Escape the Hour of Trial - Death is No Blessing!

"Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee" (Rev. 3.3).

Rev. 3.3 says you should know when Jesus returns, but if you do not hold fast, repent and watch, you will not know when the parousia of Christ begins, thus, you will not be taken.

"Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come" (Matt. 24.40,42).

The Lord can't promise no martyrdom as saints are always being martyred throughout the centuries. So those whose "your Lord" are addressed are Christians, and to be taken is better than being left for the believer. When is a spiritual Christian ready to be received to be taken like an Enoch or Elijah? Obviously, before the Tribulation. Carnal Christians will not be raptured at that time, but must pass through the Tribulation and be raptured at the last trumpet instead (1 Cor. 15.23,50-52, 1 Thess. 4.14-18). Should a Christian tied down to the world like a balloon unwilling to be released be taken beforehand?

If "thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth" (Rev. 3.10).

Not just trial but the hour of the Tribulation itself. God can't promise no martyrdom in the Tribulation so to be kept from the hour of trial is to be raptured before the Tribulation. A first rapture is the only way this promise can be assured.

"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" (Luke 21.36).

Worthiness is not a condition for being saved, but it is a condition for the first rapture and reigning with Christ since Christians are accountable. What happens to Christians who are not watchful and prayerful? Though they can't lose eternal life, once-saved-always-saved, they can lose the reward of being worthy to escape the hour of trial that shall come to pass of the Tribulation and stand before the Son of Man "before the throne" (Rev. 7.9) in 3rd heaven before the 1st trumpet (8.7) of the 7 trumpets of the Tribulation. Nor will such a person be included with the 5 wise virgins to return with Christ (Jude 14,15) to reign over the nations (Rev. 2.26,27; 20.4-6) for 1000 years. That's a long time before the New City commences on the New Earth.

Jonathan95 said:

The verses aren't implying that one can know which hour He comes. "Thou shalt not know", is not being said as if they could have known it in the first place. Matthew 24:36 further proves this:

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." (Matthew 24:36 NKJV)

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I find it revealing you yourself have no interpretation for Rev. 3.3, but you remain blank on the subject.

Rev. 3.3 is saying you can know when Jesus returns if you are watchful, so the only reason YOU don't know is because you think you are being watchful but are not in reality (you don't care to discern, falsely assume you can't, don't overcometh, and reject God's signs). God treats you according to your false beliefs.

You read Matt. 24.36 wrong also, in isolation, for you confuse the time being spoken of. Read verse 35,

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

It is talking about the end of earth, not when Jesus returns, for obviously, the earth does not end when Jesus returns for He returns to reign in the 3rd Temple on earth for 1000 years (see the Temple in Matt. 24.15, 2 Thess. 2.4, Rev. 11.2).

Jonathan95 said:

Why do I need to have an interpretation myself? The verse you quoted from Luke is also clear that we don't know when He returns.

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That is weird you claim you have no understanding of the verse, thus, remaining blank in your mind about it. The whole word of God is given for edification and understanding. Even so you make some off handed comments about it. Luke 21.36 doesn't say you don't know when Jesus returns. It simply says in order to escape the Tribulation by being first raptured, you need to be prayerful and watchful. If one knows when the Tribulation is then they can discern when the first rapture is because it is at the start of the Tribulation for those who are prayerful and watchful. Not all Christians are so not all will be received at the first rapture or even known when it is so when they are in the Tribulation they will know because they will observe several million Christians have disappeared. They won't accuse the brethren day and night.

No. For the unwatchful, Jesus will come as a thief, and Jesus is emphasizing the fact that such people wont know which hour He comes upon them, which, none of us do anyway.

