Petra: A Prophetic Refuge for the Remnant of Israel (Zoom Interview with Ken Luff)

Petra, the ancient rock-hewn city in modern-day Jordan, is biblically identified as the divinely prepared place of refuge for Israel’s believing remnant during the second half of the Tribulation. As the Antichrist breaks his covenant (Daniel 9:27; Isaiah 28:15–18) and initiates a global campaign to annihilate the Jewish people (Revelation 12), a remnant flees to the wilderness—specifically the region of Bozrah, in Mount Seir, the area known today as Petra (Micah 2:12). According to Matthew 24:16, Jesus Himself instructs those in Judea to flee to the mountains, which aligns with the wilderness imagery in Revelation 12:6,14, where God protects and nourishes the remnant for 1,260 days. This wilderness refuge is described in Isaiah 33:13–16 as a fortified and elevated place, where God's people will be supernaturally sustained with bread and water (Isaiah 41:17–20; 65:8–16). Importantly, Daniel 11:41 indicates that Jordan—specifically Edom, Moab, and Ammon—will escape Antichrist’s control, allowing Petra to serve as a secure haven. The Messiah will return from Bozrah after defeating the armies of the Antichrist (Isaiah 63:1–6), highlighting Petra as not just a refuge, but the very stage for the final battle of deliverance of Israel by Jesus’ Second Coming. God’s faithfulness to His covenant people is demonstrated through this prepared place. Petra represents divine protection amid global antisemitism from the Antichrist and his followers. Petra isn’t just a historical site—it’s a future fortress, a prophetic pivot point where God's promises of preservation and Messiah’s return will unfold.