Shabbat Shalom kol beit Yisra'el and Mishpachah. Welcome to Part 46 and to a resumation of our study of the Book of Revelation which has had to be punctuated occasionally by special off-topic messages. The deeper we get into this book the sharper becomes the contrast between truth and lies, and the more brutal the conflict which was precipitated by both human and angelic sin and rebelliousness; but alongside all of this has been the constant assurance and hope of a glorious future for the faithful. Furthermore, we must always have eyes eye on the end-game - the promised future - because it is what drives that hope and future. We know how it all ends! This conflict, between good and evil, is a terrible one, and every generation plays its part - we have a part, you and I have a part - and our contribution is not at all insignificant. We all have our bit to do in the building of the Kingdom. It is in this battle that our true character is revealed, for good and evil. Here we show ourselves and one another who we really are. So my prayer, as we once more return to the Story, is that we may be found true. May the words we one day hear from Him who died for us, and now lives in us, be: I am happy with you for what you have done for the Kingdom of Elohim (God). I have seen your heart, that you love Me and that you love My Bride. Receive the reward of the blessed.

Last time we made a detailed study of who Heylel or Lucifer is and was, our chief adversary in this life. We now understand the meaning of both his name (Heylel in Hebrew or Lucifer in Latin, which literally means 'brightness', 'bringer of light', 'Day Star' or 'Morning Star') and the meaning of his various titles (the 'Akel Kartza', diabolos, devil or 'slanderer' and the satan, 'Accuser' or 'Adversary') which hail from the time both before and after his rebellion and fall. This is our irreconcilable and implaccable enemy. He was once our brother, a being of great glory, possessing a brightness which he has now lost, leaving him only with a certain amount of raw power, with a time limit on it, which he uses solely for destructive purposes. He was defeated by our Master at Calvary and we shall witness his complete removal from the battlefield in the end when he is cast back into the deep Pit. Finally, we spent some time studying Yahweh's supernatural emissaries, the archangel Michael and the only other archangel named in the New Testament, Gabriel, who are valiant warriors fighting for Yahweh, the Bridegroom and the Bride. We must never forget what they do for us even if it is largely unseen.

Today we're going to carefully examine the rest of the segment in chapter 12, verses 7-18. We are tarrying somewhat over this material because it highlights something important that we must yet do for the Kingdom, and what this particular ministry is ultimately all about and why He has birthed and nourished it these long, and at times difficult and seemingly thankless, years. So let's turn to that text once again and see what it has to say. You'll remember, I hope, the renumbering of chapter 12 in modern Bible versions (like the NRSV, RNAB, KNT, NEB, CJB & OJB) which add the first half of the first verse of chapter 13 of older versions (like the KJV & NKJV) and renumber it verse 18; and whilst the NIV (which I quote from a lot because of is pleasant flow and therefore readability) doesn't join with the NRSV and others in that renumbering, it does correctly make a clear paragraph break between 13:1a and 13:1b to indicate a change of scene:

"7 And war broke out in heaven (the shamayim): Michael and his malakim (angels) fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his malakim (angels) fought, 8 but they did not prevail ('could not win' - KNT), nor was a place found for them in [the] heaven[s] (the shamayim) any longer. 9 So the great ('primaeval' - JB) dragon was cast out, that ['head' - HRV] serpent [of all serpents] of old, called 'Akel Kartza (HRV, RSTNE) (Gk. diabolos, the Devil (= Slanderer, Misrepresenter, False Accuser) and haSatan ([the] Satan = Adversary) (Jn.8:44), who deceives the whole world; he was cast ['out' - HRV) ('thrown down' - KNT) (Ezek.28:16; Is.14:9; Lk.10:18) to the earth (olam = world, finite time and space), and his malakim (angels) were cast out with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven (the shamayim), 'Now salvation ('deliverance' - HRV), and strength, and the kingdom of our Elohim (God), and the power (malkut' - RSTNE) of His Messiah (Christ) have come, for the accuser (haSatan) of our brethren, who accused them before our Elohim (God) day and night, has been cast ('brought' - JB) down ('cast out' - HRV). 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the davar (word) of their testimony, and they did not love their lives ('nefeshot' - HRV) to the death ('in the face of death they would not cling to life' - JB). 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them ('live there' - KNT)! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time ('his days are numbered' - JB).'

The dragon & his angels cast out of heaven

"13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to ('out upon' - HRV) (Ezek.28:16; Is.14:19; Lk.10:18) the earth, he persecuted (alt. 'persued') the woman who gave birth to the male Child ('baby boy' - KNT) (Is.66:7). 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time (3½ years - Dan.7:25; 9:27; 12:7; Rev.11:3), from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed ('vomited' - JB, 'spat' - KNT) water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood ('with the force of the water' - KNT). 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring ('children' - KNT), who keep the mitzvot (commandments) of Elohim (God) and have the testimony of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ). 18/3:1a Then I (alt. 'he' = 'the dragon') stood on the sand of ('beside the' - KNT) the sea" (Rev.12:7-18/13:1a, NKJV).

