Most of the time, those even half-way interested in Biblical predictions (about 1/3 of the entire Bible) recognizes a prophecy when they read or hear it.

Moreover, they understand that the hundreds of prophecies fall into two categories: (1) Those already fulfilled; (2) Those still awaiting fulfillment.

However, there are a handful of prophecies that many aren’t certain whether they have come to pass yet, or if the passage is even prophetic. Such is the case with Leviticus Chapter 26.

Biblical eschatology also encompasses different forms (prototypes). Of which there are three main groupings: (1) Promises … the good news; (2) Warnings … the bad news; (3) Neutral … more matter-of-fact prognostications. Which nonetheless are as consequential as the precious promises and somber warnings of Scripture—for Jew and Gentile alike.

Sometimes all three paradigms fit a prophetic passage, as they do in Leviticus Chapter 26. The chapter begins with God’s promises to keep and prosper his people in the Promised Land of Israel if they trusted and obeyed him. Followed by warnings of hardship then eventual expulsion from Israel for their distrust and disobedience.

Yet, it is the third feature of that chapter that (others still to this day), I, too, had missed as being a precise prophecy, with a specified duration of the penalty for Israel’s rebellion. But once the discipline had ended, a resumption of God’s powerful promises to/for his people. It is one of the extraordinary handful in Scripture that contains a dedicated period (time-lapse) between the beginning and end of the prophecy.

In a revisit summary: The seven times over (in four phases) was (in reality) the uninterrupted sequence of the Lord’s on-going discipline that astonishingly applied directly to the prophetic duration … exact number of years! Which is equivalent to the Times of the Gentiles domination over Israel and the Jews from its precise beginning to its exact end.

See two-part Eye of Prophecy series: Extraordinary Prophecies w/Predicted Times of Fulfillment. Posted 3-2 & 3-9-19. Leviticus 26 is one of eight time-dedicated prophecies discussed in those two articles. Here is an excerpt from Part I (in italics):

Regarding the hundreds of Biblical prophecies, there are only a few time-capsule forecasts involving specific dates or duration of fulfillment. Which, in that context of comparison, makes these prophecies unique…. They are integral components of God’s magnificent plans for and interaction with his chosen people, the Jews; his special possession, Israel; and for all other peoples (Gentiles).

Also refer to article: Times of & Fullness of the Gentiles … What Do They Mean? (4-21-18).

(The 1st sentence in this prophecy from Jesus took place when the Romans sacked Jerusalem in A.D. 70 which led to the Great Diaspora of the Jews. The 2nd half of this prophecy came to completion when Jerusalem was liberated by the IDF in the Six-Day War of 1967 … no more trampling of Jerusalem! Except for a few brief weeks during the Tribulation)

Seven Times Seven (to the 4th Power)

That is the title of a trilogy of articles posted in 2014; followed by a general summary in the subsequent article, The Omega Generation. With emphasis in that article on the last day’s significance of Israel’s miraculous Six-Day War victory in 1967, resulting in liberation of the Holy City of Jerusalem, the capital of the Holy (Promised) Land of Israel.

That amazing achievement once and for all ended Gentile domination of the Jews, which was the definitive means and measure of God’s discipline of his people. For the express purpose of establishing the soon-to-come Kingdom of God ruled by his Son, Messiah Jesus from Jerusalem, upon his glorious return.

This seven-times over prophecy is being reviewed for the purpose of correlating it with another puzzling prophetic passage, concerning the scope of Israel’s (and Jews elsewhere in the world) turmoil during the Great Tribulation.

Before we tie-in these prophecies—thereby, clarifying our understanding of the extent of Israel’s suffering to come—here is another excerpt from Part I of Extraordinary Prophecies w/Predicted Times of Fulfillment. (In italics, the latter part of which is, in turn, a quote from Part II of the Seven Times Seven articles):

Although the seven times over (four times successively) prophecy in Leviticus doesn’t identify days or years as such, it is nonetheless a time-dedicated forecast of exactly how long Israel would remain under Gentile domination, to complete the Lord’s discipline of his people and nation…. I proceeded to do the math of seven times seven (four times) … translated into years! Where the calculation led me was nothing short of stunning.

