God’s people are commanded to come out of Babylon for two reasons. The two reasons are that God’s people 1) are not partake of her sins and 2) are not to receive her plagues. Therefore, God’s people must not have fellowship with the sins of Babylon (Great Tribulation). They must be separate from sin and must find fellowship elsewhere. However, similar to Lot, some of God’s people may linger in Babylon. But, God will rescue them prior to Judgment Day on Babylon. See also the Scattering of God’s People – Babylonian Captivity for a parallel for departing from Babylon.
Come out of Babylon / Flee to the Mountains
Great City Babylon Divided into 3 Parts (Rev 16:19)
Flee from Jerusalem to the mountains
Come Out – Separation from Sin
Escape (to the mountains / out of trouble / salvation)
Lot and his Daughters Flee to the mountains (type of flight during Great Tribulation)
Flee from all the nations (judgment day and salvation)
Flee from tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram
Come out of Babylon / Flee to the Mountains
Rev 17-18 provides a very detailed, symbolic description of Babylon, which will exist during the Great Tribulation. The great whore, Babylon represents the apostate church which is full of whoredoms, which represents the pursuit of other gods and idols (Rev 17:4-5, 18:1-3). God’s people are commanded to come out of her and do not partake of her sins (spiritual fornication, merchandising, deception, etc.)
The key passages in Revelation 18 are:
- And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. (Rev 18:4)
- And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee … (Rev 18:23)
It should be noted in Rev 18:4, that there are two reasons for departing from Babylon. First, Christians are not to partake of her sins of worldliness (worshiping false gods and idols). False gods and idols can include many, many things but can be summed up in one phrase: deception of worldiness. Second, Christians are not to receive her plagues. All true Christians will flee from worldliness and be separate from sin. Since the book of Revelation is a symbolic book, the departure should not be a physical removing from other people, rather a separation in that true Christians will not partake of worldly, sensual and sinful acts that are sponsored by the church.
The dual reasons for departing Babylon are consistent with the ‘double’ theme of Revelation 18. The double is the reward for Babylon’s sins and iniquities. We see the ‘double’ judgment (Great Tribulation and the Last Day) highlighted as well by the kings of the earth, the merchants and the shipmasters saying ‘alas, alas’ for Babylon once she is desolated during the Great Tribulation. The plague in Rev 18:4 points to the plague of the wrath of God (see Rev 15:1 notes).
- Great Tribulation – do not be partakers of her sins (Rev 18:4)
- Judgment day – receive not of her plagues (Rev 18:4)
- … Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues … (Rev 18:4-5)
- Be not partakers of her sins
- Partakers – literally, co-participate (fellowship)
- Receive not of her plagues (Judgment)
- Plagues – points to 7 bowls (plagues) of God’s wrath
- And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues … (Rev 15:6)
- The man that wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. (Pro 21:16)
- Be not partakers of her sins
- Importance of Christian gathering:
- Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Heb 10:23-25)
- Not necessarily a large group:
- For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Mat 18:20)
Christians (as the light of a candle and bring the voice of the bridegroom and bride, Rev 18:23), are commanded to come out of Babylon that they be not partakers of her sins and that they do not receive her plagues (Rev 18:4, 23). In these passages, Christians are referred to as ‘my people’ (Hos 1:10, 2:23, Heb 8:10, 2 Cor 6:16, Ro 9:25, etc.), the light of the candle (Mat 5:14-16, Eph 5:8, Rev 1:13, 20) and the bride (Rev 21:2, 9, 22:17, John 3:29, etc.). This command to depart is that they do not partake of Babylon’s sins of whoredom, greed and persecution of Christians. To come out is to not participate in the evil behavior of the worldly apostate Christianity. There have been similar commands for God’s people to depart from evil circumstances such as Lot’s departure from Sodom (Gen 19:12-13), departure from Egypt (Israel’s departure from Korah’s rebellion (Num 16:26-27) and references in the prophets to depart from Babylon (Is 48:20, Is 52:11, Jer 37:11-12, 50:89, 51:6, 51:45, 51:50). Finally, in the similar Olivet Discourse description of the Great Tribulation, there is a command from God for His people to depart from Jerusalem (Mat 24:15-16, Mk 13:14, Lk 21:21-22). God’s people are not to participate in that which is sinful (2 Cor 6:16-17). The man that wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. (Pro 21:16).
