The Ultimate Hiding
Place
by David Webber
Noah's ark was a refuge and a hiding place from God's pristine judgment of
the great Flood. Eight souls were preserved from this universal judgment.
Eight is the number of Christ and the number of new beginnings.
Since Jesus Christ died on the cross to redeem Adam's race, He became our
ark of safety. May God speak to many hearts to enter in right now, believe
the gospel, and be saved by faith in Him (I Cor. 15:1-4).
Israel looked upon their God Jehovah as a Rock of refuge and the
Cornerstone of their salvation. "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" (Ps. 18:2). In the New Testament,
the symbolism is the same.
Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be
ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed
through the sea (I Cor. 10: 1). And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea (I Cor. 10:2).
And did all eat the same spiritual meat (I Cor. 10:3).
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they
drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that
Rock was Christ (I Cor. 10:4).
In Isaiah 26:4 we see the mighty rock of God's deliverance for the remnant of
Israel: "Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting
strength."
The footnote in my Pilgrim Bible is, "Everlasting strength in the Hebrew is
Rock of Ages." So it is altogether fitting that the rock city of Petra (Petra means rock) should become a hiding place for the one-third of Israel - the Remnant of Israel - during the time of Israel's greatest affliction, "the time of Jacob's trouble"
(Jer. 30:7).
Petra was possibly the land of the biblical Horites about the time of Abraham
(2000 B.C.) Apparently, this was the area called Edom and the dwelling place
of Esau after he lost his birthright to Jacob.
About 800 B.C., the Nabateans, possibly from North Africa, settled in Petra.
With the wealth they amassed from robbing passing caravans they built up
Petra with temples, houses, and tombs, and it became a thriving, busy city.
The Romans later conquered Petra in A.D. 106 and also built temples,
marketplaces, and an amphitheater that seated about 6,000 people.
The interesting feature about this mysterious city (20 square miles) was that
the rose-red city was lost to the world for hundreds of years until it was re-
discovered by John Burckhardt in 1812.
It has been told that a well-known minister of the last century named
Blackstone hid thousands of New Testaments in the numerous caves that
abound in this natural fortress. It is as though God has prepared this remote
area for a remnant of the covenant people in the last days as a rocky
sanctuary.
Daniel 11:41 could indicate such a hiding place for the Jews. "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."
The end of the prophetic picture seems to center around the remnant of Israel
that flees from the face of Antichrist when he stands in the Temple and
declares to the world that he is god and takes away the daily sacrifice.
I am convinced that the Lord has a prepared place to preserve His covenant
people, at least a remnant who call upon His Name; and that He will in some
manner lead them to the place of safety. When He returns at the Second
Coming, He will personally return to Petra and
lead them on the King's Highway back to the Promised Land. The Scriptures
also indicate that they will not be safe unless they stay in their hiding place
until the Lord returns. The Lord says to Israel: "I will go and return to My
place till they acknowledge their offense and seek my face; in their affliction
they will seek me early" (Hos. 5:15). As the believing remnant begin to cry
out unto God in Psalm 60: 1: "0 God thou has cast us off, thou hast scattered
us, thou hast been displeased; Oh turn Thyself to us again," we find God's
answer and His salvation:
Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed
because of the truth. Selah (Ps. 60:4).
That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me
(Ps. 60:5).
Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom? (Ps.
60:9).
Wilt not thou, 0 God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, 0 God, which didst
not go out with our armies? (Ps. 60:10).
Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man (Ps. 60:11).
Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our
enemies (Ps. 60:12).
God further establishes the fact of His personal deliverance of the chosen of
Israel in Isaiah 63:1-4 and 8-9:
Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this
that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I
that speak in righteousness, mighty to save (Isa. 63: 1).
Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that
treadeth in the winefat? (Isa. 63:2).
1 have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with
me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their
blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment
(Isa. 63:3).
For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is
come (Isa. 63:4).
For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was
their Saviour (Isa. 63:8).
In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved
them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and
carried them all the days of old (Isa. 63:9).
Perhaps God reveals in a different way His sanctuary and His salvation for
His ancient people in 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 (Isa. 26:20).
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 (Isa. 26:21).
