The Word "SELAH" in the Bible & The Great Escape!

The Bible mentions that there will come a time known as the "time of Jacob's trouble", and it is a very fierce and ominous period of human history. The word selah appears exactly 75 times in the King James Bible, and nearly every time it does it is in the context of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the Battle of Armageddon at the end of the Tribulation.

Selah Petra is a real place that exists today, and more importantly the word ‘Selah’ in the Bible is actually a prophecy time clue

Like most people, I am sure that you have been taught that the word ‘selah’ in the bible meant that God wanted you to ‘pause and meditate’ at the sections in scripture where the word appears. Pausing and meditating on God’s word is always a good thing to do, but having said that, there is so much more to the word ‘selah’ than pausing and meditating.

• “It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.” Psalm 89:37 (KJV)

The word selah appears exactly 75 times in the King James Bible, and nearly every time it does it is in the context of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the Battle of Armageddon at the end of the Tribulation.

For starters, Selah is an actual, literal place that still exists to this day. We read about the geographic location of Selah in 2 Kings 14:

• “He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day. “2 Kings 14:7 (KJV)

So the verse in 2 Kings 14 shows us first and foremost that Selah is a place that existed then and exists now. We call it today the rock walled city of Petra, located in Jordan. Selah (Sela) is also mentioned multiple times in the book of Isaiah:

• “Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion. For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest,so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.” Isaiah 16:1,2 (KJV)

• “Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.” Isaiah 42:11 (KJV)

What’s fascinating about the passage in Isaiah 42:11 is that it refers to the people of Selah as the “inhabitants of the rock”. Obadiah also mentions a civilization that lives in the rocks in the Land of Edom. Selah Petra was the capital of Edom:

• “The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle. Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised. The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?” Obadiah 1:1-3 (KJV)

There are many, many more references I could give for showing that Selah (Sela) is an actual geographic location, but I will trust that these will be sufficient. Now that we have established that Selah is an actual place from history past, let’s look and see if the bible gives reference to the city of Selah Petra being inhabited and used in a future, prophetical way.

Take a look what is inside at the city of Selah Petra:

This very revealing video of what is inside of the amazing buildings in the ‘lost city’ of Selah Petra in Jordan will really make you think. This is where the Bible says that God will hide the Jews after they are forced to flee Antichrist as we see in Matthew 24 and in Revelation 12. 

The Jews in the Time of Jacob’s Trouble – The Great Tribulation!

The Bible mentions that there will come a time known as the “time of Jacob’s trouble”, and it is a very fierce and ominous period of human history. In the 30th chapter of the book of Jeremiah, the Lord is giving prophecy about a time yet future when the Jews would be regathered into their land, Israel, but it would not be a time of peace. In fact, it would be just the opposite.

• “The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” Jeremiah 30:1-5,7 (KJV)
  

We know this ‘time of Jacob’s trouble’ to be what the New Testament refers to as the Great Tribulation. The time in which the Antichrist will visibly rule, and his main target will the people of Jacob who became Israel – the Jews.

God prepares a hiding place

God has promised that once the Jews were restored that they would never again be driven out. But the onslaught that the Antichrist whips up against them is so fierce and so terrible that God moves them out of the way, He hides them, in a place where Satan cannot get them. Jesus tells us to pay close attention to the prophet Daniel for a whoppingly important clue…and here it is:

• “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.” Matthew 24:15-22 (KJV)

• “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.” Luke 21:20-23 (KJV)

We who take the bible literally can clearly see that during the Great Tribulation, the Jews of necessity will be forced to temporarily flee to 1) a place in the wilderness, that is also in 2). the mountains.

In the ancient world, the rock walled city of Petra was commonly referred to by it’s full name of Selah, Petra. This steel engraving of the Ruinen von Selah Petra (the Ruins of Selah Petra) 1850, by Laborde is a great example of that.