After inception of the Eye of Prophecy website, I consolidated this amazing prophecy and its fulfillment in a trilogy of articles, Seven Times Seven (to the 4th power), posted 1-25, 2-1, & 2-8-14. Providing detailed analysis of Leviticus Chapter 26 in conjunction with the lapse of time beginning with the rebuilt Temple in 516 B.C. … The official end of the Babylonian captivity….

I later realized that the Lord’s disclosure of the meaning or application of this phenomenal hidden gem of prophecy was in the same vein of what Sir Robert Anderson had “discovered” (discernment from the Lord applicable to Daniel 9:25-26 and later published in his book, The Coming Prince … 1894).

*Note: Sir Robert’s astute analysis of Daniel’s prophecy is also one of the eight time-dedicated prophecies summarized in the Extraordinary Prophecies…. articles. And, the subject of one entire Eye of Prophecy article, An Incredible Time-Lapse Prophecy (1-18-14). Plus, passing references to it in a few other of my articles.

Continuing with the excerpt:

Anderson’s insight related to the prophesied time parameters of the first Advent of Messiah which resulted in Israel’s rejection of Jesus as the Messiah. Whereas, the Seven Times Over prophetic paradigm pertains to the physical return of the Jews to Israel—specifically the (time dedicated) end of Gentile dominance of the Jews in preparation for the Second Coming of Messiah Jesus.

…With that in mind, there is an even stronger and more compelling reason that the seven-times over doesn’t apply to or represent in any way the severity factor or degree of punishment.

(Comment: that the seven times over represents the severity degree of God’s punishment is the general assumption, which obscures and even prevents seeing the seven times seven—four times—representing an uninterrupted sequence of time, i.e. years).

If you read the passage carefully, here’s what you will find: Each time (phase’s one through four) that God identifies the punishment to be experienced by Israel, the punishments themselves ARE more severe. In other words, the severity factor is built-in to each of the four phases of discipline, as they become progressively more severe, one through four. With, by far, the most severe that of being completely conquered, destroyed, and exiled to other countries by their conquerors in the fourth set of the seven times over punishments. With the corresponding result that there would be absolutely no purpose or reason for the Lord to metaphorically describe the successive phases of punishments in terms of seven-times over. Because the text is very clear that each discipline, in and of itself, becomes progressively worse.

So, what does the seven times paradigm represent or mean? Then it came to me; that is the Lord showed it to me. The express purpose for seven times over pertains to one and only one element: TIME. (As in chronological years of history).

I then wrote:

And, so the seven times over sequence had begun again. This time the prophetic march of time relentlessly continued unabated and uninterrupted. If, however, the seven times over to the 4th power represents a measurable period, then it must come to an end. That’s what occurred to me that night in October 2006. Although I didn’t know where it would lead me (what year in history), I realized that God was telling Moses and the people that the seven times seven model necessitated and would, in fact, unfold according to an exact prophetic timeline. Moreover, the formula was built into the prophecy: 7 x 7 x 7 x 7. When this prophetic paradigm reached its measurable deadline, Israel’s punishment would also reach its predetermined limit; and they would no longer be under Gentile domination!

Having already explained why the year 516 B.C. (completion of the rebuilt Jewish Temple) was the starting point of God’s seven-times over discipline, I wrote:

A Phenomenal Finding (Let’s do the Math)!

Calculations: 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 equals 2,401 (years). Remember the premise: This prophecy is a specific time-lapse utilization of sevens that can be measured in years, in a very similar manner to the Daniel Chapter 9 prophecy. We must now convert the 2,401 years to Jewish years.

Roman to Jewish calendar: 2,401 years x 365 Roman calendar days = 876,365 days. Dividing 876,365 by 360 Jewish calendar days = 2,434 years Jewish years. (We’re rounding this off, because we’re only interested in the year, unlike the exact day(s) of the Daniel prophecy).

Jubilee Years: Again, we need to remember that the ultimate criteria that God used to preclude or preempt any excuses or rationalization of the people was the Sabbatical rest of the land. But we also need to include all Jubilee years, which was a 50-year cycle of freedom from debt, servitude, and resting the land from crop planting… Because the Israelites also failed to keep the Jubilee requirements, this would be a central part of God’s formula for discipline.

