The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Revelation Chapters 12

What a masterpiece the great Book of Revelation, the Book of the Uncovering, the Book of the Unveiling. Let's pause and reflect for a moment and review some of that which has been revealed to us thus far.

In chapter one we learned that John was taken to the Lord's Day, which is yet future from now, and shown "visually" many marvelous and wondrous truths, to provide us in these last days with concrete PICTURES of the way it is and the way it is going to be. We learned that the graphics and symbols used in the descriptions are easily understood because they are either defined right in the Book Revelation itself, or we have read of them before in the Incredible Edible Book.

For instance, we now know that the Sword of the Lord is symbolic of the Word of God, that stars are symbolic of angels, i.e. sons of God, that horses and horns are symbolic of power, and that snakes, scorpions, locusts, etc. are all symbolic of our enemies.

In chapters 2 and 3 we saw Christ address the 7 Churches present at the time of the end. He admonished all but two of them, for He found no fault with Smyrna and Philadelphia, who both taught concerning those who claim to be of Judah, but are liars and of the synagogue of Satan himself.

John was then taken to heaven in chapter 4 and he gave us a simply incredible description of the glory of Him who sat on the throne, the throne itself with the four guards (zoon), and the room where a great assembly was gathered to witness the unsealing of His Word so that the wise of this generation, spoken of by the angel to Daniel to the prophet (Dan. 12:10), would be able to understand all that Christ foretold us, and He foretold us all things (Mat. 13:23). We saw gathered at that great assembly the 24 Elders, i.e. the 12 Patriarchs and 12 Apostles, all those who have lived and died in Christ including our loved ones who have passed away, and all those who were slain for the Word of God, i.e. martyred.

The Lamb of God then unsealed the Scroll giving us in Picture Format the signs of the end time even as that same Lamb outlined them in Matthew 24 and Mark 13. To fully understand these seals is to have the seal of God in your forehead whereby the scorpions and locusts cannot harm you.

Then, having been given the complete intelligence report with all the necessary signs to look for, with all the enemy's methods of operation disclosed, the amount of briefing of the saints which must take place before the final battle, and what to do and say if and when captured by the enemy and brought to trial, John is then shown the 7 Angels with the 7 Trumps sound their trumpets.

The Trumpets are sounded in order announcing the events that are to transpire and describing the details using symbolic, understandable, graphic imagery. The last three trumps are called "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth Trumps" and culminate with the appearance of the two Messiahs. The first Messiah, Satan, the false one, appears at the 6th Trump and the true Messiah, Jesus Christ returns at the 7th Trump.

John then saw the very Temple of God opened in heaven and therein was the Ark of the Covenant. And there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail, all of which we understood.

We now come to chapter 12 of Book of the Unveiling and John is going to SEE in PICTURE format the very plan of God, from the first earth age even to the third (last) earth age, all in one chapter. He will first see two contrasting "wonders" in heaven, one in verse 1 and the second in verse 3. We will document that the first four verses of this chapter pertain to the "world that then was" (2 Pet. 3), and not to this present earth age.

Let's begin.

Rev. 12:1
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:

The word "wonder" means "sign" and so John saw a great sign in heaven, and wondrous it was. Would you like see one? Go outside on any clear night and look up at the stars, and wondrous it will be. And if you are familiar with the uncorrupted Zodiac the plan of God will appear, for it is the Bible in the stars. Did not God say in Genesis 1:14 that the lights in the firmament of the heaven are to be for SIGNS, and for seasons, and for days, and years? Yes He did. And He numbered and named them ALL.

And so you can begin with "The prophecy of the promised seed", Virgo, the virgin, who brings forth the man child and travel through the redeemer's conflict, etc., to Leo and destruction of the old serpent. It was declared in the "beginning of time" and repeated in Matthew 1:23 "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (You must read appendix 12 in the Companion Bible or and/or obtain the book "The Glory of the Stars" by E. Raymond Capt.)

Of course, just as the written Word of God has been corrupted by the traditions of men and made of none effect, so has the Zodiac, the Word of God written in the stars, been corrupted by men and reduced to superstition and daily fortune telling by the silly and the ignorant, and also made of none effect.

So what about this woman in verse one who is clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars? She symbolizes mother Israel and her 12 Royal sons, stars, chosen before the foundation of this earth age, through whom would come Messiah. Do you remember the dream that one of those stars had in this earth age while in the flesh? His name was Joseph, son of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel.

