WHERE IS THE PLACE OF REFUGE? B

The prophetic scriptures forewarn us of an apocalyptic period called the Great Tribulation.

FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE 1887 by VIKTOR VASNETSOV Public Domain

However, John states, that Elohim has prepared “a place” where the needs of “the Remnant of Israel”will be taken care of…

And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hat has a place prepared of Elohim, that they should feed her there for 1260 days.

(Revelation 12:6 KJVm)

…and protected from Satan’s reach for the 1260 days of the Great Tribulation period.

The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care offor a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach

(Revelation 12:14 NIV)

Determining the location of this “place” where “the Remnant” will assemble during the Greater Second Exodus will be the focus of this article.

WITHIN THE LAND OF ISRAEL

According to the prophets, יהוה is predicted to gather “the Remnant” back to the land of Israel.

And you shall know that I am יהוה , when I will bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.

(Ezekiel 20:42 KJVm)

However, at that time the entire land of Israel will not be a safe haven.

TWO THIRDS WILL BE CUT OFF

And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith יהוה , two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 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, יהוה is my Elohim.

(Zechariah 13: 8-9 KJVm)

A PLACE

Unfortunately, there are many people that believe that there will be many places of refuge. There are not.

Notice, that according to John the Revelator, Elohim has prepare “a place” for “the Remnant,” not many places.

And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by Elohim, where they should feed her there 1260 days.

(Revelation 12:6 KJVm)

The prophet Micah clarifies, that “the Remnant of Israel” will be herded together like sheep to “a place” best described as a “pen.”

A PLACE BEST DESCRIBED AS A PEN

“I will surely gather all of you, Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people.

(Micah 2:12 NIV)

There are many passages that identify this “place of refuge.” Three of the best descriptions come from the prophets Isaiah, Joel and Zechariah. The prophet Isaiah denotes “a Place of Refuge.”

1. Isaiah clarifies that this “place of refuge” is Mount Zion which is one of the mountains which the Old City of Jerusalem is built upon.

And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain

(Isaiah 4:6 KJV)

THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM

According to Isaiah, יהוה is going to defend those of you that will assemble in the Old City with “a cloud and smoke by day and a flaming fire by night”…

And יהוה will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defense.

(Isaiah 4:5 KJVm)

…just as He defended Israel against Egypt while in the wilderness.

And יהוה went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

(Exodus 13: 21 KJVm)

JOSHUA CROSSING THE RIVER JORDAN WITH THE ARK OF THE COVENANT by BENJAMIN WEST 1800 Public Domain

2. The Prophet Joel confirms Isaiah by stating that Mount Zion in Jerusalem is the place of deliverance for “the Remnant” that are “called.”

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of יהוה shall be delivered: for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as יהוה hath said, and in the remnant whom יהוה shall call.

(Joel 2:32 KJVm)

3. The prophet Zechariah further confirms both Isaiah and Joel by stating that יהוה is going to battle the nations, therein protecting “the remnant of the people” that were not cut off from the Old City of Jerusalem…

Behold, the day of יהוה is coming, and your spoil shall be divided in your midst. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city will be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city will go into captivity, and the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then יהוה will go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle.

(Zechariah 14:1-3 KJVm)

…even providing instructions to “flee” at the appropriate time.

And you shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, you shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and יהוה Elohay shall come, and all the saints with you.

(Zechariah 14:5 KJVm)

PETRA

Many of our brothers and sisters have been misled into believing that Petra (or someplace in Jordan) is The Most High’s divine place of refuge. This misconception is based on Micah 2:12’s (King James Version) description of “the sheep of Bozrah.” These individuals that hold to this belief have determined that Bozrah is in the region of Edom which is in modern day Jordan.

I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.

(Micah 2:12 KJV)

The problem with this premise, is that “Bozrah” as a location, is not in the original Hebrew.

The word that is being addressed according to Strong’s is “botsrah,” which is a feminine noun meaning “an enclosure, a fold (for sheep). In other words a sheep “pen.”

So, a more accurate interpretation of Micah 2:12 is the following;

“I will surely gather all of you, Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people.

(Micah 2: 12 NIV)

IN REVIEW

We have been forewarned of the apocalyptic period called the Great Tribulation.

We have also been provided the Old City of Jerusalem…

…as the divine “Place of Refuge,” where those of you that reach this “place” (during the Greater Second Exodus) will be protected from the reaches of the Beast for the 1260 days of the Great Tribulation.

Next: When Does the Greater Second Exodus Begin?

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