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   In Matthew chapter 24 and verse 34 (Matthew 24:34), Jesus Christ made the statement speaking of a particular generation, saying, "Truly, I say unto you, this generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled." Now, which generation did Jesus Christ specifically have reference to? We've gone through in the context of the sermon before and demonstrated that various proofs single out this generation as unique in the course of human history.

   Briefly, the three main things that point out this generation is the generation that Jesus Christ had reference to in Matthew chapter 24 and verse 34, saying that it will not pass until all of these things that he describes here are fulfilled is the fact that number one, chronology points out this generation is unique any way you want to figure it. And there's only a matter of a variation of just a very few years when properly figured. There's a little bit of controversy in the area of some of the lengths of the reigns of the kings and of Israel and Judah. But anyway that you want to figure some of those areas, the 6000 years that God has allotted mankind is slated to end in the lifetime of this generation. The 6000 years that God has allotted mankind ends during the lifespan of this generation.

   The 2520 years of punishment upon Babylon, the Great Babylon in abeyance ends in a relatively very short period of time in the aftermath of that. In fact, we're talking of, you know, like a couple of years in the aftermath of that 2520 years of punishment being up at some point thereafter, Babylon the Great will be able and will arise on the world scene from the time of the original destruction of Babylon or the original captivity of Babylon. The original fall of Babylon, I guess would be the proper way of saying it. In 539 B.C., exactly 2520 years will have elapsed within a matter of just a little over two years. And in the aftermath of that, Babylon the Great will be able to arise.

   So, from a chronological standpoint, we see that this generation is pointed out as unique. From another standpoint, from a standpoint of technology, we find that this generation is pointed out as unique. The prophet Daniel was inspired to write in Daniel chapter 12 in verse 4 (Daniel 12:4), "But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and sealed the book even to the time of the end". So, the book of Daniel was to be sealed when, "until the time of the end, many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased." Now, we find the statement in Matthew 24:22 "that except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved alive, but for the elect's sake because they shall be shortened". Now, in Daniel, we find it describes at the time of the end, many running to and fro, knowledge is increased. Now, if you go back and look at Matthew 24:22, we find that "except those days should be shortened, no flesh would be saved alive". It is this generation. It is this time of the 20th century and this generation that has seen the multiplication of knowledge.

   The 20th century saw really the beginning of this mushrooming of man's knowledge, a multiplication of knowledge, knowledge being increased, and the world's store of knowledge being doubled and tripled and quadrupled after having just kind of gradually risen over a period of time, gradually being increased, suddenly skyrocketing. And now we have seen in this generation, the lifetime of this generation singling this generation out as unique from all generations that have ever lived on the face of the earth. That for the first time in human history, it is possible for man to annihilate himself from all this planet through several different means.

   Now, Christ said that except the days would be shortened, there would no flesh be saved alive, that life on this planet would be annihilated. That has never before been possible. But in this age where knowledge has been increased, man's technology has mushroomed. We find that this generation is set apart as unique from a chronological standpoint. It is set apart as unique from a technological standpoint, and it is also set apart as unique in the prophecy in Matthew 24:14. "And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, then shall the end come." This gospel of the Kingdom of God will be preached in all the world for a witness. You look back, was the gospel of the Kingdom being preached in all the world for a witness in the year 1800? What about in the year 1500? Was the gospel of the Kingdom of God going out to all the world? The vast majority of human beings didn't even know what the Kingdom of God was.

   Now, you find this Gospel of the Kingdom was not really being preached with power. It, it was, it was preached with power to the known world at the time of the first-century church, and with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., the Church of God virtually went underground. It continued only as a very small persecuted minority, and the gospel of the kingdom did not begin to go out with power to the world again until this generation, our time. And now we see the result about 45 years of effort of the gospel going out with increasing power.

   So, we find that this generation is singled out as unique. This generation is singled out as the generation that will not pass, that will not die out before the events described in Matthew 24 occur. Now brethren, I bring this to your attention because we find in Matthew 24 some very amazing things that are discribe and some things that according to the Bible, according to what we've just seen apply to us, apply to you and to me and to our families. We see then a description of events here that have a very direct personal bearing on our lives and our futures we see, a mention in Matthew 24:21. One of these events, it says, "Then shall be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time. No, nor ever shall be". Now brethren, I don't think we grasped the significance of that statement. And unless you've gone back and unless you've studied and understand a little bit of what has happened under the guise of man's inhumanity to man, unless you have some grasp of what man has done to his fellow men in the name of religion. Then it's hard to understand and it's impossible to comprehend what Jesus Christ meant when he said, then shall be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world unto this time. I want to tell you that says a lot. It says a tremendous amount. And he says that except those days should be shortened, there would no flesh be saved alive. It's going to get that bad, that intense. But for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened.

   Now, brethren, it describes here a very horrible event. What does that foretell, for you and for your family since we are a part of the generation that will not pass away until these events have transpired? Does that mean that you and your family are destined to go through what Jesus Christ said will be the most terrible holocaust that has ever occurred in human history. Does that mean that you and your family are destined to go through the hellish torture of the great tribulation? Or is there a way of escape today?

