Yes I can see that you immediately grasp the concept. But most Christians look at our Christian walk as having a few superficial parallels with the Exodus story, with no deeper meaning... I'm going deeper, way deeper, and far beyond the "literal interpretation" of dispensationalism that I was raised on, upon which I based my Red Moon Rising book.  

I'm beginning to see that eschatology is like one big parable, and just like Jesus used parables to both DISGUISE and REVEAL the truth, I now feel that eschatology works the same way. A literal reading of prophecy, especially a literal reading of OT prophecy, actually DISGUISES the truth, and has contributed to the eschatological confusion that we see in the church today, and also to the widespread problem of Christians focusing on agendas and causes that have NOTHING to do with the GOSPEL or the KINGDOM OF GOD.

The center-point of this New Exodus framework is actually the book of Isaiah, who unites certain prophecies from Moses with the complicated visions of Revelation and the end-times predictions of the other NT writers, including Jesus. Here's a quote from a good overview of Isaiah's New Exodus motif:

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In the development of Second Isaiah's [Isaiah 40-55] eschatological message, one of the dominant themes is that of the new exodus. Previous prophets, to be sure, had appealed to the memory of the Exodus. But it was Second Isaiah who, more than any of his prophetic predecessors, perceived the meaning of the Exodus in an eschatological dimension. "The conception of the new exodus," writes Professor James Muilenburg in his superb commentary, "is the most profound and most prominent of the motifs in the tradition which Second Isaiah employs to portray the eschatological finale." In this respect he goes beyond Isaiah of Jerusalem [i.e., First Isaiah], with whom he shares the themes of the New Jerusalem, the covenant with the Davidic dynasty, and the kingly rule of the Holy One of Israel, although transforming these themes in his own way. To this royal theology he adds the Exodus traditions, almost wholly ignored by [First Isaiah]. His expectation of YHWY's coming to inaugurate his eschatological rule was shaped according to the pattern of the Exodus from Egypt, the crucial event of Israel's past.

While there are numerous linguistic echoes of the Exodus tradition throughout the poems of Second Isaiah, the theme of the new exodus is the specific subject in several passages.

1. 40:3-5 The highway in the wilderness.

2. 41:17-20 The transformation of the wilderness.

3. 42:14-16 YHWH leads his people in a way they know not.

4. 43:1-3 Passing through the waters and the fire.

5. 43:14-21 A way in the wilderness.

6. 48:20-21 The exodus from Babylon.

7. 49:8-12 The new entry into the Promised Land.

8. 51:9-10 The new victory at the sea.

9. 52:11-12 The new exodus.

10. 55:12-13 Israel shall go out in joy and peace.

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So Mike, if you are tracking with me you will see that the New Exodus is Isaiah's framework for his whole end times view! It is the gathering of Israel out of "Babylon" and back to the "Promised Land," led by the "Servant of the Lord," a specific figure who is God's anointed messenger and leader, sent to redeem, gather, and lead the righteous remnant of Israel  on its path of salvation.

Now if you know your Gospels you realize that they all quote from Isaiah and testify that Jesus was that leader. The early church believed that they were the faithful remnant of Israel, re-constituted by Jesus who was the "Prophet like Moses" sent to lead the New Exodus. Furthermore, they recognized that Isaiah had predicted that Gentiles would enter into this New Exodus and become members of "redeemed Israel," who are adopted into God's family and recognized as full and equal members of "Abraham's seed." So both believing Jews and Gentiles make up the early church's self-perception of being the New Israel being led by Jesus on a New Exodus. This is where I had to part ways with dispensationalism which claims that the Church is separate and distinct from Israel. Not so, according to Isaiah and the NT writers!

According to Paul in 1 Cor 10:1-11 the end times began with that first generation of Jesus-followers. The end times is one long story of the New Exodus. We are coming out of "Babylon," which simply represents the idolatry, violence, greed and rebellion of the corrupt world, and the systems man has created to manage this corruption. And we are heading on to the New Jerusalem, a promised land for EVERYONE, both Jew and Gentile. That's the New Exodus, and as I explain more you will see how this framework unites OT prophecy, the words of Jesus in the Gospels, and the parabolic visions of Revelation into a coherent whole. 