So, we divide 2,434 Jewish years by 50 and we get 49 (rounded off) Jubilee years….

We add 2,434 years + 49 (Jubilee) years. The sum of these two: 2,483 (years).

The Astonishing Result: 2,483 years minus 516 BC (we must subtract BC years from the total) leads us to the year: 1967! Or 1,967 years AD plus 516 years BC is a total of 2,483 years.

In summary of this portion of today’s article, we need to fully appreciate the striking significance of Israel’s Six-Day War victory.

(One of several IDF celebrations of their astonishing Six-Day War victory)

(At the Western Wall, battle-hardened IDF soldiers wept tears of reverence and joy)

NO LONGER would Israel be under the thumb of Gentile nations. Although Israel won an equally amazing victory in her 1948 War of Independence, it wasn’t until 1967 that Israel reclaimed the Holy City of Jerusalem (in fact, all Israeli land) in her reestablished sovereign nation by means of a powerful military that not only could defend her people, but could (and did) take the offensive in ways not seen since the glory years of King David.

The one exception (on a limited basis) was when the Maccabees defeated Antiochus IV and his Syrian/Greek Army. Yet, not even the Maccabees of the 2nd century B.C. conquered their enemies as swiftly or soundly as the Israelis did in 1967 (and again in 1973).

The Maccabean victory was followed by the Hasmonean Dynasty in Israel that lasted for about 100 years. Only for Israel to once again fall under Gentile domination … in the 60’s B.C. to the first Roman conquest of Israel. Which eventually produced an even more devastating defeat at the hands of the Romans in 70 A.D. Followed by the great Jewish Diaspora resulting in Gentile nations’ (national) control over the Jews, culminating in the worst Jewish catastrophe of all … the Holocaust.

But no more.

With Israel’s rebirth in 1948 and subsequent (slow at first) rebuilding of a potent military—on full display in 1967. Then again in 1973, and even more powerful today,

NEVER AGAIN will Israel be subjected to Gentile domination … in which the Jews couldn’t defend themselves.

Despite Biblical prophecy of Israel’s troubles during the impending Great Tribulation (commencing soon after the any-day-now Rapture), she will never again be conquered nor utterly defeated as a nation, nor suffer shocking numbers of deaths as happened with the brutal Roman conquest and then the more horrific Holocaust.

Let’s look at the Biblical reasons why Israel won’t experience that kind of horrendous suffering, though times will be terribly tough for her—indeed, for all peoples during the unprecedented Great Tribulation. With the most significant factors: (1) God has restored his providential protection of Israel. (2) Now the Jews can furiously fight back more forcefully than since the time of King David.

Two-Thirds of the Jews Killed … Past or Future?

This, too, is the title of a prior Eye of Prophecy article (posted 5-19-15). It ranks as one of my (author’s) favorites. A favorite in the context of its pathos for me (and perhaps for others). A dilemma that was settled when the Lord graciously provided another insight to me.

I’m referring to one of the more poignant, yet puzzling passages in all of Scripture. In just three verses, we find a far-reaching three-stage prophecy concerning Messiah’s death and the scattering of the sheep/lambs resulting in 2/3rds of “the people” (Jews) dying. Conventional commentary places the death of so many Jews during the end-times Tribulation period.

For years I had grappled with this conundrum—unable to process the idea that the Jews would be killed in such great numbers a second time after six million of them had been slaughtered during the Holocaust. What made this mainstream interpretation even more implausible (unacceptable) was the fact that Israel is now a nation with one of the most powerful militaries on earth, despite its small size and population. That and the fact, as already demonstrated, that God’s discipline (primarily through withdrawal of his protection) of his people ended in 1967.

First, the passage:

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, the man who is my partner, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn against the lambs. Two-thirds of the people in the land will be cut off and die, says the Lord. But one-third will be left in the land. I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God’” (Zechariah 13:7-9).

I literally pleaded with the Lord to show me one way or the other if the prevailing application of this passage was accurate, i.e. 2/3rds of the Jews killed during the Tribulation.

Praise the Lord, he did just that; but not for several months and more “please Lord” sessions. To benefit from the in-depth treatment of this subject, please consider reading the above listed article.

