New Jerusalem–A Place of Safety!
Surviving the Great Tribulation
Chapter 18, Part 1 Preview: Where will you be during the Great Tribulation? A great many people assume that “the church” will be spared the anguish of the Great Tribulation by being “Raptured” into heaven. Others believe that “the church” will flea to a place of safety on earth, such as Petra in Jordan, but not stay in “a place” for the full 1,260 days, opting to spend a year in “the third heaven”. Others plan to be in a place on earth for the entire time. Some hope that the kadishea (saints) will be protected in their homes as the nations around them are being decimated. I will mention the wilderness again later. Consider the following Texts and ask yourself if a Place of Safety is to be “above” us. This is the Sequel to: The Mysteries of New Jerusalem
I quoted the following passage in The Mysteries of New Jerusalem, but is is my favorite New Jerusalem text, because it is the first passage that caused me to go searching for evidence that there is far more to New Jerusalem than I had been led to believe. Under what conditions would the kings of the earth ever approach any city, take a good look, and then flee trembling in panic? This will be no ordinary city. I can picture in my mind these fancifully dressed men frantically whipping their horses as they’re heading for the hills! (after perhaps emp weapons take out everything electronic).
Psalm 48:1-6 Yehovah is great, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our Elohim (God), in His kadosh mountain. 2 Beautiful in elevation, Mount Zion is the joy of the whole earth, in the extreme north, the city of the great King. 3 Elohim has shown Himself in her citadels as a refuge. 4 The kings gathered together, they passed by together. 5 They saw it [Mount Zion, the city”] and they were amazed. They were terrified, so they fled in panic. 6 Trembling took hold of them there, pain like a woman in childbirth... 68 As we have heard, so we have seen, in the city of Yehovah of Armies, in the city of our Elohim. Elohim will establish it forever. Selah.—Gabriel Bible
What does the Bible say about surviving the Great Tribulation? If you have read Chapter 2, The Time After Jacob’s Trouble, then you are aware of the case I made showing that the remnant, or survivors, of the Nations of Israel are being led to safety at the close of this present age. Some of the basic “proof texts” about the kadishea being spared the Tribulation actually pertain to Israel. So where does the Assembly (article/198/#mat25">MatthChurch) fit into the equation? Might “the wise” be seeking protection before those who suffer some of the trials begin looking for a way out? Finally, could Mount Zion, often a synonym for (New) Jerusalem, be the ultimate place of safety as well as where the “Marriage of the Lamb” will LATER take place?
The key text used by the earthly “place of safety” proponents maintains that the “woman” of Revelation 12 is the “true church”. Of course, 1,260 days is the exact duration of the “Great Tribulation”—the more interesting half of a seven year period, also described as “the time of Jacob’s trouble”:
Revelation 12:6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where YHVH had prepared a place for her, so that They could nourish her for 1,260 days.
But is this “woman” the church? What evidence supports that conclusion? Simply reading the context, the five verses preceding this “proof text”, really puts the kibosh to that nonsense. The woman in question is the Nation that gave birth to Yeshua (Jesus)—Israel.
Revelation 12:1-5 An ‘amazing’ sign was seen in the sky: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 Being pregnant, she cried out from birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 Another sign appeared in the sky, a huge fiery dragon [Greek: drakon] that had seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems were on his head. 4 His tail ‘swept’ away a third of the stars [Messengers, Revelation 9:1] in the sky and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that as soon as she had given birth, he would devour her Son. 5 She gave birth to a Son who is to rule all nations with a scepter of iron. Her Child was quickly taken up to Yehovah and to His throne.
Comparing this reference to the other symbolic reference concerning “sun” “moon” and “stars” will crush any remaining doubts about the “woman”. Joseph had a prophetic dream where his family, the first “Israelite” family, corresponded to these exact symbols! Joseph was the youngest (12th star).
Genesis 37:9He had yet another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, “I’ve had yet another dream, and look, the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me”!
Could New Jerusalem be a place of safety for the entire time? What is the “Tabernacle” that will have been “created”, and located literally “above” the earthly Mount Zion as a “place of refuge”. Also, might the Feast of Tabernacles also pertain to the TABERNACLE, in the sky “above” the earth, or possibly also include an earthly tabernacle! There is more about this “woman” and “her place” a few verses later. Notice that “her place” is a place that she must “fly into”! Might you “rejoice” in the “Heavens”, and if so what Heavens?
