[And I tend to think the saints will be warred with (spiritually) and losing at the close of the age, another hour of darkness (with concrete signs given ahead of it so those alive and remaining at the time can avoid),
What do you think this avoidance will look like? Molly and others have been posting about warning people of some things that appear to be coming, and in fact, some are already here - just not everyone has seen them clearly yet. I guess most won't, until it's actually experienced. Then many will still curse God and not repent. Some are teaching for believers to prepare for the period of tribulation. Some are "hiding away". I remember about 20 years ago a fine Christian woman told me there had been a vision or a word that folks in her circle would have a place to go, to be sheltered. Others say don't worry about it, God will provide/take care of us. Which I believe He will - but sometimes He may do so, at lest for some, by giving them a "heads-up", wisdom, and the means by which to prepare. I think of the warnings in Matthew 24 - whether some of that has been fulfilled or not - to steal away to the mountains, etc. For others, He may ask them to do nothing besides simply trust Him, and He'll simply fully miraculously deliver them.
Surely many will be supernaturally protected, yet too Rev 20:4b seems to indicate many will suffer. Or I think "be caught unaware". Yet I think many of God's children hold pieces to the puzzle and if they can perhaps put those pieces together..
To me it seems important the specific signs Jesus said "when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know it is nigh, right at the door" and of course that goes right along with Rev 16:14-16 (note vs 15 tucked right in between 14 and 16)
--14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs.. to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
---15 "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments," (faith!)
"lest he walk naked and they see his shame."
--16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.And remember too how Jesus wept over Jerusalem and said to Jerusalem
"you shall not see me again until you say `blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD`" - Implying when they do say such (i.e.believe) is when He will return. Also, imo, by that time, also applies rev 12:17
Then the other clear sign things are imminent, Jesus which said, "
when you see the abomination which desolates `set-up`.." likely in Israel first.. (It doesn't matter to last days, what past abominations were). Then He mentions Daniel, and says "
whoso reads, let him understand"!
And what was it Daniel said about an abomination which makes desolate?
Daniel 12:11,12
--"11 "
From the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days." OR, "three years and seven months after the daily sacrifice is taken away"
(note: the years are made up of Hebrew months, the 7th month is a leap month?)
Then verse 12 -
---"12
Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days." Which is 45 days later.
Can you see it? It's 'set-up' but some happy event 45 days later, stops it.
The Amplified Bible says in the margin that the
abomination which desolates is the 66 & 6 apparatus or whatever one wants to call it. And that reverberated (clicked) for me. I'm never
happy in my studies and prayerful studies until it
C L I C K S in my spirit as T R U E. Just the way my mind works, I can't be happy when investigating until that point. (Otherwise restless with it, as is likely true for many others).
If someone should know the signs (my grandchildren? Though some recent events are causing me to rethink "when".) Why not take some preparations as they see the day approaching? Forty five days cannot buy or sell.. I'm thinking it escalates into Rev 20:4b (beheadings).. I'm thinking for the last "ten days". Although perhaps it could start earlier. Rev 2:10 refers to "ten days tribulation"...
Then of course Mt 24 says "immediately aFter the tribulation of those days.."
But mostly, for me, it's the sign Jesus gave "when you see the abomination which desolates, which Daniel spoke of.." (Daniel spoke of it twice, but imo, verses 12:11 and 12, have the most to do with 'end' days prophecy.)
What form of avoidance? I would think individual..
Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. --2 Thess 6-8
What does it mean to 'not obey the gospel' of our Lord Jesus?
According to the context of Hebrews chapter 4 which goes into it quite a bit, I believe it means to not "enter His rest" of believing we are saved by grace, by the
finished work of Jesus, who is now "our rest", instead of believing we are somehow good enough to earn our noble way in. Hebrews 4:1-3 and all Hebrews 4, says the message must be mixed with faith, and therefor it seems to me at His return (according to 2 Thess 1:6-8) it would be those not believing "saved by grace"/the finished work of Jesus, and by that time these ones are critically persecuting those who do.. Does this mean some 'churches' of the world will join in that persecuting? I do think so, as I think I see the spirit of it in the world already.