The book of Revelation sheds even more light on the ‘flight’ that God will cause the Jews to take to get away from the Antichrist:

• “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. 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 God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:14-17 (KJV)

So we see that the believing Jews will be flown into a pre-prepared place in the wilderness for a ‘time, times and half a time’, or three and one-half years as foretold by the prophet Daniel. We believe that in this red rock city of Selah Petra is where God will hide the Jews while the Antichrist installs himself in the rebuilt Temple as if he was very God himself.

WARNING: THE NIV BIBLE REMOVES THE WORD COMPLETELY – In the KING JAMES 1611 Authorized Version HOLY BIBLE, The Word SELAH Appears exactly 75 Times, As we are showing you here it is a Phenomenal Prophecy clue as to the nature and character of the second coming of JESUS CHRIST. But the NIV Removes all 75 places in the Old Testament where the word appears, Replacing it with nothing.  Just simply erased it! Now, Since the word SELAH reveals so much about the second coming of Jesus, Who do you think would want the word removed and hide all that information from you?

SELAH A CLUE TO THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST

We have thus far shown that instead of being a signal to “pause and meditate’, that the word Selah in the bible is 1). an actual, literal, historical place that still exists today, and 2). it is the likely hiding place of the Jews in the Tribulation due to the many descriptive clues given it from scripture. Now we will attempt to tie it all together with a little-taught insight as to the placement of the word Selah in the bible.

The placement of the word Selah in the bible brings to light precious new insight as to events that will be going on during the Great Tribulation, and offers a tantalizing connection between Selah Petra and the believing Jews when they flee to hide from Antichrist. It goes like this:

ANYWHERE YOU FIND THE WORD SELAH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, YOU WILL FIND, NEARLY ALWAYS, EITHER IN THE FEW VERSES ABOVE IT OR BELOW IT, A REFERENCE TO THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION.

For example, in Psalm 24, we find the word Selah twice:

• “This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.” Psalm 24:6 (KJV)

• “Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.” Psalm 24:10 (KJV)

And all through this passage we see direct references to the Second Coming:

• “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.” Psalm 24:8,9 (KJV)

Moving on to Psalm 46, we see it again:

• “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” Psalm 46:11 (KJV)

• “The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.” Psalm 46:6 (KJV)

It doesn’t matter where you look, the word Selah is almost always associated together and found with direct, overt references to the Second Coming of Jesus. And it is the opinion of this author that that is exactly why the Lord placed the word Selah where He placed it. So that as we, the generation of the last days, saw these things approaching, we would have renewed confidence that everything in God’s word could be trusted totally and completely.

THINK ABOUT THIS AS WE CONCLUDE:

1. Jesus is called the Rock, Selah Petra means rock in Hebrew (Selah), and Greek (Petra). The bible was first written in Hebrew (OT), and in Greek (NT).

2. Jesus shed blood, which pays for our sins and covers us, is red. Petra is a red, rock city of refuge. The Lord is both a rock AND a fortress – “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” Psalm 18:2 (KJV) As you read the rest of Psalm 18, you find reference after reference to God being the ‘rock’, the ‘refuge’, setting His people on ‘high places’, ‘leaping over walls’, etc.

3. Petra is located next to the city of Wadi Musa, which means the ‘Valley of Moses’. The Jews fled by Moses out of Egypt in the Old Testament the same way that the Jews in the Tribulation will flee to Petra. And just as God supernaturally parted the Red Sea (there’s that word ‘red’ again!), God will supernaturally keep the Jews safe and protected in Petra.

4. Petra is at the entrance to the land of Edom. The prophet Daniel says that when the Antichrist appears, he will devour all the areas around Israel, except for Edom where Petra is. “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.” Daniel 11:41 (KJV)

5. In Isaiah 16, we see the Lord’s ‘outcasts’ hiding in the land of Moab right before He returns at the end of the Tribulation to set up His 1,000 year reign. “Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion. For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest,so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon. Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth. Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land. And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.” Isaiah 16:1-5 (KJV)

6. “Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.” Zephaniah 2:3 (KJV)

7. “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save..” Isaiah 63:1 (KJV)

COULD IT BE THAT WHEN JESUS RETURNS TO SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THE ANTICHRIST, THAT HE WILL STOP AT PETRA, WHICH IS BOZRAH, AND BRING HIS PEOPLE HOME?