   Well today brethren, I want to focus in on what the Bible has to say about a way of escape, a way of protection for God's people. Notice what Jesus Christ said in Luke chapter 21 and verse 36 when he addressed the subject. He talks about, in fact, he says in verse 32 (Luke 21:32) "this generation shall not pass away till all be fulfilled". He is describing in Luke 21 basically a parallel account to the advance in Matthew 24. Now notice what he says in verse 36 he says (Luke 21:36), "watch you therefore and pray always that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the son of man. So, Jesus Christ said, look, you need to watch and you need to pray so that you might escape the things that are going to come to pass. So, we find here that Jesus Christ does not desire to have us go through and suffer through what man is going to bring on himself before God intervenes. Because I think we need to understand the tribulation is not something God does to man. It's something man does to man at the instigation of Satan the devil. And it is simply the forerunner of Jesus Christ finally stepping in and putting a stop, see a long time ago, man told God to keep his nose out of man's business. And God has basically been doing that and God is going to allow man to get to the point that if God didn't intervene, man would cease to exist, man would simply destroy himself. And at that point, God is going to intervene and say, all right, you've tried it your way, you've done it your way, you, you've gone your way, you've done your thing and I've allowed you to. But you come to the point that if I didn't step in and do something, you wouldn't even be around and there wouldn't be anybody else around. So now we're going to do it my way for a while. So, we find here that Jesus Christ mentions a way of escape and he tells us that we need to watch and we need to pray, we need to watch. So, we're aware of what's going on in the world around us, that we're not allowed to sleep, that we are aware of the times in which we're living and we need to pray. So, we'll be close to God. And so, we'll be able to have spiritual insight and be able to understand and discern the times we're living in according to the instructions, God gives us in the Bible.

   Now, let's go back to Luke chapter 17 and let's see some more instruction that Christ gives us. And let's understand that God does promise a place of protection for his people. Protection is promised. Let's notice, Luke 17. Pick it up in verse 24 (Luke 17:24)," For as the lightning that lightens out of the one part under heaven shines unto the other part under heaven, so shall also the Son of Man be in his day. But first, must he suffer many things and be rejected of this generation". So, he is going to come back, and when he comes back, he will be known, he will be seen, but he had to undergo various things at that time.

   Now he begins a description of events that will signal or that will describe the end time. He says, "as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man". In other words, in the time immediately prior, in the years immediately prior to his return, there is a parallel to the years immediately prior to the destruction of the world at the time of Noah. You have to understand that God's judgment has been visited on this earth, on human beings at two different periods. In terms of, you know, singling out for judgment, God judged the world at the time of Noah, intervened, and God's judgment came forth. God dealt with Sodom and Gomorrah in that fashion. And God is going to now, this time, deal with mankind. Actually, God will have dealt with the entire world twice at this point, at least in terms of the world of man, dealt with it in terms of the angelic beings who rebelled back a long time ago. But in terms of the time of man, he dealt with it in the days of Noah by water. He will deal with it by fire this time around. What happened to Sodom and Gomorrah is kind of a foretell of many of the things that will transpire here.

   But notice he says, as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man? They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Now they were going about their normal routine. They were going about their business. They were doing their thing. They were heedless of the warning Noah gave right up until the time that Noah went into the ark. I realize that a lot of the things that they were doing in terms of their eating and their drinking and their marrying and all of these things they were doing in the wrong fashion and they were doing in excess, and they were doing. We're told in Genesis six that every imagination of their heart was only evil continuously. I know that. But the point is, and I think one of the main emphasis of this is that they were proceeding about their business as though nothing were going to happen, as though their world were going to go on forever. They were heedless of the judgment that God had promised. They did not believe it could happen to them, and they continued about their affairs, and they were doing that right up until the time that Noah and his family entered into a place of protection because God had a place of safety, a place of protection, which was an ark in this particular case where he instructed his people to enter. And if you go back to the book of Genesis, it's interesting to note that the sun was shining when they went in. I mentioned that to bring out the fact that they entered the ark on faith. If God had, wait, say Noah, you know, gave the people a chance nobody else wanted to go in. He and his family went in and shut the door, and it was a solid week before the rain started.

   Now, I bring that out because I think there's a parallel here and we'll see it as we go on through Luke 17. If God had waited until the fountains of the deep were breaking up until the, you know, skies were virtually opened up and the rain was pouring down until it was storming terrible. And then Noah had said, all right, you know, the water was rising, houses were being, you know, swept away and people were desperately looking for a way to higher ground. And Noah had said, all right, everybody that thinks there's going to be a flood and wants protection. Come on the boat, you'd probably been trampled on the gangplank.

   See those who did not have the faith to enter because God said so didn't get a chance. They clawed on the, they, they, they clawed at the ark but they couldn't get in because God had sealed the door. There was no way that Noah could have left them in even if he tried because God sealed the door, and they had to wait until God opened the door after the flood. God's people entered on faith because God said it was going to rain and they believed, and it was a week later before it started. But then it rained, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights and the, and the fountains of the deep were broken up and the earth flooded, and everything was destroyed. God's judgment came on the world. God's people who were faithful to God who believed God were given a place of protection, a place of safety.

   Verse 28. Likewise, also as it was in the days of Lot, they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they, they were going about their normal routine. They were heedless of what was going to happen. They did not believe that their society could come to an end. But the same day, that Lot went out of Sodom. It rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed in that day, he shall be up on the housetop and his stuff in the house, let him not come down and take it away and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

   Remember Lot's wife, whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you in that night, there should be 2, 2 men in one bed. The one should be taken, the other should be left. Two should be grinding together. One taken, the other left, two should be in the field, one taken the other left. They answered and said unto him, where Lord and he said unto them, wheresoever the body is there will the eagles be gathered together. Now, what is he talking about? Is he talking about the second coming of Christ right here?

   Well, notice it describes a time. It draws an analogy to the time of Lot and the time of Noah. It describe it draws an analogy to the time right before God's people were taken to protection, the time of Noah and the time of Lot and in both cases, people were going about their regular activities, heedless of God's judgment that was going to come heedless of what was going to happen until it all broke loose and then it was too late. You know, it was not sprinkling fire and brimstone when Lot went out of Sodom, Lot didn't want to leave Sodom because he left some of his family behind. We went into the Bible study, Llot made some very serious errors in the rearing up of his family. He allowed his Children far, he was far too permissive in his dealings with his Children. He was too close in his dealings with the world. And as a result, Lot's family, all that had married were lost because Lot had no control of them.

