Interview Transcript

Dr. Thiel, where is the safest place I could be when World War III starts?

Well, before we get to that, I saw something from a secular source. In an article, here's the headline, The 10 Safest Countries of World War III Breaks Out. Number one, Fiji. It says it's a remote island nation. It's isolated from potential invaders. It's got a small population. It's neutral to foreign affairs. It doesn't have any resources to justify invasion.

Then number two was Ireland. Number three was Malta. Number four was Denmark, five Iceland, six Chile, seven Bhutan, eight New Zealand, nine Tuvalu, then Switzerland. Now, the above list is interesting because some of those lands and islands initially would not be impacted by World War III, but ultimately they'd be affected.

Why would they be affected?

Well, for one, the Bible warns that islands and coastal regions are going to end up with problems. So that reduces some of the safety factors. For example, in Luke 21, starting verse 11, Jesus said there'd be great earthquakes in various places and fearful sites.

Verse 25 talked about signs and that the earth will have be in distress with perplexity, with the sea in a way it's roaring. And in the book of Revelation, chapter six, starting in verse 12, we see when the six seals open, things will be shaken.

Then verse 14, The sky receded as a scroll, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. As you go to Revelation 16, starting in verse 17, the seventh angel pulls out his bowl as the air. There's noises and thunders and lightnings and a great earthquake.

Such a mighty and great earthquake has never occurred since men were on the earth. Now verse 20, Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And most of those claimed 10 safest nations are made-up of islands. So, islands are not a good choice for safety.

Should I look inland then?

Well, you've got other things to consider. You've got, for example, Chile, Bhutan, and Switzerland are mountainous, and they're subject to being leveled. Then they got Iceland, who's both an island and with mountains and stuff.

Now, because Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, and Ireland have many descendants of Israel, they're prophesied to be negatively affected by the beast of Revelation 13. Now, New Zealand, because it's primarily inhabited by descendants of Ephraim, it's going to be among the earlier casualties of World War III. It's not going to be a place of safety.

Now, let me add that Americans who think they can flee to the mountains, this is going to be safe, they've overlooked prophecies which say they'll be pursued in the mountains, such as Lamentations 4:19 and Ezekiel 6:1-3.

Now, the author of that list took a secular carnal approach, but the Apostle Paul wrote to be carnally minded in his death, Romans 8:6. Now, there was a travel author by the name of Lance Schleuter. He does travel writing.

And he said Belize was the best place because it's got an extensive cave system that will help to escape radiation. And he says it's surrounded by the Caribbean Sea to the east and a jungle to the west.

Well, surely, a travel writer couldn't be wrong, could he?

Well, Belize is a coastal nation with islands. So while this inland region may be safe for a while, overall, Belize is not that safe.

Then where do we look for safety from the chaos of World War III?

From the Bible. We're to walk by faith, not by sight, 7. 22, it tells us, The Lord has been my defense and my God, the rock of refuge. 25, whoever trusts the Lord will be saved. I want to focus a little though on Isaiah.

Isaiah 33, starting in verse 15, it says, He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, shuts his eyes from seeing evil. Verse 16, He will dwell on high. His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks. His bread will be given him, his water will be sure.

Interestingly, the description of the Bible about a place of safety during a time you might call World War III refers to a rocky place in a wilderness location, like perhaps some part of southern Jordan, like near Petra.

Now, of course, certain Protestants instead believe they're going to be raptured away from the earth prior to the start of the Great Tribulation. And while that's their professed hope, the idea is not supported by the Bible and is in error. As Jesus said in Matthew 24, verses 29 and 30, he returns after the tribulation.

Can't God just protect me right where I am, wherever that may be?

Well, he could. And many Christians believe they're going to be directed like that, but that is not what the Bible teaches. Most Christians will not be protected. 25b and Revelation 17. Only the remaining Philadelphia remnant is promised protection.

Now Christians were supposed to pray to be counted worthy for protection according to Jesus. Luke 21 verse 36. Watch therefore, we pray always that you be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass to stand before the Son of Man.

Now escaping points to fleeing not staying where you're at. And that's also consistent with some things Jesus said in Matthew 24, verses 15 to 20. Now consider further.

Jesus rebuked most of the Christians in the second and third chapter of the Book of Revelation, indicating they did not always have the right focus supporting his work. And that shows that not all Christians will be protected in the end.

Will most Christians do what they should in the end?

No, that's why Jesus rebuked the Laodiceans and told them to change in Revelation 3. Laodiceans is basically because of two words, which mean people decide. And in the end times, most Christian people have decided not to support proper church governance and doing the right work of God and truth.

Now, regarding World War III, the late Herbert W. Armstrong said that, We're in a rest period, this is for the great tribulation. And before then, there's gonna be a flight of the people of God who are watching and praying always.

