"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
                                                                                              By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                              March 15, 2019
Introduction
     The coming of Lord Jesus to resurrect and rapture His Church and all true believers to glory is right at the door.  For several weeks, those of God's people who are seriously studying the prophetic Word, have found Scriptural evidence, that the Lord's coming for His people will  occur on the Jewish Festival of Purim.   In the past few days such evidence has increased and pointed more and more to Purim as the time for  the resurrection and rapture to occur.  
     As I write the Festival of Purim is only seven days away.  The "date" for Purim this year is March 21st.  Count the days remaining for yourself.  Then spend these remaining days in earnest prayer.  The Lord God left nothing to chance, but even told His people what to pray for.   Is the reader one of the Lord's people?  Do you know, and have the assurance of salvation in Christ?   Those readers who do not, had better be seeking the Lord in prayer, and I mean like right now!    
     The Lord Himself, clearly in the context of His coming, told people
in this Scripture text, exactly what to "watch" for, and then what to "pray" for.  Are our readers obeying the Lord?   In view of the Lord's imminent coming again, let's just check it out.......
Watch ye therefore......."
     The major subject in the entire 21st chapter of Luke is Bible prophecy. The Lord Jesus Himself warned His disciples about the "signs" which would occur during His absence, and which would precede His  coming again to resurrect and rapture His Church and His  believing people to glory.  Some of these "signs" have occurred throughout this dispensation, but the end-time "signs" have been increasing ever since the end of the Second World War.  
      In view of the Lord's statement in our Scripture text, the question is not about the "signs," but rather whether those who claim or "profess" to be Christian believers have been obedient to the Lord, and have been seriously "watching."  What about it?  Have our readers really been concerned with the question of the Lord's coming again?  Or like many today, have they just shrugged it off, never studying the prophecies, and ignoring all the "signs?"  
     But it is not just "watching" we believers are to be concerned with.......
"pray always....."    
     These instructions of the Lord Jesus Himself in this Scripture, are in view of His coming again.  True believers should be in constant prayer, first for themselves, and then for their loved ones, friends, and neighbors.  Folks, when the Lord comes, He is going to take His own believing people to Himself.  When He appears in the heavens above the earth, it will be too late to become concerned about your loved ones, friends, and neighbors, who are still lost in sin and unbelief.  
     We who are true believers ought to be praying for the salvation of our lost loved ones,. friends, and neighbors every single day, and often, in view of the very SOON coming of our Lord.  
     Significantly, this same truth is set forth again in 1 Thessalonians 5:17.  If the reader is a "professing Christian," and has not yet learned the spiritual value of prayer, faithful, consistent, daily, prayer, you had better get in a hurry to learn it and put it into practice.   Time is swiftly running out for you to earn a crown for being a prayer warrior.    
     The Lord did not tell His believing people simply to pray, but in this Scripture text, He also told us what to pray for.......
     "that ye may be accounted worthy......."   
     In view of the very SOON coming of our Lord, it is time for some real heartsearching examination of SELF.  Now be scrupously honest with yourself, as you review your life.  Have you really lived for the Lord Jesus since you made your "profession of faith," thereby claiming  to be a Christian? Are you really saved?  Do you have the assurance of salvation, given only by the indwelling presence of God's Holy Spirit?    Are you at all concerned about being "accounted worthy" to be raptured to glory at the coming of our Lord?  
     It is not those who are "worthy" of salvation, that the Lord saves, and will take in the rapture, for no one on this earth today is "worthy" of being saved, Romans 3:23..   Any reader who thinks they are "worthy" of salvation, because they are a good person, because they don't lie nor cheat, rob or steal, do drugs, or are a drunkard, they always treat others kindly and show respect, is in for a real shock when the Lord comes, and they find themselves left behind at the rapture.  Being a morally good person does not qualify anyone for salvation.  Christ Jesus died for SINNERS, and it is only truly repentant SINNERS whom the Lord saves.  