   The only ones that went out with him were his two unmarried daughters that were there under his own roof and they went with him. The others wouldn't, the others laughed at him. They mocked him. He tried to get him to go. And the angel finally just had to say, look, Lot, you're going to have to go, you're gonna have to go right now because I can't hold this up any longer. And Lot had to leave and he very much hated to leave because of what he was leaving behind. And his wife just couldn't quite turn her back on it and walk away, she looked back, longingly, she was destroyed. And Jesus Christ says here, remember Lot's wife, there's an example here. Lot was taken to a place of protection, a place of safety. And then this came about.

   Now, this is the analogy that is drawn later on in the chapter when it talks about people sleeping and people, you know, in the field, grinding, and people in the field working. Is this a description of the moments prior to the return of Christ? Well, when I go back to the Book of Revelation, and I look at the events surrounding the return of Christ we find, for instance, at the time that the seventh, the time of the seventh Trump, the well, in fact, the time of the seventh Trump. The, before these seven last vials are poured out. Notice the fourth of these vials. This was at the time of the seventh Trump. When Christ returns, Revelation 16:8, the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun. Power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.

   We find that darkness covered the kingdom of the beast. Notice down here the seventh one, there was a great earthquake in verse 18 (Revelation 16:18-21), there was a great earthquake such as was not since men were upon the earth. So mighty an earthquake and so great the great city was divided into three parts. Verse 20 every island fled away. The mountains were not found. There fell upon man, a great hail out of heaven. Every stone about the weight of a talent. In other words, 120 pound hailstones. Now, you know, get the picture. Darkness is covering the earth. The sun is scorching people with fire. The earth has been is careening out of its orbit. Its people are being scorched. The intensity of the heat. There's absolute darkness. 120 pound hailstones were falling. There's an earthquake that is described as the greatest earthquake that has ever hit the mountains or you know, or, or the whole topography of the earth is being rearranged. Now, that is the time period right at the time of Christ's return at that particular instant, you're not going to find people out in the field, you know, busily planting somebody else is sleeping through the whole thing and you know, somebody else is grinding away.

   The description of the last few verses of Luke 17 is not a description of the minutes and hours surround right prior to the time of Jesus Christ coming. I mean, it's just not when you go back to Revelation, you put the two accounts together. It's obviously you're talking about two different things. People aren't, you know, sleeping or grinding grain or out in the field, working away. They're not pursuing their normal activities with 120 pound hailstones falling. You know, the greatest earthquake that's ever hit. What we have a description of the whole analogy that Jesus Christ draws in Luke 17 is a description of God's people being taken away to a place of protection, a place of safety right before destruction comes on the world.

   And the fact that the world is unaware, the world does not comprehend does not realize does not believe that that destruction is coming until it's too late. And he draws the analogy to Noah's time. He draws the analogy to Lot's time and he says, look, it's going to be the same way and people are going to be going about their normal activities and when the time comes, they're not going to believe it anymore than the people in the time of Noah and the people in the time of Lot. And he brings out the point in verse 33 (Luke 17:33) whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it. You know, there are people who think that the way to prepare for the tribulation is to stock up on gold and guns and food kind of hide away in a cage somewhere. Boy, they're gonna, they're gonna survive those who seek to save their lives shall lose them.

   You're not going to save your life. You're not going to sustain yourself by physical means because when you go through and you read the things that are going to transpire, you know, and God is very explicit back in Isaiah, he mentions specifically those that go and hide away in a cave to escape the destruction on the cities that God will send the wild animals after them. You know, I mean, there's nobody that's going to get away. There's no such thing as being able to outsmart God live your own way, do your own thing and somehow you will, you know, protect God will take care of it. So, we have a description here.

   Now notice the statement down in verse 37 (Luke 17:36) he's talking about taken, taken, taken, being taken somewhere. And the disciples asked the logical question. They said, where Lord, you know, where are you gonna be taken? Christ gave an answer. He says, wherever the body is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

   Now, what in the world is that talking about? Well, let's notice back in Revelation chapter 12, and we'll notice if we see something concerning Eagles, Revelation chapter 12. Now we have a description in Revelation 12, kind of a capsule history of the church of God described as a woman appearing the one that of course, the church in the wilderness, the church has had a continuum. It was the church in the wilderness. The Old Testament church continued right on in spiritual Israel into the New Testament, we noticed that Christ was brought forth. He was called up to God to his throne. This is in verse five (Revelation 12:5), we find the Church of God existing, fleeing into the wilderness outside the confines of the Roman Empire, being protected there for a period of 1260 days or 1260 years as it was during the middle ages.

   Then we find a time when there will be war once again in heaven. And this is, brings us right down to our time and the great dragon was cast out. This is verse nine (Revelation 12:9), that old serpent called the devil and Satan, which deceives the whole world. He was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven now is come salvation and strength in the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before God day and night. And verse 12 (Revelation 12:12), wherefore rejoice you heavens and you that dwell in them woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea. For the devil has come down unto you having great wrath because he knows that he has but a short time, the aftermath of this great wrath is the great tribulation. And when the dragon saw that he was cast under the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child 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 and the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

   And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the blood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed which kept the Commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Now here we, we have a woman picturing the true church. Satan comes down and launches is ready to launch his persecution. He persecutes the woman. Then in the aftermath of that to the woman, we were given two wings of a great eagle that she might fly into her place. So, we have a definite place, a definite location that she has taken on eagle's wings. Now here is the church, the analogy of the woman is drawn back in Matthew 24. And other places, the analogy of the body, the church represents the body. Where will the eagle, where will we go? Where will we be taken? Wherever the body is there will the eagles be gathered, you know, in other words, we're taken into our place. There is a specific location where everyone is taken. You don't have to worry about, uh, you know, some of those things, God is going to, God is going to work those things out.