Revelation talks about Babylon; it talks about the New Jerusalem; it refers to Exodus-themes repeatedly, and it also speaks of the end-times "Pharaoh" that will eventually rule from Jerusalem, prompting a "mini-exodus," actually an ironic "reverse exodus" coming OUT OF Jerusalem in response to the warning of Jesus in Matt 24:15-21. Anyway, I should probably stop here for now.

Are you with me Mike? Are you following me?  This whole thing has me very excited. The more I dig the more it makes sense, and the more pieces come together.

If you are interested, here is the link to that study I drew the quote from:

http://www.jbburnett.com/resources/anderson_isrprophet12-typol.pdf

This paper sketches out in more detail Isaiah's presentation of the New Exodus of the end-times. It is only 8 pages so print it out and leave it in the bathroom or something. 

God bless!

Pete

Thanks for the dialogue.  I do see a predicted role for ethnic Israel in the end times, but to a far lesser extent than claimed by dispensationalists.

I also still think that it appears there has to be a future fulfillment of AT LEAST the last half of the 70th Week, if not the full seven years. This is where covenant theologians would disagree with me.  Those numerous references to 3 1/2 years, 42 months, and "a time, times, and half a time" I think have to be literal, and are repeated three different ways to emphasize their literalness (in days, months and years).  

But now regarding the modern nation of Israel. In reading Isaiah it becomes clear to me that dispensationalists are taking a lot of prophecies about the New Exodus and erroneously interpreting them literally.  Yes, Isaiah does predict a "last days" gathering of "Israel" back to the promised land, but when these passages are read in light of the New Testament we find that ALL OF THESE PROPHECIES are fulfilled in Christ and the Church, with Jesus inaugurating the New Exodus at His death (or rather at Pentecost), to be consummated at the Second Coming when "true Israel" enters into the heavenly Jerusalem.

I no longer believe that Scripture predicts a Spirit-led or God-led Exodus of modern day ethnic Jews back to their ancient home in the Middle East. The only Exodus that God is directing is the spiritual New Exodus that includes all nations, out from "Babylon" with the ultimate destination of the New Earth and New Jerusalem.

However, having said this, I do feel that certain prophecies are being fulfilled by the state of Israel today. But these are negative prophecies, not positive!  For instance, it is still my view that the AC will inhabit a temple. So this means that a Jewish temple must be built in Jerusalem. Covenant theologians try to spiritualize 2 Thess. 2 and I think they are wrong here. They also dismiss what Jesus said about the future last days fulfillment of the "abomination of desolation."  I've learned too much studying the AC to dismiss all this.

So yes, I do feel that it was predicted that Jews would eventually re-establish some sort of presence in their ancient homeland. But what does this have to do with the Church? Should we applaud this? Should we give these Jews weapons and support their violence against the former inhabitants? In other words, does their claim to possess the land still stand, even though they are out of covenant with God?  No way! Israel's legal right to the land was ALWAYS conditionally based on their observance of God's ETHICAL commandments. Modern Israel is so far from this that it isn't funny, and they have been apostate from the beginning when they claimed to be a nation in 1948. (And I wholeheartedly agree with you that Ezekiel 37 has nothing to do with 1948. The true fulfillment of Ezekiel 37 is Revelation 7:9-17 which speaks of THE CHURCH).

