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And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. - Revelation 12:14
In Daniel 9:27 the prophet says there is a seven year period, that starts with the antichrist making a covenant with Israel. After the first three and a half years, during which time the antichrist is trying to provoke God’s wrath, he will set up the abomination of desolation. At this sign, Jesus commands those in Israel to head into the mountains. They are to take no belongings, simply drop everything and flee. By this, Jesus will know those who believe in him, as they will obey.
Jesus meets them at this point with supernatural strength and leads them into the wilderness on the east side of Israel where he will provide for them during the next three and a half years years. During this time, God pours out his wrath on the world for all the abominations of which they refuse to repent. This time of tribulation culminates with the battle of Armageddon.
The phrases carried on wings and being set up upon a rock are very common in the Bible and in looking at them, we can see many hints about this event.
Taking the events in chronological order, we should first look at the abomination of desolation.
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week [sevens of years]: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. - Daniel 9:27
The abomination happens in the middle of the last seven years of this age. This last seven-year time period is split in half making two different three and a half year time periods. See Daniel 7:25, Daniel 12:7, Revelation 11:2, Revelation 11:3, Revelation 12:14 and Revelation 13:5. It seems probable that the abomination happens in the very middle of this seven-year period.
Our two introductory verses on this are in Matthew and Mark.
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. - Matthew 24:15-21
But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, let (him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judea flee to the mountains: And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. - Mark 13:14-19
In this teaching, recorded by both Matthew and Mark, Jesus defers to Daniel for the description of the abomination. Daniel spoke of the abomination at least four times, Daniel 8:11-14, Daniel 9:27, Daniel 11:31 and Daniel 12:11. Chapter 8 and 11 are very descriptive.
Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. And a host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered.
Then I heard one saint speaking,
and another saint said unto that certain saint which
spoke, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily
sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give
both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under
foot?And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three
hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
- Daniel 8:11-14
And arms shall stand on his part,
and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and
shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall
place the abomination that maketh desolate.
- Daniel 11:31
In the book of Psalms, Asaph also mentions:
A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps. - Psalm 79:1
Finally, Paul talks about the man of sin defiling the Temple of God.
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. - 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
To paraphrase, the abomination of desolation is the antichrist sitting in the Temple of God and demanding worship. He will stop the daily sacrifice and in utter contempt replace it with the abomination. The moment those in Israel hear of this transgression they are to drop everything and immediately flee into the mountains.
Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD's anger come upon you. - Zephaniah 2:1-2
This last seven-year time period is commonly called The Great Tribulation, (during the first half, the antichrists persecute the saints). However, Matthew and Mark both imply that the start of great tribulation is after the abomination, which is in the middle of this the seven-year period:
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. - Matthew 24:21
For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. - Mark 13:19
My heart is sore pained within me:
and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror
hath overwhelmed me.
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then
would I fly away, and be at rest.
Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the
wilderness. Selah.
I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and
tempest.
Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have
seen violence and strife in the city.
Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof:
mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. - Psalm
55:4-10
Be merciful unto me, O God, be
merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea,
in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge,
until these calamities be overpast.
I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth
all things for me.
He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach
of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send
forth his mercy and his truth. - Psalm 57:1b -3
And when ye shall see Jerusalem
compassed with armies, then know that the desolation
thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee
to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of
it depart out; and let not them that are in the
countries enter thereinto.
- Luke 21:20-21
Many people, especially those who call themselves amillennialists, believe that these events took place in 70 AD. The Romans surrounded Jerusalem in 69 AD and then for a short season they retreated only to return the next year. According to Josephus, the Christians who obeyed Jesus and fled from Jerusalem when they had the chance avoided drinking from the cup of God’s wrath in Jerusalem’s complete destruction. Yet a closer look will show why this was a separate event from the one that is about to come.
The assumption many make is that Luke 21 is a record of the same account mentioned in Matthew 24. This is not so, Matthew refers to the end of the age while in Luke’s account, Jesus warned the saints about the destruction of Jerusalem which happened in 70 AD. Let us look at some of the differences between these two accounts.
1. In the different accounts, the disciples ask different questions: In Matthew’s account they ask about the end of the world, in Luke’s they asked about the destruction of the temple.
Matthew: Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Luke: Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
2. Luke is missing the prophecy: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come”. That this verse is missing from Luke makes sense. This event did not take place before 70 AD nor was it necessary to fulfill that prophecy before the destruction of the temple in 70 AD.