Remember the Old Testament saints that where waiting in Abraham’s Bosom for Jesus to come and get them and bring them home? Jesus went down there and preached to those who were not getting out, sealing their doom, and then preached to the ones in Abraham’s Bosom and took them with Him to Glory. We believe that at His Second Coming, Jesus will stop at Selah Petra with us, His Church, on horseback, wipe out the rebellion, ‘dying His garments red’ in their blood, and then release those hiding in the rocks and take them with Him to Glory on earth for His 1,000 Year Reign of peace on this earth.

These verses from Revelation 19 show us the Day when we, the blood-washed, born again Church and Body of Jesus Christ, will return with Him on white horses to rescue His people the Jews and to fight the Battle of Armageddon:

• “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.” Revelation 19:11-14 (KJV)

THE GREAT ESCAPE - PETRA, JORDAN

Evacuating to Safety during Jacob's Trouble

• "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord,"He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." Psalm 91:1-2

Beneath the High Place of Sacrifice you will find the theatre carved into the side of a mountain. It truly is an original! There is no other theatre in the world carved out of rock. The Romans even rebuilt the back of it as it became an integral part of their culture. It is a magnificent piece of art in itself and prophetically sets the stage for grandiose worship of the Messiah during the Great Tribulation. Worn over the centuries and now limited from its original capacity of 4,000 spectators, it has three rows of seats separated by passageways and seven stairways. It truly is a spectacle!

Prophetic word from the LORD Yeshua HaMashiach concerning the Theatre at Petra, Jordan:

They will gather here, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. Yes, My holy remnant will gather here and I as their Mighty Shepherd will make Divine Visitations to them in the night and lead them into My Paths of Righteousness during the day. Yes, dearest ones, this is the place of My Divine Goshen. They will sing praises to the God of their Salvation. 

• He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Psalm 23: 3

• The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet  will I be confident. 4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple. 5 For He will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will lift me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD. Psalm 27:1-6  

• “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24 

• I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, 26 and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob. 27 And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” 28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs... Romans 11:25-28

What Is the High Place of Sacrifice, PETRA

The place of high sacrifice is about 850-900 meters above sea level. The ancient people worshipped from the highest places to feel closer to their gods. Only the high priests/elite were permitted to climb to the high places and they had to be in top physical shape!

Across the valley from here is the remains of another high place which is much more difficult to reach. It is called the “eagles’ nest” by the locals and archeologists and is believed to be the place that Obadiah referenced:

• The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? 4 Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord. Obadiah 1:3-4 

Look how small the platform area is. It is believed that there were washing rituals and burnt rituals and then the obvious rituals of blood sacrifice.

Take a look at the altar area. There is a circle at the top with a drain that goes down through the steps and around the mountain. Some researchers speculate that there had to be enough blood to travel around the mountain in small channels and reach the top of the Lion’s Head monument below. 

People worshiped many different gods for purposes of fertility, promotion of crops, and for their livestock to multiply. Most of the ancient cultures believed that if they didn’t make a sacrifice the rains wouldn’t come, then the crops wouldn’t grow, then the animals wouldn’t be fed, and if the animals weren’t fed, then they wouldn’t reproduce. They had the idea of economic prosperity by petitioning the gods for more animals, more crops, more children! The mentality of the ancient people were to appease the gods if they thought they were angry or to go to them for blessings. Their gods had specific roles. Monotheism was not a popular concept. There were many gods. One god for your livestock, one for the rivers, the thunder, and so on and so forth. The Egyptians had over 2,000 gods. If you didn’t worship the gods, then you were taking it into your own hands what would happen. If something bad did happen, I bet the temples and the altars would have been full. Exactly like what happened on 9-11 in the United States— the churches were full the next Sunday. It would have been hard to come into Petra in the ancient days because of the forests. They’d have difficulty navigating the terrain. The only logical way for an army to enter the valley would have been through the Siq. There were estimated 2,000 homes in ancient Petra, but not many archaeologists  are currently focusing on them. Archaeologists still prefer excavating the monuments. Essau most likely lived in Petra...Also, it was not a great agricultural area. Survival was focused on raiding the caravans that passed through and that’s why they get such a bad wrap in the book of Obadiah.

