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The Woman in the Wilderness

Rev. 12: 6 "And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a placeprepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred andthreescore days…"
Rev. 12: 13--16 "And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth,he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the womanwere 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 aflood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of theflood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, andswallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth."

The dragon being banished from heaven by the Man-Child, withthe aid and assistance of Michael and his angels, now turns his wrath and venomon the Woman.

Rev. 12: 12, 13 "…Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! forthe devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that hehath but a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto theearth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child."

We have already established the identity of the Woman in thechapter dealing with the "Sun-Clothed Woman" and her giving birth to the"Man-Child," which was the cause of the devil's expulsion from heaven. TheWoman (the mother of the "Man-Child") is the Church that is left here on earthwhen the "Man-Child" (the Bride of Christ; the Overcomer) is caught up to Godand to His Throne. The reason the Woman (the Church) is left is because shedid not make herself ready.

Rev. 19: 7, 8 "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for themarriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean andwhite: for the fine linen is the righteousness (righteous acts) of saints."(Acquired righteousness)

The Church did not watch and pray, as she was admonished byher Lord.

Lk. 21: 36 "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accountedworthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand beforethe Son of man."

"Agrupneo" -- "Watch" -- sleepless -- keep awake

Matt. 25: 5 "While the Bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept."
I Thes. 5: 6 "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watchand be sober."

Those that slumbered and slept were all virgins, five ofwhich had oil (a type of the Holy Spirit). These five virgins with oil hadgone to sleep, representing the Church that will go out to meet the Bridegroom,when He comes with His Bride. They will be guests at the Wedding Feast.

Matt. 25: 10 "And those who were prepared went in with Himto the marriage feast:" (Amplified N.T.)
Lk. 12: 35--38 "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;(to have lights burning you must have oil, and the admonition is to gird up. That is, they had truth but they were slack. He admonishes them to gird up the loins. Eph. 6: 14 "…Girt about with truth…") And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord , when He will return (not come for the wedding, but return ) from the wedding; that when He cometh and knocketh, they may open unto Him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. (The WeddingFeast) And if He shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch,and find them so, blessed are those servants." (The Church)

The First Watch has already taken place. The Bride ofChrist has made herself ready and she was taken in the First Watch. Jesus usedthe words, "…If He shall come in the second watch, or come in the thirdwatch…" which point to the Midnight hour.

Matt. 25: 6 "And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the Bridegroomcometh;"

At midnight -- in the middle of the Tribulation -- He willcome back for the Church. The Church is not ready for rapture; she isLaodicean. It will take the first three-and-a-half years of the Tribulation toawaken the Church and get her ready to meet the Lord when He returns from theWedding.

In Rev. 19: after the Bride has made herself ready and has become the Lamb's wife, the Scripture says in vs. 9, "…Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of theLamb…"The Church is not the Bride as she was not "…found worthy." In fact, Jesus said:

Rev. 3: 16, 17 "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold norhot, I will spue thee out of My mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, andincreased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou artwretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:"

Again, it will take the first three-and-a-half years ofTribulation and persecution to bring the Church to the place where she will beready to meet her Lord in the air.

I Thes. 4: 16, 17 "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with ashout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the deadin Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caughtup together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shallwe ever be with the Lord."

The Church will be called to the Marriage Supper of theLamb. This is not the Wedding , but to the Marriage Supper .

The Wilderness

Rev. 12: 6 "And the womanfled into the wilderness…"

A Condition of Desolation

"Eremos" -- "Wilderness" -- desolate -- deserted -- lonely

"Eremos" is an adjective describing a condition rather thanindicating a place.

"Pheugo" -- "Fled" --to run away -- as a fugitive -- escaped

The Woman runs away from the attacks of the dragon. Thereis only one place to run for safety, and that is to the Cross of the Lord JesusChrist, where the blood protects from all the attacks of the dragon.

Jesus said:

Matt. 24: 8, 9 "All these are the beginning of sorrows (Tribulation). Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and yeshall be hated of all nations for My name's sake."

In the Gospel according to Luke, Jesus said:

Lk. 21: 12 "But before allthese, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, deliveringyou up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings andrulers for My name's sake."

