Moving for Safety during Tribulation

–

What does the Bible say about relocating during dangerous times?

–

Some believe in a pre-tribulation rapture.

So moving away from danger is not a concern for them.

Others believe that they will be here for at least part of the dangerous times ahead.

Their concern is being able to survive, and protect themselves, as best possible.

Some have made tremendous moves to different states, or less populated regions.

–

References regarding fleeing the danger:

–

1. Story of Noah and family rescued from the flood – wrath of God comes against mankind for sin.

Genesis 6-8

–

2. Story of Lot and family rescued from Sodom and Gomorrah – wrath of God come against cities for sin.

Genesis 18- 19

–

3. Fleeing to the hills after the abomination – notice that it is just Judea, not all Israel.

It is a local move to the hills outside the city of Jerusalem. He did not tell them to leave the country, or local region.

Of course, he was not discussing famine, plagues, thermonuclear war, or missile attacks.

He was discussing just the abomination.

Mat 24:15 ¶ When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him understand:)

Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

Mat 24:17   Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

Mat 24:18   Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

–

References regarding staying where you are:

1. Parable of the Wheat and the Tares – here, the wheat stays in the field, and is not removed out of the way from the tares.

In fact, the tares are what is removed first, leaving the wheat behind.

They are both allowed to experience the growth and harvest season together.

The wheat is not destroyed, just because it is in among the tares.

Mat 13:24 ¶ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

Mat 13:25   But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

Mat 13:26   But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

Mat 13:27   So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

Mat 13:28   He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

Mat 13:29   But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

Mat 13:30   Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

2. The instruction to “endure to the end,” implies staying where the danger is, and facing the issues, or it could mean that there is really no safe place to go for many. Many will have to die.

Mat 24:5   For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Mat 24:6   And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

Mat 24:7   For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

Mat 24:13   But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

.

–

Thoughts

I think there is a distinction between:

a. purging / purification through suffering and

b. the wrath of God, which is meant to destroy.

Jesus makes the comment:

Mat 24:22   And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

This indicates that believers will be around, and God is aware they are there.

–

There is no reason for a rapture, or a return of Christ for his saints, if they are all dead, because God killed them already.

–

Believers should expect purging, but not wrath.

So when the wrath aspect comes, believers should be gone.

If they are in faith, believers can survive where they are, although it may be meant for them to suffer martyrdom.

Then, in that case, it does not matter where they are. They will die as a martyr.

Not all will be martyrs. Only God knows who these people are.

–

My sense, which is just my opinion, is that the more one has suffered for their beliefs throughout their life, the less they will suffer at the end.

And, the easier, and more unchallenged, one’s life has been, the greater the possibility of suffering later.

We all have to be tested for our faithfulness.

Jesus told us to expect tribulation of some kind in our lives, but that we should still be of good cheer:

Jhn 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

My personal experience in my own life is this:

to try to remove oneself if possible. That is wisdom.

But, if you find yourself “stuck” in the circumstances, and cannot leave, then you have to deal with the trouble in the most Christian way you can.

–

We all need to seek God’s guidance in the troubled days ahead.

Do not go to man for answers.

Go to the Lord in prayer.

–

The instructions have been there from the beginning:

Deu 4:30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, [even] in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shall be obedient unto his voice;

Deu 4:31   (For the LORD thy God [is] a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he swore unto them.