How To Get from Beit Shean Border Crossing To Wadi Musa/Petra.

Crossing Jordan from Beit She’an, There are 4 different ways to travel from Israel to Wadi Musa (Petra). 

1. Sheikh Hussein Border crossing (also known as the Jordan River crossing at Beit She’an)

2. Allenby/ King Hussein Bridge (ONLY if you have a Jordanian Visa in advance. Don’t dare come this route UNLESS YOU HAVE A VISA. You’ll just have to leave and go to Beit She’an or Eilat)

3. Yitzhak Rabin Terminal/Wadi Aruba Crossing (4.5 hours drive to Eilat, Israel from Jerusalem)

4. Fly directly into Amman from Tel Aviv and then take a 3 hour 15 minute cab ride to Wadi Musa/Petra

Documented blog on the 4 different ways to travel from Israel to Wadi Musa (Petra) 

Today I want to blog about our recent trip to Wadi Musa/Petra via cab from the Sheik Hussein Border crossing. If you are from Israel you may think that we drove two hours or more in the wrong direction, but we wanted to experience each passageway across the Israeli border in order that we could share the experiences with you. The cab ride from Jerusalem to the northernmost border crossing in Beit She’an took 2 hours and 20 minutes (138.5 km). (My plan is to blog on each of the four routes).

We paid the cab driver 150 USD/540 ILS upon arrival to the border crossing. After we paid the prearranged fare he politely asked for a tip. Go figure! 

We left Jerusalem at 8 a.m. and the traffic was slightly congested. We stopped 2 times on our way—once for a restroom break and once due to a mandatory Israeli checkpoint. 

Concerning the checkpoint:

There were no cars in front of us at the check point. We were asked to pull into a security area and exit our cab. A police dog sniffed our vehicle as we went inside a building for baggage screening. All in all, the entire process was smooth and took approximately 15 minutes. The Israeli police were polite.

(The security checks are necessary).

From the mandatory checkpoint we drove another hour north to the Sheik Hussein/Beit She’an border crossing.  Once we arrived, we passed through Israeli immigration and had to pay  30 USD/105 ILS each for a departure tax.

(Paying the Passage fee from Israel into Jordan. Be sure to get your money changed here for a lower rate).

Next, we boarded a shuttle bus to the Jordanian side for 2 USD/5 ILS. The bus ride was 2 minutes in length. This bus driver did not charge a bag fee as I was accustomed to at the other 2 crossings. Maybe he was just feeling extra nice today! 

(Shalom, Israel...getting ready to hop on the bus to the Jordanian side).

(The 2 min bus ride from the Israeli Border into Jordan).

There are  3 things required  when arriving in Jordan...   It’s an easy process! 

1.) Purchase a Jordanian visa which costs 10 JD (14 USD/51ILS). This process took  approximately 10 minutes once we arrived at the window. We were asked a series of questions about our intentions for entering  Jordan and our accommodations/length of stay. 

2.) Then we were sent to the next counter in the same room  (see photo) . Our passports were checked again. We had iris scans. Then we were asked more questions concerning our stay. The eye scan equipment was very sensitive to movement.  I had to have my eyes scanned 5 times until it was accepted by the computer.

3.) And finally, we went through a security/luggage inspection which took approximately 10 minutes. It was a smooth process and the border agents were very cordial. 