A Time of Refining

The Church is going to be refined and made ready throughpersecution. She will be driven back to a separated life; separated from theworld and all its worldly attractions.

II Cor. 6: 17, 18 "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate,saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, Andwill be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith theLord Almighty."
I Jn. 2: 15--17 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

A Place Prepared

Rev. 12: 6 "…Where she hath a place prepared of God…"

"Topos" -- "Place" -- a place which a person or thing occupies-- metaphorically, of condition -- occasion -- opportunity -- position

It will take the persecution to drive the Church back to the place where she belongs. The Scripture says, "…A place prepared of God…"

"Hetoimazo" -- "Prepared" -- it has the meaning of make ready

God is bringing the Church into a real experience, not oneof having just a form.

II Tim. 3: 5 "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:from such turn away."

God has a place that has been prepared from the foundationof the World. Christ was as a "…Lamb slain from the foundation of theworld."

A Place of Discipline

The Church refused to be disciplined; but now she will learndiscipline. She will learn to deny self , take up her cross and followHim. The Church will learn through discipline to surrender its own will, andto follow the Lamb wherever He goes. Sheep that refused to follow had one oftheir legs broken, so it learned to follow the Shepherd. Likewise, the Churchwill have its leg broken, as it were, through persecution to learn to follow.

A Place of Learning

The Church will learn to take the Lord's yoke upon them, andlearn of Him. They will learn the Word in a way that they had never known, orever even felt the need to know. They will learn to know His Willin a way that they had never before seen necessary. They will learn His Wayswithout rebelling and become willing to obey. They will learn His Commands,that they had never before desired to know. They will learn His Judgmentsin a way that they do not have a right to decide to receive or reject, but mustaccept them as His decision and not theirs. His slightest wish will becometheir supreme command.

A Place of Testing

No one will ever make heaven without being tested. Petersaid:

I Pet. 1: 7 "…The trial of your faith, being much more precious than ofgold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praiseand honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:"

Again Peter said:

I Pet. 4: 12, 13 "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trialwhich is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: Butrejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when Hisglory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."

Paul said:

Rom. 8: 17 "…If so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be alsoglorified together."
II Tim. 2: 12 "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him,He also will deny us:"
Heb. 12: 6--8 "For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth everyson whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as withsons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be withoutchastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye (illegitimate), and notsons."

Heb. 12: 8 Amplified N.T. "Now if you are exempt fromcorrection and left without discipline in which all (of God's children)share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not the true sons (at all)."

Because the Church refused to be tested and tried beforeTribulation, in the hour of persecution they will be tested and learn to knowthe value of testing during the first three-and-a-half years of theTribulation.

Psalm 110: 3 "Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power…"
Isa. 26: 9 "…For when Thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants ofthe world will learn righteousness."

What the Church could have learned through the preaching ofthe Word before Tribulation, they will learn through persecution. They refusedto listen to the preached Word, but they will listen through persecution. TheChurch today is in the state that Paul wrote about, to young Timothy:

II Tim. 4: 3, 4 "For the time will come (and the time has come) when theywill not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap tothemselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their earsfrom the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

"Muthos" -- "Fables" --myth -- fiction -- a falsification offacts

The Church today does not want the truth. Their mindset is,"Tell us stories, myths -- fictions -- that which is false, but do not tell usthe truth." However, the time will come after the Bride (the Overcomer) hasbeen translated, and persecution comes that the Church will long and cry outfor the purity of the Word. When the Church cries out for the Word and a rightrelationship with God, God will hear and do as Peter said:

I Pet. 5: 10 "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto Hiseternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make youperfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."

The Church will be revived and prepared for Rapture in themiddle of the Tribulation hour. This will be the fulfilling of Joel'sprophecy, both to the nation of Israel (the Jews), and to the Church.

Joel 2: 28, 29 "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour outMy spirit upon all flesh ; and your sons and your daughters shallprophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour outMy spirit."

This is not the earnest of the Spirit, but rather thefullness of the Spirit. It does not say "…I will pour out of"as stated in Acts 2: 17 but "…I will pour out My Spirit." There is a difference in "pouring out of" and "pouringout."

When God brought Israel out of Egypt, He tested them beforeHe brought them into the Promised Land.

