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Should Christians Flee to the Mountains in the End Times?

Many Christians are asking if they should flee to the mountains in the end times.  It is clear that we are living in the Bible end times now, and with the moral degradation happening within the large cities in the majority of countries, asking about whether we should flee to the mountains or just up roots and go and live in the countryside is certainly a valid question, and something that needs positive thought.

There is no direct command from God in the Bible that Christians should flee to the mountains in the end times or start living in the countryside.  Let's face it, if we all left and fled into the wilderness, who would be left to witness for Christ Jesus in the populated areas?  Now many Christians think that Babylon in the book of Revelation is a city, and God says in Revelation 18:4 "come out of her My people.'  But these sincere Christians have misunderstood who Babylon is in Revelation.  It's not a city, it's a fallen church, and God is warning His people to come out of this fallen church, so they don't share in her sins.  If you would like to know more about this, see whore of Babylon.  What I will say though, if I personally lived in one of the large cities of the world, then I would do everything I could to leave, as these particular places are not the kind of places God desires us to live.

There is a pattern in the Bible that we should look at concerning this issue. 

- Where did God lead the Israelites to from Egypt?  The wilderness.

- What did God do with Lot and his family?  He called them out of the city of Sodom.

- Where did John the Baptist spend most of his days?  In the wilderness.

- What did Jesus tell the people in Matthew 24 to do?  Flee from Jerusalem into the mountains.

- What does Revelation 12 say the Church did between 538 - 1798 during the Roman Catholic Church persecutions?  Fled into the wilderness.

So we certainly see a pattern of God's people being led into the wilderness or countryside in the Bible.  Afterall, this is the natural place for God's people to be, and the place that He intended His people to be, as we can see from Adam and Eve living in the Garden of Eden.

We know that Jesus warned the early Christians that when they saw the abomination of desolation, that they should flee ..... Matthew 24:16 .....'Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.' ..... This prophecy from Christ was fulfilled in AD70 when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman army, and those Christians who heeded the warning fled and were saved.  Now although this prophecy was fulfilled, it could also have a future spiritual application for the end times that we live in, pointing to the time when the mark of the beast is enforced and the true Christians who refuse the mark will be hunted and persecuted.  Again, because we don't have a SPECIFIC command to flee to the mountains in the end times, then we are not going to be lost because we stayed where we are to be a witness for Christ.  Although we MUST include God in ALL of our decision making and ask for His guidance in all things we do.  If He impresses on your heart that you should go, then go!  It's His will we need to follow, not our own.

We know that not all Christians will leave for the mountains, because of what it says in Revelation 6:9-11 .....'And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?  And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.' ..... The souls under the altar are all the Christians who were killed for their faith, including the millions who were slaughtered between 538 - 1798 at the hands of the Roman Catholic Church.  These are not actual souls doing this by the way, it's just a prophetic image that Revelation is giving us.  Now God says that they should rest UNTIL their fellowservants (Christians today) should be killed.  Now not all Christians are going to be killed in the end times, but many will, which shows that many will stay behind and not flee to the mountains.  Instead they will stand up against the mark of the beast and be true witnesses for Christ, and their deaths will bring glory to Christ Jesus throughout the populated areas.

Is there any other good reason for Christians to flee to the mountains or countryside?  Well, we can all see the moral degradation that is happening around us in the towns and cities.  Drink, drugs, violence and all kinds of sin and evil is happening all around us.  Not only that, but the way of life in the larger cities is contrary to God.  People have no time for Jesus anymore, they are too busy living the city life of work, play and shopping.  Even professing Christians have little time for God because they have filled their lives with so much stuff, that Christ is pushed aside amid the hustle and bustle of life.  Add to that the pollution of the cities from factories and vehicles, and you have a very good reason to escape to the countryside.  There is also so much temptation around us these days within the cities, that many are falling pray to satan's devices.

If you look back to the Garden of Eden, you will see what kind of surroundings God originally planned for mankind.  His beautiful creation is what He intended for us to be surrounded by, not huge concrete cities full of sin and temptation.  There is very little left of what God created in these big cities today, as satan has caused man to push God out and choose his own kind of dwelling place.

If you are being affected by all the sin and evil around you, and you and your family are finding it difficult to focus on Christ where you are within your town or city, and you have an opportunity to move to the countryside or at least a much more relaxed, safe neighbourhood, then yes, it would be a good idea for you.  At the end of the day, it is our relationship with Christ Jesus that is the most important factor in our lives, and if that is suffering where you live, then maybe uprooting to the countryside is a wise move.  But please bring this to God first and let Him guide you.

Will ALL Christians have to flee to the mountains in the end times?  No.  Is it a salvation issue?  No.  As long as we are living for Christ Jesus every day where we are, then we are saved by His grace, and we follow Him and obey Him and keep His commandments out of love for Him.  Will some Christians move to the countryside?  Yes, because God will have guided them to do so for their benefit and for the benefit of their children.  Don't forget about your children.  Think about what kind of environment they are living in, and what affect that will have on their relationship with Christ.

You can see that the answer to the question of Christians fleeing to the mountains is neither a definitive yes or no.  Will it be a wise move to leave the larger cities?  Definitely yes!  But during the end times, some will flee and leave for the mountains, and some will stay and die as a witness for Christ Jesus.  The fact that Revelation 13 says we will not be able to buy or sell will be a big factor in deciding to go to the countryside for many Christians.  What I would ask is that you fall to your knees before your Heavenly Father and ask for His guidance on this.  Does He want you to stay or go?  And trust that He will impress on your heart the answer.  But whatever you choose to do, first continue to live for Christ Jesus every day.  Keep looking up, study the Bible and keep watching and waiting for His glorious return.

If you would like more reading material to do with whether Christians should flee to the mountains in the end times, then take a look at Country Living, written by a humble woman called Ellen White in the early 1900's.