WARNING

Be mentally prepared to talk to the Jordanian cab drivers or prearrange one to meet you before leaving Israel. We already knew in advance what the fair wage was for the 4.5 hour cab drive to Petra/Wadi Musa and we still had to pay a little more. The cab drivers are aggressive and keen negotiators. Be ready to walk away from them if you are being conned into a ridiculous price. We did!...In a few minutes he changed his mind and agreed on the original price that we offered. The prices are steep. They can range from 100-150 USD/360-538 ILS/70-106 JD. 

Make a little cheat sheet for your pocket 

 A warning to the wise. Carry a little chart of the most basic conversions of the Israeli shekel to Jordanian dinar because when you are tired and need to make a quick decision, you don’t want to be taken advantage of by the cab drivers! You may not be able to use your smartphone to convert the money. They are expert negotiators (in their favour of course). The more you are rushed, the more money you may lose. 

Now that you’re in the cab...

Well, the hardest part is over. All the paperwork and negotiating. Now all you have to do is enjoy the ride. Most of the cab drivers will stop whenever you ask them for a rest room break or for a beverage. If you don’t like the smell of cigarette smoke, it’s a great time to tell them—before the journey begins. Most of the cab drivers are smokers. Be sure to bring some of your own toilet paper/moist towelettes too, because the restrooms along the route are often primitive and lack cleanliness. We stopped three times along the route and only once did we use a modern toilet and have a sink to wash our hands in.

(Did I mention the need for toilet paper and/or moist towlettes?).

Get your cameras ready when you are approximately 5 km from Wadi Musa/Petra.  You’ll see the signs. Be ready for an explosion of picturesque mountains and unusual terrain. The long wait will certainly be worth it. I promise! The best pictures are when you actually enter the Petra national park. The facades are unimaginable. Really, they are! 

Hope this helps! (Ps. This cab driver also asked for his tip..yep!...right AFTER  we paid and settled our bill.)

Travels from Israel to Wadi Musa (Petra) by Seho & Gwendolen

A one of a kind the city of Petra and it's adjacent city Wadi Musa for those considering it as a safe refuge during Jacob's Trouble.

• Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.  Jeremiah 30:7

• "Send the Lamb to the ruler of the land, From Sela to the wilderness, To the mount of the daughter of Zion." Isaiah 16:1

“O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.” 

Psalms 95:1 (KJV)

Discover The Safe Haven

Petra is an ancient city in southwestern Asia, in present-day Jordan. The city is accessible only through narrow gorges. Its extensive ruins include temples and tombs hewn from the rose-red sandstone cliffs. Does Petra have a place in the Bible?

Why Is PETRA Significant? - Why will people flee there during the Tribulation?

Secret Hiding Place In Goshen - The video will take you through the 30-square mile cave city of Esau--the most mysterious ghost town in the world. You will be shown from the Bible why Petra will be the secret hiding place of the Jewish remnant during the last half of the Tribulation.

Biblical Prophecy The Next Holocaust and the Refuge in Edom - by Chuck Missler

What is the purpose of the Great Tribulation? Where do those who are in Judea flee? (Matthew 24:16) Which mountains? What is the prophetic role of Ammon, Moab, and Edom (now known collectively as Jordan)? Where does Jesus return? On the Mount of Olives or in Bozrah?

Israel's Enemies

As we read and watch todays media coverage of world events, its not hard to see Zechariahs prophecy being fulfilled in every newscast:

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. - Zechariah 12:2,3

This article will begin an exploration of some of the less familiar prophecies of the End Times, the Tribulation, and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. But first, some background history is needed. Where did Ammon, Moab and Edom come from and what are their prophetic destinies? It appears they escape the rule of the coming world leader (commonly known as the Antichrist):

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. - Daniel 11:41

Jordan

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is not an ancient kingdom, but rather a European creation of 1946. Prior to World War I, the areas of Ammon, Moab and Edom had previously been populated by unaffiliated Bedouin tribes. During the war, when the British and the Allies were fighting the Germans and the Ottoman Turks, Major T.E. Lawrence organized his widely publicized Arab Revolt. General Allenby was ultimately victorious in the Middle East and so the League of Nations awarded the British a Mandate on April 25, 1920 (which was to endure until May 14, 1948).