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No. It doesn't say none of us know. You just made that up. A thief comes to steal the best those who are watchful and prayerful who keep the word of His patience. Christians who are not watchful, indeed Jesus comes like a thief for they are not ready to be received at the first rapture. But those who are watchful interpret the signs to know when He returns. We know several things like the fact that Daniel's 70th seven is 2,520 days. We know 7 out of every 19 years there are 2,520 days from Feast of Trumpets to Tisha B'Av. We know the other 12 out of 19 years there are 2,550 days (1260+1290) from Feast of Trumpets to Day of Atonement as Jesus judges the nations when He returns from the 1260th to the 1290th day in the 2nd half of the Tribulation. As the Bible teaches there are 7 years of preparation for 7 years of Tribulation. Jesus can't return before the 2014/15 Tetrad because Rev. 6.12 is before the Tribulation. We know there are 7 years from 2015 to 2022 leaving 2,550 days from Feast of Trumpets Sept. 26, 2022 to Day of Atonement Sept. 19, 2029. And the sign of the Son of Man (Matt. 24.30) is none other than asteroid Apophis April 13, 2029. This asteroid is 3 football fields in length, comes within satellite distance of earth, and last time an asteroid this size hit earth was 80,000 years ago which would kill tens of millions today. So we know the Tribulation beings Sept. 26, 2022 as well as the first rapture "before the throne" (Rev. 7.9) in 3rd heaven before the 1st trumpet (8.7) of the 7 trumpets of the Tribulation. This is how we know just as the Bible tells us we can know if we are watchful. You are not watchful.

Yes it talks about when Jesus returns, look at the whole context.

"Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”" (Matthew 24:3 NKJV).

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Read the context with the interjection of Matt. 24.35,36 about when the earth ends. Jesus doesn't return to an earth that ends but an earth that when He returns He will regenerate just like Matt. 19.28 says: "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

"Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming." (Matthew 24:42 NKJV)

See, we don't know which hour He comes, regardless if we watch or not. However, for the unwatchful, it'll lead them to their punishment.

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Watch because you don't know. Once you become watchful you will know. It doesn't say anything about regardless. You make these passages pointless in your interpretation. To not be watchful has consequences: not being ready to be received at the first rapture and not returning with Christ to reign for 1000 years. Christians are not punished but disciplined during the 1000 years if they are not included with the 5 wise virgins.

Matt 24:15 and Rev 11:2 is not about a 3rd temple, it was referring to the temple that already was, and was destroyed 70 AD by the Romans, which is a historical fact too and a common interpretation of Matthew 24:15.

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Matt. 24.15, Rev. 11.2 and 2 Thess. 2.4 are not about 70 AD for Dan. 9.24 has not been fulfilled. At 70 AD there was no Antichrist who sets up himself up to be God. 70 AD was prophesied back in Matt. 24.2 not 24.15. Between the two is the past 20 centuries. There is no destruction of the Temple in Matt 24.15, Rev. 11.2 and 2 Thess. 2.4. Read Rev. 11.2 in which it says measure not the court outside the Temple for it will be overrun, but do measure the Temple for it will not be destroyed during the Tribulation. This is how the 3rd Temple is different from the 1st and 2nd temples.

Jonathan95 said:

"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming." (Matt. 25:13 NKJV)
If one can know when it's going to happen, then what's the point of being watchful? Read the verse above.
It's because we don't know that we need to be watchful.
Also, I don't believe in a Pre-Tribulation rapture.

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Indeed, the 5 unwise virgins (Matt. 25.13) did not know when the Son of Man was coming, but the 5 wise virgins did know and so they were ready. You have the cart before the horse. It is because one is watchful they know when Jesus returns, that's the point of watching and to be ready. Your flesh says "what's the point of watching" so you will not be taken but left. The Bible says to watch even though you don't want to. I don't believe in pretrib either, for I believe those raptured "before the throne" (Rev. 7.9) occurred before the 1st trumpet (8.7) of the Tribulation based on readiness: keeping the word of His patience to escape the hour of the Tribulation (3.10), keeping the conduct of Matt. 5-7, being prayerful and watchful to escape these things that shall come to pass of the Tribulation (Luke 21.36), and to be taken and not left to enter the Tribulation (Matt. 24.40-42). Many find this too distasteful so they are excluded as well as counted among the 5 unwise virgins that don't get to return with Christ to reign during the 1000 year marriage feast.