Flee from Babylon Verses
- And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. (Rev 18:4)
- Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob. (Isa 48:20)
- In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God. They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. (Jer 50:4-5)
- Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks. For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain. And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD. (Jer 50:8-10)
- The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple. Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel. (Jer 50:28-29)
- For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel. Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD’S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence. Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD’S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad. (Jer 51:5-7)
- Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies. (Jer 51:8-9)
- And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up: and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall. My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD. (Jer 51:44-45)
- Then the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for Babylon: for the spoilers shall come unto her from the north, saith the LORD. As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth. Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind. (Jer 51:48-50)
- Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD. Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. (Zec 2:6-8)
Great City Babylon Divided into 3 Parts (Rev 16:19)
Summary: In the 7th bowl of God’s wrath, the Great City Babylon is divided into 3 parts. This passage points to the fact that God’s people who have not previously come out of Babylon during the Great Tribulation will be separated from Babylon so that they will not receive of her plagues. The one-third points to God’s people:
And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. (Rev 16:19)
- Great city – See Rev 17:18 w/ Rev 17:5, Rev 18:2, Rev 18:10, Rev 18:18-21, Rev 11:8 – Babylon
- Satan’s dominion – see notes on Rev 8:8-9, Rev 9:14, Rev 14:8
- Great city – Jerusalem – great city in Revelation – 10 occurrences
- Jerusalem (symbol for the church in the world) – Rev 11:8
- Babylon – Rev 14:8, Rev 16:19, Rev 17:8, Rev 18:10, Rev 18:16, Rev 18:18, Rev 18:19, Rev 18:21
- New Jerusalem – Rev 21:10
- Three parts – see Rev 11:8 – Jerusalem, Sodom and Egypt
- Implies a third – see notes on Rev 8:1f – represents God’s people in the world
- Daniel was the third ruler in Babylon – Dan 5:7, Dan 5:16, Dan 5:29
- Third part of mankind – Rev 9:15, Rev 9:18
- Third part of the stars (demons) – Rev 12:4
- Third part in the land will be purified – Zech 13:8‑9:
- And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God. (Zec 13:8-9)
- Eze 5:2, Eze 5:12 – 1/3 to be scattered to the wind, from which the remnant would be regathered
- Israel a third in land to be a blessing with Egypt and Assyrian – Is 19:24
- 2 Ki 1:2-17 – only one third of the captains of 50 were not consumed by fire
- 1/3 of the guard of King Joash – 2 Ki 11:4-7, 2 Chr 23:4 -9 (1/3 guarded the king)
- 2000 men with Saul, 1000 with Jonathan – 1 Sam 13:2
- 1/3 of the sons of Eliab did not rebel against Moses – Num 26:9
- David kept 1/3 of Moabites alive to be his servants – 2 Sam 8:2
- 1/3 part of trees burnt up – Rev 8:7 (1st trumpet)
- 1/3 part of the sea became blood – Rev 8:8, 1/3 creatures in sea died and 1/3 of ships destroyed – Rev 8:9 (2nd trumpet)
- 1/3 of rivers became wormwood (bitter) – Rev 8:10-11 (3rd trumpet)
- 1/3 of sun, moon and stars struck, light 1/3 – Rev 8:12 (4th trumpet)
- Implies a third – see notes on Rev 8:1f – represents God’s people in the world
Olivet Discourse Verses
- When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains; Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house; Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. (Mat 24:15-18)
- But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains; And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take anything out of his house; And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. (Mar 13:14-16)
- And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. (Luk 21:20-21)
Flee from Jerusalem to the mountains
- And it came to pass, that when the army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh’s army, Then Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to separate himself thence in the midst of the people. (Jer 37:11-12)
- ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction. (Jer 6:1)
- Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden; (now the Chaldeans were by the city round about:) and they went by the way of the plain. But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him. (Jer 52:7-8)
- And it came to pass, that when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king’s garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls: and he went out the way of the plain. But the Chaldeans’ army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment upon him. (Jer 39:4-5)
- Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live. (Jer 38:2)
- He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey. (Jer 21:9)
- Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house: But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand. And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me. But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live. But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shewed me: And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah’s house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back. So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire. (Jer 38:17-23)
- Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house. Then shalt thou bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for removing: and thou shalt go forth at even in their sight, as they that go forth into captivity. Dig thou through the wall in their sight, and carry out thereby. In their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy shoulders, and carry it forth in the twilight: thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not the ground: for I have set thee for a sign unto the house of Israel. And I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for captivity, and in the even I digged through the wall with mine hand; I brought it forth in the twilight, and I bare it upon my shoulder in their sight. And in the morning came the word of the LORD unto me, saying, Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said unto thee, What doest thou? Say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; This burden concerneth the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel that are among them. Say, I am your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them: they shall remove and go into captivity. And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes. My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there. And I will scatter toward every wind all that are about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them. (Eze 12:3-14)
