Revelation Chapter 12
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This chapter probably takes us back to the beginning of the 3½ years of the wrath of God, that is, shortly after the rapture of the saints. It deals with extra information concerning this period that could not be included earlier. |
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| 1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: | John saw a great sign or symbol in the sky. It was in the form of a woman who was clothed with the sun, the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars upon her head. It is interesting that the Roman Catholic Church believe that Mary is going to appear to mankind in this way in the last days. But this vision is not of the Virgin Mary, nor, because of the twelve stars, is it the emblem of the E.U., even though both are portrayed in a similar fashion. Instead this is a picture or symbol of Israel. Remember that Joseph also spoke of the sun, moon, and stars in relation to Israel (Genesis 37:9). The twelve stars represent the twelve tribes of Israel. | |
| 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. |
Israel (the land represented by the woman) is seen to be with labour pains, ready to deliver her child. What child? Some say it is Jesus Christ or even the 144,000, but this does not fit the prophecy. The woman is the Nation of Israel. The modern State of Israel came into existence in 1948 shortly after the Jewish Holocaust of World War II. Nevertheless, she has not come to the place where she completely owns the land. There are still constant wars in Israel. The birth pains will continue until the Millennial Kingdom of Christ. The Child is believed to be the Church of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul, writing in Romans 8:19, says, "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God", and again in :22, "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." |
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| 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. | Next John sees a Red Dragon. This beast has seven crowned heads and ten horns. Here is the point: There will be two major players in the last days, and both cannot exist together. First there is Israel, represented by the woman, secondly there is the last days world power under Antichrist (possibly the E.U.) represented by the Dragon. The E.U. (which used to be known as the E.E.C., The Common Market, and E.C.) was originally known as The Treaty of Rome, and was founded upon ten member states. Only two major players existed at the first coming of Christ, Israel and the Roman Empire. The European Union is simply the Revived Roman Empire. It is possibly that the Red Dragon may refer to the newly created European Army, which will come under the control of Antichrist. Whichever way it works out we do know that the Dragon symbolises the Antichrist and his kingdom. | |
| 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. |
Satan is the supreme power behind the Dragon and his system. It should be noted that Satan is also known as The Dragon (Revelation 20:2). The stars in this verse refer to the angels that fell with Lucifer and so were cast out of Heaven with him. They were cast out because of their rebellion. This verse also indicates that they will be the cause of further rebellion on earth in the last days. Satan will send his angels (devils) to earth to create greater opposition and rebellion in the hearts of men towards God before the end. The Devil and his earthly system will be quick off the mark to destroy the Nation of Israel before the Millennial Kingdom of Christ. If he can wipe out the Jews, then what Kingdom will Christ have to reign over when He comes? This is why the world's focus has been on Israel since World War II. Satan failed with Hitler, but he will try again with the Antichrist. The Devil has sought to destroy everything God has created or planned since the Garden of Eden. |
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| 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. | The Woman brought forth a male child. Again, some commentators, especially those influenced by Roman Catholic doctrine, suggest that this child is Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary. Others say it represents the 144,000 Jewish evangelists. As stated above the child appears to symbolise the Church of Christ. The Church was founded in Israel on the Day of Pentecost, at which point Satan has done all that he can to destroy it. This verse also speaks of the rapture. The true sons (children) of God will be caught up to Heaven before the Devil can destroy them. They will share in Christ's reign and authority (see Revelation 20:6). During the Tribulation (the first 3½ years), Satan will make his final attempt to finish off the Church. We are seeing the preparation for this as the media and society are becoming increasingly hateful towards Biblical Christianity. His last attack will involve demonic infiltration of the Church through Satanically inspired preachers. | |
| 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. | Israel will have to flee for her life during the last 3½ years of the seven-year period. This is what the prophet Jeremiah calls "Jacob's trouble" (Jeremiah 30:7). The Antichrist will turn against the Jews. They will finally realise that he is not the Messiah he claims to be. He will seek to destroy the Jews because they will not receive him as their God and because he will set up his own image in the Temple … "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." (2 Thessalonians 2:4). The Jews will flee into the wilderness, which most commentators believe to be Petra. This persecution will be levelled against Gentiles who have recently come to Christ also. It is very likely that this 'wilderness experience' will bring about the salvation of the Jews … "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob." (Romans 11:25-26). | |
| 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, | A great war will be fought over Israel. This war will take place in the heavenlies. On earth the worst of all holocausts will be determined for the Jews by the Antichrist. But this evil plan will be thwarted by Israel's Guardian Angel, Michael the Archangel. Three important truths are revealed here: 1) God has ordained that His angels are to watch over and protect His people … "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." (Psalm 91:11). "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14). We are not permitted to seek the presence of angels as so many are doing today. 2) There are various orders of both good and evil angels. It must be pointed out that the Bible only knows about one archangel, and that is Michael. 3) It is the archangel Michael who protects and defends the people and land of Israel … "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." (Daniel 12:1). Satan, right from the very beginning, has sought to destroy God's people (both Jews and Christians), but this final assault will be his most wickedest of schemes (see Revelation 12:12). |
