Israel's Covenant Land Part Four
May 14th marks the 58th anniversary of Israel’s reformation as a nation in 1948; May 26th will mark another celebration of the unification of Jerusalem during the Six Day War of 1967. This is the first of several series of messages and studies on Israel's Covenant Land in honor of these two celebrations of God's Chosen COVENANT people! Let this writer make it clear to the reader. America’s freedom in coming years will depend a great deal on how we handle Israel!!!!! The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob neither slumbers or sleeps and He watches over Israel with tremendous zeal and love. No matter how far away from God Israel may be at the present time, there is a special place in the Father's heart for the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Those who call upon His name for Israel can be sure God will fight for Jacob’s seed - even if that is sending chastisement on America, another beloved nation in the heart of God. The future of Israel stands now on a false peace treaty but on COVENANT promises God has made regarding the land of Israel and Jerusalem. If all those who believe in Christ, Israel's Messiah, will stand in the gap, before the Lord God of Israel, and cry out to Him, He will defend His Holy Name; He will remember His Holy Covenant with Abraham regarding the land; He will reclaim His holy city, Jerusalem, rebuild His Holy Temple and redeem His people, because HE IS THE COVENANT MAKING, COVENANT KEEPING God of Israel!
By Chris McDonald
TEXT: Isaiah 28:14-15 - Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. [15] Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
A profound ignorance exists today concerning what is taking place in the land of Israel. If you believe the picture presented by the media, and even some in the church, the Palestinians are cruelly oppressed and denied possession of their native land, which was stolen from them by an “invading Israeli army.” Those who subscribe to this view, however, either don’t know (or don’t want to acknowledge) the true history and significance of the current situation.’’
What is the West Bank and Gaza and why have the Israelis held onto it so fiercely? Why not just give it to the Palestinians, if, according to those in power in America and those in the media that would bring peace. What is Israel’s claim to the land, and is it greater than the Palestinians claim? The answers to these questions are of vital importance to an understanding of the Middle Eastern events, yet very few take the time to know, or sadly, even care to find out.
I call this type attitude, “willful ignorance,” and it is the source of unbelief and error in the Body of Christ today. The underlying issues that are driving the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and the ongoing “peace” negotiations need not be ignored by believers in these last days. This conflict is the center of ALL future Bible prophecy! It is what will either keep America free in years to come or see the end of our nation’s sovereignty! Strong words perhaps, but neighbor, we’re not living in a time in history we can keep playing spiritual tidily winks. It’s not a time to stick our head in the sand and act like we “don’t know.” The fact is it’s not we “don’t know,” it’s we don’t WANT to know! There is a HUGE difference in those two stances and beliefs.
As we have tried to lay out in message form in the last several journals on this subject, Israel is not just another parcel of land over in the Middle East somewhere. It has had a profound effect on history and will have a predominant role in the future. It first came into being 3,500 years ago when God told Abraham:
Genesis 15:18
In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
This was the first of many promises concerning the land, and laid the foundation for Israel’s restoration as a modern-day Jewish nation. God’s promise to Abraham was unconditional, eternal and specific. The people of Israel are a people of destiny. Today’s events are showing us the fulfillment of God’s Word!
Isaiah 34:17-35:1 - And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein. [35:1] The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
The sovereignty of Israel is being threatened. The Israeli government is being pressured to give away the land promised by God to Abraham’s descendants, specifically the area known as the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This misleading name has been popularized by the media and refers to the time when this portion of the land was annexed by the country of Jordan, thereby forming its “West Bank.” This area is actually the part of ancient Israel known as Judea and Samaria, and contains most of Israel’s mountains. These mountains are the heart of the land promised by God to the children of Israel.” The enemies of the Chosen People are trying to bleed this away and sadly the current government of Israel is losing heart to stand against them.
The “peace” process is ultimately intended to lead to the destruction of Israel as a nation. In August 2005 all Jewish people living in Gaza and parts of northern Samaria were forcibly removed from the homes, schools and businesses and synagogues. Entire communities were given over to another god in Israel – the god of Islam, “Allah.”
Most of the Jewish people living in Gaza were forced to leave their homes against their will. The Jewish way of life in Gaza ceased to exist. Prayers once offered up daily to god from synagogues have been replaced with prayers of thousands of Muslims offered up to their god: Allah.
