Surviving the Calamities

1 Nephi 22:17

Wherefore, he will preserve the righteous by his power, even if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire. Wherefore, the righteous need not fear; for thus saith the prophet, they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire.

The only way the righteous will survive the destructions of the Second Coming will be by God's direct power. When fire burns up the wicked all around them, God will put His hand over His Saints to protect them. Their preservation will be starkly obvious. 

Yet, surviving the calamities of the Second Coming is not really important in the eternal scheme of things. Those who are saved will yet eventually die. What's important is that those who are saved are preserved so they may do the Lord's work in their mortal bodies. Physical salvation will be an invitation, indeed a calling, to work the rest of their natural lives for the Lord. God will need mortal servants on the earth to do the temple work for the countless generations who will still be waiting to receive saving ordinances. It will be a glorious work they do, but it will be work nonetheless.

Physical preservation is also a sign and a metaphor for spiritual salvation. Just as it will be God's power alone that preserves His saints from temporal destruction, it is God's power in the atonement of Jesus Christ that can save His children from spiritual destruction and the second death.

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