How to Avoid What is Coming Upon the World
The world is rushing toward a time of chaos and judgment like nothing ever experienced before. Jesus said that in the Last Days before His Return, history would culminate in a period of “great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). The Apostle Peter predicted that in the end, all things that man has ever created would be destroyed with a consuming fire, wherein even the very elements themselves would burn (2 Peter 3:7-10).
The Bible vividly and repeatedly describes a nuclear holocaust that will occur as a result of the wars of the Last Days spiraling out of control and leading to the final Battle of Armageddon. It also describes an even worse period where God’s wrath will descend upon those who have destroyed the Earth as well as upon every person that has followed the Antichrist and received his Mark.
Despite these dark days of doom and gloom that is predicted to consume everything we have ever known, there still is a greater hope for an Escape to Safety. The Bible doesn’t just predict the coming horrible events without purpose—it tells us what is to come to get us to realize that we need an escape plan which can save us from these judgments. The path to safety isn’t a map to some secret hideout or a special strategy to prepare you to survive the Last Days. Real safety comes only from God in an amazing and unexpected way.
The Lord provides a simple route to getting through the horrible events of the End Times and avoiding the judgment to come. This escape route also provides forgiveness of sins and eternal life. In fact, this safety net is so simple to realize that some people want to make it much more difficult. The path to forgiveness and safety is illustrated by a brief account in the Gospel of Luke about an event that happened when Jesus was being crucified. Hanging with Jesus that day were two other men sentenced to death. In another place we are told that they were thieves. This is what Luke records in chapter 23 of his Gospel:
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.
When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar
and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:32-43
As Jesus was dying on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, two other men were also suffering death for their crimes. One of them mocked Jesus, while the other one acknowledged his sins and asked the Lord to simply remember him when he came into his kingdom. Jesus not only answered him, but promised that he would be with him in paradise that very same day! This passage dramatically illustrates how simple it is to obtain forgiveness from sins and receive everlasting life from God.
This is why the Bible calls it the “Good News”, which is translated in our Bibles as the “Gospel”. The truth is that Christ saved us from judgment by sacrificing himself in our place. All we need to do is believe Him, acknowledge our sins, and ask him for forgiveness. The thief on the cross obtained safety from judgment during the very last moments of his life. We too can avoid God’s judgment by following this very same act of faith. The amazing thing is that it requires no payment or work on our part—Jesus paid for it all upon the cross. That’s why the Lord didn’t require anything more of the thief; Christ was paying for his pardon, not him.
Today, if you can see the truth of God’s Word through the fulfillment of prophecy, then also realize that the Christ of the Bible is true, too. You can obtain safety from the coming judgment just by asking the Lord to remember you when he comes into his kingdom. If you ask him in truth and faith, he will answer you in the same manner as he did with the man on the cross. You can be assured that you have passed from judgment and death unto forgiveness and eternal life if you believe on the only begotten Son of God.
The Bible also says that we can’t save ourselves. We are trapped in our sins and separated from God and destined for judgment. That’s why Jesus had to come to save us. We couldn’t do anything to save ourselves – not through trying to be better or through good works or through following the law of the Old Testament. None of those things can ever save us because we are all sinners and hopelessly lost.
However, Paul explains in Ephesians that God bought salvation for us through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
And also in the Gospel of John:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
Even now, if you will have a change of heart and believe God in these things, and also have faith that Jesus in His sacrifice on the cross paid the price for your sins, then you will be saved from all judgment and enter the Kingdom of God with complete forgiveness and everlasting life! Don’t wait until it is too late. Escape to Safety today!
