Warnings to Escape the Wrath to Come

Those who have discernment can clearly see that rapid endtime signs are coming up on the earth. Eschatology which is the study of Bible prophecy and endtime events is almost a forgotten topic in many churches across America. One of the keys to maintaining urgency for the return of Jesus Christ is to make sure that Bible prophecy and endtime events are at the forefront of every believer’s mind. There are a lot of faulty beliefs that consistently push out the season of the return of Jesus Christ to another generation or people have simply stopped believing in it. God is calling His church to be sober and vigilant living a lifestyle that is ready to escape the wrath to come on this earth and look for the glorious return of Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 3:3-4 says, “knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?”

I want to give you seven things that must be lived out in your life if you desire to be ready for the return of Jesus Christ and escape the wrath to come which is the seven-year tribulation that the Word of God speaks about.

1. YOU MUST BE FOUND IN CHRIST (JESUS MUST BE SAVIOR OF YOUR LIFE)

You must first and foremost be found in Christ Jesus. You are called to be hidden in Christ not hidden in religion, not hidden in a church service and not hidden going through the motions of Christianity. Those who are not found in Christ are not ready to escape the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 says, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.”

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

2. YOU MUST BELONG TO CHRIST (JESUS MUST BE LORD OF YOUR LIFE)

Many people live their lives embracing the idea of Jesus Christ being the savior of their life because they don’t want to split hell wide open. He did not come to only be the savior of your life but also lord of your life. Jesus Christ is either of all or He is not Lord at all in your life.

1 Corinthians 15:20-24 says, “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.”

3. YOU MUST LIVE HOLY

If you desire to escape the wrath to come you must live a holy lifestyle.

Hebrews 12:14 says, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”1 John 1:7 says, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

2 Peter 3:10-12 says, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?”

4. DO NOT BE FOUND ASLEEP AND IN SIN

Jesus is coming and if you are going to be ready then you must be spiritually awake.

1 Thessalonians 5:6-10 says, “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.”

The word sleep in Greek reveals that as a believer we must not live carelessly nor live like the unfaithful virgins of Matthew 25 in the Bible. We cannot afford to be asleep to what is happening and not live a life of readiness. This carelessness is equivalent to the disciples who fell asleep while praying in Matthew 25:45. The warning is that if we are going to escape the wrath to come then we must not be asleep to what is happening on the earth.

5. YOU MUST BE WATCHFUL TO ESCAPE

The second part of 1 Thessalonians 5 says that we must be watchful.

To watch means to always be alert and living Godly in Christ. It also means not allowing yourself to be overthrown by the temptation of sin. God is calling the church to be discerning of their spiritual surroundings knowing that satan may attempt to set a deceptive trap to ensnare you.

Matthew 24:42-51 says, “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

6. BE SOBER IF YOU ARE GOING TO ESCAPE

We must live our lives sober if we are going to escape the wrath to come. The word sober actually means to drink no intoxicants and live soberly and righteously

before God. It was counted a disgrace among the heathen in biblical times to be drunk in the day hence the abomination for a child of God who is of the light to live in the dark.

Titus 2:11-12 says, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.”

7. PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF FAITH, LOVE AND THE HOPE OF SALVATION AS A HELMET

Finally, we must put on the breastplate of faith, love, and the hope of salvation as a helmet if we desire to escape the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 5:8-10 says, “But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.”

We must move about in the earth fighting the good fight of faith and finishing the race. Authentic faith treats those things that we are believing for as if they are a reality. We must walk in a pure love that is not altered by what we see happening on the earth.

Matthew 24 reveals that because lawlessness will abound in the last days that the love of many will grow cold. Remember His perfect love cast out all FEAR! Walk in Love!

Lastly, put on your helmet of salvation trusting that you are washed in the blood of Jesus and He will deliver you from the powers of hell. No weapon formed against your life will prosper.