   Now, here we have a description of the woman is to be taken into her place. She is to be nourished, she is to be protected. Satan seeks to get after her to get at her. He is not allowed to. He is then roth, he is angry, he's frustrated and he goes to make war with the remnant. Now, what is a remnant? If you have a remnant sale at the fabric store, what's that? The remnant is that which is left behind, isn't it? So that which is left behind that, that which is left, that's the remnant. So, he goes to make war with the remnant. He goes to make war with those that are left behind. Now, there are those who keep the Commandments of God and have the testimony of Christ. So, we have a description of people that are a part of the true church. So, we have one segment of God's church that is pictured as being taken to a place of protection. We have another segment called the remnant that are to go through the great tribulation.

   Now, the distinction between these is made clear in Revelation chapter three. In Revelation two and three, we have the history of the church of God from 31 A.D. on until the return of Jesus Christ summarized in seven successive stages, seven eras. And we find as we pick it up in Revelation chapter three verse seven (Revelation 3:7), the Philadelphia Church, I think I've gone through some of this. I believe I've gone through a whole sermon here, going through verse by verse here in Revelation two and three. And it can be proven from several different standpoints that where we stand, what we are a part of right now, what God has raised up for Mr. Herbert Armstrong beginning back in the early 1930s can be very clearly identified as the sixth era that is mentioned here, the Philadelphia era succeeded or followed the Sardis era.

   And we notice here written to Philadelphia Revelation chapter three to the angel in the church in Philadelphia, write, these things is he that is holy. He that is true. He that has the key of David. He that opens and no man shuts, shuts and no man opens. I know your works. Behold. I have set before you an open door and no man can shut it. You have a little strength and have kept my word and have not denied my name. This is a description of basically the history of this work. This era. God knows what we've done. He says he sat before us an open door. No one is allowed to shut that. And yet we have a very little strength is measured by the physical measurements of this world.

   Verse 10, because you have kept the word of my patience. I also will keep you from the hour of temptation or the hour of tribulation which shall come upon all the world to try them to dwell on the earth. Behold, I come quickly hold that past which you have that no man take your crown. So here we have instructions, admonitions to the Philadelphia church and the statement is made here that they will be kept from the hour of temptation or the hour of tribulation.

   Now, when you go down and you read about the seventh era, the era of the Laodiceans who are lukewarm. Now, they are a part of the church of God. They are individuals that at one point have repented and received God's Holy Spirit and yet they have a lukewarm tepid watered-down approach. They do not properly evaluate their spiritual condition, they consider themselves as being in good shape. And Christ tells them that they will be chastened and rebuked because of the lesson that they need to learn. This is the remnant that will go through the tribulation.

   So, we have it very clearly identified as the fact that Jesus Christ promises a place of protection, a place of safety for those who are faithful to Him. It is here and yet we realize there are also some of God's people who will go through tribulation. And when you go through Revelation three, the latter part of the chapter through the account of Laodicea, you will understand why these are those that God has tried to wake up. You see Christ says, you're going to have to become either hot or cold. They're lukewarm. Lukewarm is a stage between hot and cold. They're on their way down. Their love is waxing cold. It's growing cold. They're not on fire like they ought to be. And, and Christ says, look, you're going to have to choose sides, you're gonna have to get one way or the other. You're gonna have to be either hot or cold. And if nothing else has been able to stir them up, then he's going to simply allow them to face this physical punishment that is going to come on the world, he's not going to protect them from it because there's a lesson that they need to learn.

   Now we find that stated here and I don't want to get too much off on that because I want to go into some other things. But we find here then the clarification as to who, where God's protection will be given. Now notice some other reference to it, for instance, in the book of Zephaniah chapter two, Zephaniah. That's right after Habakkuk and right before Haggai Zephaniah chapter two, in verse three (Zephaniah 2:3), it says, seek ye the Eternal, all unique of the earth which have wrought His judgment, seek righteousness, seek meekness. It may be, you shall be hid in the day of the Eternal's anger.

   Now, the word Zephaniah, the name Zephaniah means the hidden of Eternal. And there is reference in the book of Zephaniah to those that God will hide in the time of judgment. Let's notice back in the book of Psalms, Psalm 91 beginning in verse one (Psalm 91:1), "He that dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Eternal He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in Him will I trust surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the power and from the noisome pestilence." So, it describes here, God protecting His people at a time of tribulation. And it describes those people as those that dwell in the secret place of the most high abiding under His shadow that God protects that God overshadows His people.

   So, we see God's protection promised God's protection, specifically promised to the Philadelphia era of his church. Now, there are a couple of scriptures that have sometimes been misunderstood that some have quoted and mistakenly thought that these particular scriptures disprove that there was a specific place of protection or a place of safety that God willh grant for his people. And I think it's good to focus on these two scriptures. These are the ones primarily that I've heard used. And I think we can very easily see where the misunderstanding has arisen.

   Matthew 24:31 is one of the scriptures where it says, "He shall send his angels with a great sound of the trumpet and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other." Now, there's some that have read this verse and said, well, see that proves that God's people won't be protected in one geographical location because it says He'll send his angels and they'll gather together of the elect from the four corners, from one end of heaven to the other, from all over. Well, you know, a person would think that through, they would understand very clearly what's going to happen when Christ returns and the last Trump is sound. Well, according to Thessalonians and first Corinthians, the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we which are alive and remain are caught up together with them? Now, where are the dead in Christ going to rise from? Were they going to rise from where they were buried, won't they? Now, where is that? Is that in one spot? No, that's in the four corners of the earth? I mean, all over, you know, there will be places all over where there will be individuals rising up. It doesn't disprove that, that the bulk of God's servants that are alive at that time are going to be in one physical geographical location because the dead in Christ are gonna rise first and then there will probably be others, you know, maybe even some of the Laodiceans that that are alive, some that have repented during the course of the tribulation that have lived through some of those things that are alive that will be instantaneously changed wherever they are, that has nothing to do with the fact that there will be a group of God's people, the Philadelphia era of God's people in a place of protection, a place of safety has no bearing on it. I think very obviously so as you read the verse.

