A friend of the The Strong Watchman News posed these questions about biblical eschatology...and it inspired me to answer.  Here are the questions.

"I am really intersted to hear what you have to say about Gods plan for His chosen are you Pre Trib or Post? 
Im quite confused about the IDENTITY of ISRAEL and why they have a satanic cabbalistic occult symbol on their flag? Some say Isreal is not actually the geographic place, but I think it must be not only Gods chosen but also the very geographic place and the Jews? Im also very confused on the time line like the 144 000 and the woman fleeing to the desert ezekiel 38 Psalm 83"

And here are my answers according to what I have understood and studied.

Regarding the identity of Israel...something I feel I can relate to with you.

I am Pre-wrath in my view of rapture. This means that the saints will endure persecution by antichrist which begins at the midpoint of the last 7 years. But the saints will not endure the "wrath" of God, which begins with the trumpets before the end of the 7 years.  In essence they will be removed before God's Wrath of trumpets begins.

Who is ISRAEL? God made a promise to Abraham and his descendants to give the land of Israel to them as a possession forever. He intends to keep that promise. This is why eschatology seems to swirl around the idea of the Jews (Israel) returning to the land in the last days. There is a very real physical fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham.

But not all who are Jewish citizens are considered spiritual Israel. As Romans says that he is Jew who is one inwardly, whose circumcision is of the heart. If you couple this scripture with other scripture such as "all are in Christ", we know that the Jews must accept their Messiah Jesus Christ in order to be saved.

Even back in the old days...there was true faith in God which resulted in salvation to the old testament saints. Those saints knew who God was...despite what Judaism today speaks of their God. As scripture says the Jews were blinded in part until the fullness of the gentiles is come.

So who is Israel? It would be better to refer to the true Israel of God's promise as the remnant according to grace. God keeps a remnant of Jews according to grace. And what does that mean? It means that they are saved the same way anyone else is...by grace through faith. Faith in what? The Messiah (Jesus) of course. This remnant will be the 144,000 Jews that are protected during the last 3.5 years of Daniel's 70th week. (7 years)

We know that Revelation 12:6 says, " 6The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days." This is another way to say 3.5 years.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 that when we see the abomination of desolation come to pass run to the hills of Judea. He is speaking to Jews...probably the remnant who will "know better" when they see the abomination of desolation.

Jesus also tells us in Luke 21...in the same context...when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that the desolation thereof is nigh. These surrounding armies will be ready to attack at the same time the abomination of desolation occurs. And the instructions from Jesus are the same...run to the hills.

But Jesus gives more information in Luke 21 as well...he says because this is the time of punishment (of Israel) and there will be great wrath upon this people...that what is written will be fulfilled. This is in reference to the horrible destruction that will come upon the holy city in the last days.

This is the time spoken of in Ezekiel 38. When the nations surrounding Israel: Gog, Magog, Cush, Put, Persia, Togarmah and all his bands....etc...will come against Israel. This will be antichrist's army which is given authority for 42 months to trample the holy city underfoot. (that's 3.5 years).

But God will fight against those armies on behalf of Israel...that is also part of His plan. First He will cut the tribulation short. We know that the "tribulation" begins at the midpoint of the 7 years, when antichrist's "abomination of desolation" occurs. But Jesus says it will be cut short for the sake of the elect...otherwise no flesh would be saved. How is it cut short? By the rapture of the saints!

Now this does not mean that antichrist's appointed 42 months of authority has been cut short....no he will continue to persecute everyone on earth who does not take the mark of the beast.  But the christians will be gone and the Jews will be protected in the wilderness.

The end of the 42 months is also the appointed end of the 7 years...(the seventieth week of Daniel). When that which is determined will be poured upon the desolate. This is in reference to Daniel 9...and Revelation's final judgments of the Bowls of Wrath. When the 7 years are complete, the bowls of wrath are poured upon the desolate.

During this period of 42 months....3.5 years....1260 days....or a time, times and half a time....Israel's remnant is afforded safe passage to the wilderness (Rev 12) where they are protected for 3.5 years.

But the rest of the christians who are not of the appointed remnant of Israel live through persecution....(that does not last the entire 3.5 years because it is cut short by rapture).

We can see from scripture that God has two very distinct plans for the fulfillment of his promise to Abraham and for the salvation of the gentile saints.

The Strong Watchman