Revelation Chapter 12‏

Hello Friends!

Welcome back! During this week’s fellowship time, we’ll continue our study of Revelation.

Revelation Chapter 12
 
This week we will investigate chapter 12 in our journey of the end times.

In chapter 12 we begin with a “great sign in heaven” – a pregnant woman and her child:

Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.  Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth – Revelation 12:1-2

Who is this woman?

 

Is “she” the same Mary represented by the Roman Catholic Church? When we think of a woman who gives birth to “a male Child who was to rule the nations,” Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ naturally comes to mind…

*IMPORTANT: Many believe this woman in Revelation 12 to be the “Mary” of Roman Catholicism. However, we see here that this woman is experiencing physical pain. This fact directly contradicts the Roman Catholic doctrine which claims Mary, a sinless woman, did not experience the consequences of the curse caused by Adam & Eve’s Original Sin – namely, that she was exempt from pain and death. Genesis 3:16 explains that physical pain in childbirth is a direct result of the original sin curse. Therefore, if Mary is indeed sinless, she cannot be the woman of Revelation 12 – who is experiencing pain. Of course, the Bible states in Romans chapter 3 that all are sinners. Roman Catholics who hold to this position must acknowledge that they cannot have it both ways. 

 

In fact, Roman Catholic theologian Father Hubert J. Richards agrees that the Revelation 12 woman refers to Israel. His book, What The Spirit Says to the Churches: A Key to the Apocalypse of John, carries the Nihil obstat and Imprimatur of the Roman Catholic Church (Nihil obstat and Imprimatur are declarations claiming a text is considered to be free from doctrinal and moral error)

 

Throughout the Book of Revelation, the Holy Spirit uses imagery from the Old Testament. In fact, the Book of Revelation has scores of allusions to the Old Testament – and chapter 12 is certainly no exception! Interestingly, this is the only chapter in the Bible that identifies a benevolent “woman” on the scene during earth’s final days. Let’s look at the context of this passage and examine the whole counsel of God’s Word to see what the Spirit of God intended. 

 

In studying the Old Testament it is apparent that the “woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars” is a direct reference to Joseph’s dream recorded in the Book of Genesis. Here are the details of Joseph’s dream:

[Joseph] dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” So he told it to his father (Israel) and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you? – Genesis 37:9-10

Joseph was one of the twelve sons of Israel. Therefore, from his dream we are shown that the sun, the moon, and the twelve stars represent Israel and his family. Israel – formerly named Jacob – had twelve sons from which emerge the twelve tribes of Israel.

 

Further, Israel is repeatedly portrayed as a woman in labor. This is the imagery utilized in Revelation 12 to depict Israel’s birth pangs in the last days. These labor pains will usher in the return of the King of the Jews – Jesus Christ. Here are some of the Old Testament passages that highlight this truth:

Before [Israel] was in labor, she gave birth; before her pain came, she delivered a male child – Isaiah 66:7

For I have heard a voice as of a woman in labor, the anguish as of her who brings forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion bewailing herself… – Jeremiah 4:31

For pangs have seized you like a woman in labor. Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in birth pangs. For now you shall go forth from the city, you shall dwell in the field, and to Babylon you shall go. There you shall be delivered; there the Lord will redeem you from the hand of your enemies – Micah 4:9-10

Therefore He shall give them up, until the time that she who is in labor has given birth; then the remnant of His brethren shall return to the children of Israel – Micah 5:3

These and many other Old Testament passages picture Israel laboring with birth pangs in the final days leading to Jesus Christ’s return. We must also remember that during the Seven Year Tribulation period, God again deals with the nation of Israel through several of His Old Testament Prophets:

• Ezekiel 36-39
• Daniel 9:24-27
• Daniel 12
• Zechariah 12-14

Many additional passages underscore this fact throughout other Biblical prophetic books known as Apocalyptic Literature. As we have discussed in our past study times, the last 3 ½ years of the Seven Year Tribulation period described in Revelation is actually referred to as the time of Jacob’s trouble described in the book of Daniel.

 

Who is this Child?

 

It is through Israel’s seed that God promises to bring forth His Son – the True Messiah – Jesus Christ. That question was way too obvious!

Jesus Christ in His incarnation was of Jewish descent:

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham – Matthew 1:1

 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel – 2 Timothy 2:8

Unable to prevent the virgin birth of Jesus Christ through Original Sin in the book of Genesis, Satan then attempted to kill the Child in a general massacre of male children commanded by Herod:

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him. When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men…”– Matthew 2:13-16

And, for example, again later in the synagogue:

So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff – Luke 4:28-29

Despite Satan’s efforts to destroy Israel and the messianic line, Jesus’ birth took place just as the Lord prophesied through His Prophets:

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel– Isaiah 7:14

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace – Isaiah 9:6

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting– Micah 5:2

Jesus Christ is ALIVE and reigns FOREVER!

