My heart has been so heavy lately thinking about my friends and family who are too stubborn to believe in Jesus and His promises. It came to me that I might help them become saved before it was too late by describing the events of the 70th week and asking them “How many of these things would you have to see with your own eyes before you believe?”
My question is, if they do become saved after the rapture, can they then “Flee into the mountains” as somewhere to be protected until the end of the tribulation? Should this even be recommended to them? Or will they simply not make it there because it wasn’t meant for them, since they are not “those who are in Judea?”
Many scholars believe the mountains the Lord was talking about are in southern Jordan east of the Dead Sea, near the city of Petra. He was speaking to Jewish people in Israel who are only a short distance from there. This is the believing remnant of Israel who will be protected for the duration of the Great Tribulation (Rev. 12:13-15). The rest of the world will have to take refuge where they can when it becomes necessary.
I say this because it appears that God will not extend any special protection for other believers during the Great Tribulation, but will allow events to run their course. In Rev. 13:9-10 He said,
“Whoever has ears, let them hear. If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed.
This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.”