New Jerusalem–A Place of Safety!

Here we have a large contingent of people coming out of the Great Tribulation who have only escaped with their lives. They aren’t by any means spared any of the horrors. They are “encouraged” by circumstances (another story) to head to the Promised Land of Israel. But just before entering, this remnant of the “hair” are gathered into a place referred to as “the wilderness of the people”. A final sifting takes place where the remaining rebels are removed. Finally, after thousands of years, the dream of the Promised land is entirely fulfilled:

Ezekiel 20:33-42 As surely as I live,” declares the Sovereign YEHOVAH, “I’ll rule you with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I will be your King! 34 I’ll bring you out of the nations and gather you out of the countries where you were scattered with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out. 35 I’ll bring you into the wilderness of the people [Isaiah 1, Hosea 2:14], and I’ll judge you there face to face, 36 just like when I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, that’s how I’ll judge you, declares the Sovereign YEHOVAH. 37 I’ll make you pass under the shepherd’s rod, and I’ll bind you in a [Kimchi] [New] Covenant, 38 and I’ll purge out the rebels from among you and those who disobey Me. I’ll bring them out of the land where they were living, but they won’t enter the land of Israel. Then you’ll realize that I am Yehovah. 39 “Now concerning you, House of Israel, the Sovereign YEHOVAH says: Go serve your idols, but later you’ll surely listen to Me, and you’ll no longer profane My name with your gifts and your idols. 40 On My 'special' mountain, on the high mountain of Israel,” declares the Sovereign YEHOVAH, “the entire House of Israel will serve Me there in the land. I’ll accept you there, and I’ll require your contributions and choice gifts with all your 'special' things. 41 I’ll accept you there like a fragrant aroma when I gather you out of the nations, and bring you out of the countries where you’ve been scattered, and I’ll prove Myself 'special' thru you as the nations watch. 42 You’ll realize that I am Yehovah WHEN I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country that I swore to give to your ancestors.

Ancient Israel met her Waterloo in the Valley of Jezreel, in northern Israel.

Hosea 1:5 When that day comes, I’ll break the bow [military] of Israel in the Jezreel Valley.

But in the end, the very location where they were defeated will be the place where victory is won!

Hosea 1:10-11 Yet the number of the people of Israel will be like the sand of the seashore that can’t be measured or numbered, and then in the location where they were told, ‘You are not My people’, they’ll be called ‘Sons of the living Elohim.’ 11 The Houses of Judah and Israel will be reunited. They’ll appoint a leader for themselves [1] and flourish in the land, because the Day of Jezreel will be profound.

In Hosea 2, as we’ll soon see, Hosea also comments on the wilderness.

But there is another wilderness. Some won’t yield to instruction [Torah] under any circumstances.

Revelation 17:3 He led me in the spirit realm into the wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a red predatory beast that was 'covered' with names of blasphemy. It had seven heads and ten horns.

Both the Kingdom of the Great Whore—“a woman” and the Kingdoms of Israel—“a woman” are associated with “the wilderness”. Coincidence? Two far different women are associated with two far different wildernesses!

Isaiah 62:4 You’ll never again be called ‘Forsaken’, and your land will never be called ‘Desolate’ again, instead, you’ll be called ‘Hephzibah’ [Literally, “My delight is in her”], and your land ‘Beulah’ [Literally, to marry], because Yehovah delights in you, and your land will be married.

The envoy (apostle) Paul, believing that the end of the age was imminent, may have even thought that the flight for refuge had already begun:

Hebrews 6:17-20 So Yehovah, being quite willing to assure the heirs of the promises that His promises are irreversible, 'confirmed' it with an oath, 18 so that thru two unchangeable things (and it is impossible for Yehovah to lie), we who have fled to Him for refuge can have strong encouragement to hold on tightly to the promise set before us. 19 It’s like an anchor that holds our consciousness [psyche, Gr: psuche] firmly in place, a hope that enters the 'cherished' place behind the veil 20 where Yeshua has entered as our Forerunner for us, and has become a Priest forever who resembles [Aramaic] Melchizedek.

After the seven last plagues, the veil separating us from Yehovah will be gone. Many of us will have been waiting for these events for decades.