The rulers of Israel who govern Jerusalem have done exactly what as prophesied by the prophet Isaiah who called those in his day who ruled Israel, “scoffers,” and those who made covenants with “lies.” You cannot make a covenant with hell and death and honor God’s covenant with the land!!! Israel’s current pro-appeasement government has done just that.
Isaiah 28:14-15 - Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. [15] Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves
Many settlers in the Gaza and Samaria regions are crying out to God for help:
Psalm 10:1-4 - Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? [2] The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. [3] For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesses the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth. [4] The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
Thousands of Israelis have marched and protested against the forced removal of the Jewish people from their inheritance in Gaza and Samaria. It seems to many in Israel that God is “hiding,” and standing afar off in this time of trouble. Let this writer submit to you that God never hides from His people; He may be allowing things to take place to bring Israel to the ultimate place of accepting the Messiah.
Many boast in Jerusalem of their hearts’ desire for peace, yet in those same hearts they curse the Lord because, in their innermost being they have rejected God and His Son Jesus Christ. Many in Israel’s government have transgressed the Lord and His Covenant and care nothing for the Biblical mandate for Israel to protect that which belongs to God – the covenant land! There is no fear of the living God in their hearts and as such they give no thought of the eternal consequences of their actions.
Part of the reasons for these recent messages these last few weeks as we honor the celebration of the reunification of Jerusalem is to give information to help the reader understand what is happening so we can counter the lies and misinformation given by the media and sadly and damnable – those within the church! Preachers of the gospel who know better are proclaiming a false gospel that removes Israel from coming events and replaces her with the church. If you think about it people who don’t believe in a the rapture always take things in scripture belonging to Natoinal Israel and place them in their warped theology of the end times concerning the church. You can NOT apply scriptures that pertain to National Israel and say they are for the church and expect to have a right view of the end times. You won’t! There is a cry a foot both in the halls of Washington and Jerusalem that cries “peace, peace,” when there is no peace. False prophets always predict times of peace when in fact times of trouble are ahead. The modern Charismatic world does a good job of that these days. Nothing in their message ever speaks of coming events in terms of judgment and God’s dealing with rebellion and sin.
In the same sense when the Israeli government embraces a policy of disengagement in the name of “peace,” they too have become a false “voice,” of peace to a hurting nation that is going to face tremendous difficulty in the days ahead.
Ezekiel 13:4-8
O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. [5] Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. [6] They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The Lord saith: and the Lord hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word. [7] Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken? [8] Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord God.
The promise of peace from the Israeli government to its people concerning their decision to give up covenant land is no different than the false cries of peace from Israel’s false prophets of her past:
Ezekiel 13:9-10 - And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God. [10] Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:
Ezekiel 13:11-14 - Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it. [12] Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it? [13] Therefore thus saith the Lord God; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it. [14] So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
Because of America’s pressure Israel seeks protection for the people but they have plastered their wall with a whitewash of lies and deception saying, “Peace!” When there is NO PEACE.
In God’s eyes everything He “allows” to take in Israel has eternal consequences and an eternal purpose. As we approach the time in history known as “the Day of the Lord,” events are beginning to take place that will culminate in the God of Israel brining judgment upon all nations surrounding Israel and upon all the Earth! There is judgment and curses on those who have joined nations in seeking to divide and appropriate the covenant land God promised to Israel as “an everlasting possession.”
Before God judges however, the Lord first instructs all who are humble to “seek” Him and to seek righteousness and humility before the coming of the great and terrible “day of the Lord.”
Zeph. 2:1-3 - Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; [2] Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you. [3] 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.
The Lord tells us that if we will seek humility, we will be “hid” in the day of the Lord’s anger. The “day of the Lord’s anger,” will not be like any other day in human history:
Isaiah 13:6-11 - Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. [7] Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: [8] And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. [9] Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. [10] For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. [11] And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
The day of the Lord will be a day that is cruel with destruction from the Almighty One. Every man’s heart will melt and their hands will grow feeble with fear. They will so be terrified with anguish that they will writhe like a woman in labor. The proud and arrogant leaders of Israel who say, “There is no God,” will one day face this God they reject unless they repent and see their calling as one of obedience to God’s will, not appeasement to terrorism!
