Pete Garcia: Worthy To Escape

Worthy to Escape

Pete Garcia

Watching the heartbreaking video clips of desperate Afghanis storming the tarmac at the Kabul International Airport, and of them clinging to the sides of the US Air Force C17 “Globe Master” cargo planes attempting to take off, reminds me of another coming crisis. They stormed the airport and clung to the sides of the planes because they know what kind of government the Taliban will bring. They desperately want to escape from the homicidal government that is about to come. Would the world be cognizant of the final global government that is to come?

Well, the world is quickly heading toward a governmental system that will make the Taliban look like Carter Administration by comparison. Revelation 13 outlines a new global system that will initially begin as either 10 regions or 10 nations, and from them, one arises who takes over the whole thing. This man is the Antichrist, and he, along with his religious henchman, the False Prophet, will quickly take control of the entire world. They will do this through the use of supernatural power, advanced technology, powerful delusions, and some new form of digital currency.

There will be no more Islam or Hinduism. There will be no Roman Catholicism or Buddhism. This new government will demand 100% allegiance to them on the pain of death. They will either erect or take control of giant images around the world and make everyone bow down and worship them. Furthermore, you must take this mark of allegiance to this new system, or you either starve to death or be beheaded. And the only escape from this coming world government will be to leave the earth before it comes to power. Although many people know this time as “the Tribulation,” its actual title is the 70th Week of Daniel (Dan. 9:24-27) and it is the final remaining week of years that must come to pass.

Jesus said that this period was so dreadful that if He didn’t come back and personally intervene, no flesh would survive. In fact, He said it was the worst period of time that has ever, or will ever be (Matt. 24:21-22). This is what is coming upon the earth. And we are, even now, starting to get glimpses of it foreshadowing into our day with the draconian COVID lockdowns and mandatory dictates from the governments around the world. While the vaccines and the vaccine passport isn’t The Mark, it does however prefigure the same mandatory obedience to the state that the Mark of the Beast will one day require (Rev. 13:16-18)

I’ve been writing about the collapse of the United States for many years now. For the record, I’m not a doom-&-gloom / glass is half empty kind of teacher because I want it to happen. I am simply a biblical realist because I know it has to happen in order for the end to come. Among the many signs of our impending national demise, this abandonment of Afghanistan (in the manner it has happened) is one of the clearest signs of the end of American global hegemony.

Nonetheless, as our national end begins to happen, I can’t help but wonder how much of it we (the Church) will have to endure before our deliverance? One could argue that for most of the past two thousand years, human suffering and misery were the global norms, and in our collapse, we are just returning back to the normal state of affairs. Clearly, the United States has been blessed far beyond any nation before her and has brought our standard of living and leisure to unmatched heights.

Also clearly, the US has spiritually abrogated this spiritual blessing by committing mass infanticide (legalizing abortion), anti-Israel actions (Clinton, Obama, Biden), and legalized sexual perversity as the new normal. We were the exception to the norm by almost every measure. Not only are we a Genesis 6 generation (wicked only continually, great violence, and tampering with genetics), but we are also a Judges 21:25 generation. Every man is doing what was right in his own eyes.

Be that as it may, Jesus said that at the end, the days would be like that of Noah and Lot. Everyone would be eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage (Luke 17:26-27) up until the point where they were all destroyed. There is a sense in this statement of a Daniel 5/Belshazzar’s Feast in this sentiment in that this judgment will catch everyone unawares. Paul, writing to the church, echoes a similar thought in 1st Thessalonians 5:1-5.

"But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.” (emphasis mine)

There is a clear distinction between you (the church) and they (not the church) and what befalls them. They shall not escape. Well, if they shall not escape, then what shall we do?

Escape.

Jesus, speaking in Luke’s version of the Olivet Discourse has this to say to those who will see the “day of the Lord” approaching.

“For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” – Luke 21:35-36

But these were not the final words Jesus had to say on the subject. Speaking many years later to John in the Revelation) He said this:

To the Church of Sardis

“Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.” – Rev. 3:3

Note the warning wasn’t that He wouldn’t deliver them, but that this deliverance would catch them by surprise. This is a violation of what Paul had told the Thessalonians about being “sons of the day” and “sons of the light,” by watching for His return. I am assuming here, but it looks like those who refuse to watch for Christ’s return, will not only suffer some divine “shock and awe” when they are suddenly snatched up but also a great loss of reward when they get to the Bema Judgment.

“Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.” – Rev. 3:3

Note the warning wasn’t that He wouldn’t deliver them, but that this deliverance would catch them by surprise. This is a violation of what Paul had told the Thessalonians about being “sons of the day” and “sons of the light,” by watching for His return. I am assuming here, but it looks like those who refuse to watch for Christ’s return, will not only suffer some divine “shock and awe” when they are suddenly snatched up but also a great loss of reward when they get to the Bema Judgment.

Lastly, to the Church of Philadelphia

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” – Rev. 3:10

Jesus stated in Luke 21 that this “snare” would come upon all who dwell on the earth. In Revelation 3:10, Jesus reiterates this also by distinguishing those who are being kept from the “hour of trial” and those who still “dwell on the earth” (those not being kept from the hour of trial).

The Bible is crystal clear that the Church will be “caught up” to meet the Lord in the air before the start of the 70th Week of Daniel (the hour of trial). The 70th Week begins with a covenant being confirmed between the Antichrist and the many (Dan. 9:27). What this covenant is exactly, or who the Antichrist is, we don’t know. His identity will not be confirmed until after the Restrainer (the Holy Spirit indwelling the Churches) is removed (2 Thess. 2:7-8). There is then a period of time between the Rapture and the official start of the 70th Week known as “the gap” and however long it ends up being, is anyone’s guess. Nevertheless, our deliverance (the Rapture), at a minimum, must come before the 70th Week.

Lastly, the Rapture seems to capture the world unawares. Should the US collapse prior to the Rapture, the old world order will come completely unhinged as China, Iran, and Russia make land grabs by military force to reclaim territories they think belong to them (i.e., Taiwan, Iraq, and Ukraine). This will trigger massive migrations of desperate populations to other nations further stressing those nations. The global economy will begin collapsing as currencies around the world begin to fail. This will trigger a massive spike in crime, violence, and widespread lawlessness. The last thing people will be thinking about doing after an American collapse is eating, drinking, and marrying.

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.” – Luke 21:34

In terms of fairness and whether or not American Christians should or shouldn’t go through some unmitigated catastrophe (such as an American collapse) prior to the Rapture just because the rest of the world has had it harder, I don’t think it has anything to do with us in that regard. The Rapture will happen regardless of who is at the top of the geopolitical pyramid. And it will catch those Christians who refuse to watch unaware, thus, fulfilling Paul and Jesus’ warnings. Just as the Rapture doesn’t trigger the 70th Week, it will, however, trigger the conditions on the ground (global chaos) that get the world moving in that direction.