Church of God News

Huts in Fiji (photo by Merbabu)

COGwriter

Have you wondered where the safest place to be is in turbulent times? A while back, a secular source claims the following nations are the safest:

The 10 safest countries if World War Three breaks out

Following a string of terror attacks and violence, we take a look at the safest places if another world war broke out

1. Fiji:

The remote island nation of Fiji lies within the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean.

It keeps Fiji isolated from potential invaders.

It’s small in population, neutral in foreign affairs and does not have any resources to justify invasion.

2. Ireland …

3. Malta …

4. Denmark …

5. Iceland …

6. Chile …

7. Bhutan …

8. New Zealand …

9. Tuvalu …

10. Switzerland … http://pulse.com.gh/travel/revealed-the-10-safest-countries-if-world-war-three-breaks-out-id4438918.html

The above list is interesting as some of those lands and islands initially would not be impacted by World War III, but ultimately they would get affected.

Why?

Well, for one, the Bible warns that islands and coastal regions will end up with problems, so that eliminates or at least reduces the safety factors for many on that list. Consider that the Bible teaches the following:

11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. … 25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (Luke 21:11,25-26)

12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. (Revelation 6:12-14)

17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. (Revelation 16:17-20)

It will not only be the islands and coastal regions that are affected by these events, as even inland areas apparently will have flooding too (the Netherlands, a very low lying country, comes to mind as does the Florida Everglades). Chile, Bhutan, and Switzerland are mountainous and thus subject to being leveled. Iceland is sort of like a large mountainous island, so it is also at real biblical risk.

Because Denmark, Switzerland, and Ireland have many descendants of Israel, they are prophesied to be negatively affected, and will face issues from the coming Beast of the Sea of Revelation 13 (see Ezekiel 5:4 and the article Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel).

New Zealand, being inhabited by descendants of Ephraim, will be among the earlier casualties of World War III (see also Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel). It will NOT be a place of safety.

The author took a secular, carnal approach. The Bible warns:

6 For to be carnally minded is death…(Romans 8:6)

As Christians, we are to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). So, we look to the Bible for comments about protection and safety. Here are some:

22 But the Lord has been my defense, And my God the rock of my refuge. (Psalms 94:22)

25 The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe. (Proverbs 29:25)

15 He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly,
He who despises the gain of oppressions,
Who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes,
Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed,
And shuts his eyes from seeing evil:
16 He will dwell on high;
His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks;
Bread will be given him,
His water will be sure. (Isaiah 33:15-16)

Interestingly, the descriptions in the Bible of a place of safety during what some might refer to as WWIII refer to a rocky place in the wilderness in a location like part of southern Jordan (see There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra).

Of course, certain Protestants instead believe that they will be ‘raptured’ away from the earth prior to the start of the Great Tribulation. While that is their professed hope, the idea is NOT supported by the Bible and is in error (for many biblical details, check out the article Is There A Secret Rapture for the Church? When and Where is the Church Protected?).

It should probably be noted that although many in the COGs believe that they will either be protected where they are at, this is NOT what the Bible teaches (cf. Revelation 12:14-16). Most in the COGs will NOT be protected at all (Daniel 7:25b; Revelation 12:17)–only the remaining Philadelphian remnant will be (Revelation 3:10; see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra).

Christians do need to pray to be accounted worthy of the end time protection according to Jesus:

35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:35-36)

Jesus also said Christians needed to have the proper spiritual focus:

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 16:24-25)

Consider also that Jesus rebuked most of the Christians in the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation, indicating that they did not always have the right focus in supporting His work. Also, notice the following which clearly shows that not all Christians will be protected in the end:

17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:17)

Sadly, even most Christians will not do what they should in the end. That is why Jesus rebuked the Laodiceans and told them to change (Revelation 3:14-21). Laodicea is basically composed of two words which mean “people decide” and in these end times, most Christian people have decided not to support proper biblical church governance (see The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government) and doing the work of God in truth (Psalms 33:4; see also The Final Phase of the Work).

Anyway, some are claiming that Donald Trump’s election is triggering WWIII:

Nostradamus, a “seer” and French physician, well known for his large and famous collection of prophecies, is now believed by many to have predicted the rise to power of Donald Trump, along with his surprise victory in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. But sit tight. Because it’s not just a seat in the Oval Office for Trump that Nostradamus has predicted. He has also indicated that this could all end very badly for us indeed. How bad, you ask? Bad enough that it could trigger The End – World War III and a catastrophic nuclear holocaust.

So, where does Nostradamus make his bold predictions for the years 2016 and 2017? His followers claim that Donald Trump’s presidency is foretold in Quatrain 81, over 400 years ago.

