This brings to my mind: Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
So if God is putting certain people in charge of government, then when the laws change and economies fall, does not God play a part in harming Christians in that indirect way?
I like hearing you expound on ideas and questions like this.
BM, I've meandered down this avenue of thought as well, and have contemplated this to varying degrees over time. Given that the "ways" of the Lord are beyond finding out, we can look back through history and see some indicators, but even then, our vantagepoint is limited. For example, we can see so very little of all the great and wondrous things God does on a daily, and even moment by moment, basis in the lives of His people, and the lives of the wicked, and even in the weather and waves of the oceans.
What I'm getting at is this: In the historic events when the Lord brought down nations through their leadership changes or whatever other scenarios that played out, in those tossing seas of turmoil and devastation, the Most High was completely mindful of His people, and took every individual where He wanted them, whether it was prison camps, dungeons, and even death, total deliverance, they all were on the receiving end of the promises the Lord made to all who are truly His:
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose.
So, there are all those many, many events of national scale under which many a member of the body of Christ were subjected, but we ALL, throughout the centuries since that promise was first penned, and beyond, have that hope.
The indirect results, then, of the things the Lord does to move even nations into the place where He wants them, the faithful people of the Lord were delivered, provided for, comforted in the most dire of outcomes, et al, they ALL had the realization of that promise, and others, throughout all the written word of our Lord, that He always sees to His own...speaking of the same Lord who takes notice of even the sparrows when they hop along the ground...He's there through it all.
Now, the target of my treatise, however, was aimed more toward the direct strike zone of the Lord's judgements. When it strikes, it is not aimed at His faithful. Those gloom-n-doomers out there who think themselves qualified to speak for the Lord as to what He is going to do within the scope of our lives, all based upon the past...no. They know nothing other than what they think they see, which is little to nothing! They slobber, spit and vomit all over themselves to spew their messages of destruction rather than to build up and edify the Church, speaking life into the lives of their listeners, for there is hope even when there's destruction all around us:
Psalm 91:1-16
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, "[He is] my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler [And] from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth [shall be your] shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, [Nor] of the arrow [that] flies by day,
6 [Nor] of the pestilence [that] walks in darkness, [Nor] of the destruction [that] lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; [But] it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the LORD, [who is] my refuge, [Even] the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.
12 In [their] hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation."
Did the Lord apply all the promises in this section to all believers in the years and centuries past? No. Many died, and they who were and are the Lord's, died without any sting of death, because as Paul asked, "Oh death, where is they sting?" Passage away from the struggles in this life is not at all a bad thing. Our perspective here is not what we will have once having passed through that veil. There is no defeat in death except for those who pass on without their sins having been laid upon Christ for their absolute atonement and redemption.
In the final analysis, however, we are still standing upon a very solid and unmoving foundation of revelation from great men like Abraham and His conversation with the Lord, Paul, Peter, James and many others throughout. Even if we are affected by the adjacent lightning strike not aimed at us specifically, there is shelter, deliverance and/or the power of perseverance through it all that is offered to no others who live by the strength of their own arms.
In the tribulation, however, things will be much different than now. The reward for the saints of the Tribulation will be different from those who go before, wither in death or the Rapture. All who are in Christ, however, will be with Him, and that's the chief goal, is it not, and to store up treasure there?
Oh, my, there is so much more I could say on this, digging into the depths of history, the Bible, and prophecies, but I thank you for your thoughtfulness in your question. I very much appreciate it.
Blessings to you, yours and all others here.
MM