Duet. 8: 2, 3 "…Thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God ledthee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, toknow what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, orno. And He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna,which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make theeknow that man doth not live by bread only, but by every Word that proceedeth outof the mouth of the LORD doth man live."

The Church has to learn this lesson, as well as Israel, before they pass into the Promise Land; that "man (shall) not live bybread only, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord…" The Church must be put to the test and be proven that she will serve and loveher Lord with all her heart, and all her soul, and all her mind.

Rev. 3: 10 "…The hour of temptation (trial -- testing -- putting to proof --scrutinize -- discipline -- examine), which shall come upon all the world, to trythem that dwell upon the earth."

A Place of Persecution

Rev. 12: 13 "And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, hepersecuted the woman which brought forth the man child."
Rev. 12: 12 "…Having great wrath…"

"Thumos" -- "Wrath" -- hot anger -- passion -- as if breathinghard -- fierceness -- indignation -- an agitated condition of the feelings -- anoutburst of wrath

The dragon takes out his wrath on the Woman (the Church)because of the position that he has lost. The "Man-Child" has taken thedragon's place since the dragon has been cast out unto the earth, therefore hepersecutes the Woman. The reason he attacks the Woman is because she broughtforth the "Man-Child" that resulted in his being cast out.

Another reason, which the Scripture makes very plain, isthat the dragon rages "…because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." (Rev. 12: 12) This is a period of three-and-a-half years before the Woman isprepared and made ready for rapture. The dragon will do all that he can tokeep the Church from pleasing God; but the more he attacks and persecutes, themore the Church is refined, purified and driven to God.

A Place of Provision

Rev. 12: 14 "And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, thatshe might fly into the wilderness, into her place,where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face ofthe serpent."

Special and Direct Help of God

"…Given two wings of a great eagle…"
Ex. 19: 4 "Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare youon eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself."

The Church will be endowed with soaring power as she callsand waits on God in an intimate relationship with Him.

Isa. 40: 31 "…They that wait ("qavah" -- to bind together -- by twisting)upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings aseagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

God's desire for the Church, in the first place, was to beseated in heavenly places.

Eph. 2: 6 "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together inheavenly places in Christ Jesus:"

The Woman Finds Her Place

"…That she might fly into the wilderness, into her place…"

It is here in the wilderness (desolate -- deserted -- lonely)that she finds her place.

The Church has been out of her place for a long time. Jesus said:

Rev. 3: 14--18 "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write;These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning ofthe creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: Iwould thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neithercold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth. Because thou sayest, I amrich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not thatthou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counselthee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire (the Church refuses to buy now, butthe Church will buy and pay a great price in the Tribulation Hour), that thoumayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that theshame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, thatthou mayest see."

A Place of Nourishing

Rev. 12: 14 "…Where she (the Church) is nourished…"

A Supernatural Feeding

"Trepho" -- "Nourished" -- to make to grow -- feed -- bring up --to bring to maturity

The idea is that of a supernatural feeding. Israel hadmanna supplied miraculously to them in the wilderness to get them ready toenter into Canaan. Most commentators and expositors depict this as a naturalplace where the Woman flees from the attacks of the dragon, and God simplygives her physical food, as He did Israel in the wilderness. This is so farfrom the truth of what is being related through the Apostle John to the Church.

Remember, this is a vision of a "Woman" in Heaven (in thespiritual realm). Understanding this as nothing more than a natural occurrenceis to do injustice to the context and purpose of the vision.

Things happen to Israel as the Apostle Paul writes:

I Cor. 10: 11 "Now all these things happened unto them (Israel) forensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of theworld are come."

God gave Israel physical manna, but He is going to give theChurch spiritual manna (Divine Revelation).

Rev. 3: 20 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear Myvoice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and hewith Me."
Rev. 2: 17 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith untothe churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna…"

"Krupto" -- "Hidden" -- to cover -- to conceal -- keep secret

God has manna that the natural "…eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hathprepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by HisSpirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." (ICor. 2: 9, 10)

"Bathos" -- "Deep" -- hidden -- secrets -- mysteries -- of God

God will reveal these truths to His people when they get hungry for them. They will be hungry in the wilderness (in the desolate --deserted -- lonely place). They will come to the realization that they needGod, then God will feed them "Manna from Heaven." Jesus said:

Jn. 6: 32 "…Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but My Fathergiveth you the true bread from heaven."