Given all the different interpretations that have been made over the centuries as to what this great War was and, most importantly, when it happened, there is no doubt that this is one of those 'sealed' passages that can only be unlocked by the gift of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) coupled with some knowledge of linguistics and history. If you say that this war, in the great Cosmic Drama, is solely an end-time event, and not something that has yet occurred at all, and since the very beginning of earth's history - a war that's been going on more-or-less since then - you're going to make some wrong assumptions about what this all means. Recall in particular from several weeks ago (Part 14) a common translator's problem with the first verb of the second half Revelation 12:4 which in most versions is rendered in the past tense when it should be the present continuous, namely:

"The dragon stands (and not 'stood') opposite the woman who was about to give birth, so that he could devour her child when it was born" (Rev.12:4b, revised KNT).

The Enemy has been standing, first, before Old Covenant Israel, doing all in his power to prevent the manifestation and mission of the Messianic Seed (Yah'shua the Messiah/Jesus Christ); and second (much later, after the resurrection and ascension of Christ) standing before New Covenant Messianic Israel to prevent the manifestation and mission of the qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) - the Bride of our Messiah. Add to this a note I made in parenthesis in the main text which I am hoping that the diligent amongst you may have noticed when you carefully scanned the words one by one because there is an important meaning which explains what I am talking about. Let me recall the last part of verse 9 for you:

"...he (Satan) was cast to the earth (olam = world, finite time and space), and his malakim (angels) were cast out with him" (v.9, NKJV).

The Hebrew equivalent of the Greek word ge which the NKJV translates as "earth" is olam. Remember Satan is a spirit being: Ge refers to the solid part of the earth which physical beings walk on - in other words, land - as opposed to water or air which you can't obviously walk on. But the Hebrew word olam is even more interesting because it not only refers to the solid planet we call 'earth' or 'world' but it is a term simultaneously used of time. And, yes, understanding how biblical time works is very important. We tend to bring modern assumptions about it when we read the Scriptures and so miss the meaning at key prophetic places. The timing of this war is important.

In other words, Satan and His malakim (angels) were cast down into the realm of solid matter and time - or to use the terminology of modern physics, into the material world locked in the space-time continuum. This passage is telling us that Satan and his cohorts, though spiritual beings, were imprisoned in space-time but without the physical bodies that we enjoy. Their only access to matter is through the agency of sinning mankind, thereby giving these demons a right to enter our bodies - to control, manipulate and hurt - which otherwise they don't possess. Without a body to inhabit they must wait, usually impatiently, in the metaphorical 'air', a reason Satan is called the "ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit (not a physical entity like ourselves) ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient" (Eph.2:2, NIV) in the words of Paul to the Ephesians.

That's why, amongst other things, Satan is so interested in time-travel, remote viewing and human projects like CERN that are trying to manipulate time, space and matter. But so long as we are true, faithful and obedient he has no alternative but to be left 'in the air', as it were, waiting for an opportunity to get into something more solid and preferably alive so as to give him greater freedom of motion. He would dearly like to manipulate time itself, if Yahweh will let him, of course, a reason why time travel is such a 'big thing' in science fiction stories but not at all something we need to concern ourselves with. Has he ever succeeded? Not really, at least not going backwards in time to the past (which he would dearly like to change to his advantage), but that's an entirely different discussion that we don't have time for here. We can lose timen (e.g. going into a coma) but not gain it. We call that, amongst other things, 'forgetfulness'.

That's the first thing I want to call your attention to. So when the text says Satan and his hosts were cast down to the olam, the meaning is the whole spectrum of space-time-physical matter, from beginning to end, from Adam to the First Coming and thence to the Second Coming. That's what we're being told here. He was kicked out of the eternal realm (where past, present and future may be viewed like a giant panorama) down to a temporal one where we can only 'see', and live in, the present. Satan is a prisoner of time and has to operate within its (for him, very frustrating) limits, a reason he's 'running blind', and it's here that he "prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8, NIV) like any other wild beast, always trying to anticipate but never knowing in advance what's going to happen other than what Scripture says, what true nevi'im (prophets) say in the present, and what he remembers from his time in the heavenlies. His 'imprisonment', then, is both from what he once had in Heaven and being made semi-blind in this world. And remember, he cannot "live by faith" (Heb.10:38) as we do, since he has utterly repudiated righteousness. So he ever seeks alternative 'methods' to see what's going on but always get a frustrating mix which he has to do his best to sift through.

A supernatural being he may be but he doesn't enjoy all his former supernatural abilities. He has to do his detective and spywork just like us using a network of agents or observers (his 'spotter demons' as we call them as well as his human agents who are less than reliable) though unlike him we have the advantage of the 'big view' when the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) is authoried to give it to us from time-to-time. So he is limited, one of the curses (for him) of being unceremoniously 'thrown down' to this place. He doesn't have his metaphorical 'crystal ball' any longer here, even if he still retains memories of the things he learned while still a pre-Fall archangel, as he isn't an inhabitant of the Throne Room like Yahweh's malakim (angels). This gives true regenerated and Torah-obedient believers the edge when we are living faithfully, especially Yahweh's nevi'im (prophets). We can stay one or more steps ahead of his game...and it is a big and complicated game, as big as - and bigger - than any grand conspiracy that you might be able to imagine or plot in a Noël Coward movie. If you're interested in detective work and spy stories as I am, you will hopefully grasp something of what I'm trying to say.

