Who is the “you” that is giving the woman trouble, and who is "his" seed?

 I used to meet with a group of men twice each week. One group met at a church, and there we had a leader and an established Bible study pattern, even though the leader persisted in preaching his opinion over the Word of God. Because of this, several of us would regroup a second time during the week but without a set Bible study plan. What we did do was open our Bibles each time we meet. If it were a study, there would have been some detectable pattern in our methods, such as an intense look at a particular book of the Bible or some passage that one of us was focused on. What did happen, almost without hesitation, is that we would talk about life, and that is a good thing. At least I found the personal discussions beneficial. Paul tells us to confess our faults to one another, and I have many. Doing this allows me to keep my mind free because we always integrate the Word of God into the conversation.

I am regularly challenged by the lack of understanding most so-called Christians seem to have, but one brother in particular always seemed to have the most peculiar questions. Interactions like these only convince me that we desperately need legitimate Bible study in our church bodies. Should you be wondering what a legitimate Bible study looks like, it would be one in which you walk away with a fairly permanent and correct understanding of God's word. If you are like me and have endured the book studies most church small group leaders offer, then you should also know that these books are written to promote an author's way of thinking or an organized church's point of view – even if it is wrong. I think the leaders of these groups should encourage God's point of view. So let's see if we can find God's point of view on a couple of subjects.

Here are a few of the questions that are presented to the group by this brother.

Having read Genesis 3:15, he asks,

Who is the “you” that is giving the woman trouble, and who is "his" seed?

Perhaps it will help if post the passage here.

“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15 KJV)

He initially presented his question to the group but then focused on me as the group could not or would not answer his question.

I could attempt to answer his question without applying much thought, but it is so much more convincing when you have scripture to back your assertions. We answered this very question on a previous occasion, and, as you can see below, I have included verse fourteen also as it conveys that the context involves the serpent, Satan. (Knowing the context is half the answer to this man's question.)

“And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:14-15 KJV)

He understood that the woman and Satan would spend their lives at war. Enmity is the Greek word 'êybâh and also means hostility and hatred. The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature tells us that this can mean a deep-rooted, irreconcilable hatred.

If I take a narrow view, looking only at Jesus as the woman's seed, can I see evidence of that hostility?

You can visualize this hostility toward Jesus, with the purpose of killing Him, by merely reading the gospels, culminating in the brutality of the Jewish leadership bestowed upon Jesus. Their questioning and beating of Jesus evidence this uncalled-for violence at the home of Annas and then Caiphas as they were both high priests (Luke 3; John 18). These so-called representatives of God’s Holy Word handed Jesus over to Pontius Pilot, who had the Roman guards beat Him with thirty-nine lashes of a cattail, a torture that was expected to take His life. All the while, the Jewish leadership angrily shouted for Pilot to hang Him on the cross. While this may sound like the trouble was coming through the Jews, they, like the serpent, were merely used by Satan.

If I take the broader view of Eve’s seed, I am looking at the human race. Some seem to have less hostility focused against them, while, as the recent news conveyed, the Christian church in Nigeria is suffering from deadly violence. Nevertheless, the church suffers as Satan tries to badger or belittle us into not acting and walking in the excellence and beauty that Christ established for us.

“Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.” (Revelation 12:12 KJV modified for readability.)

Bluntly said, Satan is trying to take us out of the way as we followers of Christ represent the thing he hates more than himself, Jesus.

The NASB uses the word seed instead of offspring. Both terms convey the idea of a product of interaction, but the term seed has intimacy as a part of its definition.

Seed is the Greek word zera’ and means offspring, descendants, posterity, and children. However, it also speaks to us of moral quality or a practitioner of righteousness. Indeed, if we consider this verse, we can visualize the idea of a practitioner of unrighteousness as being an offspring of Satan.

The “you” is Satan, who had put himself inside the serpent, which happened to come off like a dragon, but that is another study for another time.

His seed is also Satan’s seed; by definition, it is his offspring, posterity, or children. These people can take the form of individuals, groups, or nations. While Genesis six informs us that fallen angels had sex with the women of earth, we have NOTHING that indicates that Satan did the same, so we will leave that alone. Therefore, it is safe to assume that Satan’s offspring are spiritual dropouts that choose to follow his lead.

