See What the Book Says - Part 2

Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 provide parallel accounts of what Jesus taught about the end times. Hebrews 6:1-2 lists the end times as an elementary or “first level,” basic principle of our faith—specifically, resurrection and judgment. The Bible refers to the rapture as our firstfruits resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20-24).
 
In the last blog we saw that Jesus warned His disciples about allowing the Day of the Lord to come upon them unexpectedly (Luke 21:34). He adds to His warning in the next verse: “For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth” (verse 35). It’s not just a matter of being surprised by that Day. It’s a matter of being ensnared as well.
 
The Greek word for snare here is pagis (pag-ece’), and it means to be trapped, tricked, and snared in a temptation. It comes from a root word that means to be fixed to something with a peg, as in setting up a tent. When we are focused on the cares of this world, in a sense we have pitched our tent to our earthly circumstances. And that fixed position can trip us up and ensnare us.
 
Please understand that this does not mean that unexpecting believers who do not have the full view of the chronos times and the kairos signs will miss His coming and the rapture. But it does imply that a trap has been set by the spirit of the Antichrist (Satan) to fix our efforts on setting up camp on this earth rather than declaring a merciful warning as Noah did to the people of his time.
 
Our great commission has not changed for our appointed time: preach the Gospel—the good news of Jesus’ finished work—with signs and wonders following. For it is the goodness of God that draws people to repentance (Romans 2:4).
 
The truth is that God’s appointed time for the end of this age is within this decade. Time is running out. The grace of this message is that there is still time to accept Jesus as the Savior and be delivered from the wrath of that Day. Those who are His when He comes are delivered from that wrath in order to deliver God’s vengeance against evil at that appointed Day. We cannot do it before then. So lets focus on what we can do—leading others to the safety of the Ark.

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