PART THREE – WHO WILL GOD PROTECT?

Next Part The Crucial Role of Patience

Civilization will soon experience untold—and almost entirely now UNSEEN—calamity! Almost no one envisions what is coming on the entire western world, and later the whole world. Troubles and difficulties are mounting worldwide, and will soon spin completely out of man’s control. Yet nothing is out of God’s control! He has a Master Plan, involving 6,000 years in which man is learning that he cannot rule himself or solve his problems and ills apart from God.

Of course, the wonderful world tomorrow lies beyond the terrible time foretold to strike the whole world soon—and, as you have seen, suddenly. But only a small percentage of the world’s population will live through oncoming events into that time. You have seen that God will take faithful Christians to a specially-prepared place of safe protection, and keep them from the “hour of trial,” which will come on the “whole earth.” We have learned that their flight will occur before horrendous, earth-jarring, supernatural punishment strikes all nations.

But we have also learned that even some of God’s people will not be protected. Like the vast numbers caught unprepared when atomic bombs struck two Japanese cities at the end of World War II, and when millions of Jews lost their lives because they could not believe the Nazis capable of a holocaust, many today will be unnecessarily swept away into suffering punishment and death when they could have been protected—could have survived!

Rev 6:9 to 11 of Revelation 6:1-17 describe the opening of the fifth seal—the Great Tribulation. This passage symbolically paints a grim picture of martyred Christians from previous ages awaiting a final time when “their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” Revelation 12:17 identifies who these “fellow servants” are. We have seen that they are described as “the remnant of her [the Church’s] seed”—those that “keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” While Rev 12:13 to 16 describe those whom God will protect, Rev 12:17 identifies those who will not be protected. This remnant is directly persecuted by Satan, as he “makes war” with them, eventually causing their death.

Understand! As we learned in the previous section, including the inset about Church eras, even some true Christians will not escape the devil’s wrath in the Tribulation!

This is most serious! Think of it. If even certain true servants of God will not be spared from coming martyrdom, because their conduct and beliefs are deficient in various ways from what God expects, then He must have very high standards for those He DOES select for protection. Your life hangs in the balance. Quite literally, if you miscalculate or falsely assume, the personal price you pay could be catastrophic. It is time we WAKE UP to what is at stake!

Grasp this! You have a personal responsibility—and the remainder of this booklet covers basic, vital points that you must know, if you hope to escape what others will not! Also recognize that, however important, just “keeping the commandments of God” (Rev. 12:17) is not enough to be protected from—to escape—the devil’s angry attack. Although the world ignores or rejects this great spiritual law altogether, God requires far more than just this essential but basic obedience to escape the coming times of world trial.

You Have a Responsibility

We have seen that the rapture theory has no biblical basis whatsoever. But this may not be the worst part of this false doctrine. Consider for a moment. Merely waiting to be whisked away -mysteriously vacuumed into heaven—produces a carefree and careless attitude in those awaiting Christ’s Return. This thinking subtly defeats the need for any personal responsibility—for taking action in a host of vital areas of Christian conduct and behaviour. Tragically, millions are now being set up to “Simply believe in Christ, and He will take care of everything else.”

This is short-sighted, dangerous thinking! It is also very irresponsible. Recall that the Bible instructs God’s people to “Watch you therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36).

Numerous verses demonstrate that Christianity involves active effort. True conversion does not allow for passive by standing. Of course, just the act of escaping implies effort. But Luke records that one must do at least two other specific things for escape to be possible: “WATCH…and PRAY always”! This further introduces the need for taking action and accepting personal responsibility!

Watch and Pray

Take Christ’s instruction at face value. There is no room in Luke 21:36 for disinterest, or even passive semi-interest, in the exact sequence of crucial events, as they lead up to the fulfilment of the greatest single prophecy in the Bible—Christ’s Return. All who wish to truly be God’s servants—and to stand before Christ in His kingdom—will be found carefully WATCHING for many specific trends and events, either occurring now or lying just over the horizon.

The Restored Church of God has prepared many tools to help you look ahead to—and carefully WATCH—BIG EVENTS, soon to EXPLODE on the world scene! I urge you to develop a burning interest in what will happen and to learn while there is still time. Determine to grasp, with full understanding, how and in what order these events will occur. Nothing less will do.

Luke also said to “pray always.” Obviously, prayer—“effectual [poured out], fervent [intense] prayer” (James. 5:16)—requires real effort. Such prayer is not done automatically or easily, and you must set your hand to learn how to do it and to WORK at it.

Most people have no idea how to pray, or even that they should regularly talk to God. That is what prayer is—talking to God. Most offer empty, canned, self-righteous platitudes, repeating the same thing over and over, contrary to Christ’s teaching (Matt. 6:7). Others merely pray selfish prayers, reflecting the “gimmes.” Still others seem to confuse thinking “happy thoughts” or “positive thinking” with prayer. Of course, these are good, if correctly based. But they are not prayer!

Take time to read our straightforward article “The Keys to Dynamic Prayer.” It will forever change the way you view the powerful, personal tool of prayer. Also take the time to learn how to study God’s Word, and to meditate on what you are reading, sometimes accompanied with fasting. (We also offer vital, thorough, helpful articles on all these topics.) You can understand and master these tools. Done effectively, they will change—and SAVE—your life!

Real Faith Is Vital!

Paul writes, “Without FAITH it is impossible to please [God]” (Heb. 11:6). This incredibly blunt statement is in the Bible. Once again, take this passage for exactly what it says. Then recognize that the Bible teaches (in both the Old and New Testaments) that “the just shall live by His faith” (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17).

Many of the Bible’s greatest prophecies lead to and culminate in Christ’s Second Coming. While His establishing of the kingdom of God will be the most wonderful event the world has ever seen, what precedes it will be something vastly different. Humanity is hurtling toward untold catastrophe. Tumultuous events will soon engulf every society, every nation—affecting the lives of every human being on earth. Even for the strong, with events simultaneously overlapping and crescen doing, it will take immense trust—real FAITH!—in God’s power to avoid panic, and to hold steady, simply believing His promises. Surely, there is no time in human history when the need for true faith would be greater than when these prophecies begin to unfold.

Therefore, Christ asks this all-important and open question about faith, directed to each person who will consider it in the time just prior to His Return: “When the Son of man comes, shall He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).

God wants you to rely on Him—to trust Him completely in everything. Remember. You really have no choice if you hope to please Him. In the near future, when others are gripped by fear, uncertainty and confusion, their whole world collapsing around them and having no idea where to turn for answers, God does not want His people to fret, worry or agonize over what will happen next—or to themselves. Think of it this way. One of the greatest things that you really should worry about is if you do not overcome worry. God promises to provide your every need if you believe Him, trust Him and wait on Him without doubting. Having done this, you should EXPECT Him to continually deliver you, no matter how impossible your personal circumstances may become! (Take time to read our booklet What Is Real Faith?)