This means, then, that if we are to correctly interprete today's segment, we must maintain that bigger perspective if we are to make sense of verses 7 to 17 because there are many cycles of prophetic history involved here. This isn't just one end-time event, even though that particularl one is certainly being highlighted. Nevertheless, it is clear that what is of specal interest to John's original listeners (as well as to us 2,000 years later), is that vast chunk of time from the First to the Second Coming and beyond. It's not easy to express in words the concept of moving from a timeless realm to one completely governed and bound by time. Satan is a prisoner of it, as I've said, which is why it is written that his 'time' is short. He's not always going to be here making trouble for us. So this is a passage that will need very careful unpacking within that context. We're being given a replay of a scene from a very ancient time, to the beginning of this cosmic war. So if you think the scope of the Star Wars science-fiction movies was 'big', then you ain't seen nothin' yet! This is waaaay bigger and makes Star Wars look like a soap opera by comparison. There's a lot to consider here so let's put on our thinking-caps on and work our way through the text carefully.

Before we attempt that 'big picture' examination of Revelation 12:7-18, I need to shift your attention to one or two other matters referenced in the segment. Mention is made here of a great war - not in 'heaven' (in the singular) but (in the Hebrew) in the shamayim or heavens (in the plural). Hold that thought in close proximity for a moment. This is not something that initially took place on earth but spilled down here later from higher realms. We're not told a whole lot about that in the Bible but clearly we were in some sense involved as unembodied spirits if you believe in a doctrine of preexistence as we do. We don't arrive on earth without a past history, but because we are later placed in time-space we too 'forget' what happened earlier. How many of you remember every detail of your first year as a baby? Not many, I venture to suggest. Or life in the womb? Even fewer, I'll wager (though some do, as we know from our own experience of deliverance work). So we ought not to be surprised if we don't retain a memory of a 'time' even before physical conception and our 9-month gestation period in the womb, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. Importantly, it implies strongly that our characters were 'shaped' by events and choices made from that pre-mortal past and that why in our spiritual essence or being we are in some senses much 'older' than our physical bodies. We are born with certain dispositions, an inheritance from the dimensions we recently left and not just some of the characteristics of our parents.

Now occultists, as you know, attribute all this to reincarnation and to past lives as multi-time physical humans whereas we maintain that we had no previous physical human existence, even if that superstition, influenced by the surrounding paganism, was certaintly there amongst Jews of the first century AD and before. We even find evidence of this superstition in an incident involving a blind man when Yah'shua (Jesus) was asked if he had been born incapacitated because of sin from a previous existence (Jn.9:1) - you'll remember Yah'shua/Jesus said that a supposed sin from a previous life was not the correct explanation; he was born the way he was to bring glory to Yah'shua (Jesus) when the Saviour healed him by restoring his sight supernaturally, a story millions have read and been blessed to understand that Yah'shua (Jesus) not only physically heals but restores such spiritual sight as we have lost through sinning!

The Scripture is clear: we have only ever had one identity and this is our only experience of earth-life so-far even if we will return here in the future resurrection but fully adult and not as new embryos and babies who have to then grow up to maturity all over again. All false 'christs' are forced - because they were obviously born as mortals - to invoke reincarnation as an explanation for their 're-appearance' on earth, proving they were never resurrected at some time in the past as Yah'shua (Jesus) was. We are only judged once at the end of a single life experienced as a single individual with a singular identity and gender. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that as "man is destined to die once" (not many times in successive reincarnations) "and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him" (Heb.9:27-28, NIV): reincarnation therefore totally undermines the doctrine of atonement. We do not need saving more than once in multiple lives! Don't forget that because occultic notions of reincarnation, aside from damaging one's thinking, can so easly strip a soul's spiritual defences down and lead him into a massive delusion, often with accompanying demonic 'signs' (read 'past life memories') to convince him he has lived many times before...usually as someone important, of course, in order to appeal to the ego, a reason so many claim to have been Napoleon or some other famous character from history, a logical impossibility that even reincarnationists have to admit. That being indisputably true who, if any, was actually Napoleon? Even Satan makes mistakes when trying to script past lives for so many vain humans.

Let's now move to the second half of today's segment which I am going to re-read to you in N.T.Wright's translation:

"When the dragon saw that he had been cast down to the earth, he set off in pursuit of the womam who had borne the baby boy. The woman, however, was given a pair of wings from a great eagle, so that she could fly away from the presence of the serpent into the desert, to the place where she is looked after for a time, two times, and half a time (i.e. 3½ years). The serpent, for its part, spat out of its mouth a jet of water like a river after the woman, to carry her off with the force of the water. But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing up the river which the dragon had spat out of his mouth. Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to wage war against the rest of her children, those who keep Elohim's (God's) mitzvot (command[ment]s) and the testimony of Yah'shua (Jesus). And he stood on the sand beside the sea" (Rev.12:13-18, KNT).