One doesn't know when a thief (given he's smart in this matter) comes. Jesus is not using the thief metaphor to teach the aspect of a thief that you mentioned, about coming to steal the best.
He comes as a thief for both the righteous and the unrighteous (I didn't say He comes as a thief for the righteous in my previous post, I was wrong about thinking He wouldn't), but the righteous are ready and the unrighteous aren't

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Anyone can discern and be ready when the thief comes if in Christ, for this is not a matter of knowledge but your conscience and good works after one is saved. The thief comes to steal the best and catches people unaware so this is exactly the metaphor employed of firstfruits and later harvest. He does not come for the unrighteous, but a thief comes, breaks into the home, to steal the best. You said he doesn't come as a thief for the righteous" whereas Jesus does come for the righteous. Many saints are being unrighteous and thus, they are not ready so they won't be received at the first rapture, nor will they return with Christ to reign for 1000 years. That's a long time to lose out because you insist you can't know when Jesus returns when He says when He returns and so you are not ready. There are 2,550 days from Feast of Trumpets Sept. 26, 2022 to Day of Atonement Sept. 19, 2022 and that is doubly confirmed by Apophis April 13, 2029. Men want greater signs than these, but these signs are already great in themselves, extremely rare. The Tetrad 2014/15 is the 8th time since Christ and won't happen again till 2582/83 nearly 600 years from now, and it has no unique solar eclipse attached to it like we have for the Nov. 3, 2013 the long H3 Hybrid the 4th since Christ. The earthquake 2010/11 just add to that in Rev. 6.12. The odds are astronomical. But that's not good enough you for you watch to acknowledge these signs because you are not prayerful and watchful.

How do you know Rev 6:12 is referring to a Tetrad? Tetrads are common. However Rev 6:12 mentions a great earthquake as well. We don't know if there'll be a great earthquake during the coming Tetrad.

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Rev. 6.12 is talking about a unique earthquake, solar eclipse and blood red moon. Nothing is more rare than the Tetrad for the moon esp. a feast Tetrad. Tetrads are not common. There were no Tetrads in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries let alone a feast Tetrad the 8th one since Christ being 2014/15. In 2010 was Haiti in which 320,000 people died the 2nd most deaths of any earthquake on human record. Japan 2011 was the 4th greatest in magnitude and the greatest nuclear disaster spilling tones of radiation in the ocean every day even now still. Together no two earthquakes back to back have ever happened that were so devastating. Again, these signs are like sirens for all to see yet you don't see what is so obvious because you are not watchful and don't care to be. My prayers go out to you for know not what you do.

Is one watchful because he studies eschatology?

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1 in 3 verses of the Bible are eschatology. Why despise this? Because you don't want to be watchful. Your flesh runs you.

Why does "heaven and earth" need to be literal? I read that the Jews referred to the temple like that.

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Just as scientifically we know the earth will be without the sea as the sun keeps growing so will the earth end its habitation, be without the sea in Scripture, and the heaven will take on a new perspective from that great high mountain Olympus that John viewed the New City from on the New Earth. The Jews believe in the Temple from where their Messiah would reign. That has not changed, other than the fact the Jews have rejected their own Messiah.

There's no second chance or so like that. The foolish virgins are eternally lost: "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’" (Matt. 25:11-12 NKJV)
Jesus said He didn't know them. He only disciplines those whom He know (Heb 12:8).
Also, the parable about the virgins is in connection with Matt. 25:13 which I quoted above.

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Outer darkness is not a second chance, for believers are already saved, born-again, "they shall never perish" (John 10.28). Rather, the loss of rewards of first rapture and reigning for 1000 years is just that and so the saints are disciplined during this time for being carnal Christians not spiritual ones as Paul distinguished.

The foolish virgins are of the same class as the wise virgins, for they both are virgins and both have oil in their lamps, except the wise virgins have extra oil in their extra carrying vessels indicating being full of the Holy Spirit. When the Lord Jesus said to them He did not know them it was not as if they were unsaved, but the intimacy between them was lacking because they did not carry extra oil in their extra carrying vessels. This is in connection with Matt. 25.13 as I told you before that they did not know when He returns because they though having the Holy Spirit did not have the infilling. Pray on this as I pray for you.

A virgin (Matt. 25.1-13) can't lose salvation by inadequate works, for the Bible says salvation is not by works lest anyone should boast. Nor can a virgin (Christian) be saved by such either because salvation is unmerited and by faith.