Why talk about wrath, and who is dishing it out? 

Because in just a matter of days, the rapture will come, and the church will be taken back to be with the Father. Those who remain will go through hell on earth (I covered the details of the seven years in my previous posts on Revelation.) God, through the snatching away of the church, is removing the followers of Christ from the outpouring of God's wrath on the earth. You can partake in this if you will make Jesus the Lord of your life.

So that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous bloodshed. Rev 18: 20-24.

 This dive into Revelation 18 begins with verse 20.

Revelation 18:20 NASB "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her."

When you think about the judgment and what that horror looks like for the nations and Israel, why would you rejoice? 

One answer might be because this means that the beginning and the eventual end of this fury, from both humanity and God, is close and peace is finally near. Another train of thought occurs to me, for as you migrate through the Revelation, you see the martyred saints crying out, how long, oh Lord. It is difficult to see this question as anything other than a cry for vengeance. Considering that these are before the throne when they say it and that those who have been martyred, which are now in heaven, cannot stand before the throne without this change we see in 1Corinthians 15:22. It does not make sense that they would be seeking an eye for eye justice since the drive to sin has been removed from them.

Look at what Revelation 6 tells us. 

and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.
(Revelation 6:10-11 NASB)

Completion?

Sadly, our religious training drives us to look at the Great White Throne, as a place where many teachers send all who come to this throne to their final, inescapable day of justice.

Do I rejoice over the idea that we can so easily send people to hell?

No, I mourn, as many have foolishly chosen to follow Satan to his eternal punishment and they don't need our help. Ah, but there is a high point in this throne of judgment, for many will be found worthy to enter the kingdom. You see, this Great White Throne is the same throne we see in Matthew 25, and there Jesus, the gentle shepherd, separates the crowd into two groups. One He calls the sheep and the other goats. Jesus tells the “sheep” to enter the kingdom, while those referred to as goats get sent to the eternal hell meant for Satan and his followers. So, there is hope even in this.

Justice/judgment began with the breaking of the first seal in Revelation chapter 6 and comes to completion approximately seven years later when Jesus returns as the conquering king at the end of the seven years. As you begin to read Revelation 6 you see a rider on a white horse and another on a red horse. The rider on the white horse represents the antichrist and he comes conquering. The red horse rider takes peace from the earth. If you can understand that God just used two humans to fulfill His prophecies, then you are on your way to understanding the Revelation.

'He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father; (Revelation 2:26-27 NASB)

The only one who has overcome and kept God's deeds until the end is Jesus. He is the one who has the authority over the nations.

Note the ominous words, He (Jesus) shall rule them with a rod of iron, as he breaks the vessels to pieces.
God is the one who made every vessel (that includes you and me,) and He is the one who has the right to destroy those vessels.

What did the Holy Spirit say in Revelation 18:20?

God has pronounced judgment for you against her.

So, who is the “you” in this sentence?

The verse itself tells us that it is the saints, the apostles, and the prophets.
Saints, in the context of the Revelation, apply to those who have been martyred during the time of God's wrath.
If the application applies to all saints, then wouldn't they already be in heaven, with the Father; they would.

"For indeed, while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord--" (2 Corinthians 5:4-6 NASB)

Assuming that we, the church, fit into one of these categories, saints, apostles, or prophets then the potential is here for at least a couple of these as being descriptives of the church; and, I could then say, yes, we are saints.

Use 1Corinthians 1:2 as a definition of a saint,

To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: (1 Corinthians 1:2 NASB)

Secondly, as the prophetic, in the Revelation, is defined like this, the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, then believers fall under this category as long as you are testifying of the work of Jesus in your life, as described in the Word. In a sense, you are prophesying every time you proclaim Jesus. Let that sink in.

Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he *said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19:10 NASB)

I am bypassing the term apostles as it is saturated with controversy and misuse. It effectively means sent ones, and according to Jesus' commission, we have all been sent to spread the good news of the kingdom.