“The great shameless, audacious bawler. He will be elected governor of the army: The boldness of his contention. The bridge broken, the city faint from fear.”

Does this sound like Trump? Many people believe that it does, and that his frequent attacks on Twitter, where he can often be found on ranting crusades are extremely similar to the character described in Quatrain 81. (Moore K. Nostradamus Shock 2016 And 2017 Predictions: Donald Trump Wins And World War III Begins. Inquistr, December 2, 2016. http://www.inquisitr.com/3762481/nostradamus-shock-2016-and-2017-predictions-donald-trump-wins-and-world-war-iii-begins/#dFKP32234KTWslab.99)

The reality is that although steps Donald Trump has and will take will help lead to World War III, WWIII, if WWIII is considered to be the start of the Great Tribulation it is not yet (watch also Will the Great Tribulation Start in 2017?).

Here is something about WWIII from the late Herbert W. Armstrong:

We’re in the rest period between world war two and world war three now, and everyone knows that world war three is coming. Next are to come the famines and the pestilences; we’ve been going into that. That is the next thing now to happen, and then:

The Great Tribulation, but just before the Great Tribulation, is going to be a flight of the people of God that are watching and praying always. In the book of Revelation in the second and the third chapters, you find the prophesies of the church of the God; …

Now we come down to the end of it, picturing the church as it is in our time and we have three of these churches that carry on and live until the end.

(5) SARDIS ERA

The first of those three, the Sardis church. That is the church that had the name that it was alive and the Church of God, they had the name The Church of God and yet it said ‘Thou art dead’. And of course speaking spiritually, it was dead spiritually. Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain and are ready to die, for I have not found thy works perfect before God. That is at the very beginning of the Sardis church, the good things aren’t said there because this is a puny, weak insignificant church that is spiritually dead.

And Jesus said, repent or I’ll come on you as the thief and you shall not know at what hour I shall come. When you read that my friends, that language ties in with what you will find, let me see, the seventeenth chapter of Luke and the twenty-fourth of Matthew and other places showing very well and very perfectly that it is referring to the second coming of Christ. So, there will be, the latter generation of that church (Sardis) in existence at the time of the second coming of Christ.”

(6) PHILADELPHIA ERA

“Now next however came the Philadelphia Church which does carry the mission of God to the world. Here’s a church from a physical point of view and physical power and strength is the weakest of all them. It’s the smallest. They have only a very little strength, the church at Philadelphia. So, He says, these things saith he that is holy [that is Christ] and he that is true, and he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works. [Now here was a church again that He could complimented on their works.] I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: [Now if you’ll check through your Bible in how God opens a door, He opens a door for the Apostle Paul to go to Europe and preach the Gospel. It is an open door, opening up the door to facilities, to methods, to opportunities to carry the Gospel. Here is the church that carries the Gospel of the Kingdom.., that had been hidden from the world. That carries it to the world.

For He says that thy hast a little strength. Yes, they have some strength but it’s little. They’re small, from a physical or human point of view, and have kept my word, there faithful and they keep his word and they obey God. And has not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, [It’s speaking spiritually, He is a Jew, said the Apostle Paul, who is one inwardly, and salvation is to the Jew first and then to the Gentile. So, it’s merely referring to those that say, they are Christians. When you get the real meaning of it.] And, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.”

“Now listen to this: (Rev 3:10) Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I will also keep thee from the hour of trial, [the word in the KJV is temptation but your margin will say trial, and it’s the time of Great Tribulation. I will keep you then from this time of The Great Tribulation] which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”

(Rev 3:11) Behold, I come quickly: [There again, it is a church that is right near the end of this age and the second coming of Christ and it is existing and doing its work before the coming of Christ.] He says, behold, I come quickly: hold fast to that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. He that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is the new Jerusalem. [That for the church, called the one of Philadelphia].

(7) LAODICEA ERA

“Now here comes the last one of all. And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.” [That doesn’t mean he was the first thing that God created or the first person. But it means that God created everything by and through Him if you get the words of the Bible. That He was the beginning of the creation because He did begin it and it was begun through Him.]

“Now, of this church, God says ‘I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:’ [Here’s the lukewarm church ‘I would thou wert cold or hot.’ Now here are people that know the truth. Here are people that think that they have everything spiritually that they could want.] ‘So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.’ Says Jesus Christ. ‘Because thou sayest,’ [This is what the people of this church thinks.] Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, [in other words spiritually rich, we have knowledge that the people have not had before.]”