Wilderness also means “a flock deserted by the shepherd”. Most of our leaders, our “shepherds”, will have been left behind as well. Since “wilderness” figuratively means, “the husband (to be) withholds himself”, Israel will be awaiting the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. (See: Who is the Messiah’s Bride?)

As has been mentioned, dark clouds that our physical eyes cannot see beyond will surround New Jerusalem. Certainly things could be a lot worse, but they need to get a lot better.

Could it be that the Feast of Tabernacles portrays the arrival of New Jerusalem, Yehovah’s Tabernacle, more than just our physical bodies being tabernacles? Couldn’t the Feast of Tabernacles represent something eternal as well? Further, why make pilgrimages to Jerusalem other than to portray the time when we will all gather at Yehovah’s Tabernacle, Jerusalem? A tabernacle is a movable dwelling! We know that New Jerusalem will be movable!

Why does the Feast of Tabernacles last for seven days? Just as the seven days of Unleavened Bread represents an opportunity for everyone who will have lived in any of the 7000 years, so it is for the Feast of Tabernacles. Why should that seven day period represent only 1000 years, as many claim?

Hebrews 9:11 But the Messiah who came was a High Priest of the good things to come, and He entered the greater and perfect TABERNACLE that wasn’t made by human hands and wasn’t part of this creation.

Here is another description of some of ignorant Israel being spared—those who repent at the urging of the Two Witnesses. The more teachable Israelites will be protected when the northern army is destroyed during the Day of Yehovah, the wrath.

Joel 2:15-32 Blow a shofar in Zion, announce the fast, summon the Festival Assembly. 16 Gather the people. Prepare a 'special' assembly. Gather the elders. Gather the children, even nursing infants. The bridegroom must leave his room and the bride her chuppah. 17 The priests who serve Yehovah cry between the portico and the altar. They’re saying, “Spare Your people,” Yehovah, and don’t allow Your heritage to be scorned by the enemy, ridiculed by foreigners. Why should the nations ask, ‘Where is their Elohim?’”

18 Then Yehovah will be zealous for His land, and have pity on His people. 19 Yehovah will say to His people: “I’ll send you grain, new wine and oil, you’ll have an abundance! I won’t allow you to be ridiculed by the nations any longer. 20 I’ll remove the northern army far from you, and drive him away into a parched and barren land, with its vanguard driven into the 'Dead' Sea, and its rear guard into the 'Mediterranean' Sea. His stench will rise up, the stench of his putrefying will rise, because He has done great things! 21 Land, don’t be afraid. Be glad and celebrate, because Yehovah has done great things. 22 Don’t be afraid, you animals of the plains, because the pastures of the wilderness will soon be green. The trees will produce their fruit. The fig trees and grapevines will yield abundantly. 23 So rejoice, people of Zion, and rejoice in Yehovah your Elohim, because He gives you the early rain for your vindication. He sends showers for you, both latter rain and the early rain [5] as in the beginning [6]. 24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain and the vats will overflow with new wine and olive oil. 25 “I’ll make up for the years eaten by the swarming locusts, great locusts, grasshoppers and caterpillars, My great army that I sent 'against' you.

26 You’ll have plenty to eat and be satisfied, and you’ll praise the name of Yehovah, your Elohim, who has done 'miracles' for you. My people will never be disappointed again. 27 You’ll know that I’m 'among you' in Israel, and that I am Yehovah, your Elohim, and that there is no other. My people will never be disappointed again. 28 “After this [after the Great Tribulation], I’ll pour out My spirit on all flesh [7]. Your sons and daughters will prophecy and your old men will dream prophetic dreams, your young men will see prophetic visions. 29 I’ll even pour out My spirit on servants and handmaids in those days, 30 I’ll show wonderful signs in the sky and on the earth, blood, fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun will become dark and the moon will become blood red in the presence of [8] the great and awesome Day of Yehovah coming to pass. 32 And everyone who calls on the name of Yehovah will be rescued as Yehovah has said, ‘Because on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be a way of escape [rootword: refugees] for the survivors who Yehovah is inviting [calling].

