As I ponder the ‘quiet transition’ from the 11/5/24 presidential election, I wonder why there wasn’t more of a ruckus with the left. I can see that the Whitehouse still has a fence around its perimeter and some of the local DC business are still boarded up, but what I sense here is an eerie calm; like a calm before a storm. This feeling has moved me into a place of prayer and contemplation; even as I understand that God has already written out Bible prophecy. This thing is going to go down just as He has ordained it.
As a watcher pastor, I try to think positive and maintain a grateful attitude in this win, but I remain cautiously optimistic as I work, watch, and wait for the Lord. I continue to plan long as I look to the future and what I need to be doing. I am also looking at the immediate, and I wonder to myself what the powers that be are up to. As always, I am hoping and looking for the blessed hope, but in the meantime, we all must tarry, occupy, and plan for the long haul.
I read a lot of the comments on various Christian watch sights that are posted by my fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord. I can see their heart for the Lord as they too desire the Lord’s return; many of them are hurting, in pain, or in desperate situations. We all know that we’re close, but none of us knows the day or hour. A lot of watchers speculate and get to bickering with each other about that sort of thing, but in the end, we are called to occupy and witness as we work and watch for our Savior’s return.
Currently we are in the in-between space when a president is elected by the vote of the people and the current president goes into a ‘lame duck’ season. Our current president and his administration can do a lot of damage between now and January 20th. They can change up some things, start a war, crash the market, or even sabotage a peaceful presidential transition process; which is what defines a healthy democracy, a peaceful transition of power. While we need to think positive and pray for God’s protection, we also need to be aware of the God-less ideology that we have been exposed to over the last four years that favor a globalist agenda. This is why true believers need to be in continual prayer for God’s providential hand over our nation.
Since Trump’s victory announcement, a lot of things have occurred in the world with regard to peace and safety, security and prosperity, protection and hope, and other buzz words that ring true in the hearts of all patriots. While all of this seems nice, I believe that God may have another plan, one that involves the Rapture of His Church, the seven-year tribulation, and Christ’ glorious return to the earth with His Church to establish His millennial kingdom. Me thinks that this is where we’re headed.
One of the watchers recently posted that a few months back Christians were saying, ‘normal isn’t coming back, Jesus is.’ Now with Trump’s win, many are saying, ‘normal is coming back, Jesus isn’t, at least for a while.’ I have heard this same sentiment myself; but in my heart, I believe the Master’s return is at the very door.
I was contemplating the Apostle Paul’s words with regard to the season that we are in right now; a season of ‘peace and safety.’ Paul was writing about the Day of the Lord, which is the culmination of the Rapture, the seven-year tribulation, the Second Coming of Jesus, the Judgment of the Nations, and the Millennial kingdom. That’s a blog and study for another time.
Paul said it this way, “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 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. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sobor. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10
- In this passage Paul identifies that people will be ‘talking’ (‘when they say’) peace and safety. It doesn’t mean that peace and safety will be occurring so much, only anticipated as a chief goal of governance. In the midst of this peace and safety discussion, ‘then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman.’ Peace and safety are used in conjunction with escape in this passage.
What the ‘labor pains’ phrase tells us is that a lot of other pains will already be occurring when this sudden destruction happens; or should I say, is already occurring. Paul then says that ‘they shall not escape.’ The ‘they’ and the ‘them’ mentioned here are unbelievers who are not taken to heaven in the Rapture, but who are left behind. The Rapture is the ‘escape’ Paul is referring to here. True Christians are the ‘you’ in this passage; believers are the ones who will escape when this ‘sudden destruction’ event occurs. I personally believe that Paul’s ‘sudden destruction’ verbiage can be likened to a simultaneous, multi-phased nuclear strike on western nations and interests on a given moment. I believe this because the west, as we know it now, is not clearly mentioned in Bible prophecy perse.
One man said it this way, when the bombs come down, we go up. A friend of mine recently said that he believed a nuclear strike would be simultaneous with the Rapture; even to the point where he joked that a raptured saint, on their way up to heaven, might bump into a ICBM on its way down.
In essence, true Christians will escape, and those who are left behind (non-Christians) will suffer as a result of the ‘sudden destruction’ that they didn’t escape (raptured) from. A lot of people identify as a Christian, but the fruit of repentance must be manifest in their life for their faith to be real and effective. We all need our sins to be atoned for by the blood of Jesus. This happens by faith when we invite Jesus to be the Lord of our life and we repent of our sin. This doesn’t mean that we will be perfect or problem-less; but it does mean that Jesus will go with us as we walk out our faith with Him each day. It’s by grace that we are saved, not works, but our works will reveal our faith in Christ; as a result, we will want to love others like Jesus loves us.
Some people have a problem with this word escape being associated with the Rapture; however a closer look at the word ‘escape’ (Greek: ekpheugo) used in context to Paul’s statement renders a truth in his choice of this particular word. The word ekpheugo is a compound Greek word; ek, meaning ‘out of,’ and pheugo, meaning ‘to flee, flight, or escape.’ Ekpheugo is a verb, it’s translated ‘to flee out of a place, and is elsewhere used in the NT as ‘escaping the judgments of God.’ In our case, we will escape this earth before the tribulation begins.
Luke used the same when he recorded the words of Jesus
“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing (dissipation), drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day (the day of the Lord) come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy (strengthened) to escape (ekpheugo) all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” – Luke 21:34-36
- Jesus is not only referencing the pre-tribulation Rapture with the use of this word ‘escape,’ but He is also making an inference to the Bema Seat judgment that all believers will experience just after being caught up into heaven at the Rapture. The phrase, ‘and to stand before the Son of Man’ implies the Bema Seat.
While we watch, work, and wait for the Lord. It’s important for each of us as believers in Jesus to be a good witness to others in our stead. If you’re reading this and you’re saved, then be encouraged, we’re going home soon. If you’re reading this and you’re not saved, today is your day to be saved. Believe on Jesus, invite Him to be your Lord and Savior. Ask for His forgiveness for your sins and repent of them. Get a Bible and into a good church where you can grow in your faith. Jesus is the way.
Remember, the ‘sudden destruction’ is for those who are not saved; the ‘escape’ is for those who are.
Maranatha!
Encouragemen is a blog written by Pastor Rob Lee, recently relocated to Northwest Missouri. He lives with his wife of 35-years, near their three adult children, their spouses, and children (their grandchildren). Pastor Rob is an Ordained Assemblies of God minister, a Lead Pastor, police chaplain, and community advocate. He continues to serve, consult, and disciple men of God, including those who are in the ministry.
Encourage Men 
I concur with everything you said. Tom at Watchman River has very good to listen to .
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