Revelation 12:14 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.
Those who believe they are called to be in the firstfruits by FATHER must walk in the revelation of Love and see the church as identified by the woman as FATHER sees it in HIS loving kindness. HE not only delivers the woman into the wilderness but nourishes and protects her as well. This period is a time of separation and preparation.
In the book of Esther, chapter 2 we read about separation and preparation for another bride:
8 So it was, when the king’s command and decree were heard, and when many young women were gathered at Shushan the citadel, under the custody of Hegai, that Esther also was taken to the king’s palace, into the care of Hegai the custodian of the women.
12 Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months’ preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women.
In the big picture, Esther was called to deliver the Israelites from certain annihilation by Haman. Her uncle Mordecai found out about Haman’s plot and confronted Esther who is now Queen Esther (chapter 4):
13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews.
14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai:
16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
This story describes the theme of separation and preparation resulting in the fulfillment of one’s calling. Esther’s calling was established before she was separated along with the other young women. Only after the separation and preparation was she qualified to be presented to the King. This theme is plays out in many facets throughout Scripture. King David was placed in the wilderness to be protected from Saul:
1 Samuel 23:14 And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand
We all must be prepared no matter which group we are designated to be in. Every one of us requires cleansing and purging and we must not be critical of those who have been blinded from the higher truths for they will have their time in the wilderness to be prepared and sustained by FATHER prior to entering into HIS rest. HIS plan of Love for all mankind is consistent and as we look at others through the eyes of Love, their current state will no longer dictate our assessment of them. They too will see the Glory of THE LORD in their wilderness adventure and see HIS mighty hand of deliverance in their lives. This twelfth chapter of the book of Revelation opens our eyes to another facet of FATHER’S Love on behalf of the woman who gave birth to the manchild. We should be able to see how FATHER finds it necessary to change the internal rather than simply focus on the external. Many believed that FATHER would simply “flip a switch” and drop the anointing down from Heaven and then we would all be empowered to heal the masses. Over and over we find patterns in Scripture to the contrary.
“Into the wilderness to her place” speaks of a special place reserved for the woman. FATHER has a reservation for all of us prepared specifically for our individual callings. We need not flee to some city of refuge ourselves or build some survivalist cabin in the remote woods away from civilization. FATHER is fully able to protect and sustain us if we are placed in harm’s way. HE doesn’t need our input or assistance in the process. HE had a place prepared for the woman when she needed to be removed from the presence of the serpent.
FATHER will provide nourishment for the woman as well, she won’t starve nor will she thirst. She will be fed spiritually in order that the serpent not deceive her or the dragon devour her. Where does the spiritual food come from? From Christ Who is the Word made manifest:
John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
In Deuteronomy chapter 8, we further read:
2 And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
3 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.
4 Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years.
5 You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens (disciplines, instructs, admonishes) you.
For FATHER so Loved the world HE gave HIS WORD to feed us and prepare us not matter what our calling! The wilderness is where the supernatural occurs although in the natural it appears to be barren. We leave our ability to produce behind and rely on HIS ability to provide for us. Our carnal man who would manipulate and negotiate for higher wages, lower costs, and better terms is removed from the scene. In its place is FATHER’S provision brought forth in the abundance of good fruit. HE is the One who can take a barren womb as Sarah’s and bring forth a son of Promise. HE did the same for Isaac’s Rebekah as well as Leah who brought for Jacob’s first son.
The preparation of the woman requires that she set aside past revelation, doctrines, creeds, and customs for they were all left at the border of the wilderness. New revelation of HIS Living Word is what sustains the woman just as it has sustained you and me as we have been maturing these past years. The revealing of Christ will come to all mankind in their order and timing for every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess as a result of seeing Him! Each day we should expect new manna to come forth rather than hoard the old manna which is in a decaying state. Preparation is for bringing you up to your very best in all aspects just as Esther was only brought before the king after she had been given the best of adornments and perfume.
The “time and times and half a time” is an indication that there is a limited time for the woman to be placed in this situation. The number seven represents Spiritual perfection and half of that number represents a partial or limited timeframe. Each and every attempt where man has tried to use the literal timing by converting, assigning, and assessing, has come up short. These numbers used in a literal sense have failed to produce the manifestation of the Kingdom as predicted by numerous “prophets”. Let us not focus on the external time frames but instead place our emphasis on the internal maturing process. FATHER will bring forth HIS Kingdom at HIS appointed time and will not do so in response to man’s projections. If I separately predict each year and each day of the year, I will finally be right and can claim success. Just don’t consider the other thousand times I was wrong. At some point, FATHER will proclaim to each of HIS unique children at the end of their personalized preparation, “Now is the time!”
Just as in the days of Esther, the Bride has been separated for her time of purification and is fed by the perfected Sons who make up the Body of Christ, Jesus being the Head. This time of preparation is for cleansing and purifying in order that she might be presented to the Bridegroom without spot or blemish for that final marriage feast. She too has an integral role in these end times. Let her arise for her place of habitation is being readied in great anticipation. Let us return to the book of Esther:
2:9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens (Spiritual Perfection), which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.
The preparation of the Bride will begin soon.