Lecture Eleven

Disclaimer:

I will type the notes as presented to me.
Again let me stress that what follows are NOT my words.
I will not add my thoughts in the post.
Comments allowed for friendly discussion and edifying.

II Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto G-D, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

I Thessalonians 5:11
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

And for the record no one is ruling out dual fulfillment.











1. With the many supernatural signs being witnessed by these first century Jews, it was obvious that the time was approaching in which the Believing Community should seek refuge elsewhere other than Jerusalem. Both the words of Jesus as well as the apocalyptic writings had spoken of such a day when they would flee from the turmoil in Jerusalem. Jesus warned in Matthew 24:29, 32-34: 'When you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors...this generation shall not pass until these things shall be fulfilled...let them which be in Judea flee to the mountains...woe to them who are with child and pray that your flight be not in the winter... great tribulation shall come like never before..and except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened...' (Matt. 24:15-22).

2. John writes in the Book of Revelation 18:4: 'Come out of her, My people, that you may not share in her sins, that you may not receive of her plagues...' By the spring of 70 AD all of Galilee had been overrun by roman legions and Josephus describes the situation: 'Galilee was now entirely subdued, having provided the romans substantial training for the coming Jerusalem campaign.' The Believers realize it is time to obey the directive of Jesus and for their generation to leave Jerusalem. Because Jerusalem is located in the highest hill-country of central Judea just across the Jordan River from the Mountains of (blank not filled in, if you know this geography, please leave a comment. thanks!) in the Transjordan just out of the Promised Land. This mountainous area known as Pella has long been associated with a place of refuge for those who needed to flee to safety. This was near the great red city called Petra that was carved into the rock face of the limestone cliffs. The civil strife in Jerusalem had reached a new high and Josephus tells us that titus had arrived in caesarea to organize his troops against Jerusalem. Jesus had warned: 'Because the lawlessness shall be multiplied, the love of many shall grow cold' (Matt 24:12) so much so that to stay in Jerusalem was equal to suicide.

3. The problem in fleeing the city of Jerusalem had to do with the time of the year and the terrain. To leave one had to cross the Jordan River, and in the winter, as Jesus warned, it was often impossible because of the flooding. During the rainy season, from October to April, sudden downpours cause flash flooding as the water runs down the steep decline outside the mountains of Jerusalem toward the Judean desert and the Jordan River toward the Dead Sea. Josephus reminds us: ' Some fugitives escaped, creating panic across the country-side by claiming that the entire roman army was advancing. Large numbers now fled to Jericho, where they hoped for safety. The romans pursued them to the Jordan, killing all whom they overtook, but the river was swollen and unfordable, so the Jews were compelled to stand and fight. The romans charged them with cavalry and drove multitudes into the river where they were drowned...'

4. The Book of Revelation describes a woman clothed with the sun in Rev 12:1 who is pictured as A great and wonderous sign appearing in the heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out as she was about to give birth... This was playing on the Jewish concept of a tribulation period being associated with the birth pangs of the Messiah as spoken of in apocalyptic literature such as Revelation and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Note a reference from the Psalm Scroll col. III: 'Like a woman in travail with her firstborn child, upon whose belly pangs have come and grievous pains, filling with anguish her childbearing crucible. For the children have come to the throes of death, and she labors in her pains who bears a man. For amid the throes of death she shall bring forth a man-child, and amid the pains of hell there shall spring from her child-bearing crucible a Marvelous Mighty Counselor; and a man shall be delivered out of the throes...' Many scholars believe these prophecies to be speaking symbolically of Mary and the child Jesus as well as a symbol of the early Church which was born during these days of tribulation.

5. Revelation 12:1-3 continued by describing: 'Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads...' This is in apocalyptic language speaking of rome, a city built on seven hills with ten supporting powers or horns. In fact, it was the tenth roman legion which was to be permanently stationed in palestine during this tribulation. The seven horns are thought to represent the seven caesars beginning with julius caesar. Rome, according to the ancient prophets is constantly referenced as being anti-G-D and anti-Christ, waging war against heaven. John declares: 'There was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon...' (Rev 12:7). Note a similar reference in the Dead Sea Scrolls: 'He will send perpetual help...through the power of Michael, the mighty, ministering angel...Righteousness shall flourish in heaven..and you, sons of His covenant, be of good courage in the trial which G-D visits upon you' (the War Scroll, col. 17). These secret powers are the works of G-D such as are often seen with the sun standing still and the waters parting for the people of G-D. Note the text in Rev 12:14-15: 'And the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of... out of the serpent's reach. Then from his mouth the serpent spewed forth water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent...' This is probably referring to the ancient parable of a great dragon dwelling in the Jordan River, who spews water out of his mouth during the winter months, causing the river to swell...but who closes his mouth during the dry season, making the river shrink. The Messianic community from Jerusalem made it successfully to Pella in the Transjordan mountain range and the Book of Revelation was fulfilled in its prediction: 'But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth...' (Rev 12:16).



Go to lecture X or XII