The Parable of the Woman and the Manchild

[guysmith]

Basically this parable is telling us that God has designated a place-of-safety for a group ("remnant") where He will feed and protect them for the 1260 days of the GT.

The place-of-safety is not a wilderness. Rather, the word "wilderness" is a catchphrase which is designed to direct us to more information concerning this parable. Specifically, we are directed to the Israel's past where they was protected and fed while they were in the "wilderness."

1 Corinthians 10
Warnings From Israel's History
1For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.
11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

God protected Israel from the advances of the Egyptians with a "pillar of fire and a cloud."

Exodus 14:24
During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.

Similarly, God is going to protect this "remnant" from the advances of the AC's armies.

Isaiah 4
2In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.
3And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:
4When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.
5And the LORD 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 defence.
6And 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.

And, just as God fed Israel with manna while in the wilderness....

Exodus 16:35
The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.

... God is going to feed this remnant manna for the 1260 days of the GT.

Revelation 2:17
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

If you haven't picked up on it, the place-of-safety is Mount Zion in Jerusalem. Those who understand this parable are called to this "place" when the time comes.

Joel 2:32
32And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Guy

 

[David505]

Thanks guysmith,

Here’s another parallel:

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent (Rev. 12: 14).

Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself (Ex. 19: 4).

What do you think about speculation regarding the retreat of the Israeli population to Petra or Basra during the 1,260 days?

 

[guysmith]

Hello David,

You stated: Here’s another parallel:

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent (Rev. 12: 14).

Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself (Ex. 19: 4).

My response: I agree whole heartedly.

You stated: What do you think about speculation regarding the retreat of the Israeli population to Petra or Basra during the 1,260 days?

My response: As sure as Christ's sacrifice is the only way to salvation, Mount Zion in Jerusalem is the only place-of-safety. Just as Noah's ark was the only God approved place-of-safety from the flood, similarly Mount Zion in Jerusalem is the future ark designated to protect those who take comfort in her from the flood of persecution which is to come from the mouth of Satan.

I could go on about why I believe that Mount Zion in Jerusalem is the only place-of-safety. Let's just say that there is going to be alot of disappointed individuals (Christians) in Petra when the GT begins.

May I suggest that you do a word study on Mount Zion and Jerusalem. Meditate on it. Then do a word study on Basra and compare results. I'd be interested in you conclusion.

Guy

 

[David505]

Thanks guysmith,

Please accept my apology for taking so long to get back to you.

The desolation of Jerusalem’s Most Holy Place (perhaps, within a rebuilt temple) renders the sanctum devoid of spiritual observance, converts the purpose from sacred to profane, and appears to mark the inception of the climactic 1,260-day interval culminating in Christ’s return. Daniel introduces this abomination of desolation:

And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
Daniel 11: 31

Matthew links the Gospel’s universal witness in anticipation of Daniel’s abomination:

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
15 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.
Matthew 24: 14-16

Paul links the abomination to Antichrist:

Who opposeth and exalteth himself [Antichrist] above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
2 Thessalonians 2: 4

It looks like Christ instructs the inhabitants of Jerusalem to evacuate the city (flee into the mountains) when Antichrist occupies the Most Holy Place.

John links the flight of this remnant to the wilderness:

And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
Revelation 12: 6

Many prophecy students trace the flight of the Israeli expatriates to Bozrah (Arabic Buseira), south by southeast from the Dead Sea, and to Petra (Arabic Batra), further south. Bozrah, from botsrah (1224), designates an isolated enclosure or fortification, specifically a sheepfold. Petra corresponds to sela (Isa. 16:1), from cela (5554), a rocky fortified city of ancient Edom. Ammon, Moab, and Edom occupy modern Jordan, which these students relate to Daniel:

He [Daniel’s Coming Prince] shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
Daniel 11: 41

Meanwhile, a residue of Jerusalem’s remaining citizenry appears to call up the courage to regroup and resist with reference to Zechariah:

2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
Zechariah 12: 2-3

Although a remnant may flee to the wilderness, the Lord still cuts whoever gathers against Jerusalem into pieces. Thus, you are correct to state, “Mount Zion in Jerusalem is the future ark designated to protect those who take comfort in her from the flood of persecution which is to come from the mouth of Satan.€

 

[guysmith]

Hello David,

Glad to see you are still with us. I myself just got back into town and was unable to re-respond until now.

You state:John links the flight of this remnant to the wilderness: And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
Revelation 12: 6

My response: According to Isaiah, the woman is Mount Zion:

Isaiah 66:7Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. 8Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

And if the woman is Mount Zion, then she can't literally flee into the wilderness, implying that the wilderness has another meaning.

You stated: Although a remnant may flee to the wilderness, the Lord still cuts whoever gathers against Jerusalem into pieces. Thus, you are correct to state, “Mount Zion in Jerusalem is the future ark designated to protect those who take comfort in her from the flood of persecution which is to come from the mouth of Satan.”

My response1: If Mount Zion in Jerusalem is the future ark, designated to protect those who take comfort in her, then why would Christ instruct a remnant to flee from her?

My response2: If you study the OT prophecies exclusively, this is a primary conclusion you will draw. That said, there will also be a large number of non-Christian Jews on Mount Zion during the GT. These non-Christian Jews will fulfill the parable of the ten virgins in the roll of the virgins without the oil. Zechariah describes these individuals as the half of the city which goes into captivity:

Zechariah 14
1Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.


The NT prophecies are designed, by God, to compliment this conclusion. Unfortunately, there are so many different interpretations of these NT prophecies that the issue is clouded.

Guy

 

[hisvessel1]

As i understand it, Israel is the woman and Jesus is the man child.

 

[guysmith]

Hello hisvessel1,

I believe that Bible prophecy is a word puzzle, where words or catchphrases are designed into the scriptures to tie the passages together. For example: The sun will turn black and the moon will turn blood red. This will happen, however, the phrase itself tie all passages which contain the phrase together.

Similarly, the Revelation 12 contains the phrases "woman, "travail" and "manchild." These three words a common in both Revelation 12 and Isaiah 66, tying both passages together. In this instance Isaiah clarifies that the woman is Mount Zion.

Guy