3. In Matthew, Jesus said to look for the abomination of desolation, while in Luke account He said, when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies. In 70 AD when the Romans defiled of the temple, it was too late to escape. Their only opportunity was about a year earlier, before the Romans returned a second time. Therefore, the advice Jesus gave in Matthew’s account was not for 70 AD.
4. Luke’s account is missing this passage: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. It will be essential for Christians in Israel at the end of the age obey this command. However, this was not so in 70 AD they had months to escape into the other nations. While they were not to dawdle, it would have made sense to take along a wallet and some provisions for the way. It appears that Jesus did not give the command “not come down to take anything out of his house” in 70 AD.
5. Matthew’s account is missing: And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
They fell by the sword and were led away captive in 70 AD, since that time, as history has documented, it has been the time of the Gentiles. At the abomination of desolation, this time will have ended.
Bringing children into an uncertain world is a common concern discussed by Christians. As Jesus warned about having children in those days, many wonder if it is okay to have children now. I propose that Christians should have children if they are capable of raising them up to be godly adults.
Lo, children are a heritage of the
LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
- Psalms 127:3
Jesus warning was to not to be with child, or nursing children at the time of the abomination of desolation. If Christians stop having children three and a half years earlier, when the antichrist first makes his contract with Israel, they will avoid being with child or having nursing children when the abomination happens.
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? - Luke 6:46
The Lord’s command to flee to the hills may seem crazy to the world, and his commanding them to bring nothing with them removes all doubt.
Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. - Luke 17:33
When Pharaoh thrust the children of Israel out of Egypt, they did not have time to bake bread. When the children of Israel see the abomination of desolation, they will not bring anything with them with which to bake bread.
I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together. - Luke 17:34-37
Christians often misunderstand this passage of scripture to teach a pretribulation rapture. This is not likely, if the disciples are asking where they will be taken (verse 37), than Jesus not only said where, but who would be taken. However, a more careful look at this passage will show that Jesus is describing the saints in obedience heading for the mountains. You may wish to get your Bible and read all of Luke 17:20-37 before we start.
And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: - Luke 17:20
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. - Luke 17:28-29
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. - Luke 17:30
In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. - Luke 17:31
Remember Lot's wife. - Luke 17:32
Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. - Luke 17:33
I tell you, in that night
there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be
taken, and the other shall be left. Two women
shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and
the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one
shall be taken, and the other left.
- Luke
17:34-36
And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body [or carcass] is, thither will the eagles [or possibly vultures as eagles normally do not eat carrion] be gathered together. - Luke 17:37
Before we go further, we need to look at the definition of taken and left in Luke 17:34-36. Looking up these words in their original Greek, you find:
Taken: par-al-am-ban'-o - To receive near, that is, associate with oneself.
Left: af-ee'-ay-mee - To send forth, in various applications.
To confirm that these are accurate definitions, you may wish to look at the Greek words (par-al-am-ban'-o and af-ee'-ay-mee) in other passages of the New Testament. If you do so, you will see that to receive near is an accurate definition of the word taken, and to send fourth is an accurate definition of the word left.
Now we are ready to look at those who will be taken (received near) and those who will be left (sent forth). Luke 17:34 starts out with Jesus saying “I tell you, in that night”; this begs the question, to which night is Jesus referring? That question is answered three verses earlier in Luke 17:31 when Jesus says, “In that day”. Jesus is saying that in the day that he commands to drop everything and flee, some will obey and some will not.
Those who obey and flee to the hills will be Taken, that is received near and associated with Jesus. Those who disobey will be left or sent forth to the antichrist. As Jesus said: “Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together”.
If you look at Luke 17:34-37 in context, it will confirm that Jesus is talking about fleeing from Jerusalem at the time of the abomination of desolation. Once we start running, we are to remember Lot's wife. And that Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it (Luke 17:32-33).
Hereby the abomination of desolation becomes a test of allegiance to the Lord. Jesus will receive those who are obedient and willing to lose their lives.
Here are some passages out of the Old Testament that may challenge Israel to obey the Lord at this time.
For the LORD shall rise up as in
mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of
Gibeon, [1 Chronicals 14:8-17] that he may do his
work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his
strange act. Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest
your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the
Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon
the whole earth.
- Isaiah 28:21-22
Thine own wickedness shall correct
thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know
therefore and see that it is an evil thing and
bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God,
and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of
hosts.