     "For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not," Ecclesiastes 7:20.
     "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23.
     "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost [Spirit]," Titus 3:5.  
     No human being on earth is "worthy" of God's salvation.  As our Scripture text says, it is those who "are accounted worthy" who will be taken in the rapture.  
     Folks, anyone, man or woman, who thinks they are "worthy" of salvation in and of themselves, are certain to be left behind when the rapture occurs, and unless they get rid of their wicked PRIDE in themselves, and truly repent during the Tribulation Period, they will most certainly spend eternity in  Hell!  Is this stated clearly enough?  
     The Lord Jesus also told us in this text, why we should always be praying to be "accounted worthy."  
"to escape all these things that shall come to pass,......."
     Dear readers, I have written again and again in my Bible Studies about the horrible judgments and terrible wrath of God that is to be poured out upon Christ rejecting mankind left behind on the earth following the rapture.   As I have studied God's Word, the Lord has graciously given me insight into the terrors of the Tribulation Period, to a deeper extent  than I ever expected.  Sometimes I have to pray for the Lord to blot these things out of my mind, or I think I would literally greive myself to death, as I consider what my own lost loved ones are going to have to deal with during the Tribulation Period.  
      It is obvious that the Lord Jesus loved His disciples, and still loves all of mankind.  He demonstrated His love for all of us, by becoming the required sacrifice at Calvary,  to pay for our sins, so that we could be saved.  In urging us to pray, that we might be "accounted worthy"  to   "escape all those things" which will come upon mankind during the terrible Tribulation Period, He is still demonstrating His love for us.   The Lord obviously does not want anyone to enter into the Tribulation Period.    2 Peter 3:9 is still in the Bible!    Rather, what the Lord wants for us is........
"to stand before the Son of man."  
     What does this expression mean?  Our readers might get some insight into it, by reading again the Lord's statement in John 14:3, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye might be also."
     Dear readers, when the Lord left the earth some 2,000 years ago, the Scripture is quite plain that He ascended up into Heaven, Acts 1:9-11.  And that is where He is today!   When the Lord left the earth, He went to Heaven, where His "Father's house" is located.  That is where all true believers will "stand before" Him when the rapture occurs.  Oh glory to God!  Praise the Lord!  
     I want to also point out that the Lord Jesus Christ  is not a way of salvation.  Christ Jesus is the only way of salvation, John 14:6; Acts 4:12.  
      This latter phrase might [?] also refer to the "bema" judgment of God's people, to see what rewards each of us will receive for loving and serving the Lord here in this present life, 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.  
So What Does This Mean to Our Readers?
     What do  the Lord's instructions to His disciples to always be praying to be "accounted worthy," really mean to our readers?  
     Are we who are true believers obligated to follow these instructions?  No!  The choice to obey, or not to obey, is up to each of us individually. .  But should those who "profess" to be God's people, obey these instructions?  Yes!  Most definitely.  
     Why?  Because the coming of the Lord Jesus for His people, can now happen at any minute of any hour of any day.  I  personally believe His coming will likely happen on, or in connection with this coming Jewish Festival of Purim.  Folks, the Festival of Purim is right at hand.  It will occur on March 21st this year.  That is now just seven days away.  Your being "accounted worthy" or not, will determine whether you are taken in the rapture, or left behind to enter the terrible Tribulation.  I truly pray that every reader of this study will be "accounted worthy to escape."  I want to meet our readers in Heaven following the rapture.  Please don't disappoint me.  Hello!
      This Bible Study could be your final warning!  And may our gracious Lord God add His blessings to this study is my prayer.  
     If the reader "professes" to be a true believer, then what does this passage in Luke 21:36 mean to you?   
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     My personal contact information:
POSTAL........Pastor F. M. Riley, 14275 Co. Rd. 8120, Rolla, MO  65401
EMAIL..........francismriley34@gmail.com
PHONE........573-202-6493  
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