Revelation 12:12,14 SO THE HEAVENS BE JOYFUL, AND THOSE OF YOU WHO LIVE THERE. PITY THE EARTH and the sea, because the deceiver has come down to you filled with rage, knowing that he has little time left.” ... 14 The woman was given the two wings of a large eagle so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place of habitation, where she would be nourished for a time, times and half a time, from the ‘presence’ of the serpent.
After the Exodus, Elohim set national boundaries for the tribes of Israel. In becoming a nation, Elohim (God) compared the “wilderness” experience of the First Exodus to an eagle carrying its young into the air in order to drop them for a “crash” course in flying.
Deuteronomy 32:8-11 When the Highest One gave to the nations their inheritance, when He separated the children of men, He set the bounds of the people according to the number of the descendants of Israel. 9 For Yehovah’s portion is His people. Jacob [Israel] is the lot of His inheritance. 10 He found him in a desert land, in the waste howling wilderness. He surrounded him. He cared for him. He kept him as the apple of his eye. 11 As an eagle that stirs up her nest, that flutters over her young, He spread abroad His wings, He took them, He bore them on His wings.
The Revelation account of the “eagle” and the “woman” illustrates that Elohim is again going to “drop ship” Israel into her land via another “wilderness” experience. After the destruction of ancient Israel, Elohim promised that He would once again redraw the borders of Israel as the center piece of Middle Eastern geography. The detailed plan begins in the following verse.
Ezekiel 47:13 The Sovereign Yehovah says, “These are the boundaries of the land that is to be divided as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel, Joseph will have two portions.
Some of those people who Elohim has used to rebuild His Latter temple will still be in Jerusalem until the last possible safe moment:
Matthew 24:15-21 When you see the unclean sign of the idolatrous abomination of desolation mentioned by the prophet Daniel standing in the dedicated Place—the reader must understand— 16 then those of you who are in Judea should escape to the mountain/s! 17 No one on the roof should come down to get anything out of their houses, 18 and no one in the fields should return to get their clothing. 19 But I pity pregnant and nursing mothers in those days. 20 Pray that your flight won’t be during the winter or on the Sabbath. 21 There will be Great Tribulation then, such as has never occurred from the beginning of the world until now and will by no means ever happen again.
There is reason to believe that many people will arrive at a gathering place over a period of 75 days (Daniel 12:11-12), but from there Elohim will take these people elsewhere for exactly 42 months! Some will calmly “depart” early within the seventy five day “window” of opportunity:
Isaiah 52:11-12 Leave! Leave, get away from there! Touch nothing unclean! Get out of her 'presence'! Cleanse yourselves, you who bear the vessels of Yehovah. 12 You won’t go out in a hurry, nor will you go as fugitives, because Yehovah will go before you, and the Elohim of Israel will be your rear guard.
A far greater number of Israelites, and wise people of other nations will be provided “refuge” after surviving the Great Tribulation.
Isaiah 4:4-6 when Yehovah has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and rinsed the bloodstains from Jerusalem, by the spirit of justice, and by the spirit of burning. 5 Yehovah will create ABOVE the whole habitation of Mount Zion, and ABOVE her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night, because ABOVE all the splendor will be a place of shelter. 6 There will be a sukkah [tabernacle] for a shade in the daytime from the heat, and for a refuge and a chuppah [wedding shelter] [1] from storm and from rain.
[1] Traditional Jewish weddings have a clear view of the sky directly above, when viewed from within a chuppah. The other two times this word is used is in connection with a strong bridegroom traversing heaven, (Psalm 19:5-6) and an end time marriage (Joel 2:16). You don’t suppose this has anything to do with the wedding of the Lamb do you?
Here, the Tabernacle is described as a “refuge” after the “storm”, after the filth has been washed away. This is a primary support for the view that New Jerusalem will actually be “anchored” above the historic location of “Old Jerusalem”, tho it will be far larger.
These people who survived the Great Tribulation will need refuge from the Day of Yehovah (the “Lord”), which is the second great prophesied period of time.
Matthew 24:29-30 Immediately AFTER the time of Tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon won’t shed her light and shooting stars will fall from the sky, and the inherent power of the skies will be shaken. 30 Then the miraculous sign of the Son of Man will be seen in the sky, and then all the nations on earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the cloud [singular, as in Luke 21:27] from heaven with great power and splendor.
This is not fluffy filler material either: We need to be looking for a True Tabernacle, not some “the Church is the Tabernacle” imitation.