“You know, at the end time, knowledge is to increase. And the wise are to understand but none of the wicked will understand. If these people were not people that were obedient to God, and that have repented of sin which is the transgression of God’s laws, of God’s rule, God’s sovereignty, they would not be His church!”

These are commandment keeping people or they wouldn’t be called the church of God in the first place. But, these are the lukewarm commandment keepers, these are the people that have known the truth, they are the people that realize that knowledge is being revealed today that was not known by the Apostles, and just as Jesus said to them when they were just disciples, students or learners, He said, “many of the prophets of old have desired to know,” to have knowledge of the things that I am revealing to you, the things you can know now and they could not know them, they were hid from them. Now, technological and scientific, mechanical knowledge is being increased today but also, so is spiritual knowledge.”

And then in the twelfth chapter of Daniel, the angel said this: Many shall be purified and made white and tried. It’s a time of trial. Yes, and with the ‘Great Tribulation’ coming we are certainly in that time. …

Now, in concluding this prophecy, Jesus said, as you find recorded in verse thirty-six:

“Watch ye therefore, and pray always,” In other word, don’t be lukewarm, but you better be really hot, spiritually and in your zeal for THE THINGS FOR GOD AND THE WORK OF GOD “that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

(Armstrong HW. History of the True Church, Part 7. http://www.hwalibrary.com/cgi-bin/get/hwa.cgi?action=getbroadcast&InfoID=1332783803)

Most Christians will not be protected.

The top ten list will not provide real safety between the start of the Great Tribulation and the return of Jesus.

Because of a coming peace deal (see Daniel 9:27 and also The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27), it is likely that more Christians will become complacent and not believe that the end will be near, when in fact it will be the closest it has ever been and will be imminent.

Those without a COG background, as well as some of those with one, may find the following from the late evangelist Dr. Herman Hoeh of interest:

IF WORLD WAR III COMES – There Is a Way of Escape

You need to be prepared. …

Jesus’ Amazing Prophecy

Let’s notice Jesus’ prophecy of the “times of the Gentiles” in Luke 21:24.

When speaking of the Jews, Jesus told His disciples that “they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations, and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”

This prophecy is not speaking of a period of peace, but of war. It is a message for our day — a time when the Gentiles are conquering and destroying, when they are ruling themselves contrary to the way of God who is Creator and RULER. …

Remember what Jesus said in Luke 21:24? That Jerusalem would be trodden down of the Gentiles until the very completion of the times of the Gentiles!

Since Zechariah 14:1-3 shows that Jesus Christ will return in order to deliver Jerusalem from the Gentiles, it is plain that THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST WILL PUT AN END TO THE TIMES OF PUNISHMENT ON THE GENTILE BABYLONISH SYSTEM! (Isaiah 27:13; I Cor. 15:52.) Then God will send His Son to rule the world!

As Christ said, of the second coming, “But of that day and hour, knoweth no man!” But … world-occurrences warn us that … it is very near! …

Way of Escape

But in this end-time of turmoil there is a place of safety-if you heed-until Christ does bring us peace.

It’s a vital part of the gospel of the soon-coming Kingdom of God! Jesus said, ” … except those days were SHORTENED, there should no flesh be saved!” (Mat. 24:22.) But He went on to say that God would supernaturally cut short the days, for the sake of the ELECT!

That is our only real hope for survival!

The intervention of God! Jesus Christ promised protection to His own elect! He PROMISED they would survive the prophesied holocaust to strike this unsuspecting world!

WHO are the Elect?

He said, “FEAR NOT, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12: 32).

He promised that somewhere on this earth, right now, there would be His own WORK! That work would be faith· fully performed, He promised, by His own true followers, who KNOW HIS VOICE, who would be preaching…”the Gospel of the Kingdom” as a WITNESS TO the WHOLE WORLD!

They would be preaching it, chapter- by-chapter, verse-by-verse, word-by-word, just exactly as it really IS, not as they might interpret it to be, or any man, woman, or organization of men or women would like to have it preached!

You NEED TO FIND WHERE THAT WORK IS BEING CARRIED ON! Why? Because it is ONLY THOSE who have an absolute guarantee of safety! The very elect are those who are the called and chosen, who have truly RE-PENTED of their own carnal ways, and have accepted the Holy ways of God! They are the ones who have been made members of the very BODY of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 12:13) performing HIS WORK! Jesus speaks of these faithful ones, in the Book of Revelation.

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia [the prophesied end-time Church of God, doing the work of God) write: … ‘I know thy works , behold, I have set before thee an open door II (Rev, 3:7-8).