   And the other scripture that has sometimes been used is Luke chapter 21 verses 20-21 (Luke 21:20-21). "When you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains, let them which are in the midst of it depart out and let not them that are in the countries enter there into, they say, well, see now the place that you shouldn't go to is the Middle East and you're not going to be able to get in there. So certainly you shouldn't be going to a place of safety there in the Middle East. Well, again, notice what it says he goes through and he says, when you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is near. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains and let them which are in the midst of it, depart out. Let not them that are in the countries enter there too."

   Now, the point that it is making is that there is, it just simply means it's too late. If you didn't go to the area of Judea when God said, go and you wait until Jerusalem is encompassed with armies, then you better forget it because you're not going to be able to get in. You either go when God goes or the door of the Ark is going to be shut. What it's talking about says, you know that if you're there and then you see Jerusalem encompassed with armies. Well, then that's the time to go to the mountains and we're going to go on through because we go through some old Testament prophecies. I think we can see that this place of protection that Christ referred to in Luke and in Revelation is pretty well identified or at least very heavily indicated from certain scriptures in the Old Testament, particularly the Book of Isaiah.

   But the instruction that is bringing out here is the sign of seeing Jerusalem encompassed with armies as a sign to those who are there. And if you're not there, if you didn't go there when God said go, then it's too late. Don't worry about it. You better worry. You might worry about it, but it's not gonna do you any good. See, it's kind of like trying to get in the ark after the door is closed. After the rain has started, you wait until the fire and brimstone start coming down, you wait until the, the rain has started. It's too late. We go where we go on faith, the just shall live by faith, and we want God's protection. We're gonna have to walk by faith and we serve God and we're close to God, we're walking with God, we're watching and praying.

   So, I think again, when you go through this, it's very obvious that it's as to what it is talking about. Now, we see that God has promised a place of protection from the tribulation which is to come upon this generation. Now, is there any indication in the Bible as to where this place will be? Well, I think that there very clearly is the part of the problem is there are three specific scriptures in the book of Isaiah that I want to go through and that I think will focus on it. All three of them unfortunately are very ambiguously translated in the King James Bible. The Jewish translation brings them out much more clearly as do several other translations.

   But we pick it up in Isaiah 42:11. "Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, The villages that Kedar does inhabit. Now, what area of the world is this talking about? Kedar was one of the chief of the Arabian tribes, one of the sons of Ishmael. So, it's talking about an area in the Arab world. Let the inhabitants of the rock sing. Now, that's the way it's translated into King James. The inhabitants of the rock sing. The Jewish translation renders it, let the inhabitants of Sela sing. Now there is a place in modern geography that you'll find identified on maps of the Middle East is the area of Petra. Now, Petra is the modern name Petra is a Greek word and it is the modern name, the name that has been used since the time of the Roman Empire. Or actually going back probably to the time of Alexander the Great in Old Testament Times, the same place was known as Sela it was known by various names, but the Jews primarily called it Sela and it is referred to three different places. Now, this is a different I might clarify because there was some misunderstanding up in Lufkin when I went through some of this, back in the book of Psalms, you'll find at the end of many chapters, the words Selah S-e-l-a-h. It's a totally different word from this word Sela S-e-l-a, the sound of them and the spelling of them is similar but they're totally different. They have no relationship to each other and meaning or significance.

   Sela S-e-l-a, is a geographical place name that any Bible dictionary will identify as the area of modern-day Petra called in Old Testament Times Sela. And this verse this is the Jewish translation of it. The, the Jewish Publication Society version of the Old Testament. But the wilderness in the cities there, I've lift up their voice. The villages that Kedar does inhabit, let the inhabitants of Sela sing. Let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the Eternal and declare his praise in the islands. The Eternal shall go forth as a mighty man. He shall stir up jealousy like a man of war. He shall cry. Yeah. Roar. He shall prevail against his enemies. I have long time holding my peace. I have been still and refrained myself now, you know, I will cry out like a prevailing woman. I will destroy and devour at once. I'll make waste mountains and hills. And dry up all their herbs. I'll make the river's islands. I will dry up the pools. He talks about God's judgment that is going to come.

   Now, what is the time element of this verse? Well, as you go through that, it's talking about the second coming of Christ, isn't it? The time when the Lord will go forth as a mighty man when he will prevail against his enemies? Now, we're told at this time that certain individuals who are there dwelling in the Arab world is just talking about the Arab people. You know, the inhabitants of the area of Petra right now, the what was, you know called the rock red city of Petra. There really are no inhabitants other than maybe a you know, a few Bedouin Arabs that pitch their tents there occasionally. These individuals certainly don't know the true God. They're not looking for the return of Jesus Christ. They're not the ones talked about here talking about, let certain individuals, let the inhabitants of Sela sing. This is something that the individuals who are described here as the inhabitants of Sela will be singing about that. They'll be shouting about that. They will be glo giving glory under the Eternal and declaring his praises in the island at the time when God will go forward, certainly indicate that God's people are going to be there in that area.

