Persecution on all Christians which is commonly known as Great Tribulation will some day be upon the whole world. However, it is not God’s intention that all must suffer and be tested. Christ specifically spoke on this topic and gave us a clear escape route which we must hold on to it.

Luke 21:34-36 “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. 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.”

How can we be counted worthy to escape all these things?

• Watch
• Pray always

Always Holy and Righteous

Rev 3:2-5 “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 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. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Watching is keeping ourselves ready at all times by being perfect before God. In other words, we must be always holy and righteous with our garments undefiled, ready to stand before the Son of God anytime – Now, tomorrow, a decade from now, or even a hundred years from now – always holy and righteous so that we can be sinless.

Always Praying

Praying is speaking to God. What Christ expects us to do is pray always. It is something we always ask God first for every decision we take in our life.

1Pet 3:12 For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.

God’s ears are open to the prayers of the righteous.

Jesus taught us how to pray using a model prayer:

Matt 6:9-13 “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

1. Father’s name is holy
2. Ask for His kingdom to come
3. Ask for His will to happen on earth
4. Ask for our daily bread
5. Ask for our Forgiveness
6. Ask for our protection from temptation
7. Ask for deliverance from evil

He also taught how not to pray:

1. Pray with faith (Mark 11:24)
2. Forgive other’s transgressions before prayer (Mark 11:25-26)
3. Prayer is not for others to be seen (Matt 6:5)
4. Pray secretly to be seen by the Heavenly Father (Matt 6:6)
5. Don’t pray with vain repetitions (Matt 6:7)

Conclusion

We all want to escape tribulation. Some had even gone as far as preaching pre-tribulation rapture which Christ did not teach.

Gen 19:17 So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.”

Escape does not mean “raptured”. Just as Lot escaped from the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, God will provide a way for us to escape.

If we are always holy and righteous with our garments undefiled, ready to stand before the Son of God anytime, and always praying, Christ will count us worthy to escape the great tribulation that will come upon the whole world.