In 1921 an aggressive young man named Abdallah, the son of Sharif Hussein of Mecca in Arabia, moved into the land east of the Jordan river with his troops. The British Colonial Secretary recognized Abdallah as the Emir of Trans-Jordan. Abdallah then consolidated control with his British-trained Arab Legion. In 1946, Abdallah was crowned King of Trans-Jordan. (His great-grandson, Abdullah II, has been the current king since 1999).

In 1948 Jordan joined the attack against Israel in its War of Independence and successfully fought the Haganah and held the West Bank. In 1967, however, again joining Egypt in the Six-Day War, they lost it. In 1998, having previously repudiated any rights to the West Bank, Jordan signed a Peace Treaty with Israel at Camp David. (Our government offered King Hussein the waiving of $950 million of debt owed by Jordan, and assistance in modernization of his armed forces, as an incentive for the meeting with Yitzhak Rabin.)

And, indeed, the Bible says this area will be a refuge for the remnant that flees Jerusalem when under attack during the Great Tribulation (Dan 11:41; Isa 16:1; 63:1ff; Mic 2:12; Mt 24:15-22).

Ammon

Ammon was the name of the descendants of Benammi, Lots younger son by his daughter, born in a cave near Zoar (Gen 19:38). Regarded as their relatives, the Israelites were commanded to treat them kindly (Deut 2:19). At the time of the Exodus, Israel did not conquer Ammon (Deut 2:19, 37; Judg 11:15). However, the Ammonites were condemned for joining the Moabites in hiring Balaam and were forbidden to enter the congregation of Israel to the 10th generation (Deut 23:3-6). Rabbah Ammon is now Amman, the capital of Jordan.

Moab

Moab was the son of Lot by an incestuous union with his eldest daughter (Gen 19:37). Balak, king of Moab, distressed by the Israelite successes, called for the prophet Balaam to curse Israel (Num 22-24; Josh 24:9). As Israel prepared to cross the Jordan, they camped in the plains of Moab (Num 22:1; Josh 3:1).

When Israel sought permission to travel along the Kings Highway, which crossed the plateau, Moab refused (Judg 11:17), but they may have had commercial contact (Deut 2:28-29). Moses was forbidden to attack Moab despite their unfriendliness (Deut 2:9), although the Moabites were henceforth to be excluded from Israel (Deut 23:3-6; Neh 13:1).

In the days of the Judges, Eglon, king of Moab, invaded Israelite lands as far as Jericho and oppressed Israel for 18 years. Ehud the Benjaminite assassinated him (Judg 3:12-30). Elimelech of Bethlehem migrated to Moab and his sons married the Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. Ruth later married Boaz and became the ancestress of David (Ruth 4:18-22; Mt 1:5-16).

At the fall of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. some Jews found refuge in Moab, but returned when Gedaliah became governor (Jer 40:11ff). Moab was finally subdued by Nebuchadnezzar (Josephus, Antiquities, 10. 181) and fell successively under the control of the Persians and various Arab groups. The Moabites ceased to have independent existence as a nation, though in post-exilic times they were known as a race (Ezra 9:1; Neh 13:1, 23). Alexander Jannaeus subdued them in the 2nd century B.C. (Josephus, Antiquities, 13. 374).

The archaeological story of Moab is slowly being unravelled: the Moabite stone, a block of black basalt found near Dibon, Jordan, in 1868, bears an inscription in the Moabite language describing a 9th-century B.C. victory of King Mesha of Moab over the Israelites. Its now in the Louvre museum in Paris.

Edom

The term Edom denotes either: the name of Esau, given in memory of the red pottage for which he exchanged his birth right (Gen 25:30; 36:1, 8, 19); the Edomites collectively (Num 20:18-21; Amos 1:6, 11; 9:12; Mal 1:4); or the land occupied by Esaus descendants, formerly the land of Seir (Gen 32:3; 36:20-21,30; Num 24:18; Ezek 35:3-5, 10, 12; 36:2, 3, 5).