Surely God's supernatural intervention is portrayed in Isaiah 16:1-5, as the
ancient name for Petra - Sela - is used:
Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the
mount of the daughter of Zion (Isa. 16:1).
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 Amon (Isa. 16:2).
Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst
of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth (Isa.
16:3).
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 (Isa. 16:4).
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 (Isa. 16:5).
These distinctive verses also show that these events are in the context of
the Day of the Lord, and the fulfillment of the angel's message to Mary
concerning Christ sitting upon the throne of David.
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord
God shall give unto him the throne of his father David (Luke 1:32).
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom
there shall be no end (Luke 1:33).
These verses in Isaiah 16 could also indicate that the sequence of events will
be the same as in ancient days. The tabernacle of David will be restored as
promised in Amos 9:11: "On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David,
which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins and
rebuild it as in the days of old." (Also see Acts 15:16.) Christ, returning in
great power and glory, will build the third Temple.
And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying,
Behold the man whose name is the Branch; and he shall grow up out of his
place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord (Zech. 6:12).
Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and
shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne:
and the counsel of peace shall be between them both (Zech. 6:13).
My footnote in the Pilgrim edition of the KJV has this to say concerning
"My Servant the Branch": "Here is a definite prophecy more than five
hundred years before the coming of the Messiah. My Servant is often used
in the Book of Isaiah for our Lord Jesus Christ as Messiah. So in Zechariah;
the Branch is also His name, as we read in 6:12: "Whose name is the branch."
He is spoken of six times in the Scriptures as the branch (Isa. 4:2; 11: 1; Zech.
3:8; 6:12; Jer 23:5; 33:15), under four headings, and these four headings are
set forth in the four Gospels as they picture the Lord Jesus Christ:
1. "A righteous branch ... a King" (Jer. 23:5; 33:15) the Gospel of Matthew:
"Behold, a King."
2. "My Servant the branch" (Zech. 3:8) - the Gospel of Mark: "Behold, My
Servant."
3. "The man whose name is the branch" (Zech. 6:12) the Gospel of Luke:
"Behold, the man."
4. "The branch of Jehovah" (Isa. 4:2) - the Gospel of John: "Behold your
God."
Today, there are more than five million inhabitants in contemporary Israel -
about four million are Jews who have returned to the land. Ancient
prophecies tell us that two-thirds of the Jews in the land will die during the
seven years of terrible tribulation. But one-third will be divinely protected
and delivered from the fiery trials of this time period.
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 (Zech. 13:8).
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 (Zech. 13:9).
We interpret the one-third as believing Israel of Romans 11:26; and the godly
remnant that God supernaturally protects in a specially prepared hiding place
(Isa. 26:20-21). We have a symbolic picture of Israel, the sun-clad woman,
who brings forth the man child - Jesus Christ - who according to His
humanity is of the seed of David and destined to rule all nations with a rod of
iron.
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
And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered
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 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.
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.
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. 12:1-6).
Notice the devil in his pristine setting as the great red dragon is in deadly
opposition to Israel - the woman - and to her child, the incarnate Son of God.
Between verses 5 and 6, we span many centuries going right from the birth of
the promised seed into the seventieth week of Daniel, when the woman -
Israel - flees for her life into the wilderness.
God's chosen remnant - the believing Jews of Romans 11: 25-26 have a
specially prepared place for the last half of the Tribulation, three and one-half
years.
And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the
woman which brought forth the man child (Rev. 12:13).
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 (Rev. 12:14).
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 (Rev. 12:15).
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 (Rev. 12:16).
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 (Rev. 12:17).
Apparently, her escape will be by airplane (Rev. 12:14 and Isa. 40:3 1). Today
at Mount Sinai, there is a landing field right out in the desert. When the
believing remnant arrives at the rock city of Petra, the devil tries to drown
them in a flood; but the earthquake prone area opens up and receives the
avalanche of waters.
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for
himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city
and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the
end of the war desolations are determined (Dan. 9:26).
Since the signing of a peace treaty between Jordan and Israel, Jews with a
foreign passport have been able to visit Petra. Some
of the impressions of Haim Shapiro who writes for the Jerusalem Post are
recorded in a recent article, "Don't Sing the Petra Song in Petra."
