New Jerusalem: A Place of Safety! Part 2

New Jerusalem–A Place of Safety!

Part 2, Wilderness, Rapture or What?

Chapter 22, Part 2 Preview: This segment finishes explaining where you could 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 1260 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 Saints (off site) will be protected in their homes as the nations around them are being decimated. The “wilderness” prophecy of Revelation is also addressed.

Here is a second cleft in the rock reference that concerns safety—in God’s very presence! God says that you can be “by Me” “in the cleft of the ROCK” and live.

You may think that David’s words below are generic as far as the timing goes, but read the context before and it is clearly about the “end time”!

2 Samuel 22:2-4 And he said: “[Yehovah] is my ROCK, my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine; 3 God, my rock, in him I will take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge. My savior, you save me from violence. 4 I will call on [Yehovah’], who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from my enemies. WEB

Resurrection, hiding in “chambers”, and “the Day of the Lord”, its all here. For many of us those chambers are the grave:

Isaiah 26:19-21 Your dead shall live. My dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth will cast forth the dead. 20 Come, my people, enter into your chambers, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a little moment, until the indignation is past. 21 For, behold, [Yehovah] comes forth out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth also will disclose her blood, and will no longer cover her slain. WEB.

Our Savior, the Rock, wants to see His Bride’s face, in what we call the spring (Biblically, there is only summer and winter). The reference to Mountains and Hills below are no accident! Could the quote from the Song of Solomon below be a reference to Zechariah 14:4? “His feet will stand in that day on the Mount of Olives”.

Or how about Isaiah 55?

Isaiah 55:11-12? ... so shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing I sent it to do. 12 For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing ... WEB

Song of Solomon 2:8-14 The voice of my beloved! Behold, [He?] he comes, leaping on the MOUNTAINS, skipping on the hills. 9 My beloved is like a roe or a young hart. Behold, he stands behind our wall! He looks in at the windows. He glances through the lattice. 10 My beloved spoke, and said to me, “Rise up, my love, my beautiful one, and come away. 11 For, behold, the winter is past. The rain is over and gone. [This timing would coincide with Passover] 12 The flowers appear on the earth. The time of the singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. 13 The fig tree ripens her green figs. The vines are in blossom. They give forth their fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away. 14 My dove in the clefts of the ROCK, in the hiding places of the mountainside, let me SEE your face. Let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. WEB

I think that this passage is full of tie-ins with other scriptures. Jesus spoke of a parable of the fig tree with summer being near, in the Song of Solomon the harvest is ready.

Matthew 24:32-33 Now from the fig tree learn this parable. When its branch has now become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near. 33 Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. WEB

Exodus 33:18-23 He said, “Please show meYour glory.” 19 He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of [Yehovah] before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” 20 He said, “You cannot see My face, for man may not see Me and live.” 21 [Yehovah] also said, “Behold, there is a place BY ME, and you shall stand on the ROCK. 22 It will happen, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the ROCK, and will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; 23 then I will take away My hand, and you will see My back; but My face shall not be seen. WEB

How can New Jerusalem be compared to a “wilderness” for three and one half years?

Here are the definitions for “wilderness”:

Some will not repent and thus will not be hidden.

Revelation 17:3 He carried me away in the Spirit into a WILDERNESS. I saw a WOMAN sitting on a scarlet-colored [beast], full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. WEB

Both the Kingdom of the Great Whore—“a woman” and the Kingdoms of Israel—“a woman” are associated with “the wilderness”. Coincidence? Two far different women are associated with two far different wildernesses!