What The Bible Says About The Prophetic History and Place Of Gaza (Gaza Strip)
Zeph. 2:1-11 - Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noonday, and Ekron shall be rooted up. [5] Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the Lord is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant. [6] And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks. [7] And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the Lord their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity. I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. [9] Therefore as I live, saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them. [10] This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts. [11] The Lord will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.
According to Finis Dake’s study notes, there are 26 unfulfilled predictions about the Gaza Strip
1. Gaza shall be forsaken (Zeph. 2:4).
2. Ashkelon shall be a desolation.
3. They will drive out Ashdod at noon
4. Ekron shall be rooted up.
5. Woe to the Cherethites that dwell on the Mediterranean (Zeph. 2:5).
6. I will destroy the Philistines so that there will be none left.
7. The sea coast will be for dwellings of shepherds and folds for sheep (Zeph. 2:6).
8. The coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah (Zeph. 2:7).
9. Judah will feed thereupon.
10. They will lie down in the houses of Ashkelon in the evening.
11. The Lord their God shall visit them, and turn their captivity.
12. Moab shall be as Sodom (Zeph. 2:9).
13. The children of Ammon shall be as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, saltpits, and a perpetual desolation.
14. The residue of My people shall spoil them, and the remnant of My people shall possess them.
15. The Lord will be terrible unto them, for all the gods of the earth shall waste away (Zeph. 2:11).
16. Men shall worship Jehovah, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.
17. The Ethiopians shall be slain by the sword (Zeph. 2:12).
18. He will stretch His hand toward the north and destroy Assyria, and will make Nineveh a desolation and dry like the wilderness (Zeph. 2:13).
19. Flocks shall lie down in the midst of her (Zeph. 2:14).
20. All the beasts of the nations will lie down in her.
21. The cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it.
22. Their voice shall sing in the windows.
23. Desolation shall be in the threshold.
24. He shall uncover the cedar work.
25. This is the proud city that shall become desolate, a place for beasts to lie down in (Zeph. 2:15).
26. Everyone passing by her shall hiss and wag his hand.
In light of the Lord’s decree of judgement on this region prophetically, He also gave a fivefold admonition to Judah I believe He is giving Israel today:
1. Gather yourselves together (Zeph. 2:1).
2. Gather together, O nation not desired; before the Lord's anger comes upon you (Zeph. 2:1-2).
3. Seek the Lord (Zeph. 2:3).
4. Seek righteousness.
5. Seek meekness: It may be that you shall be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger. The area known as the “Gaza Strip,” has many references in Scripture.
Israel is galled the “nation not desired,” and that is what she is today! The Lord commands her to, “gather herself together.” The judgments of Zeph. 2:1-11 speak of a time in Gaza where there will not be a single Jewish inhabitant remaining. This could be very soon as Israel continues to withdraw! What a thought that a prophetic statement uttered 3,500 years ago started coming to pass in August 2005 and continues in 2006.
This writer believes this judgment speaks of the Great Tribulation period when the Lord turns His attention fully back to Israel as the time of the Gentiles come to a close. At some point in time the Jewish people will be totally removed. The Gaza Strip today contains appointed villages in the region known as Samaria, which we will look at more in detail in a minute. Even though He might allow the removal of His people at this time, the exact timing of judgment on this region is yet to come. God will protect His people. He tells them to “gather themselves together,” in the same imagery of a family hovering together as a storm passes over.
The Lord is giving a word of comfort to His chosen people, - “a nation not desired,” or wanted by the rest of the world, including a growing number here in America.
The Lord is setting the stage for the fulfillment of His own words written in Zephaniah. Perhaps, just as God extends mercy to His faithful remnant at the time of Sodom’s destruction by promising not to destroy the righteous with the unrighteous, we are even today seeing the Lord’s mighty hand of mercy and protection extended to the Jewish people still living in Gaza. His purpose in extending mercy even at this moment in history is to DRAW ISRAEL back to HIM through CHRIST! That is the purpose of God’s dealings with Israel at this present time. He is ever increasingly bringing more and more Jewish believers to saving faith in Jesus.
That is God’s heart for ALL humanity – that NONE SHOULD PERISH but come to the saving knowledge of the truth! The reason God will bring judgment at some point to this region is one word – COVENANT! The God of Israel is a covenant-making and covenant keeping God and He will never allow Himself to be mocked by man or by any foreign god. The God of Israel is Himself the only True God and there is none in heaven or on earth but HIM!
