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-What if I told you Israel’s actual way pre 1967 borders would’ve included many of the modern day Arab nations which are today against Israel. -The fact of the matter is, in part or whole, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and even parts of Egypt, God had given to Israel. -This fact, coupled with another fact, that every time Israel is attacked, she takes more land back, and rightfully so, because it belongs to Israel.

-For the benefit of those who weren’t here for last weeks update, we took an in-depth look at the Bible prophecies concerning Damascus Syria. -For today’s update, I want to talk about the prophecy concerning another pre 1967 Promised-Land country that’s neighboring the Jewish nation. -I’m speaking of the country of Jordan. While the prophecies concerning Jordan are not quite as dramatic as Syria, it is certainly as fascinating.

-Actually, Jordan was my mother’s birthplace, and it’s where many of my Arab family, who currently reside on the mainland, were originally from. -I find it interesting that all the neighboring people groups surrounding Israel are even now being readied for prophecies fulfilled in the tribulation. -Could the wars and rumors of wars that will happen next, be what God uses to return land to Israel and fulfill Gog’s war to take the spoil back?

-Please know that I am in no way dogmatic about this, however, at the very least, as of late, I’m most certainly intrigued by the plausibility of this. -As I had mentioned in a prior update, I’ve been revisiting and rethinking the prophetic scenario as it relates to Lebanon, Syria, and now Jordan. -I’m beginning to wonder, given the recent geopolitical volatility, if these nations, as prophesied, lose not only their wars, but their land as well.

-This is where Jordan comes into play. I used to think certain prophecies concerning Jordan were palatable via a peace agreement with Israel. -When it seemed Isaiah 19 concerning Egypt, also having a peace agreement with Israel, began to come to pass, I had to take another look at it. -This is why I have been musing about another scenario in which prophetic roles of countries like Jordan and Egypt are fulfilled in a different way.

-Maybe it’s not peace agreements that explain Egypt’s absence from future battles, and Jordan’s protection during the last half of the tribulation. -Since this seems to fit Isaiah’s prophecy concerning Egypt, I’ll submit for your consideration it may also fit Jesus’ prophecy concerning Jordan. -In order to do this, I would like to draw your attention to the “Olivette Discourse” in the 24th chapter of Matthew’s gospel, beginning in verse 14.

Matthew 24:15-21 (15) "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— (16) then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (17) Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. (18) Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. (19) How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! (20) Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. (21) For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.

-Jesus is speaking to His disciples about the events that will take place at the beginning, in the middle, and ultimately at the end of the tribulation. -Within this prophecy, there are a number of extremely important details, all of which point to the lateness of the hour in which we are now living. -I’ll attempt to fill in the blanks and connect the dots in as much as I’m able by giving you a quick thumbnail sketch of these fascinating details.

-In verse 15 Jesus refers to the prophecy in Daniel 11:31 which is fulfilled when the Anti-Christ commits the abomination that causes desolation. -In verse 16 Jesus tells them how those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, which I believe is the ancient city of Petra in modern day Jordan. -In verses 17-20 He declares how dreadful it’ll be for the Jews when they flee, especially if it takes place in the winter, or on the Jewish Sabbath.

-So, here’s how it will all go down, the Anti-Christ will “confirm” a covenant with Israel for “7” years (Daniel 9:27), but he breaks it after 3½ years. -In the middle of the tribulation he sets up his image in the Jewish temple, (Dan 11:31 -12:11), and demands worship. (Rev 13 -2 Thes 2:3-4). -This is the “abomination that causes desolation” and the “elect “(saved Israel) flee to “Petra” for the last 3 ½ years of the 7 year tribulation.

-If Israel takes back some of their land currently occupied by Jordan it would make fleeing to Petra easier, as it’s close in proximity to Jerusalem. -Revelation 12:6 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 7-year tribulation is the 70th week of Daniel, when the Anti-Christ performs miracles deceiving the nations who will then gather at Megiddo. -This is the “Battle of Armageddon” which takes place at the end of the tribulation, and it will be an unspeakably bloody defeat of the enemies. -Immediately following this there are cosmic disturbances in the sky and the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ, (Joel 2:10 Rev 6:12-14 19:11 Isa 34:4).

-Now, I am keenly aware that I’ve painted the canvass with a broad brush and just covered an enormous amount of prophecy in a few minutes. -Be that as it may, and suffice it to say, it’s this fleeing of the Jewish people to Petra in the middle of the tribulation that I wish to zero in on now. -I believe that this ancient city of Petra is not only the place God prepares for the Jews to flee to, it’s even now being readied for this fulfillment.

Back on September 17th, 1997 USA Today had an article titled; “Rescuing the Past of Petra.” In it they report that; “Petra is a city of unique sandstone temples melting under a cascade of flash floods and crumbling beneath the footsteps of too many careless tourists. But now an ambitious effort to rescue the city is being led here by the Petra National Trust…”

You can go to The Petra National Trust website, where you can stay updated on this reclamation project. Their mission statement reads: PNT strives to fulfill the urgent need to protect, preserve and conserve the archaeological, historical, and cultural heritage of Petra and its Region. By partnering with national bodies, local communities, and international institutions, PNT implements projects and programmes to safeguard and maintain site significance and integrity for Jordan and the world. http://www.petranationaltrust.org/

Lambert Dolphin on his website writes about Petra’s significance describing it in this way; “South of Bozrah, 20 some miles on the King's Highway, is Petra, the capital city of the Nabateans. Tourists to this vast mountain-enclosed ancient city in the Wadi Musa generally enter from the east on foot or on horseback through El Siq, an 6000 feet long narrow cleft (width: 12-30 feet) with 100-500 foot high cliff walls. http://www.ldolphin.org/kingdom/ch11.html

-This makes Petra an incredibly secure place. To get into the crater, one must go through a narrow canyon, which may be the only entrance. -It’s believed that the entire city could be easily secured by only 15 soldiers marching on the ridges above the narrow entrance into the rock city. -What’s so interesting about this is that Petra’s historical, geographical, and even archeological attributes, seem to fit perfectly prophetically.

Revelation 12:12-17 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short." When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 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. Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring-those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

This would seem to fit with what we know about flooding in Petra. According to one source, Water levels can rise to a height of 1.53 metres and flow at a velocity reaching five times the acceptable safety standard. … The most evident example of this network is the water channels carved into the sides of the Siq that carried water into the city.

The reference to Eagles Wings would also seem to fit with what was at the top of the temple treasury. There were two eagles, with wings that hovered over the entire area. This would have been the first sight one would see after passing through the narrow entrance. Also, it’s important to note how that the eagle has significant meaning biblically as it relates to delivering God’s people the Jews from their enemy’s. (Revelation 12:13­14 Exodus 19, Deuteronomy 32:9)

A number of years ago, W.E. Blackstone, a Bible teacher, so convinced that Petra will be the place in which the Jews are kept safe, purchased hundreds of thousands of Hebrew New Testaments, underlined passages like Matthew 24 and Revelation 12, and left them in earthen jars throughout Petra. When the Jews get there, the Bibles will be waiting for them.

-I believe we’re on the cusp of Bible Prophecy that ultimately finds its fulfillment during the 7 year tribulation, coming to pass. -The take away, by way of a question is, if tribulation prophecies are being readied now, how close are we?