When we speak of "the end of the world" and "the apocalypse" we sometimes picture destruction that is very global in scope, as if it really is the end of the world itself. Common themes in movies are meteors, aliens, and for some reason even "zombies." (My own vision of the end times, in 2022, was of an AI takeover). Christian media tends to be focused on believers getting raptured out of danger before it happens, however because that would make too boring a movie, they include some unfortunate lukewarm Christians who are "left behind" to experience the "fun."
Now despite our imaginings, in truth apocalyptic events are rarely fully worldwide in scope. Of course some like the Black Death and WW2 are exceptions, but the norm is the localized "apocalypse," often triggered by a regional war. The war in turn brings poverty and famine.
Because most disasters and apocalyptic events are specific to a certain territory at a certain time, it means there will also be a place of safety which one can travel to. We will call these "safe zones." The end times will be all about finding safe zones and being connected to real apostles/prophets who can track the location and times of rotation of these areas.
Aion: End of the Age
First of all, the phrase "end of the world" is a mistranslation. The word Aion should almost always be translated as "age." Too often translations have unnecessarily made it say "world" or "ever" instead of its primary meaning "age." Although I love the KJV, the translation is sometimes made into an idol and is not perfect. We have to accept that it has mistakes; this is one of them. The NASB has corrected most of these passages so they say "end of the age." When Christ pointed to the signs that would tell of the "end of the world" he was really just saying these signs would herald "the end of the age." Christ and the apostles seemed to talk as if the "end of the aion" would happen during their lifetime. We know the world is still here. So what Christ must have really said was that it was the "end of the age."
Regarding aion, another source of confusion is translations regarding eternal torment in hell, or more accurately the "lake of fire." English Bibles often translate aion as being "forever" when the world really means "for ages." It's true that aion can sometimes means forever though as it is also used for the length of time believers will spend with Christ in heaven after death. Because the Greeks had no word for "eternity" or "forever" they used the word "for ages and ages" and thus the Bible does not actually say that hell lasts forever. But that's another topic.
Black Death: Escaping the Plague
The Black Death was about as worldwide a phenomenon as possible, but even during the height of the plague there were safe areas. Not just safe areas in remote locations on the other side of the world, but in fact a large safe zone within Europe itself, and entire country which was a place of safety.
The Black Death was a bubonic plague that ended up killing between 1/3 to 1/2 the population of Europe. The plague spread quickly in part because the pope and his cronies associated cats with satanism and caused Europe to go into a frenzy of killing cats. The Papacy published a pamphlet entitled Vox in Rama which made out as if the cat was the centerpiece of satanic worship, going into detail as to how, among other things, the newly initiated Luciferian must kiss the cat's anus. As a result of this papal fearmongering pamphlet, the terrified Europeans begin mass-killings of cats. The indirect result was the rats no longer had their natural predator and could now multiply and spread the plague freely.
Poland was spared most of the worst effects of the plague. They had a king who forced quarantine of traders and visitors. Not only this, but for most of the medieval period, Poland was home to the world's largest Jewish community. Jews who had to settle outside of Israel are known as the "diaspora" and are found all around the world. Jews have strict hygiene practices which were taught in scripture. Leviticus also teaches a quarantine system against infectious diseases. The combination of this, made Jewish areas very resistant against the plague, which benefited Poland as a whole.
Unfortunately, due to the success of the Jews in resisting the plague, they were blamed for having started it intentionally. Because no one knew the plague's true origin, the Jews were used as a type of scapegoat. The peoples' fears and superstitions were projected onto the Jews who were harshly persecuted.
Poland was once the safest place for the Jews, but later would be the primary location of their extermination. Safe zones do not stay safe forever and we must be attuned to Holy Spirit leading.
Jeremiah's Prophecy of the Path to Safety
The prophet Jeremiah had a tough mission. The word God gave him for Israel was that the Babylonians would be victorious and that Israel was to peaceably surrender. God would not be fighting on Israel's side against the king of Babylon. Jeremiah had to convince Israel to surrender to their hated enemies. For a modern equivalent, it would be like a prophet declaring that China would defeat the United States in war and telling Americans they should surrender to China and accept China's terms. Obviously that prophet would not be a very popular individual. He would be seen as a betrayer and disloyal; perhaps even an enemy agent whose purpose is to spread their demoralizing propaganda to his audience. False prophets were enjoying easy popularity by telling the Israelites what they wanted to hear; that they would be victorious. But Jeremiah had to stay true to his message of the bitter truth.
Jeremiah 21:8-10 8 "Now you shall say to this people, ‘Thus says the Lord: "Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. 9 He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes out and [a]defects to the Chaldeans who besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be as a prize to him. 10 For I have set My face against this city for adversity and not for good," says the Lord. "It shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire." '
The people who listened to prophet Jeremiah were safe even in the apocalyptic destruction of the Babylonian invasion. God had provided a plan for safety for those who believed him. Those who surrendered peacefully to the enemy would be spared. Israel's king hated Jeremiah for this reason. The king and people wanted to keep alive the false hope that they were fighting a war that they could win.
No matter the danger, God always provides a path of safety. We just have to be willing to obey the instructions for how to get there.
The Land of Goshen
Exodus 9:26 "Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail."
The ultimate biblical example of a safe zone, Goshen was the part of Egypt where the Jews lived. They had been given this territory by an earlier and much friendlier Pharaoh; the one who ruled during Joseph's time (Joseph's story is found in the final quarter of Genesis, beginning with chapter 37). When God devastated Egypt with the ten plagues, the territory of Goshen was not touched. The rest of Egypt was being systematically destroyed by turns, but the Jews who lived in Goshen were unaffected the entire time.