Once again, I’m combining this subject with the seven times seven paradigm to demonstrate that, despite the terrible tribulation times ahead, Israel will not experience another Holocaust. God simply will not allow that to happen; not after bringing his people back to Israel in great numbers and not after giving birth to the Jewish Nation-State of Israel again (Isaiah 66).

(Israeli President Rivlin welcoming Aliyah immigrants from the USA and Canada. Most immigrants to Israel have come from Russia)

The Times of the Gentiles is no more. Israel is Israel again … forever!

Whereas, the Fullness of the Gentiles is still to come.

Here is an excerpt from the article Two-Thirds of the Jews Killed … Past or Future? (in italics):

Dozens of Bible prophecies speak of the last day’s return of Jews to Israel from global exile, with the Divine guarantee that never again would Jews be stripped of or away from their Promised Land. Despite the perilous end-times turmoil that will engulf the entire earth during the Great Tribulation, including Israel—which is referred to as Jacob’s troubles—there is no indication in Scripture that the Jews will suffer the catastrophic casualties at the hands of Gentile nations that started with the Assyrian conquest of Israel in 722 BC and the Babylonian overthrow of Judah in 586 BC. Then the even more devastating defeat of Israel by the Romans in 70 AD and their ensuing global Diaspora, culminating in the unfathomable genocidal massacre of some six million Jews during the Holocaust.

Except that is, for one passage. It is a portion of Scripture that had perplexed and troubled me for some time.

Bible prophecy, particularly those involving last day’s warnings, can be either terrifying or touching, horrifying or heartening; depending mostly on whether you are an unbeliever or believer, respectively. Even the believer can be alarmed at the enormity of, for example, death and destruction by the forces of evil in the end times but also by the wrath of God poured out on a very wicked world. As Christians, we need not be afraid of a world spinning out of control before the soon-to-come Rapture, then tilting on an apocalyptic axis and falling into the Abyss during the Tribulation. But we certainly should be motivationally moved by the apocalyptic anxiety that those left behind will experience, particularly by the tribulation saints and Jews; some of whom will be one and the same and both of whom will be relentlessly persecuted.

(Refer to article, Shocking Statistics of the Great Tribulation, published June 2015)

Continuing with the above excerpt:

Jesus referred to the scattering of the sheep as what his disciples would do when he was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:31); but Zechariah’s prophecy was broader in scope than that. Why? Because Jesus also denoted the Jews as the (lost) sheep of Israel. Moreover, the next line in Zechariah 13:7 reads, “and I will turn against the lambs.” …Both sheep and lambs are frequently used as a metaphorical analogy to God’s chosen people, the Jews.

The scattering of the sheep also took place when the Romans conquered Israel and destroyed much of Jerusalem including complete demolition of the rebuilt Temple in 70 AD. The scattering and the turning against the lambs signified God’s withdrawal of his protection from his chosen people for rejecting their Messiah who established the New Covenant with the greatest price ever paid … his very blood, the life of the Son of God. The Great Diaspora ensued in which millions of Jews were exiled to many nations. With, however, the greater majority of the Jewish population settling in countries of today’s Europe over hundreds of years. Also, a sizeable number ended up in Russia. Not until the birth of the United States and later the horrendous Holocaust, would more Jews live in America than anywhere else in the world. Even that has now changed, with the greatest concentration of Jews in Israel, itself … 6.3 million. (*Note: that number is now closer to 6.8 million).

In that article, I went on to explain Zechariah 13:7-9 in more detail, to include evidence that “the land” (some translations say “that land”) in which 2/3rds of the Jews would be killed was NOT Israel—which had been my assumption for many years. Rather, it was that land to which they had been scattered … predominately the European continent.

Another excerpt from that article:

What I missed was the fact that the passage of Zechariah 13:7-9 is distinctly separate from verses one through six of Chapter 13 and all the other (on that day) end-times content of Chapters 9-14, except for Messiah’s procession into Jerusalem and his subsequent betrayal. However, Verses 7, 8, & 9 of Chapter 13 cannot be separated, one from the other. They are all an integral part of a succession of three events: Messiah’s death, the sheep scattered, and two-thirds of them killed … all of which have already taken place!