Hebrews 8:1-2 The ‘main point’ is that we have a High Priest who is seated on the right hand side of the throne of the Majesty in Heaven. 2 He is the temple priest of the Kadosh Place, the true tabernacle that Yehovah built, not man.
Revelation 21:1-3 I saw a New Heaven and a New Earth, because the first Heaven and the first earth had gone [1], and there was no more sea. 2 I saw the dedicated city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of the sky from YHVH, like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice from the sky say, “Look, YHVH’s tabernacle [dwelling place] is among humanity [anthropos]. He will live with them and they’ll be His people, and YHVH will be with them, yes YHVH Himself will be with them.”
[1] This is the equivalent of the new earth that appeared after YHVH sent a great flood “to destroy the earth” (Genesis 9:11).
What Tabernacle does the Beast blaspheme? And who is dwelling in “heaven” (the sky) at that time? Notice that the Beast will blaspheme the Tabernacle of Elohim.
Revelation 13:4-6 They worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to this ravenous beast, and they said, “Who is like the ravenous beast, and who can wage war with him?” 5 He was given a mouth to make ‘bold’ and blasphemous statements, and he was given authority to operate forty-two months. 6 He opened his mouth in blasphemy against YHVH, blaspheming His name and His tabernacle and those who live in Heaven.
I believe that this is the same occurrence that is mentioned by Daniel:
Daniel 11:31 Armed forces will rise up, and they’ll defile the Temple refuge, and put a stop to the daily burnt offerings, and they’ll set up an appalling detestable idol [KJV, abomination of desolation].
Notice what David was inspired to say. You may think that David’s words below are generic as far as the timing goes, but the context speaks clearly about the “end time” and things that never remotely happened during his lifetime. This is prophetic! For emphasis this is also restated in Psalm 18.
2 Samuel 22 David spoke to Yehovah (Jehovah) the words of this song in the day that Yehovah delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul, 2 and he said, “Yehovah is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, yes mine, 3 Elohim, is my rock, in him I’ll take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my deliverance, my high tower, and my liberator. My liberator, you save me from violence. 4 I’ll call on Yehovah, who is worthy to be praised, so I will be saved from my enemies. 5 The waves of death surrounded me. The floods of wickedness made me afraid. 6 The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death caught me. 7 In my distress I called on Yehovah. Yes, I called to my Elohim. He heard my voice out of His temple. My cry came into His ears. 8 Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, because He was angry. 9 Smoke went up out of His nostrils. Fire out of His mouth devoured. Coals were lit by it. 10 He bent the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under His feet. 11 He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, He was seen on the wings of the wind. 12 He made darkness a sukkah around Himself, gathering of waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
“Pavilions” in the KJV or sukkah, sook-kaw’) is the same term that is used in “Tabernacles”, such as the “Feast of Tabernacles”, rather than the common word also translated tabernacle. At this time New Jerusalem will be cloaked with “dark waters and thick clouds”, hiding its majesty. Which heaven would Elohim be in, so that when He thunders, lightning strikes the earth?
Continuing: 13 At the brightness before Him, coals of fire were kindled. 14 Yehovah thundered from heaven. The Most High spoke audibly. 15 He sent out arrows, and scattered them, lightning, and confused them. 16 Then the channels of the sea appeared. The foundations of the world were laid bare by the reprimand of Yehovah, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils. 17 He sent from on high and He took me. He drew me out of many water. 18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, because they were too mighty for me. 19 They came on me in the day of my calamity, but Yehovah was my support. 20 He also brought me out into the expanse. He delivered me, because He delighted in me. 21 Yehovah rewarded me according to my righteousness. He rewarded me according to the cleanness of my hands.
This has nothing to do with anything that David experienced, but it has everything to do with The Day of Yehovah (the “Lord”) and deliverance from it! The most interesting points in this are: He took me”... “He also brought me out into the expanse”. This “broad place”, as the KJV puts it is probably the “sea of glass”! Could you turn in your Bible and find anything even remotely as strong as the support for the “place of safety” described below—for some other location?
Psalm 31:19-21 Oh how great is Your goodness, that You’ve laid up for those who fear You, that You’ve prepared for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men [humans]! 20 In the SECRET SHELTER OF YOUR PRESENCE you’ll hide them like a treasure from the conspiracys of men. You’ll keep them SECRETLY in a Tabernacle away from the quarrelsome words. 21 Praise Yehovah, because He has shown me His marvelous loving kindness in a strong city.
The Strong City will be New Jerusalem!
