Church Eras and the Place of Safety

Next Part 1,335 Days—1,290 Days—1,260 Days

The place of safety is directly tied to the biblical understanding of Church eras—that Christ has guided His Church through seven successive eras, described in Revelation 2:1-29 and 3:1-22. Those who dismiss the plain scriptural record that the sixth era—Philadelphia—is promised protection, also dismiss the existence of seven literal Church eras. Conversely, those who reject this doctrine inevitably reject the belief in a literal, single place of safety

Overview of Church Eras

Below is a listing of the seven successive eras along with the approximate dates and key events of each era. (The term “RC” in the chart is an abbreviation for Roman Catholic.)

A general overview of the subject of Church eras, represented in the preceding chart, is helpful in grasping the historical perspective recorded in Revelation 2:1-29 and 3:1-22. The passage appears to state that there will be people of three different eras who could still be alive when Christ Returns—but this is only true IF individual members within the two eras described next have repented and long since become part of the one, undivided true Church of God under His government and doing His Work.

First, in Revelation 2:25, Christ addresses the Thyatiran Era: “But that which you have already hold fast till I come.” This short statement shows that there will be a remnant (however tiny) from this era alive when Christ returns.

Next, in Revelation 3:3-4, Christ addresses the Sardis Era: “Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy.” Christ is obviously correcting a Sardis remnant alive at His Return.

Then, in Revelation 3:10, is Christ’s promise to Philadelphians to protect them from the hour of temptation, the Tribulation, which does not begin until late in the Laodicean era. The Philadelphians existing at that time will be a remnant of the Philadelphian era—including those who “anointed their eyes” (Rev 3:18).

Revelation 2:1-29 and 3:1-22 show that there will be remnants of Thyatira, Sardis and Philadelphia in existence at the time of Christ’s Return. It is evident, however, that only those of Philadelphia will actually be Spirit-led people. So what this means is that those of Thyatira and Sardis are being warned that they need to repent long before Christ’s Return to have any hope of being protected through the Tribulation, as well as the more important hope of achieving final salvation in the kingdom of God.

Scripture shows that none of Laodicea survive the Tribulation. Those who purchased “gold tried in the fire” (Rev. 3:18) will die physically, but survive spiritually. Those who yield under pressure and take the mark of the Beast (Rev 13:15-17), to save their physical lives, will lose out on eternal life for failing to hold fast.

The above scriptures make obvious how interrelated the understanding of Church eras is with the place of safety. Anyone rejecting either one of these doctrines inevitably abandons the other.

Sobering Prophecy

Ezekiel 5:1-17 records a truly stunning prophecy concerning the nations of modern Israel in the coming Tribulation. We must carefully examine it for God’s promised protection of His faithful servants.

Eze 5:1 states, “And you, son of man, take you a sharp knife, take you a barber’s razor, and cause it to pass upon your head and upon your beard: then take you balances to weigh, and divide the hair.”

Eze 5:2 shows what is to happen to the portions of thirds: “You shall burn with fire a third partin the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and you shall take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part you shall scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.”

Eze 5:3 introduces a fascinating detail: “You shall also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in your skirts.” Eze 5:4 expounds on this: “Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.”

To understand this passage, we must allow the Bible to interpret itself. Eze 5:1 is thoroughly explained in Eze 5:12: “A third part of you shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of you: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about you; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.”

The first third of the populations of all modern Israelitish nations are foretold to perish from disease and famine. The second third will die from military invasion. Then, the final third attempt to escape—unsuccessfully. The majority of this surviving third are taken into captivity.

Notice the clarity with which Jeremiah records their fate: “And it shall come to pass, if they say unto you, Where shall we go forth? Then you shall tell them, Thus says the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity” (Jer 15:2).

The term “skirts” in Ezekiel 5:3 is from the Hebrew word kanaph, better translated “wings” (as noted in most Bible margins). This is the very same Hebrew word translated “wings” in Exodus 19:4, where God bore Israel on “eagles’ wings”! This parallels Revelation 12:14, in which the Church is taken to “her place” by the wings of an eagle. Ezekiel 5:4 shows that some who are initially protected will be cast back into the fire—the Tribulation.

“Blessed is he that waits…”

A passage in Daniel 12:1-13 reveals God’s Plan with His people: “Many shall be purified, and made white [righteous], and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand” (Dan 12:10). There are two times of trial to understand. One is already taking place and the other is future. The first involves God’s people, who are all being spiritually “purified, made white, and tried.” Their conversion is being purified. This process continues into the second trial—the Tribulation—which, recall, “shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” (Rev. 3:10), and the modern nations of Israel in particular—“the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7). Also recall the Revelation 12:13persecution of God’s Church by the devil.

Let’s look at three critical time periods. The Tribulation and Day of the Lord together last 1,260 days, or three and a half years before Christ’s Return. The others are “1,290 days” and “1,335 days.”

The 1,290 appears in Daniel 12:11: “And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the ABOMINATION THAT MAKES DESOLATE set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.” These are obviously also literal days, beginning with the setting up of the abomination of desolation—which is armies around Jerusalem. So then, with the Church to be protected for only 1,260 days, there are 30 days before it arrives at its designated place.

The 1,335-day period is introduced one verse later: “Blessed is he that waits, and comes to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days” (Dan 12:@12). What is this?

Starting 45 days before the 1,290-day mile-marker, the 1,335 date also counts down to the Return of Christ. This moment signals the end of God’s Work of preaching the true gospel for this age—the completion of the Matthew 24:14 commission—and the warning of the world’s greatest nations. The 1,335 is when the “call” goes out to God’s people to assemble for flight to safety. Then, when the abomination is set up—45 days later—events culminate in Jerusalem and the Church flees. The 45-day period permits the Church time to gather from around the world in what we will see to be Judea.

These periods begin with different events, but end with the same event—Christ’s Return! The following graph illustrates how these three durations of time overlap.