Isaiah 62:4 You shall no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall your land any more be termed Desolate: but you shall be called ‘Hephzibah’, [Literally, “My Delight is in Her”] and your land ‘Beulah’; [Literally, “Married”] for [Yehovah] delights in you, and your land shall be married. WEB

Our stay in New Jerusalem for the first 3½ years will be Solitary. Much of Israel will be left behind to die at the hands of traitors. Many of our friends and relatives will be dying horrible deaths as well. We will literally be taken from family members in the middle of the night, “one will be taken, and the other will be left.” (Luke 17:34) Most of the Saints are still in their graves. Even God the Father is preoccupied. We will still be too fragile to be exposed directly to the Father. He will confine Himself to a temple. Notice in Revelation 15 that God is not with the Saints on the “sea of glass” even during the trumpet plagues, following the 3 ½ years:

Revelation 15:8-16:1 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power. NO ONE was able to enter into the temple, UNTIL the seven plagues of the seven angels would be finished. [Ignore chapter break] 16:1 I heard a loud voice out of the TEMPLE, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God on the earth! WEB

There will be no temple in New Jerusalem above.

Revelation 21:22 I saw no temple in it, [New Jerusalem] for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. WEB

The apostle Paul, believing that the end of the age was imminent, may have even thought that the flight for refuge had already begun:

Hebrews 6:17-20 In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of His counsel, interposed with an oath; 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have FLED FOR REFUGE to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil; 20 where as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. WEB

After the seven last plagues, the veil separating us from God will be gone. Many of us will have been waiting for these events for decades.

Wilderness also means “a flock deserted by the shepherd”. Most of our leaders, our “shepherds”, will have been left behind as well. Since “wilderness” figuratively means, “the husband (to be) withholds himself”, Israel will be awaiting the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. (See: Who is the Bride of Christ?)

As has been mentioned, dark clouds, that our physical eyes cannot see beyond, will surround New Jerusalem. Certainly things could be a lot worse, but they need to get a lot better.

Could it be that the Feast of Tabernacles portrays the arrival of New Jerusalem, God’s Tabernacle, more than just our physical bodies being tabernacles? Couldnt the Feast of Tabernacles represent something eternal as well? Further, why make pilgrimages to Jerusalem other than to portray the time when we will all gather at God’s Tabernacle, Jerusalem? A tabernacle is a movable dwelling! We know that New Jerusalem will be movable!

Why does the Feast of Tabernacles last for seven days? Just as the seven days of Unleavened Bread represents an opportunity for everyone who lived in any of the 7000 years, so it is for the Feast of Tabernacles. Why should that seven day period represent only 1000 years but Unleavened Bread represent 7000 years?

Hebrews 9:11 But Christ having come as a High Priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect TABERNACLE, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation .... WEB

On a related topic, here are some scriptures that refer to physical Israel being spared—those who repent at the urging of the Two Witnesses. Physical Israel will also have a place of safety from the northern army when God destroys it during the Day of the Lord.

Joel 2:16-32 Gather the people. Sanctify the assembly. Assemble the elders. Gather the children, and those who suck the breasts. Let the bridegroom go forth from his room, and the bride out of her chamber.17 Let the priests, the ministers of [Yehovah], weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, “Spare your people, [Yehovah], and dont give your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ 18 Then [Yehovah] was jealous for his land, and had PITY on His people. 19 [Yehovah] answered His people, “Behold, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied with them; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations. 20 But I will remove the northern army far away from you, and will drive it into a barren and desolate land, its front into the eastern sea, and its back into the western sea; and its stench will come up, and its bad smell will rise.” Surely he has done great things. 21 Land, dont be afraid. Be glad and rejoice, for [Yehovah] has done great things. 22 Dont be afraid, you animals of the field; for the pastures of the wilderness spring up, for the tree bears its fruit. The fig tree and the vine yield their strength. 23“Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in [Yehovah], your God; for He gives you the former rain in just measure, and He causes the rain to come down for you, the former rain and the latter rain, as before. 24 The threshing floors will be full of wheat, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. 25 I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the great locust, the grasshopper, and the caterpillar, My great army, which I sent among you. 26 You will have plenty to eat, and be satisfied, and will praise the name of [Yehovah], your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people will never again be disappointed .... 27 You will know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am [Yehovah], your God, and there is no one else; and My people will never again be disappointed. 28 “It will happen AFTERWARD [after the Beast’s “Northern Army” is defeated], that I will pour out My Spirit on ALL FLESH; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. 29 And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days, I will pour out My Spirit. 30 I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before [at the initiation of] the great and terrible Day of [Yehovah] [or Day of the Lord] comes. 32 It will happen that whoever will call on the name of [Yehovah] shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and IN [New] Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as [Yehovah] has said, and among the remnant, those whom [Yehovah] calls. WEB

