During the reign of Antichrist (it seems to have commenced already!) a flood of lawlessness and filth will gush from the mouth of the serpent, that ancient dragon. Every conceivable form of deception and persecution will be directed toward the members of the Body of Christ.

But God's holy Word has made provision for us:

So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. (Isaiah 59:19)

The context of the above verse is the Day of Christ. God in His Scriptures already has provided for Satan's last-day attack on the Church of Christ.

All we are required to do is "fear the name of the Lord" and demonstrate that fear by loving Him and serving Him. If we will do that, turning away from all transgressions and lawlessness, the Spirit of the Lord in us will resist the flood of deception and persecution surging from the mouth of the serpent.

And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. (Revelation 12:16)

We interpret the expression "the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood" to mean the nations of the earth will do what they can in an attempt to assist the saints, just as Rahab assisted the spies sent out by Joshua.

It is our opinion the "they" who "should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days" (Revelation 12:6), and those who nourish the woman (Revelation 12:14), may refer to the faithful remnant of saints, both Jewish and Gentile, who will be able to bring salvation to those who come to them during the great tribulation.

Jacob and his family fled to Egypt (symbolizing the world) during the famine. Joseph and his family fled to Egypt in order to escape from King Herod.

The victorious remnant of saints may find favor with various nations and tribes when they are forced to flee from the cities of Antichrist. If so, they then will be in a position to feed and nourish whoever calls on the name of the Lord.

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. (Joel 2:32)

Throughout church history the nations and peoples of the earth either have persecuted the Lord's elect, His witnesses, or else have sheltered them. Whenever Christ comes into view, every human being is brought to the only important decision of his or her life: what will I do with Jesus and His brothers?

It is our understanding that the people who have received the Lord's elect, His witnesses, will become the nations of saved peoples of the earth. The nations and peoples that have rejected the elect will be punished when the Lord Jesus comes and establishes His Kingdom on the earth.

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. (Matthew 10:14,15)

To be continued.