Riberra said:

Revelation 16:15 tell us that Jesus will come as a thief after the 6TH VIAL is poured out- Thus You and every Christian still alive will have to endure the tribulation....
Rev16
12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

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Rev. 16.15 Jesus does come like a thief even at the end of the Tribulation because people are still not paying attention even while the Tribulation is going on. But do distinguish between Jesus coming for the saints (Matt. 24.40-42, Luke 21.36, Rev. 3.10 at the start of the Tribulation and 1 Thess. 4.14-18, 1 Cor. 15.23,50-52 at the 7th trumpet) and Jesus coming with the saints (Jude 14,15). He comes for the saints firstly "before the throne" (Rev. 7.9) in 3rd heaven to first rapture before the 1st trumpet (8.7) of the 7 trumpets of the Tribulation. Then He comes for those at the 7th trumpet (11.15). Then after that He comes with the saints at the end of the Tribulation.

In the Great Tribulation there are 1260 days. Rev. 9 says the 1st woe of the Great Trib is 5 months, the 2nd woe is 13 months, leaving the bowls of wrath to be 24 months. The first rapture is at the start of the 2,520 days. The general rapture and resurrection is at the start of the bowls of wrath.

2,520 = 1260 + 1260 = 1260 + 5 mos. + 13 mos. + 24 mos.

When Jesus steps down on the mount olives the 1260th day of the Great Trib. He will judge the nations for 30 days more to the 1290th day. Then He takes 45 days more to the 1335 day to set up Israel as the center of all nations.

It should also be pointed out there are 2300 days (Dan. 8.14) from Passover 2023 to Tisha B'Av 2029. Every 7 out of 19 years there are 2,520 days from Feast of Trumpets to Tisha B'Av. The other 12 out of 19 years there are always 2,550 days (1260 + 1290) from Feast of Trumpets to Day of Atonement. For example, Feast of Trumpets Sept. 14, 2015 to Tisha B'Av Aug. 7, 2022 is exactly 2,520 days. But there are exactly 2,550 days from Feast of Trumpets Sept. 26, 2022 to Day of Atonement Sept. 19, 2029.

And of course, Apophis is April 13, 2029 the sign of the Son of Man (Matt. 24.30). This asteroid comes within satellite distance of earth, and the last time an asteroid was this size that hit earth that was 3 football fields in length was over 80,000 years ago. If it were to hit earth today it would kill tens of millions.

parousia70 said:

So the thief comes multiple times throughout History, to each successive generation of Christians who were told to watch for it?

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Jesus only returns one time.

Riberra said:

To understand when the gathering (Rapture)of the elect (Saints)will occurs read Matthew 24:29-31

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Matt. 24.31 is not the gathering of the saints but the gathering of the Jews.

v.28 “Carcase” and “eagles”—The word “carcase” is commonly interpreted as representing “Christ” and the term “eagles” as symbolizing Christians. According to this interpretation, this has reference to the breaking of bread, in that after the death of Christ the Christians eat His flesh. But such interpretation is not only untrustworthy, it is also absurd; it even borders on blasphemy. For the Scriptures speak of the life of the Lord as well as the death of the Lord. The One in whom we believe is the Lord who was dead and has been resurrected: for “if Christ hath not been raised,” says Paul, “then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain” (1 Cor. 15.14). Furthermore, a “carcase” (or corpse) decays and stinks (see John 11.39). Thus this word cannot point to Christ.

How, then, should this word be explained? (a) A corpse plus life equals a living person; a living person minus life equals a corpse—so that “carcase” here represents that which has no life, which in other words stands for all who are in Adam (see 1 Cor. 15.22). Believers are no longer in Adam; having received new life, they cannot be called by this term “carcase”: instead, they are called the body of Christ. When they break the bread, they are not dividing up the Lord’s corpse; for the Lord says, “This is my body” (and where there is life, such is not a corpse). (b) A corpse stinks as it decays (John 11.39 mg.; 1 Cor. 15.50,53 ). That is why a man is buried after he dies (see Gen. 23.4). Hence “carcase” here also signifies the decay of those dead in Adam.

The word “eagles” has several applications in the Bible: (a) The people of God. See Isaiah 40.31 and Deuteronomy 32.11. These two passages lay stress on the flying of the eagles. (b) In Leviticus, an eagle is classified as an abomination among the birds (11.13), for it devours dead flesh (see Rev. 19.17-18, 21b). The devouring of corpses by eagles (“all the birds that fly in mid heaven&#8221 as told in Revelation signifies God’s judgment; so too is it here in Matthew. Wherever the corruption of the dead in Adam is, there also is the judgment of God. (Both the words “eagles” and “carcase” are interpreted spiritually here because the word “lightning” in the preceding verse is used in parabolic fashion too).

v.29 The words “immediately after” are most important in fixing the time. The sun and the moon and the stars should be taken literally. Some try to explain them symbolically as kings, princes and chief captains being shaken; but such an interpretation is unacceptable; because were this the case, the sun and moon and stars would have had to have been shaken before the appearing of the Lord.