Just as with Poland, Goshen was once the primary place of safety for the Jews. A small enclave among the heathen who were of a different religion and mindset. Just as we saw with Poland, Goshen did not stay safe forever. During the time of Joseph, Goshen was a very safe place, but when later Pharaohs appeared, it became a place of bondage. What in one season is the safest place can in the next season be the most deadly. We cannot get so complacent in our comfort zone after moving where God tells us. We have to keep a flexible mind which can adapt when God moves us again. Staying too long in a place can easily lead to death once its season for safety is expired.
Cities of Refuge
Safe zones are signified symbolically by the "cities of Refuge" in scripture. In case a person committed manslaughter, the relatives of the one who had been accidentally killed would often try to take revenge. The one who killed became a refugee and had to flee due to being false suspected of intentional murder. The Bible provided for five "cities of refuge" for those in this situation. The scriptures describing these cities are referenced below:
Numbers 35:9-34, Deuteronomy 4:41-43 and 19:1-13, and Joshua 20
Bowl and Trumpet Judgements
Revelation 8:6-11
6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; 9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
The first three trumpet judgements in Revelation each affect a specific part of earth. First the trees and grass, second the saltwater, and thirdly freshwater. What that tells us is that if you have warning ahead of time, you can make some preparations. For example, if the apostle says we are at the first trumpet and there will be a large amount of wildfires, have a go-bag and be ready to leave at a moments notice. If he says we are at the time the judgement is on the sea, might want to think twice about the seafarer career. If he warns the third trumpet is coming, you will want to stockpile some freshwater reserves ahead of time, knowing some kind of contamination will be introduced to the water source.
Now this is assuming those judgements occur literally, which is not necessarily the best interpretation. For example, the fourth trumpet which comes next tells of the day and night being shortened by 1/3. This would mean the earth's rotation speed was increased 33%. It's better to interpret this one spiritually as related to "those days being shortened:"
Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Now the fifth trumpet is specific only to those who have the mark of the beast. It is not something for the remnant of believers to worry about.
The vial or bowl judgments of Revelation 16 for the most part have a similar targeting.
Vials 1, 5 (and maybe 4) are targeted specifically against those who have the mark of the beast and who blaspheme God.
Vials 2 and 3, like their trumpet counterparts, are specific to affecting the sea and the freshwater.
Permenantly Safe/Dangerous Zones
Living rural will always be safer in the end times. If you are ever in doubt as to where to go, heading to low-population farming-based areas is always a safe bet, no matter your nation or geography. It is easier to be self-sufficient in terms of food and water and off-grid in these locations. The fact is when people run out of food, it only takes a few days for them to become similar to zombies. You want to be far from people in general during the end times, unless you hear God speaking otherwise to you directly. So if you are caught in a bind in the end times and don't know yet where God wants you to go, look for a rural and low-population density area to head toward while you wait for further direction.
Now it should be of no surprise that some locations are always dangerous, of which Califonia, being permenantly cursed of God, takes top spot.
Why stand ye gazing into heaven?
Dispensationalist thought brought in some useful innovative interpretations for the book of Revelation but this belief system reaches too far and tends to be taught with an all-or-nothing take it or leave it mentality. These are the people who bring out wall-sized charts of all the judgements in Revelation and pretend they have it all figured out, every single verse. They tend to have giant egos and are unreceptive to even considering any idea that is outside of their strict system.
For example, they teach that all Christians will be raptured from the earth before doomsday begins and then God will remove the Holy Spirit from the earth but yet 144,000 Jews will convert to Christ (without the Holy Spirit's power) and also cause a major revival while evangelizing the whole earth (still without the Holy Spirit's power since he has been removed from earth).
If that sounds confusing and ridiculous it's because it is.
Hoping for safety by being taken away from the world's persecution and trials is not taught in the Bible. Only two of the holiest Bible characters were raptured, Enoch and Elijah, and while we don't know much about Enoch, we do know that Elijah experienced substantial trials before being spirited away in God's chariot. God did not take Elijah up to protect him from trials, but as a way to honor the prophet for his faithfulness through the trials.
Of those who believe in a rapture, there is a variety of opinion as to its timing: pre-trib, mid-trib, pre-wrath, and post-trib.
There is also Rapture of the Manchild which this website has a large section on.
But before feeling entitled to be raptured, ask yourself:
Are you as holy as Enoch or Elijah?
What if you believe in the rapture but it turns out to be only symbolic and allegorical? You will be in a bad spot if this was your escape plan for the end.
No one should be waiting for a rapture. If it happens it happens. Don't count on it. We should be focused on the task at hand. Building God's kingdom and evangelizing the world. God would be more pleased rapturing one who is busy in kingdom work but who does not believe in the rapture, versus one who believes in the rapture and just sits at home waiting unproductively.
The Place of Safety
When God brings about a fearsome judgement he always provides a place of safety for his people. This could be an ark as in Noah's time, a land like Goshen or Poland, or a decision to follow the prophet's lead as Jeremiah taught Israel to simply defect to Babylon and they would be safe. In all of these cases, we see examples of God giving his people a way out from the worst disasters. By being in tune with God's Spirit and being watchful for when the end-time apostles rise up, you too can find the place of safety in the end. What is important to remember is that no safe zone lasts forever. It's all about the right place at the right time. The safest place in one season can easily become the most dangerous in the next. Learning to hear God's voice yourself for direction or being connected to one of the end-times apostles will be the only two ways to access the places of safety.