Revelation 12:13-14 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (KJV)
After his defeat, Satan attacks Israel; he pours his anger out on them.
Zech 2:8 For thus saith the L-RD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. (KJV)
Remember this is the mid point of the Tribulation. In
Daniel 9:27 And he (The Anti-Messiah) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (7 years): and in the midst of the week (mid point 3 1/2 years) he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (KJV)
At the mid point of the Tribulation the Anti-Messiah will enter the temple in Jerusalem where the Jewish people have been having their daily sacrifices and he will cause them to stop. He will declare that he is god and demand worship! This is when the Jewish people will wake up and realize that the Anti-Messiah is not a good guy they will flee for their lives.
There will be more discussion on this in chapter 13. Also if you haven't read our commentary on Daniel please read chapter 9. There is a detailed discussion of this event in there.
Y'shua spoke of this event in
Matthew 24:15-24 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Messiah, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Messiahs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (KJV)
Here Y'shua tells us the Jewish people will flee to the mountains.
The prophet Zechariah tells us that 1/3 of the Jewish people will survive.
Zechariah 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The L-RD is my G-d. (KJV)
Zechariah and Isaiah tell us where these mountains in the desert are:
Zechariah 14:5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the L-RD my G-d shall come, and all the saints with thee. (KJV)
Isaiah 63:1 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. (KJV)
Azal is thought to be connected with Petra. Edom is the region of southern Jordan, which at one time belonged to the descendants of Esau, the Edomites. This is the location of Petra.
Daniel tells us that the Anti-Messiah will not have control over Edom and Moab. Moab is also in Jordan and is the region north of Edom.
Daniel 11:41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. (KJV)
Many Bible Scholars believe that Petra in southern Jordan is where the Jewish people will hide. I, Elaine, visited Petra. After visiting it I am completely convinced that this is the place created by G-d for his people to hide for 3 1/2 Biblical years. Petra is a natural fortress. It is 10 square miles inside a circular mountain range. The only way in is through a narrow passage way called the Siq. It is 1 mile long and must be traversed by horseback, foot, or a small jeep. If you have seen the movie "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", they show Petra at the end of the movie. Harrison Ford rides through the Siq on horseback and enters Petra.
Petra has many caves in which the Jewish people could take refuge. Many believers have visited Petra and have hidden Bibles in the remote caves there. Their hope is that someday the Jewish people will find them and come to believe in Y'shua.
The woman given wings of an eagle tells us G-d will help her journey to be swift.
It appears that G-d will have to feed them while they are there just as he fed the Israelites for 40 years in the wilderness.
Revelation 12:15-17 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of G-d, and have the testimony of Y'shua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ). (KJV)
The flood of water from the serpent's mouth is not to be taken literally but represents a flood of persecution. Psalm 32:6; 69:2,15 paint overwhelming troubles as a flood.
How does the earth help the woman? Well, the commentaries are all pretty weak on this one. One thinks that the earth will swallow up any armies pursuing Israel. Another believes it means Israel will be able to hide in the various caves and canyons as they flee from the anti-messiah. Most commentaries are silent. If you have any ideas let us know.
The devil then turns his attention on the Jewish people who have accepted
Y'shua and as their Messiah.
