Question:
Revelation 13:15 says that it was given to the false prophet to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. So – will only those who will worship the icon of the beast, whose names were not written in the Lamb’s book of Life, be alive during the reign of the antichrist, namely, those for whom the wine of the wrath of God is prepared? Will all those who will not worship the icon of the beast be killed and exalted to the throne of God?
If we follow the plagues that happen during the reign of antichrist, we will notice that in all but one cases, men blasphemed God and did not repent of their evil deeds. Those who gave glory to God after a plague were the inhabitants of Jerusalem who survived the earthquake that occurred when the two prophets of God, were killed by the beast, rose and ascended to heaven.
But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. (Revelation 11:11-13)
In Revelation 12 it says that the people of Israel (the woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars) will be led by God into the wilderness, in a place prepared by God where they will be nourished by God , away from the presence of the serpent, for 1260 days (during the reign of Antichrist in Jerusalem). Daniel 11:41 seems to specify where this place is located:
He will also enter the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall; ; but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon. Then he will stretch out his hand against other countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape. But he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt; and Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels. (Daniel 11:41-43)
In Matthew 24 we are again told that at the second coming of the Lord Jesus on earth, after the great tribulation, he will gather all the Jews to Himself:
“But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.’’ (Matthew 24:29-31)
Daniel 12:1 says that the people of Israel will be saved during the antichrist’s reign.
Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.’’
So, some Jews, who will obey the command of the Lord Jesus and flee to the mountain when they see the abomination of desolation in the holy place, will remain alive during the reign of the beast, even if they will not receive its mark and will not worship its icon.
Translated by Marcela Tașca