The mention of 3½ years once more narrows this event down to the second and last half of the Great Tribulation. A lot of things are now happening in rapid succession. Notice that having failed to sweep away the woman (the Remnant of Messianic Israel in the desert, who have been tested to the full and have remained true), the dragon turns his fury on the rest of the qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) who are not in the desert with the Remnant. There are two bodies of believers in the Story - the firstborn Remnant qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) and all the rest, that part of the 'great multitude' then on the earth. Now, after 3½ years of the Anti-Messiah's (Antichrist's) comparitive 'peace' and 'prosperity' of the global New World Order, everything changes. The mask comes off the tyrannical world dictator and he is seen for who he really is as we shall see next week in chapter 13 when the two Beasts arise.

It's not easy for Satan to maintain a righteous pretense for very long. He hates it because righteousness is what he loathes to his very core. Now begins the 3½ year-long time of unprecedented persecution of the qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) - the 'Great Tribulation'. The dragon has failed to overwhelm the woman in the desert and so turns on all the rest of Messiah's followers who have the 'testimony of Yah'shua (Jesus)' even if they aren't fully Torah-compliant. Their chief route to glory is martyrdom (not rapture).

There's a lot of supernatural activity going on here in these verses and we are at once reminded of the First Exodus event under Moses when 12-tribed Israel was taken out into the desert and out of harm's reach. For as Israel was transported miraculously through the parting of the Red Sea (Yam Suf, Sea of Reeds), so the latter-day messianic 12-tribed Israel will be taken out into 'the desert' again by the drying and splitting up of a mighty river (at the very least for one tribe of the Remnant, but possibly all 10 coming down from the north). The desert, in the First Exodus, served as a place of purification (as well as safety from their former task masters) so that the hard-hearted and unrepentant first generation might be purged to allow the second generation to arise ready in purity to conquer the Promised Land under Joshua. Now, over three millennia later, the desert is being used for a new purpose in this Second or Last Exodus to hide the Remnant from the murderous devastations of the Anti-Messiah (Antichrist).

In the First Exodus all 12 tribes moved together as one body and from one direction - from Egypt - because their exile was in one country only. But in the Last Exodus Israel will arrive at her destination in the Promised Land from multiple directions from all nations on the face of the earth. She will come as 12, pre-gathered separate tribes at first and only later in the Journey have a great rendez-vous and convergence in one place. As Isaiah tells us:

"Yahweh will dry up
the gulf of the Egyptian sea;
with a scorching wind he will sweep his hand
over the Euphrates River.
He will break it up into seven streams
so that men can cross over in sandals.
There will be a highway for the remnant of his people
that is left from Assyria,
as there was for Israel
when they came up from Egypt"
(Isa.11:15-16, NIV).

The Remnant 'from Assyria' is speaking of the dispersed ten northern tribes of Israel under Ephraim's leadership who were originally led into captivity by the ancient Assyrian Empire, an empire long gone. This is an event that has not yet happened unless anyone call tell me of a time and places where the mighty Euphrates River dried up and split into seven streams so that people might cross comfortably wearing their sandals. This was still a future event to Isaiah and still is for us [1].

There is another important prophecy concerning the Second Exodus that I also want to draw your attention to which tells us how the desert will again be a place of judgment. Bear in mind that the Remnant isn't spiritually 'made' in a day. Purification of character always takes a lot of time. This other prophecy is to be found in Ezekiel - pay close attention to the wording:

"I will bring you into the desert of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you. As I judged your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares Yahweh-Elohim. I will take note of you as you pass under My rod (judgment), and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. I will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against Me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am Yahweh" (Ezek.20:35-38, NIV).

In other words, many who join the Second Exodus, like the first one from Egypt, will not make it - they will not be allowed to enter the Land of Israel. And that is because every Exodus has its 'camp followers' - those seeking an opportunity for a 'new life' but without commitment in any 'covenant bond' - a free ticket without accountability. We come across these sorts of people in deliverance ministry all the time. They are quickly dealt with in our Priesthood temple training. They want delivery from the painful consequences of their sinning (their demonic issues principally) but don't want to follow Yah'shua (Jesus). Such ungenuine, counterfeit and opportunistic people can only be detected as they come under Yahweh's 'rod' of judgment or 'weighing'. How are the false Messianic Israelites identified? By their carnal tendency to revolt and rebel - they do not want to come under any sort of judgment and accountability because they want to be 'free' to do their own sinning without correction of any sort by their seniors - in truth, what they really want after deliverance is to resume sinning but, they vainly hope, without the demonic consquences of their first sinning or rebellion. That's the illogic of the carnal mind. It's also why we don't help those who have such an unrepentant attitude as it would be a waste of our time and energy stewardships and theirs.

When we were first called together in Norway back at the end of the last (20th) century (it seems a very long time ago now), there was no end of revolts and rebellions amongst our own people. In the short space of 9 years we had three such rebellions with people wanting to do things their own way and claiming their own 'revelation' to set things up differently that were not in divine tavnith (pattern). Twice they tried to set up their own 'churches' and failed quickly. There will always be Korah's who complain against Yahweh's anointed, who think they can improve on Elohim's (God's) ways. The final Third Rebellion in Norway left us a whittled down, tiny remnant - a mere handfull of people - who were then told to relocate to Sweden. We have been in the metaphorical wilderness now for nearly 40 years since our original calling in 1984, where we have been prepared for this day. It has required a lot of learning and unlearning. Of the original thousands in Scandinavia, India (where most of our congregations were), Pakistan and Africa (mostly Benin and Kenya), the survivors served as a picture of what covenant-faithfulness is and isn't, and what is yet to come on a massive scale.