 

Who is this dragon?

 

We also read of the battle in the heavens between the "good" angels and the "evil" angels. This is a prophecy of what appears will happen at the midway point of the seven-year Tribulation Period. God will finally give the order to Michael the Archangel, who is the "commander-in-chief" of the good angels, to take the "dragon" – the "serpent " – the "Devil" – "Satan" – the "commander-in-chief" of the evil angels and throw them out of the "heavens" – down to the earth:

So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him – Revelation 12:9

Actually, the evil angels (demons) – under the direct command of Satan – do not reside in the "third heaven" where God’s Throne is located. Rather, they are located in the "first" and "second" heavens where they have been around for some 6,000 years. Remember, Satan is the most cunning creature (Genesis 3:1). He also quoted the Scriptures when deceiving Jesus Christ Himself (Matthew 4:6). And verse 9 above tells us that he “deceives the whole world”. In fact Jesus Christ Himself even warned us in Matthew 24:24 that the last days deceptions would be so clever that if it were possible even the elect – chosen of God – would be deceived!

 

Although many Bible passages allude to Satan in various forms, such as a serpent or an angel of light, he is described in this chapter as follows:

And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns on his heads– Revelation 12:3

The color red indicates his vicious and homicidal personality. The seven heads symbolize seven evil kingdoms that Satan has empowered and used throughout history to attempt to prevent God’s ultimate plan from coming to fruition. The ten horns represent ten seats of a one-world government that will provide power to the Antichrist – complete world power or authority. This one-world government will be blasphemous, denying the One True God. The seven crowns represent universal – complete – rule.

Five of the kingdoms have already come and gone:

Egypt

Assyria

Babylon

Medo-Persia

Greece

The sixth kingdom – Rome – was still in existence during the writing of this prophecy. Under Roman rule, King Herod murdered Hebrew babies around the time of Christ’s birth and Pontius Pilate ultimately authorized the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. 

 

The seventh kingdom, which is more fierce and cruel than the others, will be the final world kingdom that the Antichrist forms during the end times Tribulation period. The final kingdom federation will possess traits in common with the former “beast kingdoms” – particularly Rome.

 

Also, Lucifer – the name of the once most prominent of all the angels – rebelled against God via his famous 5 “I will” prideful “self-statements of belief” and was thrown out of the place where God is – the third heaven:

How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit– Isaiah 14:12-15

Just a thought…

Though the demons don't have access to the third heaven, their leader, Satan does. He is the “accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night" where he accuses believers of sin and unrighteousness.

Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down – Revelation 12:10.

When the demons and Satan are thrown down to the earth, those in the third heaven of our Lord Jesus Christ rejoice:

Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time – Revelation 12:12 

However, they also warn those on the earth that the Devil is coming to the earth with "great wrath because he knows that he has a short time".

We then see that Satan and his demons will do all they can to destroy the Jewish people:

Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ – Revelation 12:13-17

The Scripture reference of persecuting "the woman who gave birth to the male Child " has been Satan’s plan for the last 6,000 years!

Satan knows that if he can destroy the Jews, then God's plan for Israel and the Jewish people will fail and He won't be able to keep His promises to the Jews. Satan would then win the “fight” and become the leader over all the earth. However, do you remember Who was able to open the Seven Seals of the little scroll – the title deed to the earth? The ever increasing wave of "anti-Semitism" around the world today is a lead up to the last half of the Tribulation period when many Jews will be killed, allowing Satan a “temporary” victory throughout the world in the last days.

This unholy trinity will persecute Tribulation saints and deceive many others, resulting in their eternal death:

• Satan is the anti-God
• The Beast is the anti-Christ
• The False Prophet is the anti-Holy Spirit

But God’s Kingdom will prevail forever – AMEN!

With demonism and Satanic activity also on the increase in our world, we can indeed see how the stage is being set for the final drama to be played out in the very near future. But before all these prophecies are fulfilled, Jesus Christ will call us up to be with Him in the heavens at the Rapture. That said, our prayer should be – "even so come Lord Jesus" – Maranatha!

With this information as a foundation for your studies, please read through Chapter 12 of Revelation.

Thank you for reading! Don’t miss next week’s edition as we investigate chapter 13 of Revelation…

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!

If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com

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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><

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