[5] Jerome taught that this was about a teacher. It is literally about rain. But the context exquisitely reveals that the Second Exodus will begin in the spring, like the first one, but it will accomplish what the First Exodus failed to do—produce the first righteous nation. I just went (2022) five months in the Pacific North West (similar to Israel’s climate) without even a trace of rain during the growing season. Fortunately, the rain returned with a fast 5” of “latter rain”—at about the Feast of Tabernacles. That’s when I sowed my little plots of winter wheat, rye, barley and oats. (The “former rain” ended in the spring—near the beginning of the Biblical year.—I think that people who start their years in the seventh month likely reversed the terms former and latter rains). [6] The KJV, NKJV and the ASV (a revised KJV) change: “in the beginning” to “in the first month”. This is used to “prove” that a Biblical year supposedly begins in the seventh month, a tradition the Jews adopted during their Babylonian captivity, where that was done. Later translations are much better here. [7] “All flesh,” as the KJV says, can mean animal life, as in Genesis 6:19, or it can mean all human life, as in Genesis 6:13 and dozens of other places. But in this context it appears to be an exclusive reference to all of the “children of Zion” and “Israel” receiving 'Yehovah’s spirit' first. [8] Paw-neem’ usually means “before”, but a literal meaning is “presence” (131 X) (or “face of” 259 X+) of.” The timing is clarified in Matthew 24:29 “Immediately AFTER the time of Tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon won’t shed her light and shooting stars will fall from the sky, and the inherent power of the skies will be shaken.” The Day of Yehovah is also the Jubilee year: Israel saved, neighboring nations conquered.

Again, concerning ignorant Israel being spared the Day of Yehovah:

Believe it or not, Joel was talking about the Messiah’s bride. She is the same adulterous bride that the entire 16th chapter of Ezekiel is devoted to. But here is how the bride chapter ends:

Ezekiel 16:59-60 “This is what the Sovereign Yehovah says: I’ll cause what you’ve 'effected'. You 'trashed' your oath in breaking your marriage vows [covenant]. 60 But I’ll remember the marriage vow I made with you in the days of your youth [the “Old Covenant”], and I’ll establish a [New] Everlasting Covenant with you.

Harlot Israel is essentially Hosea’s bride, and here is how that bride story ends:

Hosea 2:14-15 But I’m going to allure her back. I’ll bring her into the wilderness [Ezekiel 20:35] and speak tenderly to her there. 15 I’ll give her back her vineyards beginning there and the Valley of Achor [trouble] into a door of hope. She’ll respond there as in the days of her youth, just like when she came out of the land of Egypt.

This is the literal resettlement of Israelites from all twelve tribes in the Promised Land! The resurrected cherished ones are part of the groom, the “one new man”, not part of the bride.

But before the reconciliation, comes the grief and the repentance, and the ‘or else’:

Zephaniah 2:1-3 Gather yourselves together; gather together, you shameful nation, 2 before the decree takes effect and the Day overtakes you like wind driven chaff, before the fierce anger of Yehovah overtakes you, before Yehovah’s Day of fury arrives. 3 Seek Yehovah, all you humble of the earth, you who have 'lived by' His regulations. Seek righteousness! Seek humility! Maybe you’ll be sheltered during Yehovah’s Day of fury. [1]

This particular fallen wife is the great multitude of Revelation 7. Unlike the 144,000, she is not a virgin. And no, they aren’t “dead saints”, they are the survivors who are literally:

Revelation 7:14. I said, “Friend, you know.” He replied, “These are the ones who are coming out [1] of the Great Tribulation. They’ve washed their clothes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

[1] “The verb form in the Greek for ‘come’ is present participle.” This is an ongoing process! They survive the Great Tribulation! See any “Literal” translation.

Here is more encouraging news about some of Israel being spared even prior to the Day of Yehovah:

Ezekiel 11:16-17 The Sovereign Yehovah says: ‘Tho I’ve removed them far off into the nations and scattered them among the countries, it was a 'Cherished' Place for them for a little while in the countries where they had gone.” 17 The Sovereign Yehovah says, “I’ll gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you’ve been scattered, and I’ll give you the land of Israel again.

Many assume that there is a 1,000 year gap between verse 23 and verse 24, assuming that it will take Yeshua 1,000 years do conquer the world. Have they read any prophecies? Zechariah 14 is a detailed account of the conquest of the world, its called the Day of Yehovah (the “Lord”). The earth will be “under His feet”, specifically under the Mount of Olives. Ezekiel 38 and 39 is another specific account of the conquest. Some postpone these chapters too. Consequently they must, for example, also think that it will take 1,000 years for Him to “make My 'special' name known in the midst of My people Israel” (39:7) as well.