And you find these prophecies of the church he said in the second, third chapters of Revelation. Now, come down to the end, in our time, we see, for example, the Sardis era. They have the name that they're alive, but they're dead, spiritually speaking.

Then he says to Philadelphia era, he says, Next comes to Philadelphia, that does carry the mission of God to the world. There's a church from a physical point of view. His power and strength is the weakest of them all. It's the smallest.

They only have a little strength, the Church of Philadelphia. Now listen to this, Revelation 3:10, Because you've kept the word of my patience, I'll also keep you from the hours of trial. It's the time the Great Tribulation will come upon the earth.

Then he mentions the Laodicean era. There's the last one of all. Now this church, God says, I know your works. You're not cold or warm, hot. This is a lukewarm church. I wish you're cold or hot. Because you're lukewarm, I'm going to spew you out of my mouth, says Jesus.

Leonard Armstrong goes back to what Jesus said in Luke 21. Watch you therefore and pray always. In other words, don't be lukewarm.

But you better be really hot spiritually in your zeal for the things for God and the work of God, that you may be kind of worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man.

As we are nearing the time of the Great Tribulation, won't most, if not all, Christians repent and be protected? No, not according to Scripture. Now, I also want to read something from the late evangelist, Dr. Herman Hoeh.

He says, If World War III comes, there's a way of escape. You need to be prepared. Jesus talked about the time of the Gentiles, and this is not talking about the time of peace. He said, But a time of war. But in this end time turmoil, there is a place of safety if you heed until Jesus does come and bring peace.

He says, wrote, It's a vital part of the gospel the soon coming kingdom of God. And then he said, Jesus said, Matthew 24:22, Except those days be shortened, no flesh would be saved. He went on to say that God supernaturally would cut the days short for the sake of the elect.

That's our only real hope of survival. He said, he wrote, The intervention of God, Jesus Christ promised protection to his own elect. He promised that they would survive the prophesied holocaust to strike this unsuspecting world.

Describe the elect. How can they be identified? Well, Dr. Hay continued by quoting Jesus, who in Luke 12:32 said, Fear not, little flock, for it's your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Jesus promised that somewhere on earth there'd be his own work. That work would be faithfully performed. He promised his true followers who know his voice to do the preaching of the gospel kingdom as a witness to the world.

He said, you need to find out where that work's being carried on.

Why?

Because only those who have the absolute guarantee of safety. The very elect are those who are called, chosen, truly repented of their own carnal ways and accepted the holy ways of God. They make up the body of Christ performing his work. Jesus speaks of these faithful ones in the book of Revelation.

And he starts to quote Revelation 3:7, And to the angels of the church in Philadelphia, the prophesied end time church of God doing work of God, write, I know your works, behold I set before you an open door.

The apostle Paul spoke with a door flung open to preach the gospel, 2 Corinthians 2:12. Remember Jesus promised the gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world, Matthew 24:14.

And promised to make a way through the message of hope and the good news, to go through these massive doors, to radio, printing press, television, personal evangelism. He promises doors to remain open because no man can shut it.

To the Philadelphians, he says, you've kept my word and not denied my name. Yes, the very elect would never become corrupted by false doctrines or be muzzled by boards of men. They would not deny the name of Jesus Christ or his true doctrine. So that's what he wrote.

Anyway, let me interject here that in continuing Church of God, we are now getting the gospel out over the printing press, radio, YouTube, television, video, personal evangelism, and the internet.

We represent the remnant of the Philadelphia portion of the Church of God that Dr. Hoeh mentioned. So we'll read a little bit more from him. Jesus gave the good news to the faithful ones to put the work of God far above their personal consideration.

And he said, Because you've kept the word of my patience, I'll also keep you from the hour of temptation, tribulation, which will come upon all the world to try them to dwell on the earth. Revelation 3:10.

Yes, Jesus promised safety. He promised supernatural protection for his own elect. And then he starts to quote Revelation 12. And to the woman, the church, were given two wings of a great eagle, that she may fly into the wilderness and into her place, where she's nourished for a time, time, and a half a time from the presence of the serpent.

In end-time prophecy, John writes to the last end-time remnant church, which will escape the terrible war and tribulation, which will soon affect our heedless people. It's a place of safety in the wilderness, in the supernatural power of the Almighty God, their shield and their protector.

Where does Dr. Hoeh say the symbolic ego will take God's church for protection. He points to the lands anciently inhabited by the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites. Okay, so that would be like where Jargon is right now.

Anyway, the reality is there will be a place of physical protection during the Great Tribulation in the day of the Lord for the Philadelphia and Remnant of Christians.

But it's not going to be in any of the top ten nations, I don't think, but some believe they'll be the safest.

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