The Flight of the Remnant from Jerusalem at Mid-Tribulation
Earlier it was pointed out that Revelation 12 is a symbolic overview of all of Israel’s
history. In Revelation 12:6 we read, “The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her
by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.” The woman is symbolic of Israel.
1260 days is exactly three and one half years–the standard lunar (prophetic) years of the Bible,
with 360 days each.
Later in the same chapter, this event is described this way:
The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared
for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the
serpent’s reach. 15Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the
woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16But the earth helped the woman by opening its
mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. – Revelation 12:14-
16
This also corresponds to Jesus’ warning in his sweeping outline of the future, known as the
“Olivet Discourse‖ because it was delivered on the Mt. of Olives. He warned that when ―the
abomination that causes desolation‖ takes place, the inhabitants of Judea should flee
immediately, because that would be the beginning of a great time of distress, ―unequaled from
the beginning of the world‖ (Matthew 24:15-22).
Jerusalem Surrounded by Armies
The parallel passage in Luke 21 adds what Matthew does not tell us, that Jerusalem will
be surrounded by hostile armies at the time of the end.
When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.
21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those
in the country not enter the city. 22For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has
been written. 23How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!
There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24They will fall by the sword
and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles
until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. – Luke 21:20-24
Jerusalem, “trodden down by the Gentiles” again and again since the time of the
Babylonian captivity is yet to suffer one last final, terrible invasion by the Gentiles.
Flight of Jews from Judea
The size of this believing remnant at the mid-tribulation point is open to discussion, but
for the sake of argument it would seem to be some thousands or perhaps tens of thousands of
believing Jews who are warned to flee from Jerusalem.
The words and teachings of Jesus to his people Israel were not heeded when he was with
them during his First Advent. We can not expect the entire nation to take this warning to leave
Jerusalem seriously even though it will no doubt be heralded again by a new generation of
prophets in the end time. Those Jews in Israel who have come to know Yeshua (Jesus)
personally during the first half of The Tribulation will be responsive and it is to this believing
remnant that Jesus makes his appeal.
Ray Stedman remarks on this event,
Who are they who must flee so urgently when the last days begin? Who dare not hesitate
long enough even to go back into the house to pick up a wrap, but must immediately head for the
hills? There is no need to wonder, for the Lord says plainly, “those who are in Judea” Now Judea
is a geographical part of the land of Israel, ancient Palestine. It comprises the hill country
surrounding the city of Jerusalem and includes the city as well. It is to the residents of Jerusalem
and Judea that this warning is addressed.
Furthermore, the Lord’s mention of the Sabbath establishes the fact that these residents of
Judea are Jews. He urges them to pray that their flight will not be in the winter, with its distress of
cold, or on the Sabbath, with its travel limitations, for Jews are allowed to travel only a short
distance on a Sabbath day. Later in this passage these Jews are called “the elect” (“for the sake of
the elect those days will be shortened”), and this makes clear they are believing Jews, that is, men
and women of faith who know and love Jesus Christ as Lord and are prepared to live or die for
him.
They are not Christians in the usual sense of that term, referring to those who are
members of the Church, for we are told that in the Church there is neither Jew nor Gentile, bond
nor free. Jews are not to be distinguished from Gentiles within the Church. These distinctions, we
are precisely told by the apostle Paul, have been invalidated in the Church. The “middle wall of
partition” has been eliminated; there are no distinctions of background, race or religious training
that are recognized within the Church of Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, Christians, we are told, are free from the law and no longer observe special
days, special feasts, new moons and Sabbaths. In his letter to the Colossians the apostle Paul
clearly speaks of the fact that the Sabbaths were included in those shadows which were done
away in Christ. But here the Sabbath distinctly will be a restricting factor in the flight of these
people. Here then will be a class of people who cannot be identified with the present day church.
They will be Jewish believers in Christ who will be converted after the removal of the Church
and before the time of the Great Tribulation.121
Jesus does not tell the residents of Tel Aviv or Haifa to flee. The greatest danger is in
Jerusalem and the peril is so great that the true believers in Yahweh must leave town
immediately. They are called to flee to the mountains, and since Jerusalem is already in the
mountains of Judea, the flight will evidently be down to Jericho, then across into Jordan.