For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy
bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon
every high hill and under every green tree thou
wanderest, playing the harlot. - Jeremiah 2:19-20
Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee. - Jeremiah 7:27
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. - Jeremiah 17:7-8
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. - Revelation 12:14
The Lord first mentioned this idea of upholding His people on the wings of an eagle as He carried the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. - Exodus 19:4
As God provided for Israel in the wilderness with Moses, so God will provide for those who flee into the mountains at His command. In Revelation 12:14, John concurs as he says; she is nourished for three and a half years. Another passage in Isaiah says:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. - Isaiah 40:31
The LORD God is my strength, and he
will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me
to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my
stringed instruments.
- Habakkuk 3:19
While the prophet Habakkuk did not use the word wing, if you read this passage in context he appears to be confirming what Isaiah said.
The idea of wings may not only apply to the saint’s flight into the wilderness, but also to God protecting and sheltering his people during the times of great tribulation.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! - Matthew 23:37
In the wilderness, the Lord will protect and shelter his own during this time of trouble, of which both Matthew and Mark both say:
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. - Matthew 24:21
For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. - Mark 13:19
Though David wrote the Psalms to worship God during his sojourn in the wilderness as his enemies pursued him, the Psalms as Jesus himself confirms are prophetic in nature.
Saul harassed David for many years, forcing him to flee into the wilderness. Through the centuries, the Psalms have comforted many people during their times of trial and persecution.
Finally, the Psalm’s of David will be the perfect hymnal for the church in the wilderness. It is already memorized and in that day it will be completely relevant. Here are a few examples; was David narrating the experience of his own time, or prophesying about the flight of God’s people into the wilderness at the end of the age?
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock - Psalm 27:5
AND
Bow down thine ear to me; deliver
me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for a house of
defense to save me.
For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy
name's sake lead me, and guide me.
Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for
me: for thou art my strength.
Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed
me, O LORD God of truth.
I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I
trust in the LORD.
I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast
considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in
adversities. – Psalm 31:2-7
AND
From the end of the earth will I
cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to
the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a
shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I
will abide in thy tabernacle forever: I will trust in
the covert of thy wings. Selah.
- Psalm 61:2-4
AND
He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.
[...]
He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. - Psalm 62:2, 6-7
The prophet Nahum uses the same words in prophesying of the last days.
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time. - Nahum 1:7-9
If you look at Israel on a map, you will see that Israel is small and they have limited options. Since to the west is the Mediterranean Sea, you would need to head east if you wanted to escape quickly from most places in Israel.
Today Jordan lies to the east of Israel, in Biblical times Edom, Moab & Ammon were on the eastern border of Israel. Is there any Biblical evidence that this is where the saints head and that God will shelter them there?
He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. - Daniel 11:41
While Daniel does not exactly say that this is where the saints will flee to, it is interesting that this area just east of Israel will escape the antichrist’s rage. Isaiah and Micah also appear to touch on the topic.
Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; betray not him that wandereth. Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land. - Isaiah 16:3-4
Feed thy people with thy rod, the
flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the
wood, in the midst of Carmel [just west of the dead
sea]: let them feed in Bashan [in Edom]
and Gilead [A mountianous reagon east of Jordan and
south of Bashan], as in the days of old.
-
Micah 7:14
This does not mean to imply that Jesus will walk from the mountains towards Armageddon as a man. The Scriptures are clear on this point. He will appear at Armageddon as God, in great glory and in the presence of all his angels and saints.
However, it appears that He is coming from the mountains of Edom.
Who is this that cometh from
Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah [in Edom
southeast of the Dead Sea] this that is glorious in
his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength?
I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy
garments like him that treadeth in the wine vat?
I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the
people there was none with me: for I will tread them in
mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood
shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain
all my raiment.
For the day of vengeance is in
mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
-
Isaiah 63:1-4
God came from Teman, [in Edom] and the Holy One from mount Paran [Paran: place of caverns. The wilderness west of Israel, below the Medeterainian Sea]. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power. Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting. I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble. - Habakkuk 3:3-7
Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of
the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek
righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be
hid in the day of the LORD's anger.
For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation:
they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron
shall be rooted up. - Zephaniah 2:3-4
Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. - Isaiah:26:20-21
They have taken crafty counsel
against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden
ones.
- Psalm 83:3
Though they consult, it will not do them any good. The Almighty already knows their plans!
And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. - Joel 2:30
Perhaps Joel is referring to how the Lord protects the saints in the wilderness. God used a pillar of fire and a pillar of cloud to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt as described in this passage:
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. - Exodus 13:21-22
When pharaoh went after the children of Israel, the pillar protected Israel from the Egyptian army.
And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. - Exodus 14:19-20
It is reasonable to believe that the lord will protect his chosen when he receives them. In the following passage, Isaiah is speaking of Mount Zion and a pillar of protection.
