A Rose-Red City - Part Five (Final)

  

Petra: Past, Present, and Future
Petra is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Its eclectic blend of architectural styles, combined with the sheer wonder of its creation, make Petra an amazing place to visit. In 1993, King Hussein of Jordan said, “Petra is a stunning physical monument from ancient times, but it is also much more than that; it is a timeless message that speaks to us still of an eternal human capacity to dare, and therefore to achieve bold feats and beautiful wonders.”

John William Burgon, a British theologian, is remembered by history as a fierce opponent to Westcott and Hort, the two men chiefly responsible for the revision of the King James Version of the Bible. But Burgon also went down in history for his poem simply entitled Petra. Though he never visited Petra, he formulated his poem from explorers’ descriptions. The poem’s famous line describes Petra as “A rose-red city – ‘half as old as time.’”

Petra’s past connections to the land of Israel – from the Edomites to the Nabateans – have definite and important biblical links. Today, Petra serves simply as a tourist attraction. Even the Bedouins that once lived in some of Petra’s many caves have been relocated to nearby desert housing. But some people believe that Petra is only lying dormant, until it is once again inhabited. It is possible that Petra might be where the Jews will flee during a time of future tribulation. Prophecy students refer to verses such as Matthew 24:16, Isaiah 33:16, Jeremiah 49:13-14, and Micah 2:12-13 to back their supposition. Prophecy is one topic I have little interest in, so I am highly unqualified to comment on this idea. But I do know that Petra is a natural stronghold, an excellent defensive position. If I needed to suddenly escape from Jerusalem, I might head for Petra. As the crow flies, the two cities are only about 100 miles apart.

Regardless of what the future holds for Petra, its past holds many lessons for us today. We simply need to read the records of Esau, Doeg, Herod Antipas, and others. Unfortunately, it is their mistakes that provide our lesson material. But, if we take heed to their errors, we can take a different path than they chose. Past the din of tourists’ voices and camels’ bellows, Petra’s rose-red walls echo a message: "Learn, glean...remember."