Genesis 37:9
And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

Rev. 12:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

John now SEES the second wonder, the bad guy, the one who rebelled and fell in the "world that then was".

[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.

The dragon is Satan (see verse 9) and he has his seven heads, symbolic of his 7,000 royal priests with the breastplates on (Remember?  They get zapped at the return of Christ in Rev. 11:13), and ten horns, symbolic of power. We'll find in verse 9 that his angels get booted out of heaven and come with the dragon, Satan, to this earth. When? At the second Woe Trump, remember? So we see Satan's power structure in the "world that then was" which caused the "fall" of 1/3 of the "stars" which we'll see in verse 4.

And when we get to the next chapter, chapter 13, we'll see this creep, Satan the beast, with almost exactly the same power structure he had in first earth age of which we just read. The difference is he has handed out three promotions and elevated them to royal, priestly status, i.e. he has three more crowns.

Rev. 13:1
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

One last thought on Rev. 12:3. He is called the "Red" dragon. Look up "red" in Strong's Concordance and your see that it is "purrhos" from "pur" meaning "fire" or "literal or figurative, specially lightning". And so Jesus Christ would say regarding this fire breathing dragon in Luke 10:18 "And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."

Do you know what Satan did in the first earth age? It is revealed to us in the very next verse. It is the reason that you and I are here on this earth, in these flesh bodies, today!

Rev. 12:4 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.

Our Father then held the first judgment of one of His sons, Lucifer. And He sentenced him to "perish", to die the 2nd Death in the lake of fire. So you can see there was a price to pay for sin even in the "world that then was". That price was death!  Satan's sentence is so recorded in Ezekiel 28:

Ezekiel 28:18-19
Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

[19] All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.

But our loving Father did not judge the rest of His children, because the penalty for those found guilty would be death also! Sentencing your children to die is not something anyone would want to do. So He postponed that judgment until after the Millennium, after His plan to salvage His children, His plan of salvation, was fulfilled.

He would make man, His sons, to dwell in flesh bodies fashioned after the very likeness of themselves, and yet be born innocent, which is WITHOUT knowledge of the world that then was. That way they could be free from interference to chose whether to love God or once again follow Satan's tail.

But the penalty for sin would still be death and so our Father, in His infinite love for His children, decided to pay the price Himself, to DIE FOR US, in our stead, that we might be redeemed to Him and love Him as He so wants His children to do. Is that not the most awesome thing you've ever heard?

Those of you who have children know full well that you cannot order or command or decree by law that your children love you. It must come from their hearts. And so it is with our Father and we His children. The price has been paid. We can live eternally with Him, if we'll turn to Him and love Him, for He first loved us and He still does.

We've seen the two great signs in heaven. One was a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. The sun "solar" represents the "sun of righteousness", Jesus Christ, and the moon "lunar, having no light of it's own" represents the "lunatic", Satan. So you could say that the woman, mother Israel, was clothed or covered, even protected by the LORD, wrapped in His arms. And of course the moon is under her feet where the footstool belongs.

Then we saw a great red dragon with seven crowned heads and ten horns. This is Satan and his power structure in the "world that then was" (2 Pet. 3:6), before this flesh age, where his tail drew, i.e. dragged down, a third of God's children to rebel against our Father and follow after him.

And we saw the dragon, Satan, standing before the woman, which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was to be born. It was to be born at the appointed time, at the first advent in this earth age. So we now jump ahead to that time.

Rev. 12:5 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.

And this "man child" was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, which didn't happen when He walked this earth and hasn't happened yet. He was born an innocent babe and died to pay the price for our sins. It is when Christ returns, at His second advent, that He takes command of all nations with the rod of iron.

Rev. 19:15
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Hebrews 10:12-13
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; [13] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

Rev. 12:6 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.

But the wilderness is our place among the people, prepared of God, where He wants us to be. It is not a physical place in the desert, like Petra, where we fly in a 747 Jumbo Jet to save our hides from some blood and guts battle espoused by Biblically illiterate preachers. We're foot soldiers of the Most High, and we can always be found on the front lines.

You may remember that John the Baptist was a voice crying in the wilderness, and common sense tells you he wasn't preaching to the animals.