Israel was physically going from Egypt to Canaan land, so they needed physical food. The Church is going from earth to heaven, so theyneed spiritual food (manna from heaven) to grow to maturity. God requires thatthey "…be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with everywind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby theylie in wait to deceive;" (Eph. 4: 14)

Remember, this is in the "wilderness" that the "Woman" (theChurch) finds her " place ."

"Topos" -- "Place" -- position -- condition -- opportunity

She could have found this place before, but was so occupied with the cares of this life that she had little time for the life to come. She(the Church) went to sleep spiritually and now is in a desperate condition, inneed of God and His Truth. God will feed the hungry soul with "Manna from Heaven" (Divine Revelation). Jesus said:

Jn. 8: 32 "…Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall makeyou free."

"Eleutheroo" -- "Make free" -- to make free -- is used inregard to deliverance from sin

This is in the context of Jn. 8: 31, "…If ye continue inMy Word, then are ye My disciples indeed;(now vs. 32) And ye shall knowthe truth, and the truth shall make you free." It is a process ofunderstanding the truth and then applying the truth. In this process ofknowing and applying, there is freedom from sin, from bondage and from thecarnal.

The word "Know" comes from a Greek word "Ginosko," and hasin it the idea of experiential knowledge. This also has the idea of inceptionor progress in knowledge. Putting the two together you have a progress inknowledge that produces a progression experientially.

This verse is so often misquoted as, "…ye shall know the truth and the truth shall(set) you free." It does not say it will setyou free, it says it will " make you free." The freedom is dependent on the knowledge of the truth and the application of that truth. It is a process just as much as everything else in the spiritual realm is. We first are born into the kingdom of God as babes:

I Pet. 2: 2 "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that yemay grow thereby:"

God wants His people to grow up, mature and not remain "babes." Paul, writing to the Corinthians:

I Cor. 3: 1--3 "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as untospiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed youwith milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neitheryet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among youenvying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"

Writing to the Ephesians Paul said:

Eph. 4: 14, 15 "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro,and carried about with every wind of doctrine… Speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"

"Nepios" -- "Children" -- immature -- infant -- none speaking --simple minded -- childish

Paul in Heb. 5: is rebuking the believers for their statusas babes because they were not growing or maturing:

Heb. 5: 12--14 "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have needthat one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God;and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For everyone that useth milk is unskilful in the Word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat ("Stereoo" -- solid; "Trophe" -- food -- nourishment)belongeth to them that are of full age (mature), even those whoby reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

"Aistheterion" -- "Senses" -- the faculty of perception -- thecapacities for spiritual apprehension

The Amplified N.T. says, "Solid food is for full-grown men,for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice todiscriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what isevil and contrary."

Eph. 4: 13 "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of theknowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of thestature of the fulness of Christ:"

The Amplified N.T. speaking of the Church, "(That it mightdevelop) until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension ofthe full and accurate knowledge of the Son of God; that (we might arrive) atreally mature manhood -- the completeness of personality which is nothing lessthan the standard height of Christ's own perfection -- themeasure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ, and the completenessfound in Him."

Paul said:

Heb. 6: 1 "…Let us go on unto perfection…" Maturity -- full growth -- fullage

The Church will be nourished and fed in the wilderness until she becomes mature. Then, and only then, will she be ready for Rapture. Thefive wise virgins were wakened by the midnight call and "…arose, and trimmed("kosmeo" -- put in proper order -- arrange -- adorn -- garnish) theirlamps."

The Time of the Churches Nourishing

Rev. 12: 6 "…They should feed her there a thousand two hundred andthreescore days."
Rev. 12: 14 "…She is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time…"

The Church is nourished and brought to the place of maturity during these three-and-a-half years of persecution, the first half of theTribulation Hour. Remember, it is during this time of persecution that theChurch is aroused, awakened and prepared for Rapture, in the middle of theTribulation Hour.

Matt. 25: 6 "And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the Bridegroomcometh; go ye out to meet Him."