And the LORD will create upon every
dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a
cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming
fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a
defense.
And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the
daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and
for a covert from storm and from rain. Isaiah -
4:5-6
God may need to protect his chosen from the scorching sun at this time since the book of Revelation says:
And the fourth angel poured out his
vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to
scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great
heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power
over these plagues: and they repented not to give him
glory.
- Revelation 16:8-9
Both Isaiah and the book of Psalms have scriptures to give us peace, knowing that God is willing and able to protect those who trust in Him at this time.
For thou hast been a strength to
the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a
refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat,
when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm
against the wall.
Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the
heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a
cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought
low. - Isaiah 25:4-5
Behold, he that keepeth Israel
shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy
right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by
night. - Psalm 121:4-6
Another plague during this time will be a drought like the one that was in the days of Elijah. During the last three and a half years of this age there will be no rain.
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
[…]
These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. - Revelation 11:3,6
Joel may be prophecying of this same famine in his book, however Jeremiah speaks of a people that trusts in the Lord.
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. - Jeremiah 17:7-8
Both Isaiah and the book of Psalms continue this thought:
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. 20The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. - Isaiah 43:18-20
Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon
them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them
alive in famine.
Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our
shield. - Psalm 33:18-20
The LORD knoweth the days of the
upright: and their inheritance shall be forever.
They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in
the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD
shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into
smoke shall they consume away. - Psalm 37:18-20
And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. - Revelation 15:1
By obeying Jesus and fleeing Judea, these people of God will escape the temptations and the wrath that God will pour out at the end of this age. For a detailed list of these plagues, see Revelation 15:
After these plagues, all nations will come up to Jerusalem to battle. For a short time it will appear Israel has lost the war.
For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. - Zechariah 14:2
Like those who ignored Jesus in 70 AD, those who disobey Jesus at the abomination of desolation will suffer the devastation of this battle. Many of the Jews (the ones in the Book of Life) who did not recognize their Messiah at the time of the abomination of desolation will after “great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time” and their utter defeat at Jerusalem at the Battle of Armageddon turn to Him. Then, the Lord will go up and fight for Israel.
In that day shall the LORD defend
the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble
among them at that day shall be as David; and the house
of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD
before them.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek
to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of
supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they
have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one
mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness
for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
- Zechariah 12:8-10
If you read the scripture in context, you may be surprised to find how poorly they document the pretribulation rapture. While this is not a study of the pretribulation rapture, go to Does the Bible teach a Pretrib Rapture? to see eleven of the most common proofs used for the pretribulation rapture and errors that are made in using them.
So, what will happen instead of a pretribulation rapture? It appears the antichrist will take the church by surprise. Many Christians will be completely unprepared for this time.
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. - Luke 21:34-36
If the antichrist appeared tomorrow, could you be a restrainer of evil at this time? If there is no pretribulation rapture, will your church remain faithful when you cannot buy or sell? Though disappointed by the absence of the pretribulation rapture many Christians will continue being faithful to Jesus Christ at this time. However not all Christians will remain faithful, for according to both Daniel and Jesus:
And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. - Daniel 11:35
AND
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. - Matthew 24:12-13
As it was for the early church and for the saints during the inquisition, troublous times will come. Daniel spoke of the end days saying:
And of the ten horns that were in
his head, and of the other which came up, and before
whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a
mouth that spoke very great things, whose look was more
stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn
made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given
to the saints of the most High; and the time came that
the saints possessed the kingdom.
- Daniel
7:20-22
While this study does not focus on the pretribulation rapture or the mark of the beast, the antichrists will command us to worship the image of the beast and receive the mark. By our refusal to receive it, we will demonstrate our belief in God, and thereby glorify Him. Yet, as Daniel said in 11:33, the saints "shall fall … many days".
And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. - Daniel 11:31-34
While this author does not claim to know everything, for those of us who are not in Israel at the time of the abomination of desolation, we should cling to these two promises.
Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of
the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek
righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid
in the day of the LORD's anger.
- Zephaniah
2:3
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. - 1 Corinthians 10:13
At the time appointed, the end shall be:
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. - Matthew 16:27
In that day, our joy shall be full and we will sing hymns together.
A Song and Psalm for the sons of
Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to
be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of
his holiness.
Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is
mount Zion, on the
sides of the north, the city of the great King.
God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by
together.
They saw it, and so they marveled; they were troubled,
and hasted away.
Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a
woman in travail
Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.
As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the
LORD of hosts, in the
city of our God: God will establish it forever. Selah.
- Psalms 48:1-8
Written by Jeff Barnes.