise. This relates to what I've written on the forum before: that we should always live as if the Lord will return at any time. 

That is how we remain alert and watchful (neither implies paranoia on our part). When we listen for His voice and abide in Him, we will not be surprised by His return. We will rejoice instead!

[luigi]

9 hours ago, Marilyn C said:

Hi VA,

`Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.` (Matt. 24: 42) 

Jesus said this warning to the people of Israel who are in darkness. Whereas to His Body the Lord says -

`But you, brethren are NOT in darkness, so that this Day (of the LORD) should overtake you as a thief. ` (1 Thess. 5: 4)

`Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another and so much the more as you SEE the Day (of the LORD) approaching.` (Heb. 10: 25)

Big difference there.

Mark 13:37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

[Dennis1209]

Hello Vine,

This sounds as if it is leading back to the partial Rapture theory.

I think the keyword is worthy. How do we become worthy? The only thing that will make us worthy is our position in Christ; we are either saved, or we are not. We are either truly born again or not. We can do no “work” to escape these things; it is by faith ALONE. Therefore, I have trusted Him as my Savior, and I have committed my way to Him, so that if I am alive at the time of the Rapture, I’ll be going to meet Him in the air by the grace of God.

We are commanded to be obedient and sober and watch for His return so we are not ashamed of His sudden appearance. There are no signs of Christ’s imminent return for His church. But there are a ton of things in scripture to watch for with the coming tribulation, and it is coming on like birth pains.

Just my thoughts once again.

[Know Jah]

Well, the word says the end will have the greatest tribulation ever. So, I'm sure we all will be praying for escape.

[Sower]

23 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

There are conditions here . . . somethings to do, "that you may be counted worthy."

            Has not all believers who read scripture been ready to go home?

                  "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith,
and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.
                         For we are God’s workmanship,

               created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

           which God prepared in advance as our way of life"

Seems to me knowing as the day approaches would create an urgency to share the good news.
Not a fear of what may or may not happen or when, but a trust in our Lord, who will work THROUGH us.

My worth hung on a cross for me. My works are a visible obedience to His word to show my gratitude/love.
My worship is in all I do, preaching the word or washing feet. Confessing sin, cleansed.

As we stand in the line going up to the Bema seat, the Judgement Seat of Christ. 
Will our hands be full or empty? Wood hay stubble, or silver gold and precious stones?
 

Believers know the end is near, and find comfort in God's promises. The lost has no hope.
If the ship is starting to sink, shouldn't we be passing out LIFE preservers,
instead of discussing the how who when the ship sinks?.....

Watching while working, trusting, sharing the good news.

Just saying
Thanks VA...

 

 

 

[RdJ]

36 minutes ago, Sower said:

            Has not all believers who read scripture been ready to go home?

                  "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith,
and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.
                         For we are God’s workmanship,

               created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

           which God prepared in advance as our way of life"

Seems to me knowing as the day approaches would create an urgency to share the good news.
Not a fear of what may or may not happen or when, but a trust in our Lord, who will work THROUGH us.

My worth hung on a cross for me. My works are a visible obedience to His word to show my gratitude/love.
My worship is in all I do, preaching the word or washing feet. Confessing sin, cleansed.

As we stand in the line going up to the Bema seat, the Judgement Seat of Christ. 
Will our hands be full or empty? Wood hay stubble, or silver gold and precious stones?
 

Believers know the end is near, and find comfort in God's promises. The lost has no hope.
If the ship is starting to sink, shouldn't we be passing out LIFE preservers,
instead of discussing the how who when the ship sinks?.....

Watching while working, trusting, sharing the good news.

Just saying
Thanks VA...

 

 

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.
Matthew 24:45‭-‬51 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.24.45-51.NKJV

 

 

[Vine Abider]

7 hours ago, Dennis1209 said:

Hello Vine,

This sounds as if it is leading back to the partial Rapture theory.

I think the keyword is worthy. How do we become worthy? The only thing that will make us worthy is our position in Christ; we are either saved, or we are not. We are either truly born again or not. We can do no “work” to escape these things; it is by faith ALONE. Therefore, I have trusted Him as my Savior, and I have committed my way to Him, so that if I am alive at the time of the Rapture, I’ll be going to meet Him in the air by the grace of God.

We are commanded to be obedient and sober and watch for His return so we are not ashamed of His sudden appearance. There are no signs of Christ’s imminent return for His church. But there are a ton of things in scripture to watch for with the coming tribulation, and it is coming on like birth pains.

Just my thoughts once again.

Indeed!  The theology I ascribe to says we are eternally saved by faith in Christ alone - this is our foundation - and then there is accountability for how we build.  At the Bema there are rewards given and I think there will be some shame for those who haven't run the race or matured in Christ well.  Yet, those at the Bema are still children of God, with His life in them eternally, but again, there will be a measure of accountability as to how His children have built according to His will (or not).  Therefore, many of the future promises God makes to us have some conditions with them.

So my theology also extends these conditions to the rapture. That is, the Christian life is about growing in the grace (favored supply of Christ in us) we've been given.  Living things are meant to grow properly and mature into full grown. Some plants mature/ripen faster (first fruits) and others mature & ripen more slowly.  The ones maturing first will be reaped first, and the others will be taken in the general harvest.

So yes, I see the accountability/maturity principle extending to the rapture - not all will go in one reaping (i.e., the harvest in Rev 14:14-16) - some ripen earlier, which I believe Paul exhorts us in multiple places to be diligent about (diligent to let Him operate in and through us).

CC:  @Sower