In Isaiah, chapter twenty-four, verse seventeen, “Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.” Jesus taught that the only way believers can escape “all these things that shall come to pass,” as in Luke twenty-one, verse thirty-six, is by guarding against sin in their lives and persevering in prayer for God’s grace.
“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 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.”
Jesus concludes His prophetic message by warning his followers not to be so preoccupied with the pleasures and cares of this world that they fail to be prepared for His coming. These words are meant for all God’s people of all ages, not just those living during the final days of tribulation. The demand for spiritual faithfulness is crucial in Jesus’ teaching that He will return for the faithful believers at an unexpected time. Since the time of His coming for the church cannot be determined, believers should always be ready.
Followers of Christ must be watchful against sin and pray that their love for Christ will not diminish, that they be able to receive strength to persevere in faith and righteousness in Jesus Christ. Only by such perseverance will they be able to “escape” all the terrible things coming upon the world in the last days. Many believe the “escape” meant for those who faithfully continue to pray is the rapture.