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“‘Their stronghold will fall because of terror; at sight of the
battle standard their commanders will panic,’ declares the
Lord, whose fire is in Zion, whose furnace is in Jerusalem”
(Isa.
31:9).
“Like birds hovering overhead, the Lord Almighty will
shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will ‘pass
over’ it and will rescue it”
(Isa. 31:5).
The picture we have is that the presence of God (the root
of Jesse) will be the deliverer. As His banner passes over Jerusa-
lem, the Jews will be rescued.
CLOUD—SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN
In that day, the redeemed of the earth will fly along like
clouds, like doves to their nest (Isa. 60:8). This cloud or ban-
ner over Israel could be nothing less than the sign (ensign) of
the Son of Man. This is clearly spoken of in the Book of Mat-
thew:
“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in
the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will
see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with
power and great glory”
(Matt. 24:30).
The Antichrist and his hordes are gathered against Jerusa-
lem hoping against hope that Christ and His army (the banner
of clouds) will be defeated. The vultures excitedly fly overhead,
ready
“for the great supper of God,”
prepared to fulfill prophe-
cy by eating,
“…the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty
men,…”
(Rev. 19:17-18). Then Jesus will destroy their leader,
the Antichrist,
“…with the breath of his mouth and the splen-
dor of his coming”
(2 Thess. 2:8). The Antichrist will be cast
into the Lake of Fire, and his hordes to Hades.
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