I think that what I just said is confirmed by Revelation, because one of the few passages that speaks of LITERAL Jerusalem in the end times states that Jerusalem is like Sodom and Egypt:

Now looking at this verse from a "New Exodus" framework there are two points to make:

1. Here Jerusalem is referred to as the "great city."  The only other "great city" mentioned in Revelation is Babylon the Great. Some people, such as Chris White in his new book "Mystery Babylon: When Jerusalem Embraces the Antichrist," argue that this proves that literal Jerusalem IS the Babylon of Rev.17-18.  Not so fast, I say. Rather I would say that it certainly connects Jerusalem with Babylon, but I think it merely shows, as I've written earlier, that Jerusalem, both at the time of Christ, and in the end times, is merely a representative of Babylon's system.  The Biblical concept of "Babylon" is much bigger than just a single city! In fact, when Babylon falls, it says that all the cities of the nations fall. Babylon is a spioritual symbol not a literal city, I say this even though in the past I have always lobbied for NYC to be Babylon.

2. Jerusalem is also called "Sodom and Egypt."  Sodom refers to gross immorality and rebellion, whereas Egypt is Israel's historical place of bondage from where the Hebrew exodus began the first time! So these bewitched dispensationalists that think it is God's plan and desire to bring Christ-hating Jews back to their "promised land" of Israel/Jerusalem are actually working to bring these Jews back into their original bondage to Egypt!

So to restate my view, yes I still believe that Scripture predicts a partial regathering of ethnic Israel back to their ancient real estate in the end times, but this regathering is not the glorious regathering predicted by Isaiah, (which is actually talking about the New Exodus led by Christ). No indeed! The current regathering of Israel is actually a counter-exodus! And these zealous Jews and their deluded Christian supporters are actually taking part in a plan to bring Israel back to Egypt, back to square-one, from where they started... back into the arms of Pharaoh, which in the last days is a part played by the Antichrist!

One last thing to look at from a New Exodus framework. You know, I have always been intrigued by the description of the fall of Babylon found in Revelation 18:21, 

"Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more."

I've found that this prediction is also found in Jeremiah at the very end of his lllooonnnggggg prophecy against Babylon:

"When you finish reading this book, tie a stone to it and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates, and say, 'Thus shall Babylon sink, to rise no more, because of the disaster that I am bringing upon her, and they shall become exhausted.'" Thus far are the words of Jeremiah. 

(Jeremiah 51:63-64)

In the past I thought that perhaps this "millstone" might refer to a metoer impact into the North Atlantic, producing a tidal wave to wipe out NYC!  But I don't see it that way anymore. So much of this is to be understood spiritually, with types and shadows, almost as a parable, to keep superficial seekers from understanding the truth. No, the ultimate reference here ties in with the New Exodus theme, because these two passages speaking of Babylon's fall are actually pointing back to the destruction of Pharaoh and his armies in the Red Sea. This is mentioned in Nehemiah 9:11 (interesting number, btw):

The original reference to this particular form of destruction happening to God's enemies is within the Song of Moses in Exodus 15:

Yes, Babylon the Great perishes just like Pharaoh and his armies perished in the Red Sea. 

And the Pharaoh of the end times is the King of Babylon, also known as Asshur, who I prove conclusively in my book and online research to be the Antichrist.  Yes, Isaiah 14 is the parallel to Revelation 18. 

Babylon will fall as a result of the New Exodus just as Egypt fell as a result of the original exodus.  Babylon is the end times "Egypt" that all of God's people, Jew and Gentile, are coming out of, according to Isaiah 40-55.

Ok that's it from me for now. In the meantime here is a link to Chris White's research concerning Israel in the end times and her relation to the AC. Note that according to Daniel 11, the AC battles all the nations that surround Israel, but apparently never has to fight Israel! That's because Israel INVITES the AC into power. Israel rolls out the red carpet for the AC to take over!

Now I don't agree with Chris White's overall argument that the AC is going to be a Jew, but I think he makes some great points that throw the traditional dispensational understanding of these events into the rubbish bin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bN54seOGtA&feature=share&list=FLWtP5L623HySgSR1A-g_T5g

I've just discovered another ironic twist on ethnic Israel's prophetic future.

OK, come back to the theme of Israel experiencing a "reverse exodus" by returning to Jerusalem in the last days. They think they are pleasing God and positioning themselves for Messianic deliverance by conquering the land, but in fact they are merely returning themselves to the bondage of Egypt, which culminates with the Antichrist ruling over them as the last days "Pharaoh."

