End Time Preparation
By Gavin Finley, MD
(Pensacola, FL)
I get a lot of e-mails from sincere Christian believers asking about End Time physical preparation and survival issues in the Latter Days. Their questions deserve an answer; but it seems very few ministries want to tackle this hot potato.
Let’s face it. When it comes to Christian mothers and children, this matter of End Time Bible prophecy and our preparation for what we must face – and do – involve some very important issues. Women especially are inclined to ask this question. What sort of God do we serve? Does he take care of his people?
The Judeo-Christian people are a nurturing and caring people. This comes from their God. The patriarch Abraham bargained with God to withhold his judgment upon the wicked city of Sodom for the sake of ten good people. Similarly, Jacob showed his concern for the safety of his household after his meeting with Esau. Jacob told his brother Esau that he would not be riding fast and furious with him but would move along slowly behind him so that his little ones and his flocks would be cared for and would not die in the migration.
But, here we are – perhaps facing the End Time witness in our lifetime. Did Jesus give us any hope of personal survival if we are called up to witness? Apparently not. In the Olivet Discourse, he tells us this:
“But before all these,
they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you,
delivering you up to the synagogues,
and into prisons,
being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.
And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Settle it therefore in your hearts,
not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
For I will give you a mouth and wisdom,
which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren,
and kinsfolks, and friends;
and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
In your patience possess ye your souls.”
(Luke 21: 12-19)
So, what are we to say about the issue of End Time preparation? Does personal survivalism come into play? Or not? Just how are we as Christian believers disposed to the sword, the knife and gun in the latter days? Are these the instruments of our End Time preparation? Some bad news for carnal Christians here. It seems that if we do enter into the latter days, this idea of enforcing our own personal agenda – by our own force of arms – does not appear to be a viable option. In fact, Jesus gave us a very sober warning about this. He said, “They that take the sword shall perish with the sword”(Matt. 26:52).
I realize we have been told otherwise by our Pre-tribulation Rapture churchmen, but God’s elect will be here to attend to some important family business in the latter days: family business they who claim to be of the Family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob have chosen to ignore. Our End Time preparation should focus first and foremost on this.
The pathway ahead is a Highway of Holiness. This is the true and faithful way of the cross. It is the “blood covenant Christianity” to which we have been called. This is the true End Time preparation in which we shall be equipped beyond anything we can begin to imagine. Those who have been called out and set apart are the true Church: the saints, a royal priesthood and a holy nation. They are important in this End Time witness – and they will be there!
God is in Control
Let us establish this right from the outset: the Holy One of Israel loves his covenant people. He wants the very best for them. Living or dying, he will cover them. There is no angst or pain in his presence; and he will protect and preserve all his people eternally.
God is in control here. The Book of Revelation is one big court case. As we enter the 70th Week of Daniel, the Ancient of Days will sit. The Sovereign Ruler of the Universe will hold court. He is the One who will be presiding over events – and controlling and limiting events here below. Many of us will go up to witness on the stage of history in those awesome times to come. This is the End Time witness; and it will happen in many and varied ways. So, our End Time preparation should be a spiritual one before we think of anything else in the way of physical preparation.
The Holy One of Israel is a merciful God. He has a huge survival plan for the women and children of his elect in the latter days. No one speaks of this in standard Bible prophecy sessions. It is a bit too awesome. Carnal Christians make up the bulk of our numbers. The specter of the End Time witness does not appear in their mind’s eye under the glory of the Holy Spirit. It is just a chamber of horrors to them. For many at this stage in holy history, it is a bridge too far. It is too fearful to even contemplate.
But, we read in Revelation 12 that there will be a place of safety away from the face of the Dragon in the latter days. No. we have not been taught about this in public ministry. But yes, it is a future reality. The “Bozrah Exile” is an untold story. Perhaps hundreds of millions of God’s people will fly off in an epic migration during the latter half of Daniel’s 70th Week. The “flight to mystery Bozrah” and the “Bozrah deliverance” at the end of the age by the returning Messiah is a huge story. The prophet Jeremiah has prophesied that it will eclipse the former gathering and exodus in both worldwide scope and in sheer numbers (See Jeremiah 16:14-16).
It seems that there will be a corporate physical migration from the face of the 666 dragon. This will be going on during the last 3½ years of this age. So, here is some good news. Our End Time preparation has already been largely taken care of by God – it seems. Physical flight to a place - or places - of safety will be presented to us as an option in that coming 666 era. The Woman, God’s covenant people, will be prominent among the many 666 rejecters in that spellbinding future time. The Woman will be given the “wings of a great eagle” (Rev. 12:14) – which country might be involved here, do you think? In Revelation 12:14 and 12:6, we see that she will fly out to “her place;” wherever that is.