Later the martyrs who died as victors over the beast also are gathered together. But they didn’t come out of the Great Tribulation, they died in it:

These martyrs will sing The Song of Moses. It is found in Deuteronomy 32:1-43. The last line says, “Celebrate, you nations, with His people, because He’ll avenge the blood of His servants. He’ll render vengeance to His adversaries, and will make atonement for His land, for His people.”

Most of Israel will be left behind to die at the hands of traitors. Many of our friends and relatives will be dying horrible deaths as well. We will literally be taken from family members in the middle of the night, “one will be taken, and the other will be left.” (Luke 17:34) Most of the cherished ones (saints) are still in their graves at this time. Even Yehovah is preoccupied. We will still be too fragile to be exposed directly to Yehovah. While He is in His Temple, His people will be shielded from His lethal dose of light. Notice in Revelation 15 that Yehovah is not with the cherished ones on the “sea of glass” even during the trumpet plagues, following the 3 1/2 years:

Revelation 15:8 thru 16:1 The Temple was filled with smoke from the magnificence of Yehovah and from His power, and no one could enter the Temple until the seven plagues of the seven messengers were finished. 16:1 Then I heard a voice [1] saying to the seven messengers, “Go out and pour those seven bowls of the rage from Yehovah out on the earth.

[1] The Greek adds “from the Temple.”

The “SEA of GLASS” is described as being “like crystal” in Revelation 4:6. It is the same as the “icy crystal” “firmament” (“vault of heaven supporting WATERS above”) of Ezekiel 1:22.

There will be no Temple in New Jerusalem above.

Revelation 21:22 I didn’t see a Temple [8] in it, because Yehovah Almighty and the Lamb are its Temple.

[8] In the Millennial age there will be another Temple in Jerusalem (not the same as the Jerusalem above {Galatians 4:26}). It will dwarf all previous Temples: Ezekiel 45:1, about 41.6 miles long and 33 miles wide. Technically the enormous New Jerusalem above is a Temple, not a separate part inside of it...“Yehovah’s 'Temple' [New Jerusalem] will be established on the summits of the mountains, and will be borne above the hills” (Micah 4:1).

Rapture?

Here are a couple of classic “rapture” passages. Would you rather be taken or left? The following account from Matthew is explained here. However, the issue of where is not considered. Where did Noah and family spend their time during the great deluge? Wasn’t it floating just above the highest mountains? (Genesis 8)

Matthew 24:37-45 At the advent [Gr. parousia] of the Human Son, it will be just like it was in the time of Noah. 38 Just like before the flood, people were eating and drinking, taking wives and giving them to husbands right up until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were clueless until the flood came and swept them all away. That’s how it will be at the advent of the Human Son. 40 Then two men will be in the field. One will be taken and one will be left behind. 41 Two women will be grinding grain at the mill, one will be taken and one will be left behind. 42 So watch [for the new moon] [10], since you don’t know the exact time when your Sovereign is coming. 43 But be assured that if the head of the house knew in which watch the thief was coming, he would stay alert and not allow his house to be broken into. 44 So remain prepared, because the Human Son will arrive at a time when He’s 'least expected' [11].

[10] This is a clue about the Day of Trumpets that arrives the moment that the crescent New Moon is sighted on a day and hour often somewhat of a surprise. [11] The Human Son’s arrival shouldn’t surprise “You”! (1 Thessalonians 5:2-6)

The next passage is where the greatest story ever told ends and another one, full of surprises, begins. At the time of the great end time resurrection (Daniel 12:1-3, John 5:28-29) there will be a family reunion such as has never happened before—it will be the first such annual commemoration—with everyone present. All of Yehovah’s people who have ever died will be brought back to life in new indestructible bodies. His faithful followers who have served Him as part of The Seven “Churches” of Revelation and who have survived all of the end time horrors will be instantaneously changed into “spirit composed” bodies as well and join in the feast! This would be those who were being protected by Yehovah in Yehovah’s own abode who will also be allowed to meet Yehovah. Possibly some of the backsliding “chosen ones” will survive the holocaust of the Beast and also join in, having learned the hard way, tho it seems much more probable that they would have to be among the dead who rise.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 We declare this to you by the Word of Aloha’s own authority, that we who survive and are alive when our Sovereign returns will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep [into the Kingdom]. 16 Our Sovereign will 'personally' come down from Heaven with a mandate, and with a voice like the chief Messenger and with Yehovah’s shofar, and the dead who 'belong to' the Messiah will rise first! 17 Then, we who are still alive, having survived, will be carried away together with them into the clouds to meet our Sovereign in the expanse. And we will be with our Sovereign forever. 18 So comfort each other with these words.