- And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king’s garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain. And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him. (2Ki 25:4-5)
- For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end. For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it. The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein. (Jer 4:27-29)
- I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live. Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you. (Jer 27:12-14)
- Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house: But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand. (Jer 38:17-18)
- And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land. Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden; (now the Chaldeans were by the city round about:) and they went by the way of the plain. (Jer 52:6-7)
- Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city. (Eze 11:22-23)
Come Out – Separation from Sin
- And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you (2Co 6:16-17)
- Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2Co 7:1)
- Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. (Num 16:21)
- And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. (Num 16:26)
- Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces. (Num 16:45)
- And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat, (Ezr 6:21)
- Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives. (Ezr 10:11)
- Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. (Neh 13:3)
- Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Psa 1:1-3)
- Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. (Pro 9:6)
- Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. (Isa 52:11)
- And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. (Act 2:40)
Escape (to the mountains / out of trouble / salvation)
- And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. (Gen 19:17)
- Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: (Gen 19:19)
- Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. (Gen 19:20)
- Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. (Gen 19:22)
- For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this. (2Ki 19:31)
- And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. (Ezr 9:8)
- Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. (Est 4:13)
- But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost. (Job 11:20)
- I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest. (Psa 55:8)
- Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God. (Psa 56:7)
- Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. (Psa 71:2)
- Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape. (Psa 141:10)
- A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. (Pro 19:5)
- And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. (Ecc 7:26)
- And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape? (Isa 20:6)
- For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this. (Isa 37:32)
- And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. (Isa 66:19)
- Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them. (Jer 11:11)
- And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape. (Jer 25:35)
- And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes (Jer 32:4)
- And thou shalt not escape out of his hand, but shalt surely be taken, and delivered into his hand; and thine eyes shall behold the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he shall speak with thee mouth to mouth, and thou shalt go to Babylon. (Jer 34:3)
- But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand. (Jer 38:18)
- So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire. (Jer 38:23)
- So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them. (Jer 42:17)
- So that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah, to the which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return but such as shall escape. (Jer 44:14)
- Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or theirs. (Jer 44:28)
- Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates. (Jer 46:6)
- And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD hath spoken. (Jer 48:8)
- The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple. Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel. (Jer 50:28-29)
- Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries. (Eze 6:8)
- And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall loathe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations. (Eze 6:9)
- But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity. (Eze 7:16)
- But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered? (Eze 17:15)
- Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape. (Eze 17:18)
- He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. (Dan 11:41)
- He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. (Dan 11:42)
- A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. (Joe 2:3)
- Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress. (Oba 1:14)
- Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Mat 23:33)
- Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luk 21:36)
- And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. (Act 27:42)
- And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? (Rom 2:3)
- There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1Co 10:13)
- For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1Th 5:3)
- How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him (Heb 2:3)
- See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven (Heb 12:25)
Lot and his Daughters Flee to the mountains (type of flight during Great Tribulation)
- And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. (Gen 19:12-13)
- And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. (Gen 19:15-17)
- Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife. (Luk 17:28-32)
- Lot Lingered in Sodom:
- … then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest you be consumed. (Gen 19:15-17)
- 2 angels brought Lot and his family out of Sodom
- Symbol of Final Judgment Day
- And while he lingered … the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. (Gen 19:16)
- … But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed … Remember Lot’s wife. (Luk 17:29-32)
- Same day – Lot lingered in Sodom, but God saved him from the plague of Judgment day
- Remember Lot’s wife – points to Judgment Day
- … then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest you be consumed. (Gen 19:15-17)
Flee from all the nations (judgment day and salvation)
- The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward. (Isa 52:10-12)
- And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2Co 6:15-18)
- Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. (Zec 14:1-5)
- Where God’s people come out of:
- And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. (Isa 11:11)
Flee from Tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram
- And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children. (Num 16:26-27)
- But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense. (Num 16:30-35)