A Concealed Remnant

Zephaniah, whose name means "God hides" or "God conceals" presented in his book a strongly worded warning to the people of Judah.  He also warned all the nations of the earth.  His warning was that God was not going to trifle with either group forever.  "The Day" was coming in which all but the most humble and repentant would experience such judgment and cataclysm that this world has never seen - - an almost "uncreation", as one writer described it.

Therefore you must wait patiently for me,” says the Lord,

“for the day when I attack and take plunder.

I have decided to gather nations together

and assemble kingdoms,

so I can pour out my fury on them –

all my raging anger.

For the whole earth will be consumed

by my fiery anger.

9Know for sure that I will then enable

the nations to give me acceptable praise.

All of them will invoke the Lord’s name when they pray,

and will worship him in unison.

10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia,

those who pray to me will bring me tribute.

11In that day you will not be ashamed of all your rebelliousness against me,

for then I will remove from your midst those who proudly boast,

and you will never again be arrogant on my holy hill.

12I will leave in your midst a humble and meek group of people,

and they will find safety in the Lord’s presence.

Zephaniah 3:8-12 (NET)

Idolatry and pride, which are firmly related, were the foundational sins mentioned as precipitating this awful day which was also prophesied by Joel, Daniel, and others in the Old Testament, and also by Jesus, John and others in the New.

"The Day of the Lord" will occur just prior to the return to Earth by Jesus Christ, at which time He will set up his earthly kingdom.  In fact, His return is the culmination of The Day of the Lord.  We are told by Jesus that, if those days were not shortened no life would be left on the Earth.  (Matthew 24:22-31)

Many modern-day Christians believe that the faithful Church will be spared this judgment, that they will be snatched up to Heaven and hidden away with Christ just prior to this judgment.  This snatching up is commonly called The Rapture.  The scriptural support for this interpretation is found in the writings of Paul (1 Thessalonians 4).  Others believe Christians will go through this terrible period and be part of the remnant that is concealed and spared, as described in these passages of Scripture and others.  Jesus' words to His followers in Matthew 24 are often cited as support for this view.  Ultimately, it is a mystery, by Paul's own admission, and well-respected theologians fervently espouse one interpretation or the other.

In just over two weeks, I plan to take a trip to Israel.  In the planning of activities for that trip I had expressed an interest in seeing the ancient city of Petra.  Why?  Petra, a name which means Rock, is not mentioned by that Greek name in Scripture.  It is instead called Bozrah (Hebrew) or Sela (Isaiah 16:1, 2 Kings 14:7).

Petra, which laid "undiscovered" to the modern, Western world until 1812,  lies about 50 miles south of the Dead Sea; it is several hours ride by car from Jerusalem.  It is located just inside the southwestern border of the country of Jordan, just east of Israel.  Petra is an ancient, abandoned city, once inhabited by the descendants of Esau, the Edomites.  Much of it is built into the pink, sandstone cliffs which completely surround a valley.  Getting into and out of the area by land is challenging. Even though there are many ways in, none of them are easy. The "best way" in is called the Siq, but even it has sheer rock walls lining the way, some 650 feet high.  It has been said that if the valley were to be sealed, it would be impenetrable by land.

Petra contains some 800 or so tombs within the catacombs of the rock cliffs.  It also contains temples and other structures of unknown purpose.  There are several scriptures which indicate Petra may be the location where the concealed remnant during the Day of the Lord may flee to hide.  Jesus indicated the remnant would "flee to the mountains" (Matthew 24:16).  Other scriptures which make Petra a likely destination are: Daniel 11:41, Micah 2:12 and Isaiah 63:1-6.

Interestingly, the area we now know as Jordan is prophesied to be one of the safest places on earth during The Day of Lord.  Take a look at Daniel 11:41 (NET), which says the Antichrist will not be able to overcome Jordan:

Then he will enter the beautiful land. Many will fall, but these will escape: Edom, Moab, and the Ammonite leadership.

Regardless of when The Day of the Lord comes, or where we are residing when it begins, there can be no doubt that as Christians we are living in increasingly hostile times.  Christians around the world are hated and many are being killed for Jesus' sake, as He described in Matthew 24:9.  Those who have heard the Gospel are turning away from it in unprecedented numbers - - - "falling away" as the Bible describes it (Matthew 24:10-11; 1 Timothy 4:1).

It behooves us all to remain undistracted and to stand firm in the Truth, regardless of our external circumstances, doesn't it?  Let's end with the last words in Zephaniah's book (Zephaniah 3:19-20 ESV), God's promise to that concealed remnant.

19Behold, at that time I will deal
with all your oppressors.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
20At that time I will bring you in,
at the time when I gather you together;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes,” says the LORD.

Sources:

https://www.bibleplaces.com/petra/
https://www.allaboutarchaeology.org/is-the-city-of-petra-in-the-bible-faq.htm
https://www.gotquestions.org/Petra.html
https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/2016/june/does-the-new-petra-discovery-hint-at-biblical-prophecy