Notice the peculiar wording of Ezekiel's prophecy. What specifically is the 'desert'? It isn't the Sinai Desert this time but "the desert of the nations" (v.35, NIV, JB, NLT), something that's easy to miss depending which English version of the Bible you use, because English translations fall into one of two categories - some say 'nations' and some say 'peoples' - the second batch of translations renders the Hebrew word 'am "the wilderness of the peoples" (v.35, KJV, NKJV, NRSV, ESV, ISRV, NASB). So which is it, bearing in mind that 'am is also used in the Tanakh (Old Testament) of the 12 Tribes of Israel? Does is mean the purging of the end-time Remnant (12 tribes) will take place in the countries around the world like Sweden, America, China, Kenya or South Africa before the Second Exodus or during it?

You could actually make a good case for both of these interpretations. However, there is already a Hebrew word that specifically denotes non-Israelite nations and that is goyim which first appears in Genesis 10:5. A similar confusion exists with this word too when it comes to Genesis 14:1,9 which describes a 'king' or 'chieftain' called "Tidal" who in our various English translations is either called 'King of Goyim' or 'King of Nations'. To this very day translators can't make sense of this strange title! One thing is clear, though: goyim never refers to Israel. So given a straight translation choice of 'am in Ezekiel 20:35 between 'nations' and 'peoples', I am forced on balance to conclude the reference is to the 12 tribes. The sorting out of the initially mixed Remnant will take place during the 12 individual gatherings of the 12 Tribes of Messianic Israel as they travel out of the nations and toward the promised land where they will eventually meet up and enter the land together as a single nation. Time will tell.

I have one other piece of vital evidence which I am to share with you this afternoon in the form of one of the many visions I have been given in connection with our study of the Book of Revelation, and also with our Fifth Commission to lead the Final Gathering of the 10 northern tribes who at some point will converge and then finally join up with the other two southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin. This vision suddenly opened up to me on Tuesday 31 January of this year (2023) at 8.48 a.m. whilst I was in prayer asking Yahweh for direction.

I found myself hovering, low, on what in appearance looked like an ancient city though it resembled none I had ever seen before because it possessed elements that could only have been modern. How big the city was I cannot tell. As far as I could see, every building was flat-roofed and no more than one storey tall - in other words, bungalows. Though the small buildings varied slightly as you would expect of domestic residences, they were nonetheless pretty similar. All were the same colour, that of the yellowy-brown desert, so that from a distance it perfectly blended in with the landscape, affording excellent camoflage. The buildings were tightly packed together. It looked spotlessly clean and was very pleasant to behold even if it was colourless...which seemed to be the point, so that it would not draw the attention of outsiders. The roof-tops were pockmarked with what looked like shallow, angular or curved ventillation shafts, the openings of which were horizontal with the roofs, presumably to prevent sand from being blown in by desert winds. Everything seemed to harmonise so well that nothing was out of place. I could see no streets though doubtless there were narrow alleys between the houses or some other means of inter-connectiveness. I could detect no grid - it looked more organic in arrangement, as you might expect of an encampment that was not intended to be permanent. It was very 'attractive', even though it was not at all your typical settlement.

How big it was, I cannot say, as I could only see about a 100 structures in my field of vision. As I looked, though, my spirit immediately discerned that this was a city of refuge that was literally in a desert, designed to be comfortable but hidden. I also understood that this city was in some way reflective of the midset of the Remnant. It was to such as this city that the woman of Revelation 12 was carried when she was given an eagle's wings. So the vision has both a literal, physical aspect as well as a spiritual one. Whether all 12 Cities of Refuge are like this I cannot say. Probably not, depending on the climate, for there are also ice 'deserts'. Or maybe this was 10 or all 12 gathered tribes somewhere near the Euphrates prior to the last part of the journey to Israel. We know that at least one or two of these cities will be in the extreme north of the planet. So my own view is that the cities won't necessarily all be of the same construction and appearance but may well be adapted for their particular environment. Clearly some basic technological know-how and skill will be involved in their erection with converts coming from a variety of backgroumds with all kinds of skills and expertise.

This is not a negative vision in the least. Though purging under 'Yahweh's rod of correction' will take place in the Remnant both before and along the way to detect and expell those who are false, long before they arrive at their hidden locations, this city did not have that atmosphere. It was a place of shalom or peace that result after purging, which calls to mind another prophecy, this time in the Book of Hosea which I'l like to now turn to so that you will better appreciate the spirit of this desert city and others like it:

"Therefore I am now going to allure her (Israel);
I will lead her into the desert
and speak tenderly to her.
There I will give her back her vineyards,
and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
There she will sing as in the days of her youth,
as in the day she came up out of Egypt"
(Hos.2:14-15, NIV).