Modern archaeology has shown that the land was occupied before Esaus time. We conclude that Esaus descendants migrated to that land and in time became the dominant group, incorporating the original Horites and others into their number (Gen 14:6). Joshua allotted the territory of Judah up to the borders of Edom, but did not encroach on their lands (Josh 15:1, 21). Two centuries later King Saul fought the Edomites (1 Sam 14:47), although some of them were in his service (1 Sam 21:7; 22:9, 18). Edom proper fell into Arab hands during the 5th century B.C., and in the 3rd century B.C. was overrun by the Nabataeans. Judas Maccabaeus later subdued them, and John Hyrcanus compelled them to be circumcised and incorporated into the Jewish people (1 Macc 5:65). When the Romans conquered Judea, they appointed Herod, an Edomite (Idumean) as their vassal.

The Prerequisite to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ

The purpose of all history (Mt 23:37) was that God might gather His children together. (Jerusalem is a synecdoche for all of Israel.) Jesus did die for the sins of the world, including the nation of Israel, but His own received Him not (Jn 1:11). This is the tragedy of all history (Mt 23:37b, 38). But there is hope.

Jesus left the nation with a promise: He would one day return; the nation would see Him and say, Blessed be He that cometh in the name of the Lord! (Mt 23:39). Because of disobedience, Israel would be scattered over the world. Their blessings and promises are conditioned upon confessing their iniquity (Lev 26:40-42; Jer 3:11-18). Iniquity (Lev 26:40) is singular and specific. Israel must look unto (not upon as in KJV) Him whom they have pierced (Zech 12:10). Israels offense was the rejection of His Messiahship. Jesus will not come back to the earth until the Jews and Jewish leaders request Him to come back (Mt 23:37-39; Hos 5:15).

What is the purpose of the Great Tribulation? What is the prophetic role of Ammon, Moab, and Edom (now known as Jordan)? Where do those who are in Judea flee? Where does Jesus return? The Mount of Olives? (Zech 14:4) or Edom? (Isa 63).

Last month we explored the historical backgrounds of Ammon, Moab and Edom. This month well take a look at their prophetic destiny:

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. - Daniel 11:41

Ammon is now Amman, the capital of Jordan. It appears this is one of the few areas that escape the rule of the coming world leader (commonly known as the Antichrist).

Prophetic Relevance

Jesus warned the dwellers in Judea that when they see the Abomination of Desolation" a desecrating idol installed in the Holy of Holies of the Temple "to immediately flee to the mountains. The remnant of Israel will find refuge there for three-and-a-half years while God protects them and provides for them. From other passages, we learn that the remnant will flee to Bozrah in the mountains of Edom.

The Great Tribulation

The Tribulation is often used as a generic term for the entire seven years of the 70th Week of Daniel. However, the Great Tribulation is actually defined as the last half of the week: three-and-a-half, not seven years.

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a na-tion even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. - Daniel 12:1

Note too, that although it is worldwide, the focus is on Israel:

Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacobs trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. - Jeremiah 30:7

The Next Holocaust

Some view the Nazi Holocaust in Germany as its fulfillment. However, devastating as that was, it hardly fits the text. It is to be followed by dramatic cosmic signs and the

Second Coming of Christ:

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. - Matthew 24:28, 29

This was hardly fulfilled historically. Tortuous attempts to allegorize this text just don't work. The worst is yet to come. It has been estimated that the Nazi Holocaust killed one Jew in three; it appears the next one will take two out of three:

Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 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 LORD is my God. - Zechariah 13:7-9

The Purpose of the Great Tribulation

The purpose of this ordeal, the Time of Jacobs Trouble, is to drive Israel en extremis, to return to God: I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me earnestly (Hosea 5:15). Interesting Old Testament passage: God says, I will go and return to my place To return, He must have left it! Watch those untils in the text: they often denote significant milestones. The term offence is singular and specific. Apparently, a prerequisite condition for the Second Coming of Christ is for Israel to acknowledge her Messiah and to petition His return. (This would help explain why Satan continues to be so intensely committed to the Jews destruction.)

