Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
Even though you face the greatest possible historical disaster, there is a place of refuge.
Wednesday, July 16, 2003
Eis ten eremon –
ei*” thVn e!rhmon = “into an uninhabited region;” generally in the Middle East it referred to high desert country.
The woman fled to the high desert country – places like Moab, Edom, Ammon, Petra.
These are the mountains of MAT 24:16, or Edom, Moab and Ammon, of DAN 11:41, where she had a place of refuge.
“Had” – pres-act-ind – echei – e!cei = customary present; what may be reasonably expected to occur under the protective care of God.
“Where” – hopou – o@pou = there is only one place where the Jews in Palestine can go and be absolutely safe for the rest of the Tribulation period.
They not only have to go to the high desert country in the first place, but they have to stay there in the second place.
The woman, true Israel, has a wonderful place of refuge, the place of the wall of fire, ZEC 2:5.
Place – accusative singular direct object – topon – tovpon = a specific place, a correct geographical location.
This place of refuge is said to be “prepared by God” – perf-pass-part – hetoimazo – “has been prepared” = to prepare, to make ready, provide.
By prosperity, I mean opportunity.
JOH 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
MAT 16:24 If anyone will come after Me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
Turn to LUK 14:26
MAT 19:21 “If you wish to be complete, go {and} sell your possessions and give to {the} poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
This place of refuge is said to be “prepared by God,” – perf-pass-part – hetoimazo – “has been prepared” = to prepare, to make ready, provide.
The dramatic perfect tense emphasizes the results of the completed action of the verb, which is a haven prepared by God for believing Jews, who are saved during the first half of the Tribulation, and delivered by the grace of God.
The Tribulation period is divided into two parts, each approximately three and a half years.
Two categories of saved Jews:
Those who are saved in the first half, and those who are saved in the second half of the Tribulation.
Generally they are evangelized by 144,000 Jewish evangelists, and in obedience to the word of God they flee to the high desert country of Edom, Moab, and Ammon, DAN 11:41.
The second category are the remnant Jews, evangelized in the second half of the Tribulation by Moses and Elijah, the two witnesses, and instead of fleeing, their refuge is in Jerusalem, where they fight the king of the north in the final phase of the Armageddon campaign, ZEC 14:1-7.
Category one – the fleeing remnant, the running remnant of the first half of the Tribulation.
Category two – the fighting remnant of the last half of the Tribulation.
The origin of this refuge – apo tou theos –
a*poV tou qeou = “from the source of God.”
Turn to DAN 11:41
You are in the Church-age as a member of the royal family and you are not going to die before your time appointed by God, assuming you are of positive volition, and you are functioning inside the PPOG.
2TI 1:7 For God has not given us a lifestyle of fear, but of power and love and discipline.
1JO 4:4b greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
Because the PPOG in this dispensation is the place of refuge, in the Church-age, it is not the geographical location that really matters, it is the plan of God.
a. The filling of the Spirit through rebound.
b. Enforced and genuine humility.
c. The momentum gate, perception and application of doctrine.
d. Motivating virtue directed toward God.
e. Functional virtue directed toward man and circumstances.