Amidst all the persecution and horror of the great Tribulation, during which the red, fiery dragon runs amok slaughtering the people of Yahweh still living in his domain, the 12 Cities of Refuge will be places of hope - simple, unpretentious, temporary places of gathering during the storm prior to the 12 Tribes of Israel's final descent into the Holy Land once again, to be in place when the Messiah returns in glory, ready to meet Him in the air and escort Him to His earthly home. They will also be able to communicate with one another but not by 'natural' means. By then there will be experienced 'Azotus Walkers'.

Please note too how the woman went to the desert. Our text says she fled in the same way Israel 'fled' from Pharaoh (Ex.14:5; Josh.24:6). This isn't a casual exodus. The flight, then as now in our immediate future, was quick, deliberate and planned. And it was planned after revelation had been received by Moses. It was not disorderly or done in a panic. It will be led by strong, calm, well organised men of Yahweh - nevi'im (prophets) - with a shem tov or good name. Read Psalm 25:1-5, Lamentations 4:19 and related passages to get something of the sense I am trying to convery. Zephaniah 2 says:

"Seek Yahweh, all you humble of the land,
who do His mitzvot (commandments);
seek righteousness, seek humility;
perhaps you may be hidden
on the day of Yahweh's wrath"
(Zeph.2:3, NRSV).

That's a promise to those who obey the Torah, a promise that we find reitterated in today's text in verse 17 which speaks of the blessedness of those "who keep Elohim's (God's) mitzvot (command[ment]s) and the testimony of Yah'shua (Jesus)" (Rev.12:17, KNT). Do you see the importance of commandment-keeping for the peace of your soul and - especially here - to qualify to be the Remnant of the Last Exodus? You cannot separate the "testimony of Yah'shua (Jesus)" from obedience to the mitzvot (commandments) and anyone who tries to will find themselves 'outside' and 'unhidden' in times of trouble, so 'perhaps' they won't be hidden in the desert. The promise is conditional on your obedience. Many of those aspiring to be the Remnant who will not 'flee' out of the world and who will not pursue purity (2 Cor.7:1; Jas.4:8; 1 Tim.4:121 Pet.3:1-2) and holiness (Rev.22:11; 1 Cor.1:2; 1 Pet.1:16; 2:5; 2 Pet.3:11) will come under the Father's Rod of Judgment. Didn't Yah'shua (Jesus) speak of this 'flight' in Matthew 24:15-28 and Mark 13:14-23? Read those passages carefully too. Now this particular flight is not the same as the one which Christ spoke of in Luke 21:20-24, that took place at the destruction of Jerusalem long "before all these things" (Lk.21:12, KJV) which our Master spoke of in Matthew and Mark. Discerning the differences is important or you'll trip up on many of the Scriptures.

The Second and Last Exodus is very Good News even if the desert doesn't hold much appeal for those who love the worldly pleasures and comforts of modern cities. This current penultimate judgment is to wean us off such luxurious creature-comforts and propel us toward a much simpler way of living. None of the delicasies of Egypt and Babylon will accompany the Last Exodus so learn to do without them! Today is part of that training. Spit out the silver spoons from your mouths that you may have been born with, those of you that have them, for there must of practical necessity be equality of what little wealth remains after an economic collapse and when Zion is on the move, for this will be a United Order of All Things in Common. Nevertheless there will be sufficient provision from heaven. Yahweh will then carry us and help us (Dt.32:11-12). This also means letting go of false traditions and prejudices so that Isaiah 4 can also be fulfilled, for the Remnant will be quite unlike any of your modern churches and assemblies you see today. There has to be a complete change of spiritual clothing.

Perhaps you can understand why so few Chistians and Messianics will want to be part of the Last Exodus Remnant and will excuse themselves. Why? Because the Babylonised men are too keen to clutch onto their money exclusively for themselves and Babylonised women onto their husbands exclusively for themselves. They would rather take their chances in the system and maintain control over their wealth and husbands, respectively, even if it means foregoing the protection of Zion [2] and taking their chances in the dragon's domain where raising a family will be impossible owing to general persecution.

Remember the 'eagle's wings' in this equation are a sign which signifies the miraculous swiftness by which Divinely given help will come. It happened to us as a family only the other day with a spectacular and unexpected financial rescue to meet our present crisis. This is how Yahweh works when His people are hard-pressed. No Roman eagles are involved in this prophetic sign (or American eagles in the times that are coming) - we will not be carried by the system but are to flee from it which is why only the wings of the eagle are needed. Roman eagles carried on Rome's standards possessed no wings but had to be carried! We're not part of a worldly army like that. Those who imitate the world will remain in the world. Once again Adam must decide whether to listen to Yahweh or to his wife Eve, and Eve must decide whether to listen to her husband Adam or to the serpent. There can be no getting it wrong at this time of the end as they once did at the beginning. Let he who has ears, hear.