(*Note: Verse nine of Zechariah 13 describes the purifying result of the Diaspora for God’s chosen people. This is also referenced in Daniel 11:33-35. Though there are more secular Jews than observant in Israel and the world over, there were three monumentally constructive results of the worse disaster to ever befall the Jews—the Holocaust: (1) Rebirth of Israel, a catalyst to the return of millions of Jews to the Promised Land; (2) Freedom of observant Jews to worship the God of Israel without fear of wide-spread and incessant anti-Semitic persecution during their exile; (3) An explosion of Messianic Jews and Messianic ministries the world-over, beginning on a burgeoning scale in 1967. This is the refining spoken of by the Lord through Zechariah, that will reach its perfect and purified conclusion when:

I then presented facts and figures in that article concerning the number of Jews in Europe (“the people in the land”) as phrased by Zechariah. With the astonishing (but appallingly sad) evidence that almost exactly 2/3rds of the Jews in Europe were killed during the Holocaust. Which leads to another remarkable reality: The Bible does, in fact, make a prophetic reference to the Holocaust, some 2,400 years before it happened.

One last excerpt from that article:

The overwhelmingly clear evidence of the Bible is that once the Jews returned from exile, they would never again be driven from the land. Their time of physical and spiritual restoration would begin. Though they will undoubtedly suffer many more casualties during the Antichrist’s assault against Israel leading to Armageddon, it will not be anything like the appalling losses suffered during World War II or before.

…A two-thirds loss of life seemed to be an incomprehensible contradiction to the wonderful blessings God would begin to bestow on Israel beginning with the regathering of the Jews from world-wide exile and the rebirth of the Jewish nation.

No longer do I need to agonize over such a contradiction. Because there is no contradiction! The two-thirds of Jews killed was horrendous. Yet, it was … as in past-tense. Never to happen again!

On the authority of God’s Word, I repeat for emphasis: NEVER.

Evaluation of Other Passages Concerning This Week’s Topic

Since the ominous presence of Russia, Iran, and Turkey in Syria that began about four years ago, Israel’s security has been threatened unlike anything since her last major war in 1973. Last week’s Eye of Prophecy article (Judea/Samaria & The Gaza Strip in Israel / Who Has Sovereignty?) began with the heading: Things Are Heating Up Again.

However, that observation was confined to another episode in the ongoing Israeli/Palestinian conflict that resulted in Gaza terrorist cells (Islamic Jihad and Hamas) launching some 700 rockets into Israel … with substantial Israeli airstrikes in retaliation. In a broadening of that heating up, just a couple of weeks ago the United States sent an aircraft carrier strike force to the Persian Gulf in response to reports that Iran was planning an attack on U.S. military installations in the Middle East. The whole world is waiting and watching to see what may become of this sword rattling.

Like other incidents in the past 18 months or so, Israel may be involved in more skirmishes with Iran. However, as written in a few prior articles, I’m convinced that Israel will not be engaged in a major conflagration until the Gog/Magog invasion of Israel which will take place within a year or so of the Great Tribulation … following the Rapture.

Most of my articles about the Gog/Magog attack emphasize Israel’s astounding victory over this massive coalition, without the Jews needing to fight at all! It is God who supernaturally deals this ungodly confederation a devastating defeat through (among other things) catastrophic plagues, which also include nations that approve of and/or apathetically standby and watch Gog/Magog’s invasion of Israel. Those calamities are nearly identical to the sixth and seventh seal and 1st trumpet judgment in Revelation—more confirmation that Gog/Magog will be destroyed in the early part of the Tribulation.

This will be the beginning of global realization that God and His Son (Messiah Jesus) are now overtly actualizing sovereign control and completion of their providential plans concerning the destiny of individuals and entire nations, especially Israel.

More than once in Ezekiel 38 & 39 (Gog/Magog invasion), the Lord says of his people and the entire planet: “…And the nations, too, will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel” (Ezekiel 39:7). The world’s terrified reaction (though most still do not repent and turn to God) is expressed explicitly after the sixth seal judgment (Revelation 6:15-17).

Now let’s look at three passages to both clarify and confirm the premise that Israel (Jews) will not experience another Holocaust, though they will once again be the object of persecution and attempted genocide.

