The Calm Before the Storm: “Peace and Safety” in Prophecy

Oil painting depicting a peaceful couple at a table with bread and fruit, while an angel appears in a fiery sky above a distant city — symbolizing the prophetic warning of “peace and safety” from 1 Thessalonians 5:3.

“While people are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:3, ESV

In recent days, another major peace treaty has been signed and is already being implemented. Many are asking whether this could be the long-awaited seven-year covenant Daniel spoke of — the one that marks the beginning of the Tribulation. I don’t believe that’s the case. But I do believe what we’re witnessing could be a critical step toward the global atmosphere Paul described as “peace and safety.”

That phrase — peace and safety — is more than just political language. It’s a snapshot of the world’s mindset before the return of Christ for His Church. It captures a time when the nations feel secure, when people are confident in human progress, and when danger feels far away. Yet according to Scripture, that illusion of security will be shattered in a moment.

A False Sense of Peace

Jesus said that before judgment came in Noah’s day, people were eating, drinking, marrying, and going about life as if nothing were wrong (Matthew 24:38–39). The Apostle Paul echoed that same spirit in 1 Thessalonians 5:3 — a sense of normalcy, complacency, and self-assured peace.

When we look around the world today, we can see that same spirit growing. Nations celebrate new alliances and call it progress. Leaders speak of security as if they’ve finally mastered the art of keeping peace. But underneath, sin continues unchecked, and hearts remain far from God. The feeling of peace and safety is not the same as true peace, which can only come through Jesus Christ.

The phrase “peace and safety” describes not a lasting peace, but a deceptive calm — the kind that precedes sudden judgment.

The Rapture During “Peace and Safety”

Many Bible students who hold a pre-tribulation rapture view — myself included — believe that the rapture will occur in the midst of this very atmosphere of calm.

Paul wrote, “You yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). For the world, the rapture will come suddenly, interrupting what feels like a season of optimism. Life will appear normal — right up until millions vanish, and global chaos erupts.

That moment of disappearance, I believe, will mark the sudden transition from “peace and safety” to “sudden destruction.” The Church will be gone, and the world will be thrust into confusion, searching for answers.

The Ezekiel 38 War: When False Peace Collapses

After the rapture, I believe we will see the Ezekiel 38–39 war, when a coalition of nations will attack Israel from multiple fronts. Scripture says Israel will be “a land of unwalled villages” (Ezekiel 38:11) — at peace, confident, and unsuspecting. That matches perfectly with the idea of global “peace and safety.”

But this invasion will fail. God Himself will intervene, supernaturally defending Israel. The result will be so shocking that the whole world will recognize that something divine has happened. Ezekiel says, “I will make known My holy name in the midst of My people Israel… and the nations shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 39:7).

In the aftermath of that miraculous deliverance, the world will be desperate for stability. Nations will rush to broker peace and prevent another war. And that’s when the Antichrist will step forward.

The Covenant of Daniel 9:27: Strengthening the Peace

Daniel 9:27 says that the coming world ruler — the Antichrist — “shall confirm a covenant with many for one week” (a seven-year period). Notice that word: confirm. It means to strengthen or enforce an existing agreement.

That means the seven-year treaty won’t appear out of nowhere. It will likely build upon the foundation of previous peace efforts. The current treaties we see today may be laying that very groundwork — creating the political structures, alliances, and expectations that the Antichrist will one day exploit.

So while today’s peace accords are not the covenant of Daniel 9:27, they could very well be the precursors to it. They are setting the stage for the world’s final and fatal illusion of peace.

The Calm Before the Storm

If this interpretation is right, then we are living in what could be called the calm before the storm — the final season of “peace and safety” before the return of Christ for His Church.

This is not a time for fear. It’s a time for readiness. As Paul reminds us in the same passage, “You are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief” (1 Thessalonians 5:4). We are called to be awake, sober, and watching.

For believers, “peace and safety” is not a promise — it’s a warning. It tells us that the world’s trust in itself will soon collapse. But for those who belong to Christ, our security is unshakable. Our peace is not found in treaties or governments, but in the Lord Himself.

Living in Readiness

So how should we live in light of this?

Stay alert. Don’t be lulled into complacency by the world’s optimism. Remember that Jesus could return at any moment.
Share the gospel. The world’s false peace will soon give way to judgment, but there is still time for people to find true peace in Christ.
Anchor your heart in Scripture. The Word of God gives us clarity and confidence when the world is confused.
Encourage one another. Remind fellow believers that our hope is not in this world, but in the return of our Savior.

As we see “peace and safety” growing around us, we can take heart — not because the world is finally getting it right, but because God’s prophetic Word is unfolding exactly as He said it would.

The calm before the storm isn’t meant to frighten us. It’s meant to wake us up, strengthen our faith, and remind us that the trumpet could sound at any moment.