Zion, the Safest Place during Wars and Disasters

Zion is the place where God’s people are protected, the safest place during wars and disasters, but many people don’t know about it. Nowadays, all kinds of disasters are everywhere, and the possibility of war makes many people tremble in fear. All people pray for is that God takes those disasters away and that they don’t get harmed. We should understand why God let this happen and what God wants us to do when catastrophes come.

Prophesied Wars and Disasters

No country in the world wants wars nor any types of disasters. However, God has already foretold that these types of disasters will fall on mankind.

Matthew 24: 3-8 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” … Jesus answered: “…You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

1 Timothy 5:3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Is there anything that can prevent what our God already prophesied from happening? None! Then, should people just feel hopeless and lose faith? Not at all! God, who knows the end from the beginning, didn’t only foretell about the destruction but also salvation.

Isaiah 46:6-13 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come … and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion…

Jeremiah 4:6 Raise the signal to go to Zion! Flee for safety without delay! For I am bringing disaster from the north, even terrible destruction.

God Opens The Way to Escape Wars and Disasters

God gives a way out for His people to receive salvation, and only those who truly have faith in him listen and obey. Did God prophecy about these wars and disasters to harm us? Not at all. They are warnings for us to find the way to salvation. In all ages, God always warns his people before the disaster and gives instructions to safety. That is why only those who seek God and follow his instructions to salvation are saved.

• Before God destroyed the Earth through flood because the people of the world became wicked, He let Noah build the ark and waited until it was completed, so his whole family could be saved. (Gen 6:1-7:24)
• Before God rained burning sulfur because the people’s sin had become grievous, He let Lot and his family escape to another town so they could be saved. (Gen 18:20-19:29)
• Before God sent the plague of firstborn to Egypt because the Pharaoh won’t let the Israelites free, He ensured that the Israelites kept the Passover at the appointed time to make sure they were protected from the plague. (Ex. 12:1-32)
• Before the destruction of Israel, whose people crucified Jesus Christ, God warned his disciples about the sign of the destruction so they could escape before the fall of Jerusalem. (Lk 21:20-24)

God wants us to save us not only from disasters but also from the wickedness of the world. He judges the ungodly but protects the righteous. God’s will is to save us, so He waits for His people to be righteous and follow the way to salvation patiently, not wanting everyone to perish.

2 Peter 3:6- 9 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly… The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Physical and Spiritual Zion

Since God’s will is to save us, He told us to flee to Zion for safety without delay before the destruction comes. However, most people only know about Zion in Palestine, which suffers from war till this moment. Is this the Zion God wants us to go to?

There are two types of Zion; the physical Zion that is in Palestine, and the spiritual Zion that is the city of God’s appointed festivals.

Psalms 132: 13-14 For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling, saying, “This is my resting place forever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.

Isaiah 33:20 Look on Zion, the city of our festivals; your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful abode, a tent that will not be moved; its stakes will never be pulled up, nor any of its ropes broken.

The spiritual Zion testified in the verses above is the place where God wants us to go. Then what are the appointed festivals of God, our key to locating Zion? In Leviticus 23, the appointed festivals of the Lord, which we are to proclaim as sacred assemblies are recorded as follows:

Weekly Feast of God

• Sabbath (weekly)

Annual Feast of God

1. Passover
2. Festival of Unleavened Bread
3. Feast of Firstfruits (Resurrection Day in the New Testament)
4. Feast of Weeks (Pentecost in the New Testament)
5. Feast of Trumpets
6. Day of Atonement
7. Feast of Tabernacles

If we study these verses carefully, we can understand that the church that celebrates the feast of God is Zion. The Feasts of God are God’s commands that give blessing to all His people. Among them, Passover is the Feast of God that has the promise of protection from disasters.

Exodus 12:12-13 On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

Matthew 26:17-28 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover… While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

The reason God wants us to flee to Zion for safety is that the Passover that grants protection from God, is celebrated in that place. Just as only those who entered the ark of Noah were saved when the world was destroyed by flood, only those who flee to Zion to celebrate the Passover will be saved from the prophesied destruction, even the last and greatest disasters.

The World Mission Society Church of God is Zion

World Mission Society Church of God is the only church that keeps the Passover according to the biblical teachings of God. There are so many churches all over the world that do not celebrate the feast of God, even the Passover. Can we receive salvation if we just go to any church that doesn’t keep the Passover?

There was a time when Israel was divided into 2 kingdoms; North Israel and South Judah. Israelites were known as God’s chosen people, but when Assyria came to invade their kingdom, God protected South Judah and not North Israel. It was because North Israel refused to celebrate the Passover when King Hezekiah, the king of South Judah, invited them to keep the feast in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 30:1-10 Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel…The couriers went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun, but people scorned and ridiculed them.

2 Kings 18:9-12 In King Hezekiah’s fourth year, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and laid siege to it. At the end of three years, the Assyrians took it. So Samaria was captured in Hezekiah’s sixth year, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel…This happened because they had not obeyed the Lord their God, but had violated his covenant—all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded. They neither listened to the commands nor carried them out.

2 Kings 19:32 Therefore this is what the Lord says concerning the king of Assyria: “He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before it with shield or build a siege ramp against it. By the way that he came he will return; he will not enter this city, declares the Lord. I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.”

Likewise, there are so many Christians nowadays, but there are those who only believe in God but don’t respond to His invitation to keep the Passover. Based on all the records in the Bible from the beginning, whom does God protect? Those who listen to His voice and follow His instructions to safety. God already told us where the safest place is, and what we should to do be saved. If we truly believe in God, we should obey him.

Is there any safer place than the place God himself appointed? Surely, none. Therefore, the safest place for his people is Zion, the World Mission Society Church of God.