Again, concerning physical Israel being spared the Day of the Lord:

Zephaniah 2:1-3 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O ‘undesirable’ [hated] nation, 2 BEFORE the DECREE is Issued [see Daniel 9:27], or the day passes like chaff, before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you, before the DAY OF THE LORD’S anger comes upon YOU! 3 Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be HIDDEN in THE DAY of the Lord’s anger. NKJV

Here is more encouraging news about some of Israel being spared even prior to the Day of the Lord:

Ezekiel 11:16-17 Therefore say, Thus says the Lord [Yehovah]: Whereas I have removed them far off among the nations, and whereas I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them a ‘sanctuary’ [place of refuge] for a little while in the countries where they are come. 17 Therefore say, Thus says the Lord [Yehovah]: I will gather you from the peoples, and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. WEB

Rapture?

Here are a couple of classic “rapture” passages. Would you rather be taken or left? The following account from Matthew is explained here (off site). However, the issue of where is not considered. Where did Noah and family spend their time during the great deluge? Was it not floating just above the highest mountains? (Genesis 8)

Matthew 24:37-44 As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, 39 and they didnt know until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left; 41 two women grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Watch therefore, for you dont know in what hour your Lord comes. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you dont expect, the Son of Man will come. WEB

The next passage is where the greatest story ever told ends and another one, full of surprises, begins. At the time of the great end time resurrection (Daniel 12:1-3, John 5:28-29) there will be a family reunion such as has never happened before—it will be the first such annual commemoration—with everyone present. All of God’s people who have ever died will be brought back to life in new indestructible bodies. Those of His faithful followers who have served Him as part of the Seven Assemblies (“Churches”) and who have survived all of the end time horrors will be instantaneously changed into “spirit composed” bodies as well and join in the feast! This would be those who were being protected by God in the Fathers own abode who will also be allowed to meet the Father, and “we shall see Him as He is”. Possibly some Saints will survive the holocaust of the Beast and also join in, having learned the hard way, tho it seems much more probable that they would have to be among the dead who arise.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left to the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, 17 then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. WEB

(We will meet Him in the clouds above the Mount of Olives, and we will also be “with the Lord forever”, but we wont be trapped in the clouds forever, as some believe.)

144,000 from the Twelve Tribes

One more thing. What about the 144,000 who were sealed?

Revelation 7:3 ... Dont harm the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, until we have sealed the bondservants of our God on their foreheads! WEB

The sealing is Divine protection for a chosen few among the millions of Israelite survivors—“sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel.” They will not die in the Tribulation, rather, they survive in the flesh! They will be preserved from death during the perils of the end time—that is why the angels must protect them from the harmful things that will occur in the physical realm—things hurting “the earth”, “the sea” and “the trees”.

Revelation 7:14-17 ... He said to me, “These are those who CAME OUT OF the Great Tribulation. They washed their robes, and made them white in the Lamb’s blood. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, they serve Him day and night in His temple. He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle OVER them. 16 They will never be hungry, neither thirsty any more; neither will the sun beat on them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shepherds them, and leads them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. WEB

They will serve God in a similar manner that the Levites will serve in the coming third temple (Ezekiel 40-48), specifically Ezekiel 44:9-39. Never again will they suffer from hunger, thirst and exposure as they did in the Great Tribulation. They will be living on into the Everlasting Kingdom. Yet their Shepherd will lead them to the “springs of waters of life” in due time! Ezekiel 47 is a whole chapter about this living water.

If I dont see you before this time, I hope to see you there!

Some scriptures are from the “New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved.” “Bible text from the New King James Version® is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000.”