In fact, the prophet Zechariah says it will be the other way around. As follows:

The gathering against Israel begins unsuccessfully with the Gog/Magog invasion, and resumes/intensifies during the last few months of the Tribulation when Antichrist’s (Nero) ten-nation coalition arrogantly attempts to accomplish what Russia, Iran, Turkey, and lesser nations couldn’t.

Zechariah 12

“On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a flame that sets a woodpile ablaze or like a burning torch among sheaves of grain. They will burn up all the neighboring nations right and left, while the people living in Jerusalem remain secure. The Lord will give victory to the rest of Judah first, before Jerusalem, so that the people of Jerusalem and the royal line of David will not have greater honor than the rest of Judah. On that day the Lord will defend the people of Jerusalem; the weakest among them will be as mighty as King David! …For on that day I will begin to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem” (Zechariah 12:6-9).

After Antichrist Nero breaks his treaty with Israel (3 ½ years into the Tribulation), he will begin to persecute the Jews. But not until the latter part of the Great Tribulation will he and his ten-nation empire invade Israel. As this passage indicates, the campaign will begin in Judah—equivalent to the land and cities outside of Jerusalem. Which makes sense, as Jerusalem is the interior heart of Israel … literally and figuratively.

Contrary to the notion that Israel will suffer horrendous casualties, it’s the Jews who will fight more ferociously and will win many battles. This will be the beginning of the Lord’s destruction of all the nations that come against Jerusalem. With two major differences than during the Gog/Magog campaign. This time the Jews will need to fight for what they will perceive as Israel’s very survival. And, the awesome arrival of Messiah (Jesus) in person, to rescue them!

Jerusalem will be secure, but only for a while. Which leads us to the next Tribulation-passage pertaining to Israel.

Zechariah 14

“Watch, for the day of the Lord is coming when your possessions will be plundered right in front of you! I will gather all the nations to fight against Jerusalem. The city will be taken, the houses looted, and the women raped. Half the population will be taken into captivity, and the rest will be left among the ruins of the city. Then the Lord will go out to fight against those nations, as he has fought in times past. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart, making a wide valley running from east to west…. You will flee through this valley…” (Zechariah 14:1-5a).

Note: Only the city of Jerusalem is mentioned in this passage, not the rest of Israel, i.e. Judah. Whether a period of days or a few weeks, Antichrist (who has set up camp in Megiddo) will eventually get to Jerusalem and wreak havoc on the city, including rape and pillage.

HOWEVER, also note that there is no direct or even indirect indication that many Jews will die.

Instead, half the city will be taken into captivity (where held captive is not stated). Some Jews will escape to safety during this incredible battle for Jerusalem, through the valley formed when Messiah Jesus steps foot on and splits the Mount of Olives. Though speculation, they very well could join their fellow-Jews who had bolted to safety several years earlier. The event we just read in Zechariah 14 is not the same as when many Jews throughout Israel will flee and be protected for 3 ½ years (we’ll get to that in a moment). Rather, the awesome flashpoint of Messiah’s appearance on the Mount of Olives will take place near the very end of the Tribulation. Though the Israeli Defense Force will have already won several battles, eventually they will be no match for the size and strength of Antichrist’s massive assault on Jerusalem.

Then, at the right time, God will see to it that Antichrist withdraws most of his forces back to Megiddo to confront alarming news that the kings of the East are marching against him (Daniel 11 and Revelation 16). There he will meet his decisive defeat and final fate.

See Eye of Prophecy article: Armageddon and Messiah’s Return … An Amazing Sequence of Events (Posted 2-3-18). Which explains that Jesus’s bodily return to earth is in two-phases. First on the Mount of Olives to begin the liberation of Jerusalem. That’s when the Jews will fully realize that Jesus is their Messiah. Then, after mourning deeply the fact that they and their ancestors had rejected Jesus as their Messiah/Savior, they will rally around him with great jubilation. And, they will fight even harder … weakest among them as mighty as King David.