A former pastor used to say, in heaven, we will be looking down over the edge of the balcony, able to see what is going on here on earth during the time of wrath, and we will rejoice with those who come to know Jesus and enter into the kingdom because they are martyred. That pastor seems to forget that there will be no more sorrow in heaven. Being able to witness the horror and suffering that those on earth will continue to experience until that Revelation 19 moment when Jesus comes back to end all fighting seems rather sadistic and bizarre.

If I can find the church among those rejoicing, it is only because God has pronounced judgment.

Revelation 18:21 AMP Then a single powerful angel took up a boulder like a great millstone and flung it into the sea, crying, With such violence shall Babylon the great city be hurled down to destruction and shall never again be found. [Jeremiah. 51:63, 64; Ezekiel. 26:21.]

There is that phrase once again, the great city. One dramatic verse is Revelation 11:8, where it says.

And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. (Revelation 11:8 NASB)

The context of Revelation chapter 11 has much to do with God's two witnesses coming back to earth and giving testimony of God, His power, and Jesus Christ. That last one, Jesus Christ, will still only be marginally acceptable to the Jews.

Notice that their dead bodies lie in the street of that great city. The only place God puts these men is in Jerusalem, so the city is Jerusalem. Verse 8 continues on by identifying Jerusalem as Sodom and Egypt, spiritually. Obviously, it is NEITHER of those two places.

So, if Jerusalem can be referred to as Sodom and Egypt, then what is to prevent it from being called Babylon?

Well, nothing really. Revelation 18:21 says, “with such violence shall Babylon the great city be hurled down to destruction and never be found.”

In the book of Lamentations, we find this.

"The Lord has rejected all my strong men In my midst; He has called an appointed time against me To crush my young men; The Lord has trodden as in a wine press The virgin daughter of Judah. (Lamentations 1:15 NASB)

It is the Lord that is doing the crushing and He is doing it because of sins.

For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen, Because their speech and their actions are against the LORD, To rebel against His glorious presence.
(Isaiah 3:8 NASB)

More evidence for why they are fallen.

Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity. (Hosea 14:1 NASB)

In the book of Amos, we again see a direct address against Israel.

Hear this word that I take up against you in lament, house of Isra'el: The virgin of Isra'el has fallen; she will not rise again. She lies abandoned on her own soil with no one to lift her up. (Amos 5:1-2 CJB)

Continuing through chapter 18.

Revelation 18:22-23 NASB (22) "And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer, and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer, and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer; (23) and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer, and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.

If this is the definitive telling of the end of Jerusalem then where and when is this new city going to come and sit?

At the end of the seven years, after Jesus has ended the fighting and bloodshed, the New Jerusalem will come down. It will sit upon the entirety of the land God promised to Abraham – 1500 miles square, and it will be filled with the sound of music, laughter, water running, merchants, and joy.

At the end of this morass and punishment, the new Jerusalem will be filled with the opposite of the curse. Within the city, there will be no deception and sorcery.

Sorcery?

For me, my imagination turns to something that looks like a scene from Harry Potter. No, I have never seen any aspect of Harry Potter except for commercials. This word sorcery seems so simple and self-explanatory, and it is unless sorcery was a poor choice for a translation.

Sorcery is the Greek word pharmakeia and means medication. The word also conveys the idea of using or administering drugs and poisoning people by drug usage. What do you think the so-called vaccinations are?

You might ask, what does this have to do with Israel and Jerusalem?

Are you not aware that Israel was in full agreement with this globalist agenda of population reduction and made it very difficult for anyone that was not fully inoculated. After they noticed, that many of their population were having horrid reactions to the vaccines and that the majority of Covid cases we coming from fully vaccinated people, they dropped the mandates. Don't worry, the propaganda has had the desired effect and many, even in the church, are enveloped in fear and will probably comply with all future attempts to control the populace.

The last verse in chapter 18, and my last attempt at convincing you that we are NOT looking for a rebuilt Babylon speaks about the fact that the blood of saints and prophets have been found in her.

Revelation 18:24 NASB "And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth."

I have pointed out, on several occasions, that the primary source of information we have on Babylon is from the Prophet Daniel and the three Hebrew young men who were taken captive with Daniel. Every attempt to kill these young men failed, so surely these are not the subject of verse 24.

