God's Appointed Place-Of-Safety

guysmith said:

God's appointed Place-of-Safety

Isaiah 10:20
In that day the remnant of Israel, the survivors of the house of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who struck them down but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.

Joel 2:32
And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors
whom the LORD calls.

Isaiah 31:4
This is what the LORD says to me: "As a lion growls, a great lion over his prey— and though a whole band of shepherds is called together against him, he is not frightened by their shouts
or disturbed by their clamor— so the LORD Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights.
5 Like birds hovering overhead, the LORD Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will 'pass over' it and will rescue it."

Guy

Click to expand...

Zechariah 12: 8-10

8 In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.
9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

In can be argued that God promises eternal safety, but not necessarily Earthly safety.

That being said, there have been some interesting 'safety' issues throughout history wherein those who have been faithful to the Lord's commands were kept safe even when common sense dictated otherwise. One of them happened in the city of Nanking, China in 1937-38.

In December of 1937, the Japanese army conquered the capital of China, which was Nanking at the time. There followed seven weeks of the most brutal and horrendous personal atrocities by the Japanese that have ever been recorded in human history. Between 350,000 and 400,000 men, women and children were raped and murdered by the Japanese; all of it under the awareness and approval of the Japanese government and the royal family. In those days, in the city of Nanking, more people died at the hand of the Japanese than died from the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined.

When it became obvious that the Chinese army was losing the fight to defend Nanking, the foreign diplomats of America, Britain, France and Germany all prepared to evacuate the city. A few western Christians, who felt it necessary to set up a 'safety zone', began to make plans and preparations to remain in the city. They persuaded several other westerners to remain with them and assist in the effort. One of them was a NAZI party leader who was so horrified at the Japanese brutalities that he chose to throw in with the Christians. He was later called the Oscar Schindler of the east.

The diplomatic leaders repeatedly warned the founders of the 'safety zone' that their lives were in jeopardy and insisted that they evacuate as well. The Christians refused and so the corporate leaders and diplomatic staff boarded the USS Panay for the trip down the Yangtzee River to Shanghai and the Pacific Ocean. Shortly after departure, Japanese aircraft bombed and sank the USS Panay despite the fact that America was neutral at the time. Not one of the Christians who remained to operate the 'safety zone' lost their lives despite the horrible war crimes of the Japanese Army which surrounded them.

Safety in Jesus? Could be something to this rumor.

[email protected] said:

In can be argued that God promises eternal safety, but not necessarily Earthly safety.

That being said, there have been some interesting 'safety' issues throughout history wherein those who have been faithful to the Lord's commands were kept safe even when common sense dictated otherwise. One of them happened in the city of Nanking, China in 1937-38.

In December of 1937, the Japanese army conquered the capital of China, which was Nanking at the time. There followed seven weeks of the most brutal and horrendous personal atrocities by the Japanese that have ever been recorded in human history. Between 350,000 and 400,000 men, women and children were raped and murdered by the Japanese; all of it under the awareness and approval of the Japanese government and the royal family. In those days, in the city of Nanking, more people died at the hand of the Japanese than died from the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined.

When it became obvious that the Chinese army was losing the fight to defend Nanking, the foreign diplomats of America, Britain, France and Germany all prepared to evacuate the city. A few western Christians, who felt it necessary to set up a 'safety zone', began to make plans and preparations to remain in the city. They persuaded several other westerners to remain with them and assist in the effort. One of them was a NAZI party leader who was so horrified at the Japanese brutalities that he chose to throw in with the Christians. He was later called the Oscar Schindler of the east.

The diplomatic leaders repeatedly warned the founders of the 'safety zone' that their lives were in jeopardy and insisted that they evacuate as well. The Christians refused and so the corporate leaders and diplomatic staff boarded the USS Panay for the trip down the Yangtzee River to Shanghai and the Pacific Ocean. Shortly after departure, Japanese aircraft bombed and sank the USS Panay despite the fact that America was neutral at the time. Not one of the Christians who remained to operate the 'safety zone' lost their lives despite the horrible war crimes of the Japanese Army which surrounded them.

Safety in Jesus? Could be something to this rumor.

Click to expand...

Richard:

The late fr. Malachi Martin produced a book documenting the exorcism of 5 living Americans. His first story addresses some of the (literal) evil seen in Nanking during that time. It concurs with what you have said in your post.

The book "Hostage to the Devil" is still in print and used copies are also available. It is not recommended reading for the faint of heart.

It gives us a glimpse into the spiritual world and testifies of the absolute power of Jesus Christ , and the power of his Name when used in prayer by the Christian. For those strong in the faith, it is a good educational tool.

Best regards

Martin

guysmith said:

God's appointed Place-of-Safety

Isaiah 10:20
In that day the remnant of Israel, the survivors of the house of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who struck them down but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.

Joel 2:32
And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors
whom the LORD calls.

Isaiah 31:4
This is what the LORD says to me: "As a lion growls, a great lion over his prey— and though a whole band of shepherds is called together against him, he is not frightened by their shouts
or disturbed by their clamor— so the LORD Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights.
5 Like birds hovering overhead, the LORD Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will 'pass over' it and will rescue it."

