Jovial (10 May 2015)
"The Great Flight"

There's a future predicted event that could best be described as "The Great Flight". It's recorded in Matt 24 and Rev 12 when it says...

"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) ¹⁶ Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains...²⁰ But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day" (Matt 24:15,16,20)

The abomination of desolation is discussed in Daniel 12:11 which says "and from the time of the turning aside of the perpetual [sacrifice], and to the giving out of the abomination of desolation, [are] 1290 days." . As soon as it is set up, Those in Israel are to flee to the mountains. Those in other parts of the world will need to flee to either the mountains or desert area or someplace uninhabitable. Because it will mark the beginning of the False Messiah's reign, and you won't be able to live in civilized society without taking the mark. So you'll have to flee to someplace else.

During the great flight, Israel will go to the wilderness area near Israel as discussed in Rev 12. Many people think this is Petra. Gentiles in America, Africa, etc., won't exactly get there so easily, and will have to go into their own wilderness . It may be mountains, it may be desert, it may be waters, an uncharted island, etc. We can see from Rev 12-13, etc., that the False Messiah will rise to ultimate power shortly after the Great Flight when most believers leave civilized society to flee the beast. The truest "watchers" who recognize the signs will be astute and leave immediately when the abomination of desolation is set up. Others will wait until the mark of the beast is dictated and leave then. Others will resist the mark and leave after things get tougher.

Jews in Israel will know where to go - to the mountains. That was recorded in Matthew 24. Gentiles in other parts of the world will have to rely on the leading of the Holy Spirit when all these things happen. Knowing the right PLACE to go requires being close to God in the first place.

It's obvious that the "Great Flight" of Matthew 24 is NOT talking about any kind of rapture, because he says "pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day". Yeshua knows when he's coming back. It either will be winter or not. But suppose this event happens in the Spring (which would be as far in advance of winter as possible). If that were the case, His comment makes sense, because leaving in the Spring means you got out immediately. Leaving in the winter means you waited 9 months, which may be too long to get to the safe hiding place, since by then, the beast may have sealed off all the way to get out of the major cities.

Shalom,

Joe
www.messiahalive.net
www.messiahalive.com/torah.htm