THE HIDING PLACE

In the books of Isaiah and Micah there are several apocalyptic verses relating to the Second Coming of Yeshua that are rarely, if ever, mentioned by Bible teachers. These refer to a place of captivity and safety called Bozrah. The scripture verses are found in Isaiah 63 and Micah 2.

Ancient Bozrah was a city south of the Dead Sea in the land of the Edomites. The Edomites are the children of Esau as Esau is Edom. Jacob and Esau made peace between each other in their life times, but the Edomites became bitter enemies of Israel throughout history. The book of Obadiah is, in fact, a judgment on the descendants of Esau or the Edomites.

Bozrah means: fortification, a vintage, sheepfold; (root = to gather the vintage; to render inaccessible). Besieged.

We see in this meaning that Bozrah is a fortified sheepfold that is inaccessible, and a vintage (ready for harvest).

As we look at the scriptures we see Bozrah as a fortified place of captivity for the sheep. The “Breaker” or Shepherd comes and rescues the sheep by breaking down the rock wall and leading them out.

“I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together like sheep of the fold, like a flock in the midst of their pasture; they shall make a loud noise because of so many people.
The one who breaks open will come up before them; They will break out, pass through the gate, and go out by it;
Their king will pass before them, with the Lord at their head.” Micah 2.12-13

Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, this One who is glorious in His apparel,
Traveling in the greatness of His strength?—“I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” Why is Your apparel red, and Your garments like one who treads in the winepress? “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, and trampled them in My fury; their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have stained all My robes. For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come. I looked, but there was no one to help, and I wondered that there was no one to uphold; Therefore My own arm brought salvation for Me; and My own fury, it sustained Me. Isaiah 63.1-5

In these verses we see a gathering of the people like a flock and the breaker coming up and breaking them out. We see the Lord as the breaker in Isaiah 63 coming and saving his flock. It appears the flock is in captivity but alive and waiting for their Shepherd to come and bring them out.

This is definitely an end time scenario. This gathering of people would include not only Jews (Judah) but also Joes (the people of the lost ten tribes or Joseph (Ephraim). Zephaniah sees a place of hiding for God’s people.

Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, before the decree is issued, or the day passes like chaff, before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you, before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you!
Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger. Zephaniah 2.1-3

These verses point to a final refined remnant of God’s people being rescued at the end of this age. This would be the time the Lord appears at His Second Coming in the latter half of Daniel’s 70^th week, towards the end of the great Tribulation or Jacob’s Trouble. God’s people have a hiding place that is a place of captivity but yet is a place of safety as they await their deliverance. This may be what these verses in Revelation 12 allude to.

Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev 12.13-17

It appears that there are two groups of God’s people striving against the Antichrist. The group in the wilderness may represent the Bozrah group interceding for the events which are taking place. The other group is resisting while under severe persecution. Could the protected group be those who have been radically obedient and the persecuted group be the rebellious ones who are now learning through trial and tribulation to obey? The word in Zephaniah above seems to indicate this.

There is no doubt that God is gathering His people in the state of Israel in this present day. This is clearly seen in the books of the prophets as Jerusalem is ground zero at the end of this current age. Many Jews as well as those who call themselves “Christians” are relocating to Israel. When you understand the study on the lost tribes this begins to become clear (See the blog postings beginning in January 2014 for the 12 part series). God is re-gathering His people and restoring their identities. This is a re-gathering of the “Commonwealth of Israel” as seen in Ephesians 2.11-3.7.

Those of us who understand that the pre-tribulation rapture is false teaching realize there is a place of safety until the Lord returns. I cannot, and am commanded not to be, a judge in those things concerning my brothers/sisters in the Lord. I cannot discern the heart of man--that is for the Lord. One thing is obvious when studying scripture--the Lord wants His people to be obedient to Him. He also is calling them out of the Babylonian church system. Those who respond to His call and obey His commands will have a special place of safety in a place like Bozrah.

This is what the return to Hebrew Roots is all about. It is about understanding the truth of church history and coming out of the apostate church. It is a return to understanding and observing the feasts of the Lord and His true Shabbat. It is not about salvation--it is about obedience and a change of culture. We must change our culture and become holy unto the Lord in the way He desires. It is not about legalism--it is about love and obedience. Those who have ears to hear and eyes to see will understand.

The Lord said, “There are many mansions in my Father’s house.” He was speaking of the rewards of the Millennial Kingdom. As we see in the parables of the talents there are rewards in the next life. Those who have ears to hear will yield to Yehovah’s leading in these areas.

Those who have been “reborn” are saved. There is, however, a higher calling to follow the Lord where ever He leads. Those who fail to respond in this life will have their “tears wiped away” in the Millennial Kingdom (MK) by our gracious Lord and then be sent back to school! They will realize at that time all that they’ve missed out on. They will learn in the MK what they should have learned in this life.

A Remnant - The Lord Preparing His Bride“Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the Man who is My Companion,” says the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; then I will turn My hand against the little ones. And it shall come to pass in all the land,” says the Lord, “That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, but one–third shall be left in it: I will bring the one–third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; and each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.” Zechariah 13.7-9

The Principle of DivisionThe Lord refines His people through the process of division. There is no true unity until we have been reduced. The Lord reduces those who yield to Him and are obedient. This is allowing our willful self to be crucified with Yeshua.

When you take a whole number and divide it you reduce that number to it’s mean. This is what the Lord does with His people. It is a threshing process--a whittling down. We are reduced in order that Yeshua may come forth in our lives. It is a voluntary process. Many are called but few choose this way. Has the Lord been putting you in places where you feel you are being reduced? Yield--this is a good place.

Until we yield to this division or reduction there can be no unity. All inclusive unity allows sin to creep in--we want to embrace all that we think is good. That is why so many churches have turned from the Word to human secularism. They embrace abortion, gay marriage, and other sins. This is not the mixture or unity that the Lord would desire. “Come out of her my people.” The Lord will continue to divide and reduce until His Bride is without spot or winkle.

SUMMARYThere is much to think about here. God’s people are not “raptured” out of this world but are told to expect persecution. This is Yehovah’s refining fire. This is the dividing asunder of flesh and marrow to the things of the Spirit. The more we love Him and lean on Him the easier it becomes to obey Him. It is obedience fueled by a deep love and affection for Yeshua. A generation is coming wherein these things will be very important to understand.

There is a Bozrah hiding place for some. Only Yeshua knows who they are. There is a place of captivity which is in reality a place of safety. I would like to be one who is this close to our Lord. Only eternity will tell. There will be many martyrs. There is much we do not understand in this life. There is a coming kingdom where we rule and reign with Yeshua. What we do now in this life will determine many things in the MK. Now is the time to press into getting to know Yeshua and grow in love that will fuel obedience. Allow the cross to work a deep work in your life in this day. This was how Yeshua walked as He abided in the Father. This is how the end time generation will walk.