Women in the End Times
There is not a single woman in the New Testament that rejected or opposed Jesus. In fact, most of Jesus’ disciples forsake him in his hardest moment, but women followed him all the way to the cross. While most of Jesus’ disciples got fearful and went to hide when Jesus was sentenced to die, only John the beloved disciple and three women stood by his side and followed him all the way to the cross. (John 19:25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.) Here we see a situation that I believe will repeat itself right before Christ’s coming. I believe that when times get dark and we start getting persecuted, people will become very fearful and will try to hide their faith. Many will actually become apostates. And only those who are deeply lovesick for Jesus and are willing to risk their lives for the sake of the gospel, will be the ones who remain faithful to Jesus to the end. Such are the ones that will make the greatest impact for the Kingdom.
Psalm 68:24 gives us a picture of those that will be in front of the procession of the Lord. And it is interesting to see that many of those leading the Lord’s procession are worshipers and young women.
Psalm 68:24-25 24 Your procession, God, has come into view,
the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.
In front are the singers, after them the musicians;
with them are the young women playing the timbrels.
Women during Jesus’ ministry
After Jesus' resurrection, he appeared first to a woman. And this woman was given the command to go tell Jesus’ brothers that he was alive. It was a Samaritan woman who after encountering the love of Jesus, spread the good news of the gospel through all Samaria. It was Anna the prophetess who saw and recognized the messiah at birth and went to tell everyone about him. Here we see that women are given a powerful voice to spread the good news of Jesus. And as we see in Psalm 68:11-12, it is the Lord who gives the word; and the women who announce the news are a great host!
Women also were very faithful to Jesus and financially sponsored most of his ministry. All through the New Testament we see the presence of devout women following and trusting Jesus. We also see Jesus vindicating, defending and praising women for their faithfulness and surrender to him.
During Jesus’ ministry we see Jesus defending an adulterous woman. We see Jesus praising Mary from sitting and learning from him at his feet. We see Jesus defending the woman who broke the alabaster jar to anoint his feet. We see Jesus giving the Samaritan woman a purpose for life. We see Jesus healing a woman that had female issues for many years. We see Jesus praising a widow for giving her best offering. We see Jesus praising the faith of a Canaanite woman and healing her daughter. We see Jesus casting out multiple demons out of a possessed woman. We see Jesus eating on the same table with the prostitutes. And we also see Jesus comparing his beloved church with a bride that is lovesick for him and anticipates her wedding.
Women have a very special place for jesus. Especially women that have been ostracized, oppressed by society and abused. These women that have gone through terrible heartbreak seem to have a very special place in Jesus' heart.
According to Jesus’ sermon on the mount his heart always goes to bless the poor, the hungry, the afflicted, the brokenhearted, the persecuted and those who weep. Because these are the ones that seem to have a heart posture that is optimal for revival and for humbly wanting to receive more from God.
That is why I firmly believe that women who have gone through severe heartbreak, oppression and abuse, once they find Jesus,receive a special revelation from the Bridegroom King. Such women become lovesick for the one who gave it all to make them His.
Jesus is always after those who are in disadvantage. He loves the oppressed; and his heart goes after those who are mocked, ridiculed and considered useless. Jesus hates abuse and he always vindicates the lowly by giving much grace to the humble. And this seems to be the case for many women in the Middle East, especially Muslim women. That is one of the reasons we see former muslim women become devout followers of Jesus and even become the pillars of the underground church in Iran and Afghanistan. These women that are not allowed to have a voice in their environment and culture, become empowered by the Spirit and are a powerful witness of the gospel of Jesus.
God has a way to comfort with a double portion of himself those who are broken, those who mourn and those who are oppressed. And I believe this is one of the reasons these amazing women in the Middle East will be used mightily by the Lord to prepare his way right before he returns. Because such women have set the Lord as a seal upon their hearts and upon their arms. Their love for Jesus leads them to good works for his glory. The love they have for him is stronger than death, and their own lives have become flames ignited at God’s altar.
The Middle Eastern Church and the Salvation of Israel
We all know that Israel will go through very difficult testing in the days of Jacob's trouble. According to Matthew 24:15-19 we know that they will have to flee to the wilderness when the antichrist comes after them.
Matthew 24:15-2115 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’[a] spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.
According to Zechariah 12:2 God will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity.
We also know according to Ezekiel 38 that during the war of God and Magog, the nations of Persia, Central Asia and Turkey will come against Israel to crush her. But I believe that in the midst of all those enemies rising against Israel to crush her, he will set a table for the Jews in the midst of their enemies to dine with them and they will truly encounter Jesus in the wilderness. According to Song of Songs 8:5 Israel will find Jesus in the wilderness and they will come out of it leaning on their beloved. In my opinion the Lord will send many believers from the underground church in the middle east to witness to jews and to help them as they seek asylum in their neighboring countries. As shown in revelation 12 were we see that the woman, who is Israel, flees to the wilderness and there she receives help for 1260 days.
Revelation 12:14 “The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach.”
I strongly believe that most of those who will be providing help to Israel will be former muslim believers that live in the surrounding nations. Especially the women of the churches located in the region of ancient Persia. Let’s not forget the setting of a very prophetic story found in the book of Esther. The story of Esther, which happens in Ancient Persia, is a type and a shadow of the tribulation, the persecution of the jews and the intervention of a queen that plays the key role in the salvation of the jewish people! And I believe that this story will repeat itself. As Esther, there will be a church in a particular location, that is chosen to intercede for the salvation of the jewish people. This queen will come in boldness to the throne of Grace to plead for the salvation of the Jewsih people, and she will succeed.
I believe that Esther is a type of the church currently located in that same region of Ancient Persia. This particular church will have one of the key roles in sharing the gospel to Israel and in helping her during the time of Jacob’s trouble!! Then we will see the most beautiful story of the restoration of two peoples groups that have hated each other for centuries, but that they learn to love each as they become one new man in Christ.