The Revilings of the Children of Ammon; Moab Shall Be As Sodom, Ammon As Gommorah
Zeph 2:8-11 - I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. [9] Therefore as I live, saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and salt pits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them. [10] This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts. [11] The Lord will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.
From these verses we learn the coming judgment will also be manifested far to the east of Gaza in the land of Moab, unto the sons of Ammon who comprise the nation of Jordan. The Lord declares that He has heard the taunting of Moab and the revilings of the sons of Ammon and will take action against them. They have taunted His people and because of their arrogance concerning Israel’s borders and territories, “they have sought to appropriate His land for themselves.” This is not out of some conservative magaizine or evangelical movement. These are the WORDS OF GOD!
Now, understand this about Moab and Ammon. Moab, according to Daniel, will come under attack at the hands of the Antichrist at some point in the Great Tribulation. This writer believes that event is the instrument of judgement God will use to deal with the matters spoken of in Zephaniah 2:8-11.
Daniel 11:40-43 - And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. [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. [42] He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. [43] But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
Why will they be able to escape after the Antichrist is allowed to inflict terrible judgment on them? Because Edom and Moab house a wilderness region of the world known as Petra, where Israel will flee for safety during the middle of the Great Tribulation period. That is the most powerful thing of the God we serve. He judges harshly when He moves, but His judgements are always laced with mercy as to serve a protective purpose for His own people! See the picture? Edom, Moab and Ammon are destined for judgement because of their involvement in the land of Gaza. Moab will be like “Sodom,” and Ammon like “Gommorah.” A perpetual desolation is decreed upon them because have been arrogant against the Lord and israel’s territory.
The remnant of Israel will plunder then and instead of appropriating Israel’s land and inheritance, Israel will POSSESS THEIR LAND AND INHERITANCE! They will lose their inheritance at the hands of the Antichrist and become safe harbor for the nation they seek to destroy at the present time. ONLY GOD CAN SO SUCH A THING! That is why this writer leaps for joy when he thinks of these things coming. God is in TOTAL CONTROL!
Isaiah 16:5-9 - 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. [6] We have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud: even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be so. [7] Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kir-hareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken. [8] For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come even unto Jazer, they wandered through the wilderness: her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea. [9] Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen.
As a bird cast out of her nest wanders about, so the daughters of Moab are to be disturbed at events when Antichrist suddenly takes over Palestine and the Jews are forced to flee. The Moabites will be much distressed, not knowing whether he will enter their country to take over. Many will leave their homes to welcome the fleeing Israelites and flee with them from a common enemy (Isaiah 16:2).
Isaiah 16:2
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.
Just as many Israelis were “cast out” of the nest of their homes, the inhabitants of Moab will feel the same way when Antichrist comes to power! THINK OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS STATEMENT. Friend, that is how closer we are to the rapture and coming events since the Gaza evacuations last summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Antichrist would no doubt continue his conquests and take over Moab if war tidings out of the North and East did not hinder him (Daniel 11:44).
Daniel 11:44
But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.
According to the predictions, Russia, Germany, and other countries north and east of the ten kingdoms will suddenly declare war on Antichrist, and he will leave the Jews and Moab for the time being to go forth against these new enemies until he conquers them in the last three and a half years of this age. He will then come back into Palestine to do what he formerly planned, only to be defeated. During the last days of this three and a half years the Jews will have regained control of Jerusalem, and Antichrist will come against the city intending to destroy the Jews and Moab; but Christ will come suddenly from heaven with His armies when Jerusalem is only half taken and deliver them (Zech. 14:1-15; Rev. 19:11-2)
The wandering ones are the outcasts of Israel whom Moab is commanded to let enter their country to be protected from Antichrist. Moab, Edom, and Ammon are to escape him, according to Daniel 11:40-45; so these countries will be the place for Israelites to flee to for protection during the 1,260 days they are to be out of their land (Matthew 24:15-24; Rev. 12:6,14).
In Isaiah 16:1 it seems that the daughters of Moab will also wander. They will for a short time be disturbed by Antichrist's sudden capture of all Palestine, not knowing whether he will attempt to enter their country also. It will soon be known though that they will escape him because of new wars in the north and east (Daniel 11:44); so they will become settled again and welcome the wandering Jews who are fleeing from Palestine.