Now turn to Revelation 12.  This is one passage where I feel that ethnic Israel is referred to in Scripture as separate from the true "Israel of God" which is the Church made up of believing Jews and Gentiles equally. Near the end of the chapter it speaks of how Satan will pursue "the woman" but then break off from this pursuit to pursue a separate group of people who "obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus."  

The dispensational exegesis of this passage makes way more sense than does the "Covenant Theology" exegesis, because CT must argue that the "Woman" is the Church, but then they must explain who these "others" are. How can there be a group of faithful believers that are distinct from the Church?

So I think dispensationalists are right, at least in vs. 13-17, in seeing the Woman here as a believing remnant within ethnic Israel, while the other group of v.17 must refer to a separate group of believers.  Again, I think it is important to recognize the context here as informed by what Jesus says in Matthew 24:15-21.  Jesus is talking about events in Jerusalem right around the time of the setting up of the Abomination of Desolation, when the AC reaches the high point of his career by having his image set up in the Temple.  At this point believing Jews are warned to flee AWAY FROM JERUSALEM.  

These are Jews who, at one time, believed they were pleasing God by returning to Israel/Jerusalem thinking they were fulfilling Isaiah's predictions of a return to the Land, yet here Jesus tells them to FLEE FROM JERUSALEM. At this point by obeying Jesus they are actually showing their faith in Jesus and thereby joining up with the authentic Spirit-led New Exodus which is a journey of all peoples out of Babylon and on to the New Jerusalem. Ironically, we find that this final end times flight AWAY FROM JERUSALEM is actually viewed spiritually as their flight away from Babylon/Egypt and towards the New Jerusalem. They finally recognize that the only Promised Land in God's eyes is the New Heaven and New Earth of the New Jerusalem.  By leaving earthly Jerusalem they are declaring their faith and hope in the heavenly Jerusalem of King Jesus!

I think this ironic twist on this portion of the great end-times "New Exodus" is illustrated by the description in Revelation 12:13-16. Let's look at it here: 

Notice that verse 14 is using the same terminology as was used to describe God's hand protecting Israel in the first Exodus:

This metaphor is also used in Isaiah 40:31 to describe God's activities as He gathers His people in the New Exodus. Recall that Isaiah 40 is hugely important as the jumping off point for all of the descriptions of the New Exodus found in Isaiah 40-55 which were all fulfilled in Jesus as stated throughout the New Testament. Here is what Isaiah predicts:

So getting back to Revelation 12, we see that it is predicted that the believers (probably mostly ethnic Jews) who inhabit Jerusalem when the AC commits the abomination are told to flee from Jerusalem, and then God will care for them and guide them as they flee into the wilderness, just as He cared for the Israelites when they fled Egypt the first time. Again, remember that Jerusalem is metaphorically named "Egypt" during this time according to Rev 11:8.

By fleeing Jerusalem (Egypt) these ethnic Israelites are embarking (finally!) on the New Exodus as they enter into the wilderness for the last half of the tribulation. They are fleeing from earthly Jerusalem (Egypt) with their final destination being their eternal Promised Land, the heavenly New Jerusalem. It is a form of a reverse Exodus. Leaving Jerusalem so that they can escape the Antichrist (Pharaoh) and reach the New Jerusalem.

This idea of a reverse Exodus is born out by the attempt by Satan to pursue this end-time remnant of (primarily) ethnic Israelites. Rev 12:15 says that the Serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the Woman, but this water was swallowed up by the earth. This is the reverse image of the Red Sea crossing. At the first Exodus the Israelites passed over the land and then their enemies were swallowed up by water. But here in this ironic reverse Exodus (fleeing earthly Jerusalem) we see that the enemies of Israel (the waters) are swallowed up by the earth.

I know I am challenging many preconceptions here, Steve, so let me know if you are tracking with me or not!

Thanks and God bless,

Peter