Guy

Click to expand...

I've dealt with this idea from Guy on another Forum. And my message is the same here too.

The Isaiah 10;20 verse is for AFTER Christ's return.

Joel 2:32 also is for AFTER Christ's return and our gathering to Him in Jerusalem.

Isaiah 31:4 is about the future when God will bring a consuming fire upon the earth to destroy the armies that will come upon Israel out of the northern quarters, per Ezekiel 38 & 39, i.e., Armageddon timing. Those events are prophesied to occur at the time of Christ's return per Zechariah 14 and Revelation 11:15 forward, and Revelation 16.

But what is to happen in Jerusalem JUST PRIOR to Christ's return? Will there be deliverance for those in Jerusalem that fall away to bow to the false messiah? No. Our Lord Jesus even warned us who live in other countries to stay away from that area when the armies of His enemies compass it around...

Luke 21:20-24
20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
24 And 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.
(KJV)

Anyone here know what our Lord meant by "But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck"?

That's the blessed are the barren metaphor our Lord Jesus gave in Luke 23:26-31, quoting from Isaiah 54. It's meant in the spiritual sense, not the literal physical sense. It's linked to the spiritual harlot and spiritual virgin metaphors in God's Word.

If you remain a spiritual virgin to Christ during the coming tribulation, you won't be 'with child' spiritually. Your spiritual womb will remain barren. To be found 'with child' (spiritually) when Christ does return, means you had bowed in false worship to another, instead of remaining a "chaste virgin" waiting for Christ's return.

Thusly, those that are in Jerusalem caught spiritually "with child" when Christ returns there, are going to suffer Christ's WRATH, all because they fell away to worship the false messiah who appears in Jerusalem first.

So no, Jerusalem will NOT be a place of deliverance during the tribulation, nor for those caught "with child" when Christ does return there. But after His return, those gathered to Him there will have deliverance and be saved, along with the devout of Jerusalem.

guysmith said:

veteran,

My question to you is: how can the following prophecy by Joel....

....
...be fulfilled if there is no one (Chrisitian or God fearing Jew which have not taken the "mark-of-the-beast) left in Jerusalem based on your position from Luke 21?

Click to expand...

The timeline of that section of Joel 2 is not that difficult to understand...

Joel 2:18-32
18 Then will the LORD be jealous for His land, and pity His people.

What's the context of the Book of Joel been prior to this section of Joel 2:18-32? It's about the locust army being sent upon God's people and their land involving a judgment, their becoming a reproach by being subdued under the power of the heathen. But AT THIS VERSE, that changes!

19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto His people, "Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:"

No more a reproach upon His people by the heathen. The subject of their being subdued changes. That means the power of Christ's enemies having ended.

20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.

Then God gives a specific time marker. The great army out of the northern quarters is about Gog and his band of Ezekiel 38-39 coming upon the mountains of Israel, and God stepping in to destroy that great army. Israel will be burying the bones of that army for seven months after that event, and the burial place will be called Hamongog. God's destruction upon that army is the supper of the great God mentioned at the end of Rev.19, which also coincides with Christ's second coming on a white horse as written there too. Not difficult at all to understand that's the timing our Heavenly Father is speaking of there in Joel 2:20.

21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.

The destruction of that northern army will be a great thing God will do, a miracle even, and it's going to get the attention of all nations and peoples on earth that are left. The purpose for it is to show Who really is The God. That's part of God's Message in the Ezek.39 chapter involving that day of destruction. God is going to claim His people, and the lands He promised Israel's fathers.

22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.
23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for He hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

Per the Joel context, when will all that happen? AFTER that destruction of the northern army He mentioned in verse 20.

25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, My great army which I sent among you.

There it is. God has promised He will RESTORE to them what that locust army devoured. But when, before the northern army's destruction? Of course not, but AFTER He destroys that locust army.

26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, That hath dealt wondrously with you: and My people shall never be ashamed.
27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and My people shall never be ashamed.

That's about the restoration of Israel, even points to Rev.20 through 22 about God coming to dwell in the midst of His saints, with the new Jerusalem on earth. Those who wait on His coming will never be ashamed, meaning the five wise virgins who do not fall away from Him in the end.

28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
(KJV)

When Apostle Peter quoted the above 28-32 verse on Pentecost in Acts 2, he said "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel". Pentecost was only an 'example' of this prophecy from Joel about God pouring out of His Spirit upon the remnant whom He would call. It does NOT mean the Joel prophecy was fulfilled on Pentecost day in Acts 2, simply because those Joel verses include the topic of signs leading up to the day of the LORD, i.e., the time of Christ's second coming. The Pentecost event was 1st century A.D. timing, and here we still are today awaiting Christ's second coming and the restoration of all things under Him.

In Luke 21, Christ is warning His servants (Christians) in Judea to get out of that area when they see those armies surrounding Jerusalem. Per Josephus, many of the Christians there actually did flee Judea when they saw the Roman armies surrounding Jerusalem in 70 A.D., and that serves as a blueprint for the future final fulfillment of that which is yet to come with the final Antichirst.

You simply are failing to rightly divide the timeline of that Joel Scripture.