Who is worthy?

Worthy To Escape

Q. Would you be kind enough to explain Luke 21:36? I am a born again Christian depending on what Christ sacrificed on the cross for me. I do not believe I am worthy to escape what is soon to happen, except for Christ in me, He alone is worthy. I am confused as to why it states in Luke 21:36 to pray always that I may be worthy to escape.

A. The correct understanding of this verse depends on knowing what it takes to be worthy. Throughout the New Testament we’re told that no one will be made worthy by attaining a certain standard of behavior. In 2 Thes. 1:3-5 Paul used the same Greek words found in Luke 21:36 to explain that it’s our faith, even through times of persecution and suffering, that makes us worthy. When we pray that we’ll be counted worthy to escape, we’re praying that our faith will be sufficient to sustain us in spite of what may be happening around us.

Am I Worthy To Escape?

Q. RE:Luke 21:36 - Jesus says “pray that you be counted worthy to escape these things” - meaning the horrors of God’s judgment. This scripture troubles me as I sometimes wonder if I AM worthy, even though I am a born-again, Spirit-filled Christian who loves the Lord and is serving Him to the best of the talents and abilities that He has given me. I have always believed in the pre-Trib Rapture, but this verse seems to suggest that there are some Christians who won’t make it.

Also - it has been reported that we, meaning the Church of this age, is the Laodocian church - the one that Jesus said He would spit out of His mouth because it was neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm. I tend to agree with this as I see very few churches, including my own, that are truly on fire for God.

A. A couple of corrections are in order. First, the Lord’s words in Luke 21:36 concerned the first century destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, not the Great Tribulation. We know this because He said “what is about to happen” in the verse. If you read Luke 21 carefully you’ll see that He jumps back and forth between 70 AD and the end of the age.

But actually the same qualifications apply to both events. We are made worthy by the shed Blood of the Lamb, and by that alone. If you’re saved you’re worthy.

Second, the Laodicean Church (apostate) is alive and well on Earth today, but so are Thyatira (Catholic) Sardis (Main Line Protestant) and Philadelphia (Church of the Rapture). Just because you’re here on Earth and part of the Church doesn’t mean it’s the Laodicean Church.

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