Since Babylon is a continuation of Babel, then we know even less, and what we do know is wholly extra-biblical.

What do the scriptures say about this blood?

"Also on your skirts is found The lifeblood of the innocent poor; You did not find them breaking in. But in spite of all these things, (Jeremiah 2:34 NASB)

I suggest you read all of Ezekiel 22.

"You have despised My holy things and profaned My sabbaths. "Slanderous men have been in you for the purpose of shedding blood, and in you, they have eaten at the mountain shrines. In your midst, they have committed acts of lewdness.
(Ezekiel 22:8-9 NASB)

And I will end this with Jesus' words from Matthew's gospel.

"Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous bloodshed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
(Matthew 23:34-35 NASB)

Did you get that?

“ so that upon you (Israel) may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth

How badly some want to see Babylon rebuilt. I suppose it comes from a need to validate their false prophecies.

Do you understand that I want you to be able to understand the Revelation and the words you find here? It is not that difficult when you realize that the majority of the prophecy is derived from the Old Testament and that figuring out what the context is, is key.

I was accosted by one of my pastors, several years ago, when he said, NO ONE understands the Revelation or the prophetic. I later learned that this pastor's anger was triggered by another brother in Christ who pushed his theories with the insistence that the pastor allow him to teach his theories.

I have written to believers who wish to understand God's word, as I do.

If you are not a believer and want to be, then follow these simple words.

A - Admit you're a sinner.

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

B - Believe Jesus is Lord.

John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

C - Call upon His name.

Romans 10:13 "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

He pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. Revelation 12:13-14.

 In my last post I focused entirely on Revelation 12:11 as I asked the question, how and why did “they” overcome? The short answer is, because of the blood of the Lamb. That Lamb is Jesus, and no, He is not eternally pouring out His blood for us – besides, that would be disgusting and feed into the idea that Christ's sacrifice was not enough; it was.

As we sat at the last of the summer concerts in the park, the singer, who had sounded fine to me, spoke out saying, “let me come clean. Two days ago I did not have a voice, at all.” Well, you would never have known it and he finished the night strong. Why tell you this? Because we can easily put our trust in a human, giving them a chance to pull through for us, and yet, struggle with putting our faith in God, His Word, and the sacrifice of His son.

Allow me to come clean.

I have done just that, struggling at times with my faith. I must tell you though, that any struggle I had believing came to an end around 2008 when I began to purposefully study the gospels with the express purpose of finding out who God is and what is His character.

I believed in God and His Son, but why did I struggle with the frequent moments of doubt. The main question was, is this “hope” that scripture speaks of, for real? In the gospels, I found the Jesus Christ I never knew; and, in Him, I saw the Father.

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
(Hebrews 1:2-3 KJV)

Jesus, for the joy set before Him, voluntarily sacrificed His life, rose from the dead, intentionally poured out His blood as a high priest, and offered up Himself as the final sacrificial lamb for our sins.

Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand, there are pleasures forever. (Psalms 16:9-11 NASB)

He knew that the brutal torture and the pains of hell, would end back in the Father's arms, and we would be His prize. He rescued all those who would accept His rescue.

He paid the bloody price for our redemption, can you accept that?

For us, it is really that simple.

Finally understanding the nature and character of God, I understood that the earth and the evil would be purged, sort of. I now had a hope that I could cling to; and yet, here we are, not only studying the Revelation but living it out before us, the scariest aspect of this destruction is that it would consume us all disregarding our hope.

Several people I pay attention to have done their homework and told us that God follows, with precision, the feasts that He laid out for the Jewish people, such as Passover. As these feasts have come up, (and no we gentile believers don't really have a clue, unless you do your homework,) we have been told that these feasts are times within which we should watch for Jesus' return for His bride. Sadly, I am still here, but I still have hope. A major anchor point that allows us to understand and advocate for prophecy, was Israel - the fig tree, and its rebirth as a nation, which happened in 1948. It is this generation that shall not pass away.

Page one.

On that note, we are still in Revelation chapter twelve, and it seems we are returning to our history lesson.

Revelation 12:12 Moffatt NT (12) Rejoice for this, O heavens and ye that dwell in them! But woe to earth and sea! The devil has descended to you in fierce anger, knowing that his time is short."

