After the Rapture – Part 31
To Flee or not to Flee? That is the Question.
I do get an occasional email questioning my constant urging those left behind after the rapture to flee into the wilderness. I receive a variety of reasons why not to flee while I am constantly providing many reasons why I think one should flee.
I do worry about those who do flee and if they will stay put. After a while of roughing it in the great outdoors, many just might miss those big city lights too much and want to return. Drive-thru windows and home pizza delivery is much more appealing than raw, cold turnips and lukewarm, tepid pond water. And a warm soft bed in a temperature-controlled home sure beats a cold, damp, open cave that you have to share with a variety of wild varmints and nature’s elements.
Those left-behind groups that have someone leaving camp to return to the more comfortable big city life (or death?) must immediately start looking elsewhere for a new campsite, which should be at least a two day’s travel away by foot. Those that depart your camp are taking the knowledge of your location, number and names of those in your group, your resources and supplies, etc. Once in the big city, they can’t be trusted to keep your secrets. They might start singing like songbirds in exchange for a Big Mac and a six-pack offered by antichrist’s gestapo.
So let’s go to three of the Gospels (Matthew 24, Luke 21, Mark 13) and see what Jesus told his followers on the Mount of Olives about fleeing into the mountains (or wilderness).
What Our Lord is saying here is directed to the Jews in Israel at that time. But immediately after the starting of the Abomination of Desolation and the great tribulation, it is directed at Jews who will be new followers of Christ (or baby Christians) in the upcoming end-times. Why else would they flee if they didn’t believe His Word to flee? The ones who stay are mainly unbelievers. That makes them easy pickin’s for antichrist.
I believe it can also include the modern-day Gentile world who are also new followers of Christ during those same upcoming end-times. Who is to say that the groups of 10 or 12 won’t have a converted Jew or two amongst them?
Neither Christ’s raptured church nor the new tribulation saints will be Jews nor Gentiles. They will all be saved followers of Christ with no ethnic or religious identity. When you are saved, you are no longer religious (true Christianity is not a religion). Jesus wasn’t a Baptist or a Catholic or a Christian. He was the perfect God, and His Church is definitely non-denominational. It literally follows and believes every Word of God’s in the Bible. Members of Christ’s Church do not follow man’s religious laws and traditions.
We will only know His perfection 100% when we are away from this imperfect earth and in His perfect heaven. But until then, we must endure imperfect mankind and their variety of misguided decisions and beliefs while here on earth.
I believe we can take what Jesus was teaching His followers 2,000 years ago literally and apply it today and the upcoming near future all over the world.
Besides major splits in societies and communities, there will be major splits in families (Luke 12:53, Matthew 10:35, 2 Timothy 3:1-7, Mark 13:12). New believers will be turned in, captured, arrested, etc., and persecuted and/or killed (Matthew 24:9, Mark 13:9, Luke 21:12-17). There will be “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21); and the deceivers, false Christs, assorted liars, etc., will multiply and make their presence known rapidly (Matthew 24:11, 23-26; Mark 13:5-6, 22-23).
So I truly believe Jesus is telling the left-behind who become new baby Christians to “flee into the mountains” or wilderness after the rapture to escape persecution and hellfire from antichrist (Matthew 24:16, Mark 13:14, Luke 21:21). In the Lord’s day, one might have referred to the Jews to flee into the mountains in nearby Jordon, but His followers didn’t know who or where the USA, Canada, Australia, etc., were in those days. But today we deliver messages by other modern and quicker methods besides foot, sea and camel.
Then the Abomination of Desolation begins with antichrist sitting on the temple’s throne, announcing to the world that he is “God.” In this day and age, it will be carried around the world by satellite TV, internet, cell phones, mass world-news media, etc., so it is one place a new believing Christian doesn’t want to be. This is Satan’s pure evil being unleashed, and he won’t be taking any prisoners. The old saying is “turn or burn,” and if you do turn towards antichrist, you will surely burn for all of eternity. So get away from him and hide.
Death and persecution will dominate the 7 years of hell on earth. Some will come from antichrist’s Gestapo, and the rest will come from God’s Holy and Just wrath He pours out on a disobedient, evil, self-centered and arrogant world.
Part of His wrath and judgment will be 100-pound hail stones being cast down on earth by God (Revelation 16:21) that will kill both good and evil earthlings. When it rains, it rains on everyone—good and bad!
So the new baby Christians need to “take it like a man” and endure to the end to be saved (Matthew 24: 13, Mark 13:13, Luke 21:36). They will either become martyred tribulation saints or will pass on into the one-thousand-year millennial reign of Jesus Christ. Those humans in the millennium are “to be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 9:7) so as to repopulate and expand the Kingdom of God.
God won’t allow the entire tribulation period’s population to perish. If He didn’t shorten the days, no flesh could be saved (Matthew 24:22, Mark 13:20).
Also, the world will not end until the Gospel is spread to the entire world population (Matthew 24:14, 28:19-20, Mark 13:10). That would be a big chore for twelve apostles, but in this day and age of modern technology it isn’t the impossible dream.