The distress mentioned here in Matthew 24.29 is the same as that spoken of in Revelation 6.12-13—except that the time is different. In Revelation we notice that all seven seals (of which these celestial phenomena are the consequences of the sixth seal) are broken at the beginning of the Tribulation, with the seals then followed by further and greater trials in the trumpets and bowls; but here these same celestial things occur after the Tribulation: “But immediately after the tribulation of those days”; hence at the beginning of the Great Tribulation there is a change in these celestial bodies, and likewise at the end of the Tribulation there is still another celestial catastrophe. What we find stated in Joel 2.31 is the same as the sixth seal in Revelation 6, for Joel plainly mentions that these things will occur “before the great and terrible day of Jehovah cometh” (2.31b). Matthew, though, clearly states that such phenomena will take place “immediately after the tribulation of those days” (24.29). These changes in celestial bodies must therefore happen twice.

v.30 “Then” is the time after what is described in verse 29 has happened. The sign of the Son of Man is asteroid Apophis April 13, 2029. It is 3 football fields in length. The last time an asteroid of this size hit earth was 80,000 years ago. If it hit earth it would kill tens of millions. It is expected to be within satellite distance and could take out some satellites.

“In heaven”—Since the sign appears in heaven, all the tribes of the earth shall see it. “All the tribes of the earth” refers to the twelve tribes of Israel. They shall mourn and weep (see Zech. 12.10-14).

“With power and great glory”—At His first coming, the Lord manifested both great authority (in that He cast out demons and healed the sick) and glory. At His second coming, He will manifest power and glory. At His first coming, people marveled at His teaching and authority (Matt. 7.28). The Pharisees questioned Him as to the source of His authority (Matt. 21.23). A centurion believed in His authority (Matt. 8.8-9). But at His second coming, He will not only manifest authority but also power. He will not ride on a colt (as the Prince of Peace) but will ride instead on a white horse. Power is used in executing the judgment of God. In the future Satan will greatly increase his lawless works; so the Lord will destroy him with power. The difference between power and authority may be illustrated by the driving of a car (power) in contrast to the directing given by a policeman (authority). At His first coming our Lord healed the sick, cast out demons, and calmed the storm—all these being demonstrations of authority. Even when He overturned tables and drove out sheep and oxen with a scourge of cords, He did not use the whip on men. Only at His second coming will He exercise such power with a rod of iron.

v.31 This verse is the fulfillment of Matthew 23.39: “Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord”—After the Great Tribulation, the Lord will “gather together His elect”: the “elect” or “chosen” are the Jews who are scattered among the nations. “From the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other”—This does not denote rapture, for here it is the idea of erchomai, not parousia.

Here is a gathering together (see Deut. 30.3-5). After the destruction of Jerusalem, the Jews were either killed or captured. They were scattered to the nations. Now, the Lord begins to call them back (see Is. 43.5-7). They shall return from the east, the west, the north, and the south. Some shall even come from the land of Sinim (Is. 49.9-13). Now Sinim means China, and in Hunan province there is a large number of Jews, who, incidentally, take the family name of Tsan. See also Isaiah 49.22-26, 51.11, 56.8, 60.4, 62.10-12, 27.13; Ezekiel 34.13, 37.21, 28.25. “From the four winds”—Wind is moving all the time: the Jews have no settled place in which to live but wander all over the world. The full return to Israel has begun but not yet completed. Israel will disperse once again during the Great Tribulation.

The gathering spoken of here is not the rapture of the church, because (1) parousia has already passed at Rev. 7.9 before 8.7, and rapture is within the scope of parousia; (2) this is a gathering together, and hence it has no connection with parousia; (3) if it were indeed parousia it would be totally foreign to the meaning of the preceding passage; (4) by it pointing to the Jews it agrees with Matthew 23.37; (5) at the trump of God, the Lord would come to the air (1 Thess. 4.14-18) at the last trumpet for the completion of the raptures; and (6) the context proves to be concerning the Jews.


"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matt. 23.37)