Eugene Peterson put it that way.

• “So rejoice, O Heavens, and all who live there,”

Who is God talking to?

Assuming that this is a pre-creation scenario, then we are talking about the trinity and the remaining angels.

And another sign was seen in the heavens. And behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads! And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and cast them onto the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman being about to bear, so that when she bears he might devour her child. (Revelation 12:3-4 MKJV)

We know that the stars are angels.

And the fifth angel sounded. And I saw a star fall from the heaven to the earth, and it was given the key of the abyss. (Revelation 9:1 MKJV)

This “star” is a physical or spiritual being, we know this because it is given a key to hell. (Don't foolishly assume that God would simply hand Satan the keys to hell; Satan deceived Eve to get them, while Adam, stood there doing nothing to stop Satan's action, and therefore committed treason against God and handed the dominion of earth over to Satan.) Jesus said I beheld Satan fall like lightning to earth. (Luke 10:18). So, if I put together my evidence, then I can build a case proving that it was Satan that fell and he took a third of the angels with him.

Why in the world would they rejoice, because as we have witnessed, simply having Satan thrown to earth has done little more than cause the loss of generations of humans, endless wars, death, and a loss of peace?

The answer to this lies in a word, mystery, and God intentionally let the clues come out that day in the Garden, as He explained to Eve.

And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."
(Genesis 3:15 NASB)

Paul told us that the plan to restore all things has been a mystery since the beginning of time.

... according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, (Romans 16:25b NASB)

But it is NOT still a mystery and we can understand it through our relationship with Jesus Christ.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him.
(Ephesians 1:7-9 NASB)

• “But woe to earth and sea! The devil has descended to you in fierce anger, knowing that his time is short.”

Page two.

We understand that Satan was thrown to earth by God, but what we don't see is the anger. Lacking scripture, all we have is an assumption, and that does not work. But we do have well-defined reasoning for Satan's anger and scripture gives it to us.

One of those answers comes from the passage itself and Revelation 12:12 tells us that his time is limited. In trying to understand this lack of time, I am well aware that just since Christ's resurrection Satan has had over two thousand years. I suppose in contrast to eternity 2000 years is just a drop in the bucket.

When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. (Revelation 12:13 NLT)

• “When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth,”

Assuming that God lives among the stars, and God threw Satan to earth; that is a long, fast fall.

How do you not realize that you have been thrown to earth and that the party is over?

Maybe, it is not that far, or Satan is just that dense. Notice how the passage indicates that once he realized he was thrown down, where God's plan, the mystery, would take place, he/Satan immediately began pursuing the woman who had given birth to the male child.

• “he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.”

Does this include Eve?

I ask because Satan immediately takes out both Cain and Able. Every possibility since has been attacked, including Jesus.

The woman is Israel giving birth to the nation. Israel was a nation before it ever became a nation in 1948. So, Satan has been going after God's people, trying to kill them, since the beginning of time; yes.

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. (Revelation 12:14 NLT)

This idea of God carrying His people on His wings was not new.

‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. (Exodus 19:4 NLT)

Revelation 12:14 tells us,

• “ 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.”

Dr. J. Vernon McGee states, “Into the wilderness, into her place." Scripture does not say that the rock-hewn city of Petra will be that place. It could be, but we just simply do not know. This "wilderness" has been variously identified—Petra is not the only place. Some say that it is the wilderness of the peoples of the world; that is, that there will be another worldwide scattering of Israel. Since Christ said, "… flee into the mountains" (Mat_24:16), we believe it to be a literal wilderness, possibly that same one in which Israel spent forty years under Moses.”

A friend asked me about how I do Bible study. I have talked in the past about my disdain for commentaries, and one by Warren Wiersbe, who is renowned for his knowledge and wisdom. In my case, the group leader chose to use the Wiersbe commentary on Romans instead of focusing on the Bible. My feeling. and I get this to some degree from Pastor Tom Hughes of 411 church in San Jacinto, is that I no longer wish to lean upon commentaries. If I can't figure it out from scripture, then I can resort to commentaries that I feel I can trust.

As you can see above, even Dr. McGee, attempted to direct our thinking to Israel running back into the world.