The Apostle Paul spoke of a door flung open before him to PREACH THE GOSPEL (II Cor. 2:12). Remember, Jesus promised, “This Gospel of the Kingdom SHALL be preached in all the world . .. ” (Mat. 24:14), and promised to make a way for that message of hope and good news to go-by flinging open the massive DOORS of radio, the printing press, television, and personal evangelism. He promised those doors would remain , …. and no man can shut it, for thou has a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name” (Rev, 3:8), Yes, the very elect would NEVER become corrupted by false doctrines, or be muzzled by boards of men-it would not deny the name of Jesus Christ, or His true doctrine! (Hoeh H. If World War III Comes–There is a Way of Escape. Plain Truth, June 1963)

Let me interject here that the Continuing Church of God is now getting that gospel out over the printing press, radio, YouTube television videos, personal evangelism, and the internet. We represent the remnant of the Philadelphia portion of the Church of God that Dr. Hoeh mentions below:

Later, Jesus gave the exhilarating GOOD NEWS to those faithful ones who put the WORK of God far above their own personal considerations. He said “Because thou hast KEPT the word of my patience, I ALSO WILL KEEP THEE FROM THE HOUR OF TEMPTATION [TRIBULATION) WHICH SHALL COME UPON ALL THE WORLD, TO TRY THEM THAT DWELL ON THE EARTH!” (Rev. 3:10) . Yes , Jesus promised SAFETY. He promises supernatural PROTECTION to His own elect.

On the Wings of an Eagle

Eagle God brought the ancient Israelites out of Egypt on symbolic “eagles’ wings.” This symbolizes the loving care and protection of God for His own children. Notice, now, an amazing prophecy. It is about the same Church of God addressed in the promise of protection we have just read in Revelation 3.

“And to the woman [the Church) were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time from the face of the serpent” (Rev. 12:14), In this end-time prophecy, John writes of the last, end-time REMNANT Church which is to ESCAPE the terrible WAR and tribulation that will soon strike our heedless people, They are, just as the ancient Israelites, carried to a place of SAFETY … in the wilderness by the supernatural power of Almighty God, their Banner, their Shield, their Prorector!

Where Will They GO?

Now notice another amazing prophecy. Daniel was inspired to write of this impending nuclear war, and its immediate aftermath. He describes the rising BEAST power in Europe, a coming resurrection of the ancient ROMAN EMPIRE, symbolized as the “King of the North.” But the European power crushes and occupies these poorly equipped up-start countries.

“And at the time of the end [NOT back during the days of the Seleucidae of Syria)… the king of the north shall come… like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships, and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.

“He shall enter also into the glorious land [Palestine], and many countries shall be overthrown, but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edam and Moab and the chief of the children of Ammon” (Dan. 11:40-41).

Why are these areas spared?

For a very special reason!

A PLACE of Protection

God promises His people will be flourished, provided for, in the “wilderness”! He will supernaturally protect them, carrying them safely there on symbolic “eagles’ wings. ” They may be taken by air, sea or land-the Bible doesn’t sayBut where is this “wilderness” place God is readying?

Many Bible statements indicate it is in the areas anciently occupied by the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites, southeast of Jerusalem, in the rugged, barren mountains beyond the Dead Sea — the modern country of Transjordan (Dan. 11:41 and Isaiah 16:4-5).

Regardless of WHERE the “place” is that God’s Church is nourished and protected during these perilous times described in so many dozens of prophecies — the way to make sure you are going there is clear!

To those who will truly repent of wanting their own way, and who will come to God through Jesus Christ and His sacrifice, He promises spiritual, supernatural, MIRACULOUS shelter!

Does this sound fantastic? Does it sound incredible? Have we strayed so far from our RULER and our SAVIOUR that we think Him UNABLE to save us? Is it ridiculous to most today to really believe in God above and His supernatural protection — His divine INTERVENTION in our own personal lives?

Of course not!

He is our Fortress! He is our Rock! He is our GOD! He will supernaturally bring His people to a place of safety! (Hoeh H. If World War III Comes–There is a Way of Escape. Plain Truth, June 1963)

Let me add that there are also other reasons that those regions will be spared as it is likely that they will work with the the King of the North against the final King of the South (cf. Daniel 11:25-26).

More on this place of protection can be found in the article There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra; there is also a video on the subject: Might Petra be the Place of Safety? Here is something related in the Spanish language: Hay un lugar de seguridad para los Filadelfinos. ¿Puede ser Petra?

There will be a place of physical protection during the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord for the Philadelphian remnant of Christians, but it will not seem to be in any of the top ten nations that some believe would be safest.

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This entry was posted on Monday, December 19th, 2016 at 12:01 am and is filed under Prophecy.

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