This was spoken to only one of the 7 churches of Asia Minor in the book of Revelation. That would disqualify it from being used to support the rapture of "the church" doctrine that is so prevalent today. The rapture doctrine is universal. I have only heard it applied to the entire church. It could very well be argued that the character of most churches today fits the description of the Laodicean Church. Christ gave the Laodiceans no promise of being kept from the hour of testing.

This passage in Revelation is spoken only to the Philadelphia church. It also does not specify how Yahshua will keep the church of Philadelphia safe during the hour of testing to come upon the whole world. Will they be sheltered? Will they be removed? Will they simply be preserved through the testing?

In sincerity, I have to say that I do not see this Scripture verse to be supporting the rapture doctrine.

Rev 3:10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

Thank you for your excellent question. You asked what is meant by the words in Luke 21:36. To answer this question one must first identify what it is that is being escaped from. Christ reveals the answer in the verses just preceding.

Luke 21:34-35
"Be on guard, that your hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day come on you suddenly LIKE A TRAP; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth.

The day of tribulation of which Christ speaks is likened unto a trap. In what way is it a trap? Those who are unprepared will be engaged in worldly pursuits and sinful behavior. These things will ensnare them. Not having made themselves ready, they will be unprepared to pass through these days as an overcomer in Christ. They will be ensnared by their sins.

What is being communicated is that the day of tribulation which comes suddenly will catch people in whatever condition they are in. The righteous will be found walking in truth and obedience. The carnal will be found walking in error and disobedience. When the day arrives a person's condition will become evident, and the consequences will manifest for each group.

The righteous will be given great grace to pass through these days as overcomers. This does not mean they will overcome in a physical sense, for many will lose their lives. Rather, they will overcome spiritually by not bowing to the Beast system that arises in the world. These will overcome by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of their testimonies, and they will not love their lives unto death.

The carnal Christians will be unprepared. They will not have faith to stand for they have not been developing faith as they yield their lives to God. They will be like the seed that falls on the stony ground. In a time of tribulation they will fall away. These ones will be overcome by evil.

This is what I believe is intended by the words of Christ.

May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days.

"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.”

If you believe in this connection, Google "End Times Passover blog of August 2." As you know, many prophecy teachers see connections between the stages of a Hebrew Wedding and the Rapture many are looking for. The above blog has a great in-depth discussion that everyone who is expecting an imminent rapture will enjoy reading! And please tell many others of the same blog. Maranatha!

[above bit seen on the web – Anne]

You wrote:

"Besides that, I have found that many people will search the scriptures about this, but it seems that WHENEVER someone seeks the Lord about the answer and is shown by the Lord, they ALWAYS get a revelation of a pre-trib event."

You are writing to a brother at this moment who has searched the Scriptures and the mind of Christ, and I have NOT gotten a revelation of a pre-trib rapture.

Is it not possible that people see what their soul wants to see in the Scriptures, even as you say that ALL earnest seekers who receive revelation from God are shown that there is a pre-trib rapture? Here is one presenting a word right before your eyes, and yet it is as if you do not see it, otherwise you would not say ALL receive a revelation of a pre-trib rapture from the Lord.

The soul of man has a natural aversion to suffering. If you will examine the doctrine of the vast majority of those teaching a pre-tribulation rapture, you will also find that they are NOT preaching the message of being a suffering disciple. I do not know of a prosperity preacher anywhere who does not preach a pre-trib rapture. This is because these believers have adopted a mindset that it is not the Father's will that they suffer. They believe God wants only to prosper them and make their life one of ease.

The apostle Paul prophesied that this would be the character of the church in the last days, as did Yahshua when He spoke to the last church, the church of Laodicea, in Revelation.

2 Timothy 3:1-2
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money…

Those who love self and love money will naturally develop doctrines that espouse an escape and avoidance of tribulation. The natural man does not want to suffer. Yet Christ was described as "a man of sorrows and well acquainted with grief." He went to the cross, and ALL who would be His disciples must take up THEIR cross and follow Him.

I would ask you to consider whether you are living a fully surrendered life now and are walking the afflicted path that leads to life. If you are not doing so now, what confidence do you have that when a day of tribulation arrives that you would embrace the will of the Father for your life then? Will you not seek escape, even if it means fleeing into the arms of the Beast system which will promise you protection, peace and safety?

There will be a multitude of Pastors in that hour telling believers that embracing a Beast government system is the provision of the Father for them. When tribulation comes these pastors will not repent and confess they were wrong and led millions astray. They will simply become ministers of another deception.

In addition to the Scriptures you cite on this issue, 2 Thess. 2 has also been decisive for me. The Thessalonians think they have missed the second coming, but Paul doesn't correct them by saying, "The rapture will precede the second coming by several years, and the rapture hasn't yet happened." What he says instead is to tell them that two things must happen before the Second Coming (the falling away and the revealing of the man of lawlessness) – therefore the rapture can't happen at any moment.

I can not imagine what we are about to enter into! Then I read Daniel 11:32-35.

He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.

How does one prepare for this?

http://wisdomoftheworld.wordpress.com/2010/04/08/mystery-sacred-secret-within-pi/

I will be praying for you while you travel, that you will be filled with the Holy Spirit for the teachings, and safe on the roads!