The Armageddon Campaign

And he gathered them together into a place called in the He-brew tongue Armageddon. - Revelation 16:16

The engagement involves a global confederacy led by the coming world leader. The campaign includes the following stages:

1. The Assembly of the Army (Rev 16:12-16😞 The Valley of Jezreel is the staging area for the armies coming against Jerusalem and, thus, against God the Father and His Messiah. Gods viewpoint is one of mockery (Joel 3:9-11; Ps 2:1-6). This is the Day of Vengeance (Isa 61:2).

2. The Fall of Jerusalem (Zech 12:1-9; 14:1-2; Micah 4:11-5:1). More than half the city will be taken into slavery by the Gentile forces from the Valley of Jezreel.

3. The Armies at Bozrah (Jer 49:13-14; Micah 2:12😞 The world army pursues a faithful remnant, which fled to the mountains of Edom in Jordan. Bozrah (Sheepfold): Bozrah is pinpointed, which was located in the region of Mount Seir, on the western side of Edom in southern Jordan (Micah 2:12). An ancient sheepfold had a narrow entrance so that the shepherd could count his sheep, and, once inside, he could guard a single entrance to contain them. (Cf. I am the door, John 10). Sela, now Petra, fits the description, shaped like an ancient sheepfold, with a narrow passageway (the Siq) opening up to a spacious city surrounded by cliffs.

4. The National Regeneration of Israel: Israel's required confession (Lev 26:40-42; Jer 3:11-18; Hos 5:15) and pe-titioning the Messiah (Zech 12:10) inaugurates the final three days of the campaign with pleading and petition (Hos 6:1-3; Isa 53:1-9), fulfilling Romans 11:25-27 (see also Zech 12:10-13:9; Joel 2:28-32; Isa 64:1-12; Ezek 20:33f; Ps 79:1-13; 80:1-19). When the faithful remnant petitions Jesus to return, He comes to rescue them.

5. The Second Coming of Christ (Isa 63:1-6): If this battle wasn't stopped, all mankind would be destroyed; however, the Lord interrupts it, at Petra in Edom, fighting for His remnant of believers. He is described as covered with the blood of His enemies. (Note: His armies are not re-quired in the fighting.)

6. From Bozrah to the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Isa 63:1-4; Rev 19:13; Isa 34:5-6, 8). The Antichrist is powerless be-fore Christ (Hab 3:13; 2 Thess 2:8; Isa 14:3-11, 16-21). His armies are destroyed (Zech 14:12-15; Joel 3:12-13) at Bozrah (Jer 49:20-22), then Megiddo. Bozrah to Megiddo is 176 miles; 1,600 furlongs (Rev 14:20).

7. The Victory Ascent upon the Mount of Olives: (Zech 14:3-4; Rev 16:17-21; Mt 24:29; Joel 3:14-17.) His ultimate victorious return to the Mount of Olives is described in Zechariah 14. That leads to the establishment of the Lords Millennial Kingdom on the Earth. Many experts believe the weapons that will be used at Armageddon are in inventory today.

Role and Placement of Ezekiel 38

However, we hold the view (which is disputed by reputable Bible scholars) that Ezekiel 38 is not part of Armageddon scenario:

1. In Ezekiel, the invasion comes from the north; Armageddon, from the whole earth;

2. Definite armies from the north (Magog); not all nations of the world;

3. Egypt not involved (cf. King of the South in Dan 11:40);

4. Russia's invasion is for spoil; Armageddon, to destroy the Jews;

5. Seven-month clean-up inconsistent with Israel's flight;

6. Cleansing may be preparation for rebuilding the Temple;

7. Seven years energy requirement would carry into the Millennium. (See The Magog Invasion for further study.)