Isaiah 26:1-2 Open the gates so that the righteous nation can come in, the one that remains faithful.
The Jerusalem on the ground will no longer be called Jerusalem; that name will be reserved for the New City:
Ezekiel 48:31-35 and the gates of the city will be named after the tribes of Israel [as in Revelation 21:12]... 35 It will be eighteen thousand reeds around, and the name of the city from that day will be, Yehovah is there.
Psalm 46:1-7 Elohim is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 So we won’t be afraid, tho the earth changes, [removed”, as in the KJV, is not in Strong’s] tho the mountains are moved into the middle of the seas, 3 tho its waters roar and ‘foam’, [Literally “boil”, “foam”, “foam up”, “ferment”], though the mountains tremble with their 'rising up' [Literally “pride”, “majesty”, “rising up”, “swelling”]. Selah. 4 There is a river with streams that make the city of Elohim glad, 'Tabernacle' [mishkan” mish-kawn’ the very “Dwelling place”, or “Tabernacle”] of the Highest One. 5 Elohim is in her midst. She won’t be ‘shaken’ [Literally “totter”, “shaken”, “slip”, “be moved”]; Elohim will HELP HER at the break of dawn. 6 The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved. He lifted His voice, and the earth melted. [No, certainly not all of it.] 7 Yehovah of Armies is with us. The Elohim of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
This may be a reference to the time when the “sea” is “no more”.
“Elohim will HELP HER” [Israel] just prior to the “dawn” of the new millennial day! Reconstruction of the earth’s surface requires a lot of shaking and melting! Fortunately, during the “reconstruction”, the “City” or “Tabernacle” will not be shaken. New Jerusalem, with its River of Life, [Revelation 22:1] will be positioned over the location of ancient Eden, actually covering an area much larger than all of ancient Israel had been. The river that flowed from Eden became four great rivers. I expect that this too will be restored to a pre flood condition.
Job 36:29-33 Yes, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, and the thunderings from His SUCCOT [or Tabernacle]? 30 Look, He spreads His light around Him. He covers the bottom of the sea. 31 By these He judges the people. He gives food in abundance. 32 He covers His hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark. 33 Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up.
Perhaps even Job was alluding to the dark clouds that will cover the earth and the sky, preventing visibility of New Jerusalem until the Day of Yehovah. Then there will be thunder from His Tabernacle! Here is another clue as to where protection will be offered to those who will listen:
Obadiah 1:15-18 The Day of Yehovah [better known as “the Day of the Lord”] is near every nation! As you’ve done, it will be done to you. Your deeds will return upon your own head. 16 As you’ve drunk on My kadosh mountain, so will all the nations drink continually. Yes, they’ll drink, swallow down, and be as tho they hadn’t been. 17 But in MOUNT ZION, there will be THOSE WHO ESCAPE, and it will be kadosh. The house of Jacob will have their possessions. 18 The house of Jacob will be a fire, the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for chaff. They’ll burn among them, and devour them. There won’t be any [of those described in vs. 8-14] remaining to the house of Esau”. Indeed, Yehovah has spoken.
Dont try hiding out on Jerusalem’s earthly Mount Zion during the Day of Yehovah! Earthly Jerusalem will definitely not be safe. Again, “Those who are in Judea should flea to the mountain/s.” (Matthew 24:16) Elohim’s people must “Flea” “Judea”!
Psalm 27:1-5 Yehovah is my light and my deliverance. Whom will I fear? Yehovah is the strength of my life. Of whom will I be afraid? 2 When evildoers came at me to eat up my flesh, even my adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell. 3 tho an army should encamp against me, my conscience will not fear. Tho war should rise against me, even then I’ll be confident. 4 One thing I have asked of Yehovah, that I’ll seek after, that I may live in Yehovah’s house all the days of my life, to see Yehovah’s beauty, and to inquire in his Temple. 5 In THE TIME OF TROUBLE [the time of Jacob’s trouble] He’ll protect me secretly in His pavilion [masculine word form: “TABERNACLE”]. In the SECRET PLACE of His tabernacle He’ll hide me. He’ll lift me up on a ROCK.
I think that that last line is what was alluded to in 1 Corinthians 10:4, with Yeshua being the Rock.
Dismissing the following Scripture as poetry may cost you your life!