Matthew 3:3
For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Isaiah 40:3
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

And remember what will the two witnesses be doing during those same 1260 days? Rev. 11:3 "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth." They will be prophesying, teaching. They will continue to pump oil into the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

One thing is for sure, the woman is certainly not "hidden" somewhere for she will be persecuted when Satan gets here as we will see in verse 13. So much for the flying to Petra theory.

So get ready. War in heaven is about to take place in the next verse, and woe to the inhabiters of the earth.

Rev. 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

"But I thought everything was peaceful and serene there with harps of gold and people sitting on fluffy clouds saying holy, holy, holy! War in heaven?"

Welcome to reality. Heaven is where Satan and his angels are right now, and wherever he is there's trouble. Yes, he's been here on earth in person before. He was in the garden and he was here when he tempted Christ.

But don't worry, he's no match for Michael and the rest of the Christian Army there.

[8] And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

"So that's OK Michael, send them down, we'll take it from here. Jesus has given us power over all our enemies. And believe us, were thankful and give praise to Him because our names are written in the Book of Life."

Luke 10:19-20
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. [20] Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Daniel 12:1
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.

Rev. 12:9 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.

He is cast to this earth! And he fools a couple of people? No, he deceives the WHOLE WORLD. He's really good. He's coming disguised as Jesus. He will sit in the temple claiming to be God (2 Thes. 2). And remember, we just read he drew away 1/3 of God's children in the "world that then was", but it will be even easier to deceive them in their flesh bodies. They will be impressed when he snaps his finger and calls fire down from heaven.

"Wow", they will say! "Woe", we will say!

What is the most dangerous doctrine/belief in Christianity today? Did you know there is one? It is so dangerous that it could cause you to lose your very soul!

It is the "any moment Rapture theory"! Why? Because if a person believes that Jesus Christ can return at any moment, then when the supernatural archangel, Satan, and his angelic entourage are cast out of heaven to this earth (Rev. 12:9), disguised as Christ and His "angels of light", that person will think Jesus Christ has returned to this earth. And they will worship him as Jesus! Yuck! Just wait until the real Jesus returns at the 7th Trump and they discover they've been worshipping Satan. How ashamed they will be!

The apostle Paul made it perfectly clear in 2 Thes. 2 that we WILL NOT gather back to Jesus Christ until AFTER the son of perdition, Satan, stands in the holy place showing the world that he is God, i.e. Jesus. Until that happens Christ isn't returning, so don't expect Him today or tomorrow!

And what of Satan's angels? Yes, we read his angels are cast out with him (Rev. 12:9)! Remember those 7,000 who were measured in the temple (Rev. 11:1) and are destroyed by Christ at His return (Rev. 11:13). They were here on earth before when they seduced women, the daughters of Adam. You can read of them in Genesis chapter 6 where they are called the sons of God. They were giving and taking in marriage and giants were born as a result of their "hanky panky".

But you don't have to take anyone's word for it that these angels are coming. Jesus Christ Himself documented that they are coming again when He gave the signs of what it will be like just before He returns.

Matthew 24:37
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

[38] For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

Satan and his angelic host will deceive the whole world, except for those who are aboard the ark of the covenant of these last days, i.e. have the seal of God in their foreheads. All others will drown in the flood of Satan's lies.

[39] And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

[40] Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

[41] Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Let's return to Revelation where John is speaking.

Rev. 12:10 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.

But what about those who have the seal of God in their foreheads, whom Satan accuses day and night, i.e. relentlessly?

[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.

[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.

"But Woe to us poor suckers, the inhabiters of the earth and the sea. Thanks a lot! You not only sent Satan down here in person, but now he's really PO'd because he knows he only has 5 months and he thought he had 3 1/2 years."

[13] And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

[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.

Deut. 32:9-11
For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. [10] He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. [11] As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:

OK, now get ready, cause here comes the flood!

Rev. 12:15 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.

[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.

[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.

And he makes war with the remnant of her seed. We know that this old serpent has been after the "seed" of the woman from the very beginning. At the beginning of this chapter we saw the picture of him standing there in the first earth age waiting with "baited breath" for the chance to devour. And when this flesh age began and God placed Adam and Eve, though whom the "man child" would eventually come, in the garden, then lo and behold, there he was just chomping at the bit! Here is what our Father had to say to him:

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

We have the victory!