Every newborn in the millennium will be taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There won’t be a variety of gospels fabricated by mankind floating around because there won’t be any human teachers. All teachings will be pure until Satan is released for a short time from the bottomless pit, and then the new millennial earthlings will have to make their final decision. Regretfully, many will make the wrong decision and side with Satan.
Ministries all over the world are translating Bibles into many, many foreign languages, but it is reported that 70% of the world population is illiterate. So many of these same ministries also translate scripture onto audio cassettes, audio players and on radio, TV and internet broadcasts. Villages in remote areas that don’t have electricity or access to radio or the internet can hear the Gospel on battery-operated audio players with solar or battery-powered batteries and amplifiers.
This Rapture Ready website has a “translate” key (at the bottom of postings) where all articles can be translated into 36 different languages, so this very article I am writing now can be read in 36 different foreign languages worldwide. Amazing!
The modern world with cell phones and iPhones, etc., has easy access. The two witnesses placed by God on the streets of Jerusalem for 3½ years will be protected by God supernaturally against “the fake trinity” for that same 3½ years from all harm until He allows antichrist to kill them, at which time He will bring them back to life (after 3½ days) and rapture them up into heaven.
I believe they will speak all the languages of the world even though they are Hebrew-speaking witnesses. Everyone will understand every single word. Only God can do these impossible tasks and events.
The same, I believe, will be true with the 144,000 Jewish witnesses; they will be sealed by God and under His protection as they roam the world near and far spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I don’t believe they will have any language or communication barriers to overcome. And they will appear in the most remote and primitive areas of the world to witness to the lost and unreached people. God doesn’t wish that any should perish, so He will make sure everyone on earth will hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ one way or another.
And the crazy uncles everywhere are doing what they can to get more people to be taken in the rapture. Those they can’t convince now will be better prepared to survive and grow stronger in the Lord during the harsh and difficult 7-year tribulation period.
So, reaching the entire world might not be that difficult. But who accepts the Word and who rejects it are two different things. God still gives everyone the free choice to decide for themselves where they will spend eternity. So get on our prayer request list as soon as possible. And if you are in a prayer group or just have your own personal prayer list, use it. No one knows the time or hour of the rapture of Christ’s Church. The entire world that will be left behind needs our prayers now.
Prayer Requests
Please note that I frequently rerun prayer requests for good reason. (1) Some readers might have missed it the first time it ran. (2) It never hurts to pray for the same things over again. God does not get weary with too many prayers. (3) The more we pray, the farther down the hole we stuff Satan. All prayer gets good results. There is no such thing as too much prayer.
I would also appreciate it if those of you who send in prayer requests would get back with me when you see good results from the group prayer. Just a quick email. I like to run these results as it is an encouragement to those who are praying for you and yours, plus it also encourages others to send in prayer requests as they see others getting positive results. And those total strangers praying for you appreciate your “thank you” and will pray again and maybe even harder.
Email your prayer requests to: dick_ainsworth@sbcglobal.net
PRAY for all those who do not know God’s word and promises that the barriers of Satan will be torn down and His light and truth will shine through before the rapture.
COLLEEN urgently requests your prayers for her lost family. She writes, “Please pray that my 2 nieces and 8 nephews, 3 brothers-in-law, one ex sister-in law, one brother and 4 sisters will have a revelation of who Jesus Christ is, that they will accept Him as their Savior. Please pray that they will have others that know Christ who will come into their lives.
“Please pray that each one of them will have their eyes opened to the truth of who Jesus Christ is and their need for Him. Please pray that my husband will have a hunger to follow Christ.
“Please pray that God will cure my health issues so that I might have the physical strength to serve God and seek after Christ. Please pray that my heart will be surrendered to Him and that I will be led by God and His Spirit.
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I have lost my focus and will to even know how to be a testimony in these times.
“In Christ alone,
“Colleen”
(Dick’s comments) Colleen hasn’t lost the focus and will as to how to be a testimony for Christ. People who have lost their focus and will can’t write a prayer such as what Colleen just did. Satan is the author of confusion, and it is he who tricks people into believing they have lost their focus and will. If Colleen wasn’t doing God’s Will, Satan wouldn’t be battling her so fiercely trying to convince her otherwise and for her to just shut-up. But Colleen is a true prayer warrior who doesn’t let illness and physical ailments stop her from serving God and being a strong witness.
KATHY FRAZIER is requesting prayers for several of her family members. Her 87-year-old Dad is not saved and has a very hard heart towards anything to do with God.
She says, “Also please pray for my older brother and his family, my younger brother and his family, that they all will come to Christ. And also my daughter that she draws closer to Jesus.
“And please pray for my Mom, who has been diagnosed with a rare cancer three years ago, and so far has been in remission (she’s outlived the prognosis by 2½ years!). She is experiencing some symptoms that have her worried, even though she just had a great check-up and lab work with her oncologist. Pray that she feels better soon! I love my Mom so very much.
“And please pray for my husband’s parents who are not saved either. Please pray for them!
“Thank you so very much, prayer warriors! You are so appreciated.
