Why should true believers not panic? God is with us! The very first thing Jesus tells his disciples regarding the end times is to not be troubled. He says do not panic or be fearful as you recognize the early phases of the chaos at the end. Christ is saying have faith in God and be strong informed and calm.
Matthew 24:6-8 NKJV 6 "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 "All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Many generations, after a terrible event like WWI or the 70AD siege of Jerusalem would think that the end is near, but it was not; therefore Jesus is saying be cautious. Even if war and chaos occur we are just at the early stages. Jesus says we should be strong and full of trust in God to take care of us either way. Our safety is also an internal event. Are we on God's side? That is where true safety lays. Jesus says trust God and do not be troubled.
Revelation 3:7-11 NKJV 7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, '8 "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 "Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie--indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
A vital part of being protected by God is being loved by God. We have to be on His side-meaning we love God and believe in His Son and obey His laws. Those who say they are Jews or true believers did not meet all those requirements. Christianity was thought of as a sect within Judaism in the days of the New Testament writers. True believers held fast to obeying the law and Jesus. Why will these believers be protected during end times events? Thy persevered in these beliefs.
10 "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. 11 "Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
Why does Jesus then warn us to not let others take away our protection and future crown? It is the Balaam principle. Balaam learned that Israel was under God's protection and blessings. Nothing he said or prayed could change that, however he instructed pagans on how to get Israel to curse themselves by abandoning God. Satan will bring people and influences into our lives to try and get our hearts away from God.
Proverbs 4:23 NKJV 23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it springs the issues of life.
Our ultimate place of safety is with God. Keep our hearts with God and He will protect us physically and spiritually. In Daniel Six we find that he was safe from the devouring lions because
he was with God and God was with him. Sometimes a few great spiritual believers are chosen to be heroic martyrs but, that is a enormous accomplishment. A revealing event is covered in the book of Revelation. Further, no doubt many believers will suffer some trouble and discomfort before going to places of safety. This will be unlike the false rapture doctrine where believers are lifted away from all problems before the end. Those converted during the last three and half years will face persecution .
Revelation 12:13-16 NKJV 13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
Satan suddenly realizes that his time of freedom is about over, so he tries to destroy God's people. But God protects the church in the wilderness. GTA taught that it is likely that the church will be protected in various places on this vast planet. The crucial thing is to be on God's side deep in our hearts.( Like churches that have the Philadelphia Spirit who will be saved from the trial that will come upon the entire earth.)
15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.
The devil's last attempts to get them is thwarted by God. We need to develop trust in God that He will take care of us no matter what and never let us be tried beyond our capacity.
Philippians 1:5-6 NKJV 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
God wants us to succeed and He will do all that is necessary to guide us to salvation. Do not fear the future-for God is with us as long as we remain with God.
TRIGGER EVENTS FOR THE END ARE ALSO FOR US AS WELL
End time trigger events are all set in the Holy Land but it seems probable that the words about these events were preserved in the New Testament for believers all over the earth. Jesus labeled and described the number one event to his disciples.
Matthew 24:14-18 NKJV 14 "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 15 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 "Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 "And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.
Christ is describing a sudden and shockingly quick lock down on freedom. True believers cannot go home and pack suitcases or they would be prevented from going to the places of safety. According to Daniel, the world would then have only three and half years until Jesus' second coming. The exact date may still be a question but the time is short. The people of God will be safe outside of the city of Jerusalem. This event happened during the 69-70 AD siege of Jerusalem.
Approximately 30,000 believers escaped the horror. Will this event as revealed in the media be a key to believers everywhere to go to their places of safety? Possibly the two witnesses, or other church leaders will be inspired to give believers vital information. If one lives in a major city or military target area atomic missiles could strike suddenly anywhere on the globe. Relying on God is the key to safety.
2 Thessalonians 2:2-4 NKJV 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
These events will come suddenly and be a surprise to the nation of Israel. True believers will no doubt be watching events and be prepared to go into a safety mode when the trigger events happen. We will we know because we are close to God and His church. Satan also has a chance to seduce stragglers away from God thus the warnings.
Daniel 11:31-32 NKJV 31 "And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. 32 "Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.
The key to safety anywhere is to be with God, to love God with our entire hearts.
Revelation 9:4 NKJV 4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
God's people will be sealed and protected during the awful plagues that will punish mankind at the end of this age. Believers will be sealed and protected wherever they are at the time.