Come Into Your Chambers, Shut Your Doors, Till The Indignation be Overpast
Isaiah 26:20 - Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
In Isaiah 26:20, the Lord commands His people “enter into your chambers, and shut your doors upon thee,” a very similar statement of comfort He gave them through Zephaniah when He said, “Gather yourselves together before the Lord’s anger comes upon you.”
This verse refers to the flight of the sun-clothed woman of Rev. 12 (national Israel) from Judah into the wilderness of Edom and Moab for protection from Antichrist "until the indignation (tribulation) be overpast." These events are yet future friend but with what we saw last year this should prick our hearts greatly as to the soon hour of the Lord’s return!
John saw Israel’s flight into the wilderness as a “sun-clothed” woman.
Rev. 12:1-8
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: [2] And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. [3] And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. [4] And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. [5] And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. [6] And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. [7] And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, [8] And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven
There are several facts related to Israel, NOT THE CHURCH, is the sun-clothed woman of Revelation 12:1 (DAKE).
1. Israel is often spoken of as a woman married to God under the terms of the old covenant (Isaiah 54:1-6; Jeremiah 3:1-14; Hosea 2:14-23).
2. The church is more often referred to in masculine language, as the body of Christ. Furthermore, the church is already raptured at this point (notes, Rev. 4:1). Therefore, the church could not be the sun-clothed woman of Rev. 12.
3. The false church is spoken of as a woman, a great whore (Rev. 17), but this could not be the sun-clothed woman.
4. The Bible mentions only 3 classes of people today: the church, the Jews, and the Gentiles (1 Cor. 10:32). At the middle of Daniel's 70th week when the woman travails and brings forth the man-child, the church has been gone from the earth for at least 3 1/2 years (notes, Rev. 4:1). This leaves only 2 classes after the rapture: Jews and Gentiles. The woman could not symbolize the Gentiles, because they are the ones persecuting her. Therefore, the woman must symbolize national Israel. By the term "Israel" we mean national Israel, or Israel as a nation, not as scattered among the nations. Israel now has been a nation since 1948. Many Jews will continue in all lands until they are completely gathered at the second coming (Matthew 24:29-31; Isaiah 11:11-12; Ezekiel 37).
5. Israel is the one primarily dealt with in Rev. 4-19, not the church (see pt. 10, Ten Proofs the Rapture Takes Place in Revelation 4:1).
6. The sun, moon, and 12 stars symbolize Israel, as proved in Genesis 37:9-11.
7. The Jews are the only people in Scripture spoken of as going through travail in the last days (Rev. 12:2-5; Matthew 24:8; Mark 13:8; Isaiah 66:7-8; Jeremiah 30:6-9; Micah 5:3; Zech. 12:10-13:1).
8. Israel is identified as the woman by the wars against her and her seed. The same predictions of this woman are found in connection with Israel in the Old Testament so they must be the same (Daniel 7:21; Daniel 8:9-14,24-25; Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:40-45; Daniel 12:1,7; Joel 3; Zech. 12:1-9; Zech. 13:8-9; Zech. 14:1-21).
9. The whole 70th week of Daniel 9:27 concerns Israel and Jerusalem, as did the first 69 weeks (Daniel 9:24-27). The church did not once mention in connection with these last day events.
10. The persecution, flight, and protection of the woman in the wilderness prove her to be Israel (Rev. 12:6,13-16).
There are SEVERAL scripture passages listed below that ties the judgement on Moab and Edom concerning Gaza to the place where God will provide safe harbor for the remnant of Israel who will be saved during the Great Tribulation period as she flees from the Antichrist to the land of SELA (PETRA) in the wilderness:
Isaiah 16:1-5 - Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion. [2] 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. [3] Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth. [4] 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. [5] 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 26:20-21 - Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. [21] For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
Isaiah 62:1-5 - For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. [2] And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. [3] Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. [4] Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. [5] For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
Isaiah 42:11-13
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. [12] Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise in the islands. [13] The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.
Hosea 2:14-23
Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. [15] And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. [16] And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali. [17] For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. [18] And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. [19] And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. [20] I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord. [21] And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; [22] And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel. [23] And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.
Ezekiel 20:33-44
As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: [34] And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. [35] And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. [36] Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. [37] And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: [38] And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord. [39] As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols. [40] For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. [41] I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. [42] And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers. [43] And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed. [44] And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord God.