“In Christ,
“Kathy Frazier”
SHERRY asks for your prayers for salvation and deliverance from drugs for my adult son …… His name is Joe. And also for her daughter, Amy, for her relationship with the Lord be restored, and for her healing from several health issues she has been having.
Also pray for the salvation of Sherry’s two grandsons.
Thank you and God Bless all of you.
SANDY is asking for prayers for all of her family members. She has been praying for them daily to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior into their hearts. “I need your prayers so very much.”
“And I thank you all, my dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ.”
RHONDA WILLIAMS is requesting your prayers for the unsaved members of her family which includes her two grown sons (Daniel and Charles), her two granddaughters (Amiyah and Saniyah) and three sisters and a brother (Faye, Vickie, Sharon and Greg). Please pray for them all.
She also has nine nieces and nephews who do not know or accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. So Rhonda is requesting prayer for all of them by name: Christopher; Misty; Jake; Travis; James; Tabitha; Matthew; Steven, and Christine.
Rhonda also says, “It’s exciting to know our prayer requests are going around the world.”
MARILYN YORK requests pray for her entire family, including her brother and sister.
GRETA BRYANT needs prayer for her lost family that consists of three grown sons with families, plus her husband and his family.
LIGHT OF THE WORLD ministry in India continues to struggle trying to recover from the devastating Hindu terrorist attack that burned their church building to the ground, plus many of their teaching materials, tracts, Bibles, etc.
Please pray for God’s Blessing over Pastor Param and wife Asha, youngest daughter Amulya and her husband Solomon in their recent marriage. This is Deevena’s younger sister. May God Bless the entire family ministry as they continue to serve Jesus during their many hardships and stumbling blocks placed upon them by the devil.
Also pray for their safety as they travel to remote areas to preach the Gospel to young and old alike. May God guide and protect them with his protective hand against the evil that confronts them continuously. May God protect their street pastors who witness on the streets of their cities, bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost unbelievers. Pray for the widows, orphans and others in need of God’s Blessings, and also for their youth Bible class groups.
You can contact and get more information on this ministry from Sister Deevena at lightoftheworld_90@yahoo.com
CYNTHIA is most grateful for everyone’s prayers for her family, and she reports that she is seeing positive results firsthand. She is especially happy that her daughter and her husband are doing an about-face with regards to Jesus. They are now both looking forward to the rapture and are getting closer to the Lord and reading His Word.
But her daughter still has major health problems and that is why the court awarded custody of her now ten-year-old son to her atheist ex-husband. His girlfriend later moved in and is constantly keeping the whole family situation in turmoil by doing everything she can to try and limit contact.
Both the atheist and his live-in would prefer it if the son’s mother, stepfather and grandparents weren’t in the child’s life at all. But the court ruled the mother could have visitation. If her health problems could be healed, they could go back to court and get the custody ruling changed. The son is very unhappy in his present situation and wants to be with his mother, step-dad and grandparents.
Cynthia is really in grave need of prayer from all of you to pray for her daughter’s health issues to be resolved and her quick and complete healing and recovery so she can regain custody of her son and this good Christian family can be back together. The young son is not allowed any exposure to Jesus Christ and His Gospel at all by this atheist dad who presently has legal custody.
Cynthia is still asking for prayers for her atheist son as well.
Please pray that God will come to their rescue and also find a way for her grandson to learn about his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ so this family can be together forever after the rapture.
THE USA NEEDS GUIDANCE from God’s Holy Spirit to lead many lost people to God’s Saving Grace. The president and his family along with the vice-president and his family need protection from Satan and his deceiving ways as our nation’s leadership tries to lead this country closer to God. The president’s administration and staff are under continuous attack from the earthly forces of the devil and need God’s help to battle through these evil forces to do what is righteous for Americans in the eyes of God (Daniel 2:21). So please pray for the entire Trump administration as they try to follow and enforce God’s Laws and Commandments.
Also pray for America’s many enemies and adversaries within the USA and from the four corners of the earth that they will come to Jesus Christ and their hearts will be changed for the good, and away from evil.
MATT JACKSON requests prayer for the Rohr family and their daughter Rachel. He also wishes the Lord would find a way for him to come into contact with this family again so he can continue to witness the ways of the Lord to them.
DICK wants to express his sincere appreciation to those who have prayed for the salvation of his family and his improving health. Some of his family members are really coming alive spiritually, and it is easy to witness to them now and answer their questions.
The doctors told him they are going to keep him on antibiotics for 15 more days, and that he is showing improvements health-wise. Pray his health will still improve after he is taken off the antibiotics.
PAULA PARSONS is requesting prayer for her good friend Nicky White who has started chemotherapy and radiotherapy for her cancer. Nicky had drifted away from God in recent years but lately has come back to the Lord. She really wants to thank everyone for their prayers.
Paula also wants to thank everyone who has prayed for her daughter to return to Christ. She is a new person and is growing stronger each and every day.
Email prayer requests to: dick_ainsworth@sbcglobal.net
“Prayer requests” will return in #34