11: Is There an Escape? | Biblestudy4Starters Chapters

End Times: Great Tribulation

Chapter 11: Is There An Escape and Who Will Escape?

Is There An Escape and Who Will Escape?

Abstract

Is there an escape and who will escape?

Yes, there is an Escape for those “fleeing to the Mountains” and for those that are carried away by the Holy Ghost just like Philip in Acts 8, or those given "wings of a great eagle" to fly into a Secret Place; this great eagle might be the USA.
Just like Jesus did not allow Apostle John to be martyred like the other Apostles -by the way he was chosen to write the Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ- it is ultimately God in His sovereign will and wisdom who decides our end and chooses those who will be kept through the fire of persecution.
The ones that will Escape must have a pure heart, do the will of our heavenly Father and walk in love and in holiness, persevering till the end.
However, there is no guarantee that either one of us are in this special "Secret Place" group. Hence, it is better to prepare for the worse and hope for the best. Recall Revelation 12:11, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."

Is There An Escape?

Matthew 24:15-18

"Therefore, when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes."

Revelation 12:6
“Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.” [1,260 days= 3½ years]

Those in Judea should flee to the mountains, while fleeing into the wilderness also seems to be an escape route to God's "Secret Place" provided by the Almighty.
These born-again Christians and Jews will be kept safe during 1,260 days (3½ years), which is exactly the period of the Great Tribulation.
Just like Jesus did not allow Apostle John to be martyred like the other Apostles -by the way he was chosen to write the Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ- it is ultimately God in His sovereign will and wisdom who decides our end and chooses those who will be kept through the fire of persecution.

Acts 8:39-40
"Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away [“carried Philip away”, HCSB], so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

But Philip was found at Azotus [Ashdod]. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea."

Similar to when the Spirit of God, Ruach HaKodesh, carried Philip away, He can do it again giving the chosen ones a special ride to God’s "Secret Place". Nothing is impossible for our El Shaddai, God Almighty.

Revelation 12:13-17

"Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.

But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.

[3.5x12x30= 1,260 days= 3½ years]

So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.

And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."

Could the USA with its eagle symbol be the instrument in God’s hands? For years the USA has stood up for Israel.
In any case, a remnant of the Saints will be protected and be safe, and be provided with food.
Satan, the dragon, will not be able to touch these Elect for precisely 3½ years.

Who Will Escape?

Revelation 3:10

"Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep [Strong’s G5083: tēreō] you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth."

Who will escape? Those who are obedient and persevere, and who walk in holiness, not for one day, but each and every day.
“Strong’s G5083: tēreō: to attend to carefully, take care of, preserve, hold fast, to guard, metaph. to keep, one in the state in which he is, to observe, to reserve: to undergo something.”
The Hebrew word for "keep" explained and interpreted by Strong is not to be caught up or raptured, but to be kept whole, taken care of, and preserved.

Matthew 5:8

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

Only those that are pure in heart. Do review web page Chapter 1 "Preparing Our Heart".

Matthew 7:13-14,21-24

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:"

Again we see the importance of obedience and distinguishing and doing the will of God.
Make no mistake God is a Holy God, the Holy One of Israel, may we be faithful to enter the narrow gate.

John 15:4-5,12-14

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing ...

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”

Loving God and one another is crucial, as well as bearing Holy Spirit's fruit by abiding in His Presence and praying without ceasing.

Luke 9:23

“Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

Hebrews 12:14

"Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord."

Considering the above Scriptures it should be clear that not everyone will Escape, but those that are fully surrendered to God.
Moreover, not all that call on His name will be saved.
Some will be martyred, and others will be kept safe in God's Secret Place.
There is no guarantee that either one of us are in this special "Secret Place" group. Hence, it is better to prepare for the worse and hope for the best.
Recall Revelation 12:11, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."

by Dennis V. Dare

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