Psalm 60:6-12
God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. [7] Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver; [8] Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me. [9] Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom? [10] Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies? [11] Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. [12] Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
Psalm 108:8-13
Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver; [9] Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph. [10] Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom? [11] Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts? [12] Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. [13] Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
Matthew 24:15-22
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:) [16] Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: [17] Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: [18] Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. [19] And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! [20] But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: [21] For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. [22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Daniel 9:27
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week 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.
Daniel 11:36
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
Rev. 12:6
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
Rev. 12:14
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.
In summary this is what the scriptures above predict will happen at some point in the Great Tribulation period:
(1) Isaiah (Isaiah 16:1-5) predicts the flight of Israel into Moab and Edom, and mentions Sela (see Sela), the ancient capital of Edom as their headquarters during tribulation. The church is not the subject of any Old Testament prophecy.
(2) Isaiah (Isaiah 26:20-21) predicts the protection of Israel until the indignation (tribulation) be past.
(3) Isaiah (Isaiah 63:1-5) pictures Christ in His second coming as descending from the direction of Edom where the Israelites are to be protected (cp. Matthew 24:27).
(4) Isaiah (Isaiah 42:11-13) speaking of the Lord coming to earth to prevail over His enemies predicts that the Jews in the wilderness and the rock (see Sela) will sing of Him.
(5) Psalms (Psalm 60:6-12; Psalm 108:8-13) predict that God will reserve Edom from the Antichrist and refer to the leading of Israel into the strong city (see Sela).
(6) Ezekiel (Ezekiel 20:33-44) speaks of Israel being gathered back from the nations in the last days and of her going into the wilderness where God will plead with her as He did when she came out of Egypt. The two witnesses of Rev. 11 will be the "Moses and Aaron" of those days.
(7) Daniel (Daniel 11:36) reveals the conquest of many countries, including Palestine, but predicts that Edom, Moab, and Ammon will escape him (the Antichrist). This is the place reserved of God for Israel to be protected in the wilderness 3 1/2 years (Rev. 12:6,14).
(8) Hosea (Hosea 2:14-23) speaks of the wilderness where Israel will flee from the Antichrist.
(9) Matthew (Matthew 24:15-22) predicts the Antichrist breaking his 7-year covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27), the setting up of the abomination of desolation in the temple at Jerusalem, and the flight of Israel from Judea into the mountains or wilderness during the great tribulation.
(10) Revelation (Rev. 12:6,13-16) makes the final prediction of Israel going into the wilderness to be protected 3 1/2 years from the Antichrist.
The word “indignation,” means in Hebrew: “za'am (HSN-2195),” meaning, to froth at the mouth; be furious; angry; indignation (Isaiah 26:20; Isaiah 10:5,25; Isaiah 13:5; Psalm 69:24; Psalm 78:49; Psalm 102:10; Jeremiah 10:10; Jeremiah 15:7; Jeremiah 50:25; Lament. 2:6; Ezekiel 21:31; Ezekiel 22:24,31; Daniel 8:19; Daniel 11:36; Nahum 1:6; Habakkuk 3:12; Zeph. 3:8; cp. Matthew 24:15-29; Rev. 6-19).
It speaks of coming judgment on the region of Gaza, the land of the West Bank and the nations surrounding Israel who have cut up God’s covenant land! Hear this writer: THESE THINGS ARE SHORTLY COMING TO PASS. THE RAPTURE COULD TAKE PLACE AT ANY MOMENT. THE GAZA WITHDRAWAL OF 2005 HAD SERIOUS AND DEEP PROPHETIC IMPLICATIONS FOR BOTH AMERICA AND ISRAEL. We need to PRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We need to WATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and ask God’s will to be done at all costs by the Israeli government!
If you were blessed by this journal or have a question, please leave us a post below.
Related: The Times of the Gentiles (Covenant Land Series)
A Covenant God and A Covenant Land (Covenant Land 1)
The Two Covenants (Covenant Land 2)
Israel: God's Prophetic Anvil (Covenant Land 3)
A Covenant With Death and With Hell We've Made Agreement (Covenant Land 4)
The Mountains of Israel Part One (Covenant Land 5)
Israel's Return To The Land (Covenant Land 6)
The Prophetic Promise of Return (Covenant Land 7)
The Palestinian Cause And Israel's Land (Covenant Land 8)
For a complete Bibliography of this message series click here