   Now, let's notice back in Isaiah 33 verse five (Isaiah 33:5), the Eternal is exalted for, he dwells on high. He is filled Zion with judgment and righteousness and wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of your time and the strength of salvation. The fear of the Eternal is his treasure. Behold their valiant one shall cry without the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly. The highways lie waste. The wayfaring man ceases. He has broken the covenant, he has despised the cities. He regards no man, the earth mourns and languish. This is a description of the earth as we draw towards the close of the great tribulation. Verse 10 (Isaiah 33:10). Now will I rise says the Eternal. Now will I be exalted? Now, will I lift up myself. So, here we have a time setting at the time of the return of Jesus Christ, right prior to that time. Now let's notice down in verse 13 (Isaiah 33:13). Hear you that are far off what I have done and you that are near acknowledge my might. The sinners in Zion are afraid, fearfulness has surprised the hypocrite who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire, who among us shall dwell with everlasting, burning. He that walks righteously and speaks uprightly. He that despises the gain of oppression. And that shakes his hand from the holding of brides that stops his ears from the hearing of blood and shuts his eyes from seeing evil. He that dwells on high or he that dwells on the height, his place of defense shall be the stronghold of Sela. I'm reading that from the Jewish translation. The King James says the munitions rock which makes no sense whatsoever. He shall dwell on the height, his place of defense shall be the stronghold of Sela bread, shall be given him, his waters shall be sure your eye shall see the king in his beauty. They shall behold the land that is very far off your heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? Where is the receiver? Where is he that counted the power? Yeah, the receiver is not gonna be there. You know, we won't have to worry about him. He even got mentioned here. You won't have anything to receive about that time. He might be on the receiving end, but it might not be what he desired to receive, but it describes here a time of the return of Jesus Christ, the events, right, surrounding that event, the time of Christ's return and it talks about who will dwell with God, who will be there. Those that are walking righteously as it described in verse 15 and verse 16 (Isaiah 33:15-16), those that dwell on the height, their place of defense, their place of protection will be the strongholds of Sela. Now, that's about as plain a scripture as there is. Unfortunately it's kind of ambiguous in the King James. But if you look it up in other translations, certain you, it's brought out more clearly. The Jewish translation is frankly one of the most clear translations of the Old Testament. And it's very similar to the King James in most places, but this makes it very plain that God's people will be protected. There dwelling on the height, dwelling in the stronghold of Sela. How will we eat? Bread shall be given him, his waters shall be sure you're not gonna have to worry about where your food and water is coming from. God will take care of that just as surely as he did for his real old. Now notice back in, in Isaiah 16 verse one (Isaiah 16:1), send you the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness.

   Now this is properly translated, and if your Bible is like mine, it's got a little 13 out by the word Sela, and in my margin, it has a little 13, and it says or Petra because Sela was the Old Testament name or the name that was used anciently for the area that in modern times has gone by the name of Petra. Send you the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela or Petra to the wilderness under the mount of the daughter of Zion. For it shall be that as a wandering bird cast out of the nest. So the daughters of Moab, you'll be at the fords of honor, take counsel, execute judgment, make your shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday, hide the outcasts betray not him that wanders, let my outcast dwell with you Moab. Be you a cover to them from the face of the spoiler. For the extortioner is at an end. The spoiler ceases the oppressors are consumed out of the land and in mercy shall the throne be established and he shall sit upon it in the in truth in the Tabernacle of David judging and seeking judgment and hasting righteousness.

   Now, what is the time setting? Well, according to verse five (Isaiah 16:4-5), the time setting is the return of Jesus Christ. Now, we're told here talking about this particular area of Petra Moab and it is, this is an area that is basically in the ancient area of the Moabites and the Ammonites and Moabites who are those basically that control this area today are told, let my outcast dwell with you Moab be you a cover to them from the face of the spoiler. Now, it's interesting to note, back in Daniel chapter 11 verse 41 when it describes the king of the North entering into the Middle East, Daniel 11:41 he shall enter 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, the very area that is going to be protected from the onslaught of the Beast power is the very area that Petra is located in, here we're told that God says to those that control this area. He says, let my outcast dwell with you. I think it's very interesting that the first contact the first world ruler or, or world leader that Mr Armstrong had any dealings with was King Hussein of Jordan. And you know, which is basically this is that area Petra, of course, is in the modern-day nation of Jordan. Just kind of an interesting thing that God brought him in contact with King Hussein back, what I guess about 15 years ago or close to it, 14 years ago perhaps. So, we've had kind of a long-standing association there.

   Well, it's interesting as you go through the book of Isaiah. It seems that this area of Petra is certainly the primary area that is indicated in scripture as a place or the place where God will protect his people during the tribulation. Now, I think it's interesting to note from a historical standpoint that God has used this area in times past. It is the area from whence Israel entered the promised land. It is the area to where God brought Israel after they left Mount Sinai and was the area that he brought them to. Now. If we go through, we're going to go through several verses here in Numbers. And I think we can maybe bring some things out that will be interesting, will be helpful to just kind of understand a little bit of what God does show us. In Numbers chapter 10, in verse 12 (Numbers 10:12), we find, "And the Children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai, and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. Now, where is the wilderness of Paran? The word Paran means full of cavern or full of caves. It comes from a Hebrew word which means to dig out or to cut out. Now, if you go back to Genesis 21:21 you will find that Paran is the area that is the traditional home of the Arabs. It is the traditional home of the Arab east of Sinai. Now, where is that we find here from Numbers 10:12 that that is where God took the Israelites after they left Sinai. Now let's go on over to Numbers 12, verse 16. Let's see afterward, the people removed from Hazara and pitched in the wilderness of Paran. So, we find here the same area Numbers 12 gives more Numbers 11 and 12 (Numbers 11:12), give more details of the journey from Sinai to Paran. We find here that they are in the wilderness of Paran and it is from this area as we go into chapter 13 that the Lord spoke to Moses saying, send that, send you men that they may search the land of Canaan which I give to the Children of Israel. So, Israel came from Sinai to this area in the wilderness of Peran or taverns caves. And it is from here that the spies were sent into the land. This was to be the launching point from whence they were to enter the promised land.

