Bible Prophecy

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Rev. 12:13-14 and Isa. 16:1-4; 41:17-20: A special hiding place prepared for the remnant.
Many passages clearly predict that there is such a place and details on it must be studied.

Summaries of relevant background information from related passages.
The Olivet Discourse: The command is to flee to the mountains from Jerusalem if the antichrist invades (Matt. 24:15-16; Mk. 13:14). This is perhaps where they must hide. Micah 5 and Micah 7: Refer to the respective 1-pages when the remnant are shepherded around Palestine in the Tribulation (Mi. 5:6 & Mi. 7:14) before reaching God’s shelter.

Explaining the Passages and evidence for fulfillment.
A. Rev. 12:13-14: The background in Rev. 11:1-6 is vital. In Greek, temple or “noas”, meaning the Holy of Holies is measured and retained in v1-2 but the other courts with Jerusalem are given to the nations under the antichrist. Then v3-6 depicts the ministry of the two witnesses with superpowers. A key problem is how the “noas” can be retained and not be under the antichrist? It can happen, if like the tabernacle in the OT, it is on the move in the mountains under the leadership of the two witnesses. They will also lead the remnant as in Mi.5 & Mi. 7 which should include the 144,000. Coming to Revelation 12, the woman clearly symbolizes Israel for from her will come the Messiah (Rev. 12:5-6). She or Israel will flee into the wilderness in Rev. 12:6 where there is a place prepared. Note that the 1260 days coincide precisely with duration of the two witnesses’ ministry (Rev. 11:3) as they will be leading Israel’s remnant. Thus they are the two wings of the eagle in Rev. 12:13-14 bringing Israel amidst persecutions to the special place prepared.
B. Isa. 16:1-4: The background in Isa. 15 is Assyria’s invasion of Moab and they are on the run (Isa. 15:5). In 16:1-3, God offers a proposal for refuge to the Moabite fugitives. They can turn as fleeing birds to Jerusalem or Zion (v1) and request for shelter from her ruler. To do this, they are to bring a tribute lamb by way of Sela, to request from Zion in v3 the advice and decision to shelter them. What follows in v4 is one of Isaiah’s most intriguing passages. In v4, God suddenly in reverse asks the Moabites instead to let “My outcasts” stay with them. It is very precise in the Hebrew, for “outcasts” is “nadah” and it is clearly in the first person. Strict literal translations such as KJV, ASV and JPS render it as “my outcasts”. Many translations alter the text to “outcasts of Moab” hoping to make better sense in the context. But if we let Isaiah to take a leap to the end time as he often does, the literal rendering makes complete sense. As stated in Rev. 12 above, the remnant is taken to a shelter and it will be in the mountains of Moab. The timing in 4b also fits as it is in the end time and the destroyer is the antichrist who will soon be terminated.
C. Isa. 41:17-20: The text Isa. 41:8-20 definitely refers to Israel, stated as His servant, the descendants of Abraham (8). But in v14-16 is a specific situation, when Israel is so severely decimated that God calls her a “worm”. Yet the Lord Redeemer will help Israel to pulverize and scatter her enemies. Literally such an event is not identified in Israel’s history. Even the Maccabean revolts never pulverize their enemies. It is best to take this as referring to the Tribulation in Rev. 11:3-6 when Israel is the underdog confronting the antichrist. The two edges of the sledge (15) must be the two witnesses with superpower to protect Israel. In v17, Israel is the afflicted pursued by the antichrist and then in v18-20 they find the hiding place prepared to nourish her and indeed it is beyond their dreams.
Linking to Isa. 52:11-12: It’s a call for the remnant to depart Jerusalem before it is taken by the antichrist. Not to be done “in haste” hints that ample time must be allocated for it.

Question: What are the evidence that the destroyer in Isa. 16:4 is the antichrist and not the Assyrians?

Answer:
1. He is soon to be ended after the outcasts are hidden. After the fall of Moab, it is still over 100 years before the Assyrians are slowly decimated.
2. The destroyer’s end will lead to oppressions ceasing completely and with that destruction will ceased (v4). However the end of the Assyrians simply lead to the Babylonians replacing them as the oppressors.
3. In Isa. 33:1, “destroyer” is also used for the antichrist.
4. Then in v5, Christ rule is established right after the fall of the destroyer. This is true for the antichrist. But after the demise of the Assyrians, Christ has yet to rule.