(We will meet Them in the clouds above the Mount of Olives, and we will also be with Yehovah forever, but we won’t be stuck in the clouds playing harps forever.)

So exactly who are the 144,000?

Revelation 7:3 He said, “Don’t harm the land or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the foreheads of the servants of Yehovah.”

They certainly don’t represent all of the “cherished ones” of all time, not even all of them from our own time.

In Revelation 7 they are identified as living breathing end time individuals who need to be sealed, that is protected. That is all it says. However in Chapter 14, verse 1 we see that they are people who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads. Now the vast majority of the Greek texts, the ones the KJV is based on, delete Yeshua’s name from being on our foreheads! However the oldest Greek texts, despite all of its omitted texts, at least didn’t omit His Name. More importantly, the original Aramaic texts, the ones the Greek texts were translated from, preserve the fact that the 144,000 will have both names written on their foreheads. Everything else we know about the 144,000 must be gleaned from the following five verses:

Revelation 14:1-5 Then I looked, and the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him were 144,000 people who had His name [1] and His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 Then I heard a sound from the sky like massive waves of the sea, like the 'loud' 'rumble' of thunder. The sound I heard was like harpists striking their harps! 3 They were singing a new song in front of the throne and the four living Beings and Elders. No one was able to learn that song except for the 144,000 who were purchased [redeemed] from the earth. 4 They are the ones who haven’t defiled themselves with women, they are spiritual virgins. They are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. Yeshua (Jesus) has purchased them from humanity, the firstfruits of Yehovah and the Lamb. 5 They never 'told' lies because they are as morally unblemished as Passover lambs.

The clue is knowing who has the names written on their foreheads. So did John indicate exactly who will have the names inscribed on them? Yes:

Revelation 3:7-12 To the messenger of the assembly in Philadelphia, write: “The One who is 'chosen', who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens, says: 8 I know your works. See, I have placed an open door in front of you that no one can shut, because you have a little strength and you’ve obeyed My Word and haven’t denied My name! [2] 9 I have something for those of the cabal of Satan who claim to be Jews and aren’t, but lie, I’ll make them come and kneel [3] before your feet, and realize that I love you! 10 Since you’ve patiently obeyed My Word, I’ll protect you from the Hour of Trial that is about to overtake the entire inhabited world to test those who living in this world [4]. 11 I AM COMING SUDDENLY! [5] Hold tightly onto what you have, so that no one takes your crown. 12 I’ll make anyone who is victorious a pillar in the Temple of Yehovah, and they’ll never be separated from the assembly, and I’ll write Yehovah’s name on them, and the name of New Jerusalem that will descend from the heavens from my Aloha, and My own new name.

[2] What does the “open door” represent here? Now note the closed door to Laodicea in verse 20 that some may open. Now just two verses later (Revelation 4:1) we have “an open door in the sky” leading to 25 thrones, and John is being invited up! Is this New Jerusalem? [3] How many assemblies even know He has a name? [4] The 'chosen ones' [saints] will be made worthy of worship on Judgment Day. [5] It would appear that only Philadelphia, “My people”, will hear the warning from heaven (or from the sky above) to escape from Babylon (Revelation 18:4) OR, they will be the only assembly (possibly as isolated from others as Elijah was 1 Kings 19:9-10) to heed the warning. The punishment in this chapter seems imminent. Why wait until the last moment to flee?

So judging from the clue in verse 3 that messengers must wait for the 144,000 to be sealed before they harm the land or sea, it appears that they are flesh and blood humans—vulnerable to physical harm! Now who makes up the Great Multitude?

There are 15 identifying clues as to who the Great Multitude are. To check that out click HERE.

So who is Philadelphia? And who are the other “churches” of Revelation?

If I don’t see you before this time, I hope to see you there!

The End

Chapter 19: The “New Covenant”—Coming Soon!

Lonnie Martin’s work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License

 

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