Psalm 91 The person who livess in the SECRET PLACE of the Highest One will rest in the shadow of the Sovereign. 2 I’ll say of Yehovah, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my Elohim, in whom I trust.” 3 He’ll deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He’ll cover you with His wings. Under His wings you’ll take refuge [more eagle symbolism]. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart. 5 You won’t be afraid of the terrors at night, or of the arrows that fly during the day, 6 or of the pestilence that walks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You’ll only look with your eyes, and see the compensation of the wicked. 9 Because you’ve made Yehovah your refuge, and the Highest One your dwelling place. 10 No evil will happen to you, nor will any plague come near your home. 11 He’ll put His Messengers in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways. 12 They’ll lift you up in their hands, so that you won’t dash your foot against a stone. 13 You’ll tread on the lion and cobra. You’ll trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot. 14 Because He has set His love on me, so I’ll deliver him. I’ll set him on high, because he has known My name. 15 He’ll call on Me, and I’ll answer him. I’ll be with him in trouble. I’ll deliver him, and honor him. 16 I’ll satisfy him with long life, and show him My deliverance.
Where is “on high”?
Just like “heaven”, it can sometimes mean anywhere “up there”, but usually it’s where Elohim lives!
Isaiah 33:5 Yehovah is exalted, because He lives on high. He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.
Psalm 92:8 But you, Yehovah, are on high forever.
Isaiah 24:18 Then the person who flees from the frightening noise will fall into a pit, and the person who comes up out of the pit will be captured in a snare, because the windows on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.
You’ve heard of walking on water, what about walking on fire:
Isaiah 33:14-17 The sinners in Zion are afraid. Trembling has seized the secular people. Who among us can live with the devouring fire? Who among us can live with everlasting burning? 15 [Note the answer to this important question.] He who walks righteously, and speaks blamelessly, he who despises the gain of oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing to take a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of blood, and refuses to look at evil- 16 HE WILL LIVE ON HIGH. His place of defense will be the fortress [Strong’s #4679: “fort, stronghold, fastness, mountain-fastness, stronghold”] of rocks. His bread will be supplied. His waters will be sure. 17 Your eyes will see the King [Yeshua] in His beauty. They’ll see a distant land.
“Our eyes will see the King” the “Lofty Rock”, our “Mountain Fortress” when we “live on High”! From this vantage point we’ll be able to “see” the “kadosh Land”.
Both “fortress” and “rock” are used as symbols of Elohim’s supernatural protection. That goes double when they are both used together! These terms are always taken to be figures of speech, and that’s fine, but could they have a literal application for those of us at the end of the age?
Psalm 31:2-3 Bow down Your ear to me. Deliver me quickly. Be my ROCK of refuge, a FORTRESS of defense to deliver me. 3 You are my rock and my fortress, so for Your name’s sake lead me and guide me.
Psalm 27:5-6 In the time of trouble He’ll protect me secretly in His pavilion. In the covert of His tabernacle He’ll hide me. He’ll lift me up on a rock. 6 Now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me. I’ll offer offerings of joy in His tent. I’ll sing, yes, I’ll sing praises to Yehovah.
Psalm 18:2 Yehovah is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my Elohim, my Rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my deliverance, my high tower.
Psalm 71:3 Be my ROCK of refuge that I can always go. Give the command to save me, because You are my ROCK and my fortress.
Mix in a little eagle wings for good measure:
Psalm 61:2-4 From the end of the earth, I’ll call to you, when my conscience is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I am. 3 You’ve been a refuge for me, a strong tower from the enemy. 4 I’ll live in Your tent forever. I’ll take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah.
Who wants to stay in Petra “forever”?
Psalm 31:1-5 In you, Yehovah, I take refuge. Don’t let me ever be disappointed. Deliver me in your righteousness. Bow down Your ear to me. Deliver me quickly. Be my ROCK of refuge, a FORTRESS of defense to deliver me. 3 You are my rock and my fortress, so for Your name’s sake lead me and guide me. 4 Pluck me out of the net that they’ve laid secretly for me, because You are my stronghold. 5 Into your hand I commend my spirit [as Yeshua quoted in Luke 23:46]. You redeem me, Yehovah, Elohim of truth.
With “rock” and “fortress” notice the similarities in the following a few verses:
Psalm 31:19-21 Oh how great is Your goodness, that You have laid up for those who fear You, that You have prepared for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men! 20 In the shelter of Your presence You will hide them from the plots of men. You will keep them secretly in a succot [Tabernacle] away from the strife of tongues. 21 Praise be to Yehovah, because He has shown me His marvelous loving kindness in a strong city.
Now for Part 2