The Church has been left to go into Tribulation because she was not "…watching and praying…" nor "…found worthy to escape." This is much like Israel as a nation who could have escaped the forty years of wandering in the wilderness, but did not because of unbelief and rebellion. Likewise, the Church could have escaped the first three-and-a-half years ofGreat Persecution, but because of unbelief and rebellion, they will go intothat time of persecution to be purified and made ready for the Marriage Supperof the Lamb.

The first three-and-a-half years of the Tribulation Hour arenot, as many have said, the releasing of God's judgment and wrath, which isreserved for the last three-and-a-half years of the Tribulation. The first three-and-a-half years are a time of Great Persecution to the Church to cause her to repent and prepare herself for the Marriage Supper.

I Thes. 4: 16, 17 "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with ashout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the deadin Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain ("Perileipo" --to leave over -- or left) shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

These are not left from the dead; these are left from the translation of the Bride. Both those that were dead and those that were aliveare caught up together. The Bride is returning with the Lord to Rapture theChurch in the middle of the Tribulation and to invite the Church to theMarriage Supper of the Lamb.

Rev. 19: 9 "…Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper ofthe Lamb…."

Jesus warned concerning the persecution that was to come to the Church.

Matt. 10: 17 "But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to thecouncils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;"
Matt. 24: 9 "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shallkill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake."

Notice in what context this is said, verse 8 says, "All these are the beginning of sorrows."

"Odin" -- "Pain" -- sorrow -- Tribulation -- persecution

Lk. 21: 12 "But before all these, they shall lay their handson you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and intoprisons, being brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake."

The question, "Before what" must be answered to understandwhat is being said. Before the judgment of God there is going to bepersecution.

Lk. 21: 11 "…Great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, andpestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven."

This is speaking of the last three-and-a-half years of theTribulation when the judgments of God and the wrath of God are poured out withoutmixture. This is the time when the Seals, the Trumpets, the Vials and theThunders of God's judgments are released on the earth. Again, contrary to theminds of most, these judgments are not released until the last three-and-a-halfyears, which is the Great Tribulation.

But before this, as Jesus said:

Lk. 21: 12 "…They shall lay their hands on you, and persecuteyou…"

Great Persecution is the first three-and-a-half yearsof the Tribulation.

II Tim. 3: 12 "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shallsuffer persecution."

Jesus Himself suffered persecution.

Jn. 15: 20 "Remember the Word that I said unto you, The servant is notgreater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecuteyou…"

The Bride will have suffered.

Rom. 8: 17 "…If so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be alsoglorified together."
II Tim. 2: 12 "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him,He also will deny us:"

So then, the Church will suffer and suffer greatly under thepersecution that will come upon her, because she did not keep His Word.

What the preaching of the Word does not do in this hour,persecution will do in the time of Tribulation. Jesus said:

Matt. 24: 22 "And except those days should be shortened, there should noflesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."

Those days shall be shortened for the sake of the Church that has applied the truth under persecution and made preparation to receiveHim when He comes in the clouds. This is not seven years, but only three-and-a-half years. It will be a time of unparalleled anguish and persecution. Would to God that the Church would have heard His voice as He knocked, and responded and been counted worthy to escape "all these things."

"From the Face of the Serpent"

"Prosopon" -- "Face" -- as being towards -- presence

The Scripture can clearly be understood to be saying, "From the presence of the serpent." They are now being led from the darkness oferror and false doctrine.

Many today are being deceived and giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. They are being seduced by demons (in the presence of demons), and are being deceived by these evil spirits. As Paul said:

I Tim. 4: 1 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, anddoctrines of devils;"

"Planos" is an adjective signifying wandering, leading astray, or seducing. It denotes an imposter, deceiver, or corrupter.

The Church has been deceived and rocked to sleep in the arms of the devil and the world, much like Samson was rocked to sleep in the arms ofDelilah where he lost the touch of God on his life. Likewise, the touch of God and the Spirit of God has been lost from the life of the Church. As Samson regained his strength while he suffered, the Church will also regain its strength under persecution in the Tribulation. In the Tribulation Hour theChurch will turn from the "face" (the presence) of the serpent and all his lies and deceptions.