"Don't sing the Petra song in Petra" -- that was one of several guidelines for
Israelis visiting Jordan.
I probably would not have thought of the song were it not for the rule, but as
my horse plodded along the canyon leading to the famed city, I could barely
restrain myself from breaking out into song.
The most amazing thing about the visit to Jordan was that I was there at all.
Perhaps this feeling of wonder made every sight even better than I had
imagined. The red rocks of Petra were more striking than the photographs,
and the detailed carving in the rock more impressive, the colors of the mosaic
map at Madaba were clearer than in any picture, and the Roman theater at
Jarash was more impressive than on Jordan television.
The Jordanians were admitting Israelis only if they had foreign passports,
but former restrictions which had decreed that no sign of Israel besmirch
these passports have been forgotten. Israel's restrictions on its citizens
traveling directly into Jordan have also been lifted.
Galilee Tours, which organized the tour, reports that thus far, "the demand
has been brisk. With the signing of a peace treaty, it can only be a matter of
weeks before Israelis will be able to enter Jordan on Israeli passports."
Perhaps this is a preview of Jews fleeing for their lives from the face and fury
of the Antichrist in their final holocaust. This time, they will sing the Petra
song as they sang praises to God after the exodus from Egypt.
Israel is God's earthly people and He has been pleased to make a covenant
with them. According to the prophecies, God will make a new covenant with
Israel in the last days when He re-gathers them into the Holy Land.
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will
make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the
house of Judah (Jer. 31:31).
Not according to the covenant that I made with their
fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them
out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake,
although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord (Jer.
31:32).
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with
the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people (Jer. 31:33).
Also God reveals His divine providence over Israel against curses and in the
day of battle. Balaam's four prophecies reveal many wonderful things about
God's watch care over Israel.
And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought
me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me
Jacob, and come, defy Israel (Num. 23:7).
How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the
Lord hath not defied? (Num. 23:8).
For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations (Num.
23:9).
Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of
Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!
(Num. 23:10).
This passage shows Israel dwelling alone and possibly indicates that one-
fourth of Israel will be the remnant that God miraculously protects. The
second prophecy reveals that ultimately Israel would have a king; and that
no enchantment can touch God's covenant people; and the blessing that
God gave to Abraham has never been nullified (Num. 23:18-24).
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from
thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee
(Gen. 12: 1).
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy
name great; and thou shalt be a blessing (Gen. 12:2).
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in
thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (Gen. 12:3).
The third prophecy of Balaam is a beautiful picture of Israel back
in their own land in the last days and how God's prosperity will rest upon
them as He prepares to pour out His Spirit like water out of many buckets.
And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and
the man whose eyes are open hath said (Num. 24:3).
He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the
Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open (Num. 24:4).
How goodly are thy tents, 0 Jacob, and thy tabernacles, 0 Israel! (Num. 24:5).
As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the
trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the
waters (Num. 24:6).
He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many
waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be
exalted (Num. 24:7).
God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an
unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones,
and pierce them through with his arrows (Num. 24:8).
He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up?
Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee (Num.
24:9).
This is doubtless the same prophecy of Joel 2:28-29:
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all
flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall
dream dreams, your young men shall see visions (Joel 2:28).
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I
pour out my spirit (Joel 2:29).
This is pre-determined by two parallel prophecies.
Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a
fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest (Isa. 32:15).
Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my
spirit upon the house of Israel, saith
the Lord God (Ezek. 39:29).
God also reaffirms His covenant blessing to Abraham in Numbers 24:9. The
fourth prophecy has to do with both the first and second comings of Christ.
I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come
a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the
comers of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth (Num. 24:17).
And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his
enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly
(Num. 24:18).
Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion,
and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city (Num. 24:19).
This is a complete prophecy for the last days. The Star out of of
Jacob is the sign of Christ's birth. The scepter that shall rise out Israel
signifies the coming kingdom or God from heaven (Dan. 2:44). Verse 18
demonstrates that God has not forgotten the believing remnant that He will
hide in Edom or Petra.
And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his
enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly (Num. 24:18).
