Escapist — the label
 Some
of the hottest debates I have ever heard had to do with
things written in the Bible. Actually, I have heard
very few real debates on such matters because most of
them quickly digressed into arguments, some quite heated.
This seems to be especially so when it comes to a discussion
of Bible prophecy.
At other times, however, instead of
arguing people will simply throw very pointed barbs
at those with whom they disagree, almost in an over-the-shoulder,
nonchalant manner. Such is the case when a person says
very matter-of-factly to someone who believes in the
imminence of the rapture, “Well, you believe in
escapism. You’re just an escapist.” The
statement is most often meant to be curt along with
an air of flippant dismissal. But, the fact of the matter
is the label in itself is not a pointed barb, is not
condescending and is not unbiblical. The proper response
could be, “Yes!! I am an escapist! I do believe
in escapism! I look forward to it with great and grand
anticipation! And, by the way, what are YOU looking
forward to?!”
Allow me to refresh our memories for
just a moment. “Escapists”, as we might
be called, believe Jesus will rapture the church out
of the world before the start of the Seven Year Tribulation,
often called the 70th week of Daniel chapter nine. This
will be a time of persecution and tribulation that will
come upon the entire world. Billions will die from war,
murder, disease, starvation, etc. At the end of this
period Jesus will come back with the church to this
very earth and will reign for 1000 years from the Throne
of David in Jerusalem (Zechariah 14; Revelation 19).
Make no mistake about it, the entire
seven-year period will be a time of unprecedented pain
and suffering for all those living on the earth as seen
in the breaking of the first four seals in Revelation
6. Yet, I believe the time Jesus referred to as the
“great tribulation” in Matthew 24:21
will be the final three and one-half years of that seven
year period. Basically I believe this because it is
at that point anti-Christ will break his covenant with
Israel and will begin to persecute and murder Jews with
wild abandon (also see Daniel 9:23). Though all people
will be forced to bow before anti-Christ, yet the suffering
of the Jews will be different because they will not
be the objects of servitude, but of annihilation.
To be an “escapist” is
to believe the church, the body of Christ, will be removed
before the starting point of that seven years. This
belief system is grounded in such scriptures as 1 Thessalonians
1:10; 5:9, etc. Further, it is based upon a scriptural
sense of love and concern Jesus has for His bride, and
that such love and concern will manifest itself in His
taking His bride out of the world before it becomes
the object of His wrath.
Several things must be mentioned at
this point for clarity’s sake. The church has
always been the object of tribulation; that is, she
has always been persecuted, ridiculed and harassed since
her founding on Pentecost. This, of course, refers to
the genuine church in her purity. The false church knows
nothing of satanically inspired persecution simply because
she is false and is in no way a threat to Satan’s
desires. Further, a great portion of the church, if
not the majority of it, is currently in the presence
of Jesus in heaven. Though many of her members were
martyred for their faith, it is difficult to understand
why Jesus would purposefully subject the balance of
her members still on earth to an existence even the
early church did not experience.
Additionally, though the Lord has often
used difficult times to purge and purify His bride,
it must be understood the purpose of the entire seven
years has nothing to do with church purification —
the blood of Jesus does that. Rather, it has to do with
the Jews and the earthly events that will finally bring
them to their knees before their Messiah, and the wrath
of an angry God that is poured onto a God-hating world.
An angry God? Somehow that just doesn’t “fit”
with the world’s view of God. Even most Christians
seldom think about that aspect of His character. Remember
Korah in Numbers 16?
The persecution the church has known
throughout her history is not the cause of her salvation
because we are saved by grace through faith only. Rather,
it is for the purpose of her being His witness and light
in an evil and dark world. In essence, though the church
has been the victim of 2000 years of persecution that
has often been too ruthless and merciless to imagine,
yet God’s hand has been upon her. The seven year
tribulation will be a time when God, in a manner of
speaking, removes His hand from the affairs of humanity
and allows humanity to have it their way — a world
without God. And, “escapists” believe before
He removes His hand He will remove His church.
Escapism has a precedent in God’s
plan. Several precedents, in fact. By God’s plan
Noah escaped His judgment upon the world when the world-wide
deluge happened. Eight escaped as multitudes drowned.
Moses led about two million Jews from the fires of Egyptian
slavery. The Red Sea was parted during their escape,
but the Egyptian army drowned as God released the waters.
Jesus Himself was the object of escapism when Joseph,
after being warned by God, took Him and Mary into Egypt
to escape death at the hands of Herod. All the other
little boys His age died that day in Bethlehem.
If one takes the whole council of what
God has said about this matter of the timing of the
rapture relative to the seven year tribulation period,
it seems clear the church will be removed prior to its
start. When the purpose of the tribulation is studied
we find no scriptural place in it for the church. Further,
to believe the church will escape the events of the
tribulation is to believe in the imminence of the rapture,
and that is what associates the idea of a pure church
to the rapture (1 John 3:1-3). Not the prospect of going
through some of the tribulation.
Escapism is part of everyday life.
People are warned about inclement weather, hurricanes,
volcanoes, tidal waves, Islamic attacks, disease pandemics
and other kinds of danger. Multitudes have escaped tragedy
by simply escaping. There is nothing inherently wrong
or evil in those who warn or in those who take the warning
seriously and flee.
Regarding the rapture of the church
we must understand that to be accused of being an “escapist”
is not an indictment, and it is difficult to understand
why some use it as such. The bottom line is not only
is the idea of God’s people escaping the tribulation
(all of it and not just the last 3½ years—the
great tribulation) a very pleasing and peaceful prospect,
but it is in full agreement with the dictates of scripture
and the character of Jesus as the Savior as described
in those scriptures.
Well, what should be our response to
these matters? It can be summed up in two words: be
ready. To ignore what God has said is to be foolish.
Harry Truman refused to heed the warnings about Mt.
St. Helens in May of 1980 and died along with his 16
cats. His body was never found because it is about 150
feet below the current surface of the mountain’s
slope. Many of those who could, but refused to leave
New Orleans in August of 2005 died for their choice,
too. I have copies of pictures of some of their bodies
floating in ditches and canals — clear evidence
of their foolish decision.
God has issued His warnings about future
events, and He is quite serious about them. People must
not only believe in God, but must believe God. Though
most people condescendingly and contemptuously smile
at these things, yet the fact remains that the horrible
events occurring on earth today cannot even be compared
to what is coming. The rapture of the church is indeed
the “great escape”, but there is not a person
on earth that will be there accidentally. It is all
about the choices people make. DLM |