   Now, as we come on down, so verse three (Numbers 13:3), Moses, by the commandment of the Eternal, sent them from the wilderness of Peran. All those men were heads of the Children of Israel. So, he sent in these spies to hear from where they were in the wilderness of Peran. Now let's notice on down in verse 26 (Numbers 13:26) and they went and came to Moses and to Aaron and to all the congregation of the children of Israel under the wilderness of Kadesh. Now, where in the wilderness of Peran to Kadesh and brought back word unto them and to all the congregation and showed them the fruit of the land. So, they came back, and the specific area they were in camp was Kadesh. Now we notice here it refers to it in Numbers 13:26 as Kadesh. Let's turn over to Deuteronomy 9:23. We'll find that it had another name, Deuteronomy 9:23. Likewise, when the Eternal sent you from Kadesh Barnea, saying, go up and possess the land which I have given you, then you rebelled against the Commandment of the Eternal, your God. You believed him not or hearken to his voice. You've been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you. And so it goes on and talks about how that they had to wander in the wilderness. Now, here in Deuteronomy 9:23, it uses the name Kadesh. We find with only an abbreviated form of the name. The full name is mentioned in Deuteronomy 9:23, and it is called Kadesh Barnea. Now, what does Kadesh Barnea mean? Kadesh is the Hebrew word for holy, holy is what it means. And Barnea means the son of wandering. So Kadesh Barnea means the holy city of the Children of Wandering, the holy city of the Children of Wandering, located in the wilderness of caverns, the wilderness that is full of cavern. That's what the literal meaning of some of these places are. And this was a specific geographic place name that this is the area that God was going to, where they had been brought.

   Now notice in Deuteronomy 1:19 when we departed from Hor. And this is another name for Sinai. When we departed from Mount Sinai, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness which you saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites as the Eternal our God commanded us. And we came unto Kadesh Barnea. And I said unto you, you are come unto the mountain of the Amorites which the Eternal our God does give to us. So, they were brought to Kadesh Barnea. And we're going to see as we go through just a little bit, a few other verses that Kadesh Barnea can very clearly be proven to be the area of Petra. It was known, it was known originally as the wilderness of Taran because it was full of cavern after Israel was exiled from, from this area there. When they came there, it became known as Kadesh, which was holy because God was there in the aftermath of Israel being sent to wander in the wilderness for 40 years because they failed to enter in the promised land from there. He became known as Kadesh Barnea, the holy city of the Children of Wandering because they were exiled to become wanderers for 40 years. And so, it became known then as Kadesh Barnea. Now let's notice Numbers chapter 20 and I began to tie some of these things together. Numbers chapter 20 verse one (Numbers 20:1), Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation into the desert of Zin in the first month. And the people abode in Kadesh, and Miriam died there and was buried there. So now we find Israel had gone, they had wandered for 40 years. Now they came back after the time of wandering, they came back to Kadesh Barnea. God, you know, when he took them out of Egypt, he carried them to Mount Sinai. They got the law, then they were carried to Kadesh Barnea, the area of Petra. From there, the spies went into the land to spy out the land and they came back and gave a report and the people were to enter into the promised land. They were to go in from Petra, but the people wouldn't do it. They wouldn't enter in, they were scared, they did not enter in because of unbelief. So, God exiled them back into the wilderness of Sinai. They wandered for 40 years until all of that generation had died out. Then they came back to Petra once again to repeat the process. And it is when they came back as we see Numbers 20 verse one (Numbers 20:1), when they came back here to Kadesh, that Miriam died and this is where she was buried.

   Now, verse 16 (Numbers 20:16), we cried out under the Eternal. He heard our voice and sent an angel and has brought us out of Egypt, and behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of your border. Let us pass. I pray you through your country. We will not pass through the fields or through the vineyards. Neither will we drink of the water of the wells. We will go by the King's highway. We will not turn to the right hand or to the left till we pass your borders. And this is the message sent to Edom because this area was right on the border of Edom as we come on down to verse 29 (Numbers 20:29) that we find here where Aaron was going to die. And verse 22 (Numbers 20:22), the Children of Israel, the whole congregation journey from Kadesh and came unto Mount Hor, and Mount Hor was right there in the same area. We're going to see it right in the immediate area of, of Kadesh. And we're all right there in the same basic location. And so, we find in verse 28 that Aaron took off his priestly garment, verse 29 (Numbers 20:29) when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned Aaron 30 days, even all the house of Israel.

   Now let's notice, let's compare now back in Numbers 33, and we're going to conclude back here in just a couple of minutes. Number 33 verse 36 (Number 33:36). Now, Number 33 gives a detailed place-by-place account of Israel's journey into Israel's movement. And Exodus, Numbers chapter 33 verse 36 they removed from Eziongaber and pitched in the wilderness of Zen, which is Kadesh, and they removed from Kadesh and pitched in Mount Hor in the edge of the land of Edom. And Aaron, the priest went up into Mount Hor, the commandment of the Lord and died there. So we find that Kadesh and the area of Kadesh and Mount Hor is where Aaron and Miriam die. Now, I want to read an excerpt from Josephus who was the Jewish historian at the time of Christ, and he mentions this. He says, then it was that Miriam, the sister of Moses came to her end, having completed her 40th year since she left Egypt. She was buried upon a certain mountain which they called Zin when they had more than 30 days. Moses purified the people after this manner. Coming on down, it refers that they came, let's see when its purification was over and caused them to remove and to come to a place which the Arab Arabians esteem their metropolis, which has now the name of Petra at this place which was encompassed with high mountains. Aaron went up one of them in the side of the whole army, Moses and having before told him that he was to die, but this place was over against him. And so, this is where he went. And Josephus identifies this very plainly as being the area of Petra, it brings out here that the sepulcher of Miriam is still expand near Petra, the old capital city of Arabia, Petra, at this day is also that of Aaron, not far off. So, if you're traveling in the Middle East, you can actually go to the area of Petra and they have the sepulchers of Miriam and, and Aaron that are preserved that are, that are marked there and that the Jews have recognized until this day. So, they understand where this area is.