On the Jewish side, Jesus has some specific instructions for his people in Israel. As the Armageddon scenario builds, they will be directly in harm’s way. And yes, this End Time preparation also involves their willingness to take specific physical actionfor their own protection and the protection of their families. In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus spoke of this. He said that when they see the mid-week Abomination of Desolation, those in Judea should leave the country and flee “into the mountains;” (Matt. 24:16) – meaning to other countries.
Will our Jewish brothers and sisters be joining the other members of God’s Elect and going off to exile to this “Mystery Bozrah” place or places? Probably so – because God, through the prophet Micah, declared that he would gather all of Jacob; and there would be great noise at this gathering by reason of the huge multitude (See Micah 2:12-13). This gathering of all 12 tribes of Jacob would include the Jewish House of Judah. What a camp meeting that will be – this prophecy is a blockbuster!
Left Behind
But, for those who remain in the cities of the nations, there will be a famine of the Word of God. Those whose hope is on this earth - “them that dwell on the earth” (Rev. 13:14) – will be happy to take the mark of 666. They will carry on as usual – eating and drinking, buying and selling, marrying and giving in marriage (See Matt. 24:38) – and saying, “world without end, Amen.” They will have no reason to go off to an unknown destination on this fearful, awesome flight to exile. They won’t even know what’s going on. But, when the returning Messiah comes, they will be caught unawares – their personal lives broken into. They will be OBE – overcome by events –their agenda interrupted by a Messiah who returns suddenly, like a thief in the night.
Christians here in the USA revere their guns; and the rugged individualism of Americans is the stuff of legends, but Christian survivalists will find no spiritual solace or physical safety in a cave in Idaho – or anywhere else for that matter. This is NOT the End Time preparation that will deliver. Satellite surveillance is a very present reality and is becoming more sophisticated all the time. Furtive travel in remote places is monitored. Caves are not safe no matter how much food and armament is stuffed in there. One missile fired from a helicopter at the cave entrance would seal the fate of all those inside.
Christians who engage in personal hopes of avoiding the End Time witness are entering into some unhealthy thinking. I’m not even sure that physical isolation in remote places will provide any real safety in a future era probably full of roving bands of lawless gunmen.
Personal Freedom
But, you might say, what about personal freedom? Let’s look at the question from the perspective of the Bible. Remember the apostle Paul? No signs of survivalism there. He was arrested many times, but never do we see him bolt for the door – even when an earthquake sprung him loose and burst the prison doors. He was a prisoner of the Word of God; and he was happy to be honored in that way! Ultimately, Paul was appealing his case to Caesar and was on his way to Rome, but the Centurion didn’t even shackle him. He trusted Paul; and Paul even alerted the ship’s captain when sailor survivalists were trying to launch a boat and save themselves during a shipwreck. They were trying to save their own skins and let the passengers (and prisoners) fend for themselves. It goes without saying that God takes a very dim view of such actions.
The apostle Paul, however, was not a victim. A sovereign God was in the driver’s seat guiding his steps all the way. Paul was going to Rome for a purpose – for his trial, yes, but also for a greater purpose. He was the apostle to the Gentiles; and he was on his way to the center of the Gentile world to witness for Christ. And, there is more to the story. While in Rome, before he went to trial, he was given an apartment (a place to live) along with freedom to come and go as he pleased for a full two years. During that time, he brought great encouragement and witness to the saints in Rome. Personal freedom at its best – to fulfill the divine purposes of God.
Summary and Conclusion
So, what is the lesson here? God has taken care of most of our End Time preparation and survival. Huge masses of God’s people will be preserved in an awesome End Time exile; and later, a magnificent End Time deliverance. But - make no mistake - God takes a dim view of personal survivalism when there are greater issues at stake; and responsible members among his saints have been called up to witness.
When a person signs up for military service, they should know the risks involved; and when a person speaks a vow of marriage – as with Christians who are the Bride of Christ – they generally say, “Until death do us part…” But, this seems to be too awesome a prospect for the average church-goer. This is a subject seldom broached – at least in the average church in the land.
So, once again, what can we say about all this? God will take care of his own. Mothers and children in the last 3½ years of this age will be given passage to a place of safety where they can be fed and nurtured (See Rev. 12:6 & 14), both spiritually and physically.
If we are apprehended for our faith – and brought to trial as the apostle Paul was brought to trial - we should go up to witness without a second thought. God will be with us. The Holy Spirit will cover us in, through, and out of our hour of trial. Jesus was victorious in his hour of trial in the Garden of Gethsemane; so we can be sure he will preserve and keep us – if and when we come to our hour of trial.
However, we must know that some of us will go up to witness in the latter days; and for some of us there are no guarantees of physical survival – but we shall arise to a better resurrection. The God who took Israel out of Egypt in a great Exodus will be at work again; and he will take care of all the rest.
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