Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth” (Isaiah 24:17).

Isaiah, chapters 24, 25, and 26 describe the events that are to take place on the earth in these last days. The origin of the symbols employed in Isaiah 24:17 is explained by a Bible commentator as follows: “Fear is the term applied to the cords with feathers of all colors which, when fluttered in the air, scare beasts into the pitfall or birds into the snare.”1

A tentative application of these symbols draws our attention to three main evils which are on the increase: “Fear” is often connected with the sword. It is a symbol of wars. Examples: Isaiah 21:2-4; Jeremiah 6:25; 30:5; 48:42-46; 49:5, 24-29; Lamentations 3:46, 47; Amos 3:6. “The pit” is another word for death. Examples: Isaiah 38:18; 51:14; Ezekiel 28:8; 31:14, 16; 32:24, 25, 29, 30.

“The snare” is a difficult, terrible, unbearable situation, into which people are caught unexpectedly and from which they cannot escape. Examples: Jeremiah 50:24; Lamentations 3:47; Ezekiel 12:13; 17:20; Luke 21:35.

The fulfillment of Isaiah 24 is becoming more and more conspicuous as the end is drawing nigh. Everything in the world shows that we are going from bad to worse. The event that took place in New York on September 11, 2001, surprised the whole world. It was the prelude of a new type of war - terrorism - that is fustigating a number of nations and that resulted in military intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The inhabitants of the earth want peace, but there will be no peace in the world before the coming of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, who declared: “Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: . . . For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: . . . All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:6-8).

Christ did not mean only sporadic local wars as have been witnessed throughout the history of humanity. He referred to international conflicts involving more and more nations. Evidence shows that He had in view the world wars, as well as the final battle, predicted for the time of the end. Compare Joel 3:15 with Matthew 24:29. The Lord foretold through Joel the prophet: “Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak [the small nations] say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision” (Joel 3:9-14).

This is the fearful event that Jesus had in mind when He spoke about “wars and rumors of wars” to be expected in the last days. John the Revelator had a vision of the great final conflict, which he described as follows: “Spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14).

In the present political situation, America is playing an important role. President Bush declared in a speech delivered on June 1, 2002:

“We are in a conflict between good and evil, and America will call evil by its name.”

Other superpowers are also playing an important role in the present situation in view of the great problems and dangers that are threatening the world. But not all are pulling in the same direction, because there is a conflict of interests. So it is evident that something very serious is going to happen.

“Rulers and statesmen, men who occupy positions of trust and authority, thinking men and women of all classes, have their attention fixed upon the events taking place about us. They are watching the relations that exist among the nations. . . . They recognize that something great and decisive is about to take place - that the world is on the verge of a stupendous crisis.”2

So far the predicted international conflict has been detained. Why? There is a reason why - a reason that affects each one of us individually and all of us as a people. God in His mercy is still holding back the winds of the coming strife, not because the nations are not ready to engage in mortal combat, but because God’s chosen people are not ready to receive the seal of protection and deliverance. John the Revelator wrote: “And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads” (Revelation 7:1-3).

The fierce winds of contention, which will bring international ruin, have not as yet been released for one specific reason - because the remnant of God’s people have not all been sealed. During this waiting time something extraordinary is going to happen: The inhabitants of the world will be deceived by false rumors. It will be announced everywhere that peace and safety - the world’s greatest need - is just around the corner. Bible prophecy, however, warns us against this illusive desire and expectation. The apostle Paul writes: “The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them” (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3).

“Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble. As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old.”3

In this terrible time, after the close of probation, the people of God will find refuge in the mountains and under the cleft of the rocks. They will be under the protection of Christ and the holy angels. And they will have bread and water to survive until the coming of the Lord. Bible prophecy describes this fearful time as follows: “They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him” (Malachi 3:17).

“Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain” (Isaiah 26:20, 21).

Many things that Jesus predicted in Matthew, chapter 24, had already been foretold by Him through the Old Testament prophets. Concerning the promised deliverance, He said: “At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book” (Daniel 12:1).

“Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. . . . And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption [deliverance] draweth nigh” (Luke 21:26, 28).

From what will God’s remnant people be delivered? And how can they make sure that their names will remain in the book of life and that they will receive the seal of God? These questions will be discussed in the next issue of this magazine.