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| 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. | The outcome of this battles is already recorded in Scripture. The Devil knows what the outcome will be and what is going to happen to him. Stan and the fallen angels will be defeated and cast down. Cast down from where? Cast down to where? a) Cast down from where? The Heaven of God's habitation? This cannot be true. It is better to see this statement as referring to the heaven immediately above our heads. Remember that the apostle Paul calls Satan "The prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2). Satan's present domain is the heavenly realm rather than Heaven itself. Satan was cast out of Heaven before the beginning of time. b) Cast down to where? The Earth. It should be very clear that this passage cannot be referring to his original fall, because he was not cast down to the earth at that time. Instead he took up his abode in "high places" (Ephesians 2:2, 6:12). The term high places literally means "heavenly places". Again, he is the prince of the power of the air. The word "air" here means the atmospheric region." It must be noted that he has never been to Hell yet. |
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| 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. | Here the Devil is titled The Great Dragon … that Old Serpent. Jesus called him the father of lies (John 8:44). It is he who tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God. Satan and the fallen angels will come to deceive the world on a grand scale. This activity has a twofold purpose. a) He will make his last ditched attempt to overthrow everything and everyone that belongs to God. He will seek to introduce as much sin and deception as possible so as force God to judge the world. He knows that the holy and righteous Lord must punish iniquity. This is why Satan attacks the believer first. b) He is trying to get back at God for casting him out of Heaven. He cannot remove God from His Throne, but he will do all that he can to stop His children getting to Heaven. |
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| 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. | Even in this darkest of moments in future world history praise is heard in Heaven. Here we have two facts about the victory and salvation won by the Lord Jesus Christ. a) Satan's time is quickly coming to an end because Jesus is about to set up His Millennial Kingdom. That Kingdom will spell defeat for the Devil's dominion over the earth. These final 3½ years will find Satan in a frenzy because he knows his time is limited. b) Satan will never be able to accuse or overcome God's people again. |
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| 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. | Satan and his angels, and even the Antichrist, will be overcome by three valuable and powerful weapons. a) The Blood of Christ. How few fully trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary! Satan hates what the Blood of the Lamb has and can accomplish. We can defeat his lies and tricks with what he hates the most - living in full assurance of salvation through the sacrifice of Christ. b) The word of testimony. Proclaiming and confessing the word of God everywhere and at all times. Satan wants us to be ashamed of the glorious Gospel and that we are followers of Christ. c) Loyalty to Christ even in the face of death. Are our lives so important that we would risk losing eternity for them? God grants true believers the strength to stand firm even when being martyred for the faith |
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| 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. | The world is given a warning - Satan will be cast down to the earth. He will use this opportunity to wreck and destroy through: a) The Antichrist system. b) The direct involvement of evil spirits. He has a short time to accomplish his worst act of rebellion against God. We must remember though, that he knows he is fighting a losing battle, so he is determined to take as many human beings to Hell with him. |
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| 13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. | He will seek to destroy the Jews (worldwide?). This will be on a grander
scale than Hitler's Final Solution. Maybe the Antichrist will have concentration camps set up beforehand for the extermination of the Jews. Will the world be shocked? No, we have become used to seeing refugee camps on our television screens. |
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| 14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. | The woman is given the wings of an eagle. Some have suggested that this represents America airlifting the Jews to safety. This may or may not be so, but it is best to compare Scripture with Scripture here. Can this not simply mean that God Himself will make a way for the Jews? At the time of the Exodus He declared, "Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself" (Exodus 19:4). God did not "fly" the Jews away from Pharaoh's wrath, but they were under His protective care. Does He need America to do this for Him? | |
| 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. | The flood here represents a great tribulation (Jacob's trouble). The idea is a sudden onslaught of wickedness against Israel. The Lord promised, "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him" (Isaiah 59:19). The devil can do his worst but he cannot destroy the Jews. If he could, then God will have failed. |
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| 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. | The flood [a great army] will be swallowed up by the earth. This may mean
one of two things, or a combination of both. a) A natural catastrophe may cause the Antichrist to turn back from perusing fleeing Israel. We must remember that the earth is undergoing the wrath of God at this time, so this natural event may be a result of that. b) It could be a war or rebellion that causes him to turn away. "And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over" (Daniel 11:40). Whatever it is, God will make sure that the Antichrist will not lay even a finger on the Jews seeking a place of safety in the wilderness. Where do they flee to? Where is this wilderness? Daniel 11:41 reveals the answer, "He [the Antichrist] shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon." Edom, Moab and Ammon will not be under the control of the Antichrist. It is to one of these regions that Israel will find refuge. Many commentators believe that the site will be Petra which so happens to be in Edom (part of modern-day Jordan). See Information on Petra |
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| 17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. | The devil, now really angry because he could not get to the Jews, turns on
those who did not go in this final exodus. We can only speculate why this remnant chose to stay behind. It is possible that these are the Jews who
never returned to Israel. This attack could also be levelled at those who did not take the Mark of the Beast and pledged their
allegiance to Christ. These people will face extreme persecution, but they can still be overcomers (:11). |