Page three.

I have a problem with that idea for this reason.

“then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. "Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. "Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! "But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.”
(Matthew 24:16-20 NASB)

When Jesus said these words, He said them to a Jewish audience that would never see this particular event, and the circumstances of what appears to be a catastrophic attack, are centered on Jerusalem. This doesn't seem like a global event that would drive them back into the nations as we have for several years see a push (Aliyah) to come back to Israel and the Jews know that. The fact that He spoke specifically about Judea should be a tremendous clue.

The prophet Zechariah established the fact that Israel would be the focus of the attack.

"Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah. "It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.” (Zechariah 12:2-3 NASB)

Just to say the focus is on Jerusalem is not enough. There was a time when “Israel” was a divided kingdom. Israel was the northern kingdom and Judea was the southern kingdom. Obviously, they are one nation, Israel, at this point. So the terminology is meant to promote the idea that the entirety of Israel will be under siege, and soon.

How many people in Israel escape?

“One third of you will die by plague or be consumed by famine among you, one third will fall by the sword around you, and one third I will scatter to every wind, and I will unsheathe a sword behind them.” Ezekiel 5:12 NASB

Do the math. Only one-third survives and they do so by fleeing into the mountains.

If you were to say, but there a Jews everywhere and not all them come back to Israel, you would be correct; and this is where our presumptive statements, such as the Jews will flee to Petra, in Lebanon, get us into trouble. I realize that these assumptions have been made because 1.) it appeared to be the most logical place considering that scripture speaks of the dragon pouring out a flood, that God diverts, and Petra makes the most sense to some. But have you ever seen pictures of that place? Yes, it is amazing but it is not as expansive as people make it sound, and there is no plumbing if you catch my drift. And 2.) As of 2019, there were a little over 9 million people living in Israel. And you are expecting me to believe that 3 million people will jam themselves into that water-carved canyon for three and one-half years? Obviously and miraculously, some of God's people will be saved, but it is NOT clear where.

Ezekiel chapter seven defines where and how these deaths will come.

'The sword is outside and the plague and the famine are within. He who is in the field will die by the sword; famine and the plague will also consume those in the city.” (Ezekiel 7:15 NASB)

I want you to pay attention to the word plague. Covid falls under this category.

Considering that the Jews are a target of God's wrath during the “tribulation years,” doesn't it seem feasible that many of them died directly related to what is coming? Let me point out that George Soros is a European Jew that hates God.

Page four.

Just in case you don't know, or you have forgotten, here is a bit of what God will bring:

• The antichrist arrives and brings death with him. Revelation 6:2.

• And another, a red horse. To take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; Revelation 6:4.

• Behold an ashen horse. Authority was given to them to kill a fourth of the earth, Revelation 6:8.

• With the sixth seal there was another deadly earthquake. Revelation 6:12.

We are still looking at Revelation 12:14.

• “ 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.”

Wings is the Greek word pterux and surprise, it means wings, as in bird wings.

Is there a practical way to understand this?

Some would yes, as their idea gives Israel the ability to jump on an airplane and fly someone where else.

Really, do you actually think that is going to happen, especially in this newly improved Covid world we live in where Israel itself has gone back on full lockdown?

No, there will be no escape from Israel, outside of God's plan; that only leaves one other possibility, and that is that Jews, globally, will have to run in any safe direction they can find.

Why make an analogy to an eagle's wings?

Because this is the language that God has used with Israel on previous occasions.

"You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself.” Exodus 19:4.

Having read about Israel's escape from Egypt, on several occasions, I can remember no references to eagles' wings, this leads me to believe that God used the phrase “I bore you on eagles' wings” as an analogy to the magnificence of His actions.

Another reference to eagle wings is found in Deuteronomy.

“Like an eagle teaching its young to fly, catching them safely on its spreading wings, the LORD kept Israel from falling.” Deuteronomy 32:11 GNB

So, when Israel has to run for their lives, God is letting us and them know that He will carry them safely. 

If the eagle's wings are synonymous with the catching away of the church, will you get caught up to meet Him in the air? Those that are not caught up will have to prove their allegiance to Jesus Christ, almost without exception, through their death as a martyr.