Intro to the End Times is a series walking through some of the key themes of the story of Jesus’ return from a historic premillennial perspective, with special focus on knowing the heart of Jesus as we partner with God through the most dramatic chapter of human history.
(Personal update: Hey, guys! I didn’t plan to take such a long break from this series, but I’m excited to be back. Over the past couple of months, in addition to traveling home to spend Christmas with my family and running a year-end partnership campaign, I posted a series of short videos about the beauty of Jesus on my Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram, which you saw if you are on my email list! I also started teaching a semester-long course on the Song of Solomon at The Prayer Room.)
What About the Church?
In my last post, I walked through all 21 of the major judgments of Revelation (7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowls). Most people, upon hearing all of this, immediately have this one question: What about the church?
First, let’s address the question of protection. Will the church experience the full brunt of the judgments the same as the rest of the world? NO! We may experience some of the side effects, and certainly life will be difficult in many ways, but God has promised to protect us from the harshest judgments.
Protected in the Midst
The first thing to keep in mind is that the judgments are aimed at the antichrist and his kingdom, not the church. God is not judging His own people. The judgments are a righteous response to the massive unrighteousness, injustice, and bloodshed of the kingdom of darkness.
Often, those who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture (which I do not) cite 2 Thessalonians 5:9, which says, “For God has not destined us for wrath…” as evidence that the church will not be on earth during the time of God’s wrath. To that, I would point out the context, which says that the church will not be surprised as by a thief in the night (this verse was discussed in detail in an earlier post), which is kind of a big point in favor of a post-tribulation rapture. But at the same time, I agree wholeheartedly with this verse, because even though there will be Christians on earth during the period of the tribulation, we will most certainly not be under the wrath of God! He will actually be protecting us in dramatic ways, just as He has done for His people throughout history.
Scripture contains a number of foreshadowings of this kind of end time protection, as well as some specific and clear end time promises for the church.
The Model of the Exodus
Describing the end times, God refers back to the exodus and says He will do those kinds of things again (Mic. 7:17). This refers not only the dramatic judgments on the wicked, but the dramatic deliverance for the righteous. Just as God preserved the Israelites in the region of Goshen while sending plagues on the Egyptians, He will once again protect His people in supernatural ways.
“As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show them marvelous things.”
(Micah 7:17)“But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth. Thus I will put a division between my people and your people.”
(Exodus 8:22-23)
The Model of the Ark
Another major reference point is the flood. Matthew 24:36-42 and 2 Peter 3:3-7 compare the sudden, shocking judgment of the flood to the judgments of the end times. 1 Peter 2:5-9 adds to this comparison by highlighting the preservation of Noah in the ark. God is fully capable of making distinction and aiming His judgments at the wicked while simultaneously preserving the righteous. He knows every hair on your head. He knows how to strike your next door neighbor and not you.
“If he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly…then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment.”
(1 Peter 2:5-9)
The Seal of God
In Revelation 7, right before the trumpet judgments start, an angel places a seal on the foreheads of believers. The trumpets are significantly more supernatural and destructive than the seal judgments that came before, so this is perfect timing for some upgraded protection! By the fifth trumpet judgment, when demon locusts rise from the abyss to sting people, we see that those with the seal are protected.
“Then I saw another angel… saying, ‘Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.'”
(Revelation 7:2-3)“Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. They were told… to harm… only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.”
(Revelation 9:3-4)
Protection in the House of Prayer
The Bible has specific promises of protection for those who dwell in the house of the Lord. This applies most specifically to houses of prayer– sacred spaces set apart to host His presence in night and day corporate prayer and worship. These communities, especially within those walls, will be supernaturally protected in a unique way.
To “dwell” in His house or shelter isn’t just a synonym for “saved”. Many saved people don’t have this lifestyle. As Jesus’ return draws nearer, the understanding and expression of Christianity will come to revolve more and more around this kind of prayer-centered community. His house WILL be called a house of prayer (Isa. 56:7, Mt. 21:13).
“One thing have I asked of the LORD… that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life… For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.”
(Psalm 27:4-5)“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty… Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.”
(Psalm 91:1, 9-10)
More Biblical Examples
Think of other biblical examples of protection that you know of:
- Israelites protected at Passover (Ex. 12)
- Three men protected in the fire (Da. 3)
- Daniel protected in the lions’ den (Da. 6)
- Elisha protected by an angelic army (2 Ki. 6:14-18)
- Jesus protected from the mob (Lk. 4:28-30)
- Apostles freed from prison (Ac. 5:17-21; 16:25-27)
- Paul protected from the snake bite (Ac. 28:3-6)
What about examples of provision?
- Manna, quail, and water in the wilderness (Ex. 15:22-27; 16; 17:1-7)
- The ravens feeding Elijah (1 Ki. 17:1-7)
- The multiplication of the oil (1 Ki. 17:8-16)
- The feedings of the 4000 and 5000 (Mt. 14:13-21; 15:32-38)
- The money in the fish’s mouth (Mt. 17:24-27)
Everything in the end times is more heightened than at any other time in history– including supernatural protection and provision. We will see these kinds of miracles again as God cares for His people in the middle of the storm!
Saying No to Fear
For the church, the end times isn’t about fear. We can be confident in the Lord no matter what comes. The same truths we look to now will apply even more strongly in that day:
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”
(Psalm 23:4)“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
(Psalm 27:1)“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea.”
(Psalm 46:1-2)“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
(2 Timothy 1:7)“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.”
(1 John 4:18)
For the church, the end times will be our finest hour as the Spirit is poured out in fullness with global revival (Jo. 2:28-32), and we get to receive the supernatural protection and provision of God. While the rest of the world is fainting from fear (Lk. 21:26), we will be radiant (Ps. 34:4-5) with joy and confidence as we partner with God in all the purposes of His heart!
