I just finished your Daniel audio study. I absolutely loved it!
I am very curious about how you came up with Petra, Jordan as the place fleeing Jews would run to (from Mathew 24:16) in the Great Tribulation. I understand why Jordan is the most likely country to choose (Because Jordan’s King Abdullah is the closest living relative to Mohammed). Is Petra the most likely city because of the old Roman Amphitheater? It there something else I am missing? It seemed like there was a cross-reference you mentioned with the Book of Revelation.
Also, wouldn’t the current Jordanians be less than in favor of Petra being invaded? What would have to happen to welcome the Jews?
There are three clues that hint at Petra being the hiding place for the Jew during the Great Tribulation. One is in Daniel 11:41 where we learn that Jordan will be one of the only places that elude the Anti-Christ’s control during the Great Tribulation.
The second is in Rev. 12:14 which says that the woman, who represents the believing remnant of Israel, will flee into the desert to a place prepared for them during the Great Tribulation. The closest desert hiding place is Petra.
And the third is in Isaiah 63:1 where the Lord is shown coming from Bozrah, the region where Petra is located, having defeated His enemies there. Many scholars believe that He will do this just prior to arriving in Jerusalem at the 2nd Coming, to protect the believing remnant.
From the non-Biblical side, Jordan does have a peace treaty with Israel, and Petra is an ideal location for the Jews to seek refuge.