However, the final battle in the valley of Megiddo won’t take place until (a short time) later when Jesus returns to heaven in preparation for his final physical return and victory over Israel’s enemies and evil itself (Revelation 19:11-21). This will be soon after the final and most devastating (a global earthquake unlike anything ever experienced by mankind) of all the seal, trumpet, and first six bowl judgments (Revelation 16:17-21).

(I’ve been there … 2006. And, along with the host of heaven riding white horses behind Messiah Jesus, I’ll be there again, arriving this time from heaven, not from the United States!)

Now let’s combine these passages with:

Revelation 12

After Revelation’s author John presents a short but spectacular sweeping depiction of Israel, her child (Messiah), Satan and 1/3 of the angel’s expulsion from heaven long ago, ascension of Christ back to heaven (after his resurrection), and a brief reference to the Millennial Reign of Messiah, we read:

“And the woman (Israel) fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place to care for her for 1,260 days” (Revelation 12:6, parenthesis mine).

(Refer to Eye of Prophecy article: A Mysterious Sign in Virgo … What Does It Mean? Posted 9-23-17. Which provides an in-depth examination of this portion of Revelation 12, plus more).

Then later in Revelation 12—after John records the astounding fact that Satan will be thrown out of heaven for good (his first eviction was from his residency in heaven; however, he is still allowed access to heavenly places)—we read:

“When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman (Israel) who had given birth to the male child (Messiah Jesus). But she was given two wings like those of a great eagle so she could fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness. There she would be cared for and protected from the dragon for a time, times, and half a time (3 ½ years or the 1,260 days previously mentioned in the chapter)” (Revelation 12:13-14, parenthesis mine).

Most Bible scholars believe this sanctuary of safety will be Petra in Jordan. That’s very possible, even probable. However, what is not often, if at all, addressed is who among the Jews (some or all) will be flown (think airplanes and helicopters) out of harm’s way.

Answer: Children, the aged, the disabled, and women not fighting in the IDF. Also, most of Israel’s government officials to set up new headquarters. But NOT Israel’s military, excepting a few units to protect and supply those Jews in refuge.

Why? Because they will be left to fight for and preserve their beloved Promised Land; otherwise, Revelation 12 wouldn’t track with the passages in Zechariah already discussed. Not all Israelis will choose to leave Israel (especially Jerusalem). Those who remain are the ones who will be persecuted—slowly at first but increasing as the last half of the Tribulation unfolds.

Initially, Satan (through Antichrist and the False Prophet) will be frustrated in his diabolical determination to destroy Israel. Thanks mostly to the two mighty prophets and their protection of Jerusalem and Israel (see Revelation Chapter 11). Also, Eye of Prophecy article: Moses & Elijah vs. Antichrist & The False Prophet, posted 2-10-18.

Once again, the evidence is intrinsically clear: many more Jews will survive the Great Tribulation than not; added affirmation that 2/3rds of them will not perish during the Tribulation. If that were the case, then over four million of the current 6.8 million Jews in Israel would die. The (implied) sheer number of Jews safely protected by the Lord in the wilderness (on two separate occasions) is proof positive that many more will survive than not. That and IDF soldiers in the hundreds of thousands who will not only remain in Israel to fight but will win many battles during this series of clashes with their enemies (Zechariah 12).

Things to Ponder

The Bible is incomparable. Because it’s author, the Triune God, possesses incomparable power and authority.

God’s magnificent Word about himself, the origin of all things, a panoramic picture of humanity, and much more is nothing short of spectacular.

(What did the Lord say following this verse? We read it earlier in the pictorial of Zechariah 12:2 & 3)

Whether prophetic or non-prophetic passages of Israel’s saga; the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; the tremendous truths of salvation from sin and its penalty; the destiny of mankind determined by people’s decision to choose redemption through Christ or reject Him, Biblical details are mind-boggling both in quality and quantity.

There are NO other (so-called) sacred texts in any of the man-made religions or humanistic philosophies on earth that can hold a candle to the blazing light and universal truth of the Bible.

For many reasons; not the least of which is the virtual absence of prophecy or miracles in these religions. In anemic contrast to the 100% fulfillment of Biblical prophecies and the majestic miracles that God and His Son have performed and will do so (again … soon), but on a truly global scale—with unimaginable magnitude and inconceivable results.

“…Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations” (Revelation 15:3).