The 'fleeing', then, is first to the 'mountains' and only then on into the wilderness. The 'mountain tops' are those times and places when and where we are spirituallty anointed and refreshed before we hide out in the desert for 3½ years, as depicted in the vision. This is Yahweh's government-in-exile pausing at an oasis in the desert on the way home. Read Daniel 7:25 and 12:7. And when you come to think of it, our spiritual journey is much like this too. We begin with exhilarating mountain-top experiences where we can meet Elohim (God) but the mountain is always followed by the desert because the only way character can develop is through opposition and difficulties. The journey isn't all a bed of roses. It's not remotely like the counterfeit gospel taught by the Prosperity teachers. This, then, is the function of positive suffering (as opposed to negatively suffering for our own sins whose only positive result is to get us to repent and get back on track). It is at such times that we are forced to make critical choices that will either send us right back to where we started (as though nothing has been achieved whilst leaving us stripped down with far less faith and hope than we had when we first embarked on our spiritual journey); or we move on until it's time for the next mountain-top where we can get spiritually refuelled and equipped for the next part of the journey. There are Mount Sinai's (Ex.19:11) and Nebo's (Dt.34:1) along the Way; and it's to Mt.Nebo that we are headed right now to behold the Promised Land before entering it.

Now here is what we are supposed to take from this passage in the outer world of unfolding history: you see, we're not going to be around in the cities of Babylon when the Anti-Messiah "speak[s] against the Most High and oppress[es] His qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) and tr[ies] to change the set times and the laws. The qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) [still in the cities] will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time (3½ years)" (Dan.7:25, NIV; cp. 12:7). All of this is happening in the latter 3½ years window but Yahweh's Remnant must be ready and gathered in the 3½ years before that too, because the desert sojourn may be up to 7 years. We shall see. Others may continue trickling in right up to the close of the first 3½ years when the gathered qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) will be more-or-less left alone to get on with El Elyon's (the Most High's) millennial business in preparation for Anti-Messiah's (Antichrist's) imminent destruction.

As in the First Exodus when the serpent had Moses and Israel with their backs against the Red Sea (Yam Suf, Sea of Reeds), so the same serpent will send a destructive 'flood' against the Last Exodus. It is this 'flood' which drives Israel into the desert for the second time. And as Israel's first deliverance was miraculous, so shall Israel's second one be, only more so because of the increased scale of the miracle! Is this second 'flood' literal or symbolic? you may well ask. Well, let's turn to the nevi'im (prophets) again who saw all these things in advance for our benefit and comforting. Jeremiah tells us:

"Who is this that rises like the Nile,
like rivers of surging waters?
Egypt rises like the Nile,
like rivers of surging waters.
She says, 'I will rise and cover the earth;
I will destroy cities and their people'"
(Jer.46:7-8, NIV).

The river of Revelation 12 does not expand into a lake but rushes forward like a 'flood'. Do you want to see incredible miracles again? Just wait and see. So I have to say that this sounds literal to me though I am not denying it has an important spiritual component too, as when we are 'flooded' by difficulties and crises that seem to pile one on top of the other. Either way, Yahweh's agent of redemption, the earth, swallows these floods up. In the same way the sea helped the first Israelites fleeing from Pharaoh's pursuing army, why shouldn't the earth once again help the woman by swallowing up the forces of Satan? Ever heard of giant sinkholes?

The high drama is about to be enacted again as it was at the First Exodus albeit in new forms. The dramatic events will be so memorable that they will be recounted at Pesach or Passover for the next thousand years in the same way we retell the story of the First Exodus each spring. Mark that. And, as the Book of Revelation tells us again and again, it will be a time of earthquakes and great physical disturbances. The surface of the earth is going to be changed. Remember what Isaiah said:

"Yahweh will dry up
the gulf of the Egyptian sea;
with a scorching wind He will sweep His hand
over the Euphrates River.
He will break it up into seven streams
so that men can cross over in sandals.
There will be a highway for the remnant of His people
that is left from Assyria,
as there was for Israel
when they came up from Egypt"
(Is.11:15-16, NIV).

Do you believe that? I hope so, because when the tsunamis and their like come, you'll remember what I said today. Didn't Yahweh tell Isaiah, right before He speaks of a Redeemeer coming to Zion (Is.59:20) at the time of the fullness of the Gentiles:

"From the west, men will fear the name of Yahweh,
and from the rising of the sun, they will revere His glory.
For He will come like a pent-up flood
that the breath of Yahweh drives along"
(Isa.59:19, NIV).

And remember also that the earth once literally opened to swallow the host of Dathan and Abiram (Num.16). Shall we not also trust in the promise made through Micah?

"As in the days when you (Israel) came out of the land of Egypt,
I will show them wonders" (Mic.7:15, NKJV).

The Dragon may rage against the Woman but Yahweh rises up to stop him, doesn't He? Satan is baffled in his attempts to destroy the Seed of the woman who is finally caught away to Elohim (God) and His Throne. He fails to destroy Yah'shua (Jesus). Next it is our turn - the Remnant's - the remnant of Messiah's own seed, separated out from the great bulk of believers. The description we read in today's text agrees with all that is spoken in other parts of the Book of Revelation. It's the Remnant - the commandment-keepers who trust in Messiah - whom the Dragon wages war against. We first met the Remnant in the 144,000 who are sealed for their testimony on the earth and now we meet them again. The Dragon is foiled again and again by the One he once vainly tried to overthrow. And having failed to destroy the Remnant in the desert, he turns on the rest of the believers and is next found standing on the sand of the sea, that is to say, the sea shore. And as we shall see next week, this is the prelude to the rising of the Two Beasts - one from the sea (Rev.13:1-10) and one from the earth (Rev.13:11-18).