   Now, if you look at most Bible maps, Kadesh Barnea is usually located anywhere but the right place. But when you go through and you put these accounts together in Numbers and you go back and you check Josephus and you check history. It is very plain that the, the Kadesh Barnea in the wilderness of Paran is none other than the city of, than the area of Petra. It's the only place it could be. It's the only place that's on the border of Edom. And the borders Edom and Moab right there where Edom Moab and and Israel come together, that spot is Petra and that's identified in, in the Book of Numbers as being the area of Kadesh Barnea, the holy city of the Children of Wandering the area from whence Israel entered the promised land. Petra served as the headquarters of the Children of Israel of old. The point from which they were to enter the promised land. It's kind of an interesting parallel that we find that it is mentioned in history. It played a prominent part in the history of Israel God's people of old as they were coming out of the wilderness and preparing to go into the promised land. It's interesting that Petra was where it was the was the way station. That was the halfway point that was where they were between the wilderness and the promised land. Mr. Doucet mentioned in the sermonette that we're in the wilderness right now. We will enter into the promised land when Christ returns. It's kind of an interesting parallel we find brought out here in the book of Numbers. Brethren, we need to come to understand that although destruction is going to come on, the world, God does not desire that any should perish. That's not God's desire, that's not God's intention. That That's not what God wants. The destruction that is going to come on is what man brings on himself. And God is ultimately going to put a stop to it, to end it.

   Now, God desires to protect us. God desires to protect His people, to protect those that will seek and accept that protection. You know, sometimes the question asked, well, who will be eligible? Those who are willing to seek and accept that protection or those who are willing to, you know, to accept it on God's terms. God desires to protect us, not simply as protection, but also as a witness and as a preparation.

   Let's notice the book of I Thessalonians, Chapter 5, I Thessalonians, Chapter 5, and verse 1 (I Thessalonians 5:1). "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you, for yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night, for when they shall say peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them and prevail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape". Now, that's what it's gonna be for the world, "but you brethren are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a faith. You should not be caught by shock and by surprise when these events began to happen. You are all the Children of light and the children of the day. We are not of the night nor of dark. Therefore let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober, for they that sleep sleep in the night. They that be drunken or drunken in the night. But let us who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love. And for our helmet, the hope of salvation for God has not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us. And whether we wait for sleep, we should live together with Him."

   So, God has not appointed at the wrath. God does not desire to see us go through something and suffer. God doesn't desire to see people suffer. God is not willing that any should perish, but there's some who choose to do so. There's some just as at the time of Noah. You know, Noah warned the world for 120 years. He said destruction is going to come. There is a way of escape. There were only eight people that took that way was that God's fault or that when the time of destruction was going to come on Sodom and Gomorrah. God sent two angels to the city. Noah went out to try to warn those that were especially close to him. He pleaded with them to come to accept God's protection. God gave a warning and a witness to those people, but they rejected it. They mocked that God offered a way of escape. You know, God wasn't even going to destroy the place if He could find 10 righteous men. Remember Abraham had talked him into that or had appealed to him in that regard. When he couldn't find the 10 righteous, then he said, all right, well, those who are willing to escape and accept my protection, I'll give that opportunity too. And ultimately Lot and two daughters were the only ones that really took advantage of it.

   God does not desire to see people go through these things. It's simply a matter of the course that people choose. The world is going to be shocked and surprised. They're going to be going about their activities. They're going to be marrying, giving in marriage, building, selling. The scripture in the book of Malachi Malachi chapter three verse 13 (Malachi 3:13), "Your words have been founded against me," says the Eternal. Yet you say, "What have we spoken so much against you? You said it's vain to serve God. What prophet is it, if we kept his ordinance? We walked mournfully before the Eternal host. Now we call the proud happy. Yeah, they that work wickedness we set up, Yeah, they that kept God or even delivered kind of an attitude, a carnal attitude of thinking boy, you know, I wish we could be more like the world. They, they're getting by with everything.

   Notice the contrast, verse 16 (Malachi 3:16), certain of God's people actually have a contrast between kind of a Laodicean attitude and a Philadelphian attitude. Those who serve God, but they serve God begrudgingly. Their heart is not in it and they're doing as little as they think they can get by with. Their attitude is wrong because their heart is not totally out of the world. They're not totally hot or cold. They are, they're not really doing what the world is doing, but their heart is not totally fervently in doing what God wants to be done. They kind of look longingly back at the world. Kind of like Lot's wife.

   Verse 16, a different category is spoken of. "Then they that feared the Eternal, spoke often one to another, and the Eternal hearkened and heard it. And a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Eternal and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine," says the Eternal of host, "in that day when I make up my jewels and I will spare them as a man spares his own son that serves him."

   Now, you know, if you've got a son that serves you, that's not the son you spank; the son you spank is the one that didn't do what you told him to do. The one that didn't do what you told him to do, you have to spank him, the son that did what you told him to do when you told him to do it, you spare him.

   So, God says all these are the ones that I will spare, as a man spares his own son that turns Him, then shall you return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him to serve God and him to serve him not. Brethren, we have a group pictured here that God is going to spare, a group that's going to receive God's protection, a group that God desires for all of us to be a part of, a group that you have the opportunity to be a part of by drawing close to God, by walking with God, by serving God. But brethren, you have to realize and you have to understand, and this is whether you're baptized or unbaptized. This is whether you're teenagers or adults, whatever your age, whatever your status, wherever you throw in your lot with whomever you throw in your lot. That's where you face the consequences.

   If you throw in your lot with God and His people, you get the results of that, you throw in your lot for this work, you get the results of that. Brethren, God paints a picture here of the group, and he's going to remember the group that he's going to protect and the group that he's going to spare, let's be part of that group.

Sermon Date: April 12, 1980