I want to leave one last thought with you before you go away, something to mull over during the coming week. I am sure you have wondered about the very strange symbolic number '3½' - it's the only prophetic number in the Bible that includes a '½' and that is because '3½' is itself half of another number, the better known prophetic number, '7'. And yet you have met '3½' before we ever started our study of the Book of Revelation. See what I have here (holds up a Menorah and places the edge of his hand on top of the central or fifth stem).

Here is a Menorah which, amongst other things, is a representation of the seven annual festivals of Messianic Israel. From left-to-right we have Pesach (Passover), Chag haMatzah (Unleavened Bread), Yom haBikkurim (Firstfruits), Shavu'ot (Weeks, 'Pentecost', Ekatost), Yom Teruah (Trumpets), Yom haKippurim (Atonements) and Sukkot (Tabernacles). What is my hand resting on? (Shavu'ot). Why? Because it is the hinge festival, dividing the personal covenant festivals from the communal or corporate festival covenants. It's at Shavu'ot where the two groups meet, a reason why there are seven sabbaths plus 50 days between Yom haBikkurim and Yom Teruah - 7 sabbaths (or 49 days) on the left and about 50 days on the right - the two halves of the omer count which Jews and most Messianics have either forgotten or don't understand because they think it's only a 50-day count, a reason they call the feast Pentecost instead of Ekatost. There are therefore 3½ moedim on one side and 3½ on the other. It's the last 3½ that sort out the sheep from the goats, dividing the Torah-obedient from the lawless because it was at Shavu'ot that the Torah was given, remember? And you also know, because we have made mention of it so many times, that this is something the Book of Revelation speaks of quite unambiguously. On the left you have the mountain of enlightenment; and on the right, the desert of affliction and character-development.

And with that we'll end today. Next week we shall shift our attention to the Two Beasts who wage war on the rest of Yahweh's people - those not of the Remnant, for Satan hates us all, fully Torah-obedient or just in part. Don't make the mistake of a lot of messianics who think that those who are not fully Torah-compliant aren't Yahweh's people too. So until then, may Father Yahweh richly bless you all in Yah'shua's (Jesus') Name. Amen.

Endnotes

[1] Understand also that this passage is interpreted differently by some scholars who see the drying up of the Euphrates as enabling the 'the kings from the east' to cross.
[2] This is not a reference to Zionism

Acknowledgements

[1] Tom Wright, Revelation for Everyone - The New Testament for Everyone Commentary Series, Vol.19 (SPCK, London: 2011)
[2] E.W.Bullinger*, Commentary on Revelation (Kregel Classics, Grand Rapids, Michihan: 1984)
[3] David H. Stern, Jewish New Testament Commentary (JNT Publications, Clarksville, Maryland: 1992)
[4] ESV Study Bible (Crossway, Wheaton, Illinois: 2011)
[5] The NIV Study Bible (Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan: 1995)
[6] Ed. J.R.Dummelow, A Commentary on the Holy Bible (MacMillan, London: 1909)

*E.W.Bullinger was a brilliant Anglican clergyman and scholar whose works merit careful study by serious students of the Bible. He was, however, seriously in error in at least three main areas, namely, (1) he believed the 'Church' has been raptured before the Book of Revelation opens, (2) he believed that the 7 churches in Revelation 2-3 are 7, literal Jewish churches or assemblies yet to come, and (3) he believed in a pre-tribulation, pre-millennial rapture.

• 1. White horse - military aggression
• 2. Red horse - bloodshed
• 3. Black horse - famine
• 4. Pale Green/Blanched/Pallid/Sickly-looking horse - disease, epidemics

  ---

• 5. Persecution & prayer
• 6. Tremour & terror

  ---

  INTERLUDE I (Ch.7)
  (The 144,000 Redeemed)

  ---

• 7. Silence in heaven, listening to prayers which are then answered in a final catastrophe: a severe earthquake I

• 1. Scorched earth
• 2. Polluted sea
• 3. Contaminated water
• 4. Reduced sunlight

  ---

• 5. Insects and plague (for five months) (1st Woe)
• 6. Oriental invasion (200 million army) (2nd Woe)

  ---

  INTERLUDE II (Ch.10-11)
  (The Malak with the Little Scroll)
  (The Two Witnesses)

  ---

• 7. The Kingdom comes, the world is taken over by Yahweh & Yah'shua (Jesus) after a severe earthquake II (3rd Woe)

  ---

  INTERLUDE III (Ch.13-14)
  (The First & Second Beasts)
  (The Lamb & the 144,000)
  (The Messages of the Three Malakim)

  ---

• 1. Boils on the skin
• 2. Blood in the sea
• 3. Blood from the springs
• 4. Burning by the sun

  ---

• 5. Darkness
• 6. Armageddon

  ---

• 7. Hailstorm (OB 368:11-12) and severe earthquake III, leading to international collapse