http://www.americanwisdomseries.comThe American Wisdom Series http://www.americanwisdomseries.com
Caution to students of God's Word - Please remember two things when using our studies: #1. Our commentary is not God's Word. It is only our interpretation or understanding of "His Word" and even though we try our best to be accurate we may or may not be correct. #2. The King James translation, or any other translation, of the original Hebrew text has some words which were given different translations at different places probably because of the interpreters preconceived ideas of what they think God meant to say. For example: According to the notes in the "Dake's Annotated Reference Bible" the Hebrew word hayah in the KJV is Trans. (became) 67 times, (becamest or came to pass) 505 times, (become) 66 times, and (come to pass) 131 times, but for some reason in Genesis 1:2 it is translated (was)! That sure changes the way a person perceives the original creation of the earth, doesn't it? Gen. 1:2 And the earth was (became) without form, ... Having said that, let us continue with our "Key Knowledge" lessons. These are pamphlets containing knowledge, we believe, you must have to fully and accurately unlock and understand the Word of God.
John 15:26
But when the Comforter is
come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which
proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
John
16:13-14
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he
will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever
he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He
shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto
you.
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.
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.
Can you SEE the PICTURE. She is a very beautiful woman.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.
Eleven "stars", sons, made obeisance to the twelfth, Joseph.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.
Notice that the woman hasn't given birth yet to the Messiah and in fact would not until this earth age of flesh for which she is travailing, i.e. sorrowing. The time just before the "birth of a new age" is always liken to the labor pangs, the travailing of a woman. As Christ would say regarding the signs just before the end of this age, "these are the beginnings of sorrows" (look up "sorrows", it means "travail", labor pangs) Mark 13:8. Also see Romans 8:22 and 1 Thes. 5:3.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".
Can you SEE the PICTURE? He is a very ugly beast, in contrast to the very beautiful woman![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.
Again, we'll cover this in more detail when we get to it, but you already know that waters and the sea are the peoples of the world (Rev. 17:15). And when you wear the title (name) of Priest of Christ on your forehead, and you're one of Satan's own, it sure is blasphemous, wouldn't you say?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.Can you see the picture?
One last thought on Rev. 12:3. He is called the "Red" dragon. Look up "red" in Strong's Concordance and you'll 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!
Oh, Satan drew 1/3 of God's children into his camp of deception during the first earth age, and caused their downfall, "brought them down" as we say, cast them to the earth! Got it? There's now big trouble in God's family! One third of His children have forsaken Him.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.
"And never shalt thou be any more" is exactly what "perish" means! Satan is even called the son of perdition, the son who will perish. He's as good as dead which is why he is also called "death", to whom some of you will be delivered up to.[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.
What say ye?
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 present 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.
This brings us to Mary, who gave actual birth to Christ, but as you know, to get to this point and bring forth the promised Messiah (Gen. 3:15) from mother Eve on, was no small task as that great red dragon, that old serpent, tried to devour the "seed" from the beginning.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.
What a day the sounding of that 7th Trump, announcing the Day of the Lord, that Day of Vengeance, will be. Meanwhile "her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne" where He now sits at the right hand of the Father, and He will remain there until all His enemies are His footstool.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.
Neither Jesus nor Satan are present on earth, in person, at this time. And we have documented time and again that they both are returning, soon. Satan comes at the 6th Trump and Christ comes at the 7th Trump. Let no man deceive or confuse you by any means. Of course, both the Holy Spirit and Satan's evil spirit, as the prince and power of the air, are present now, but only in spirit.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.
From the parting of the Red Sea and the earthquake that split the ground asunder and swallowed all those who followed Korah, throughout the Bible, we can read how God has used nature and natural forces to protect His own and even defeat their enemies. It then should seem no great thing if the woman is protected by our Father, and she will be. We already read in Rev. 9 that Satan cannot harm in any way those with the seal of God in their foreheads.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.
This was a direct quote from the prophet Isaiah: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.
There's not much food in the desert, is there? What did it say the woman would be doing in the wilderness? Feeding for 1260 days. And so it is that the woman will be fed during the worldwide famine of Amos 8:11, even as we now feast on the Word of God.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.
War in heaven?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.
See what I mean? He's a loser. And it's time this whole bunch of losers, Satan and his angels, get kicked out of heaven, to the earth. Woe! So when the war is finished on that battle front it resumes here on earth. Got your gospel armour on (Eph. 6)?[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."
Let's see now. When Michael stands up and fights against the dragon, it will be "woe" time, Woe Trump time, to the inhabiters of the earth (vs. 12), i.e. big trouble here. Hmmmm. That's exactly what Daniel said concerning the end time.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.
Again, if your name is written in the book, that would be the Book of Life, then Satan is ordered to leave you alone.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.
Let there be no doubt about who the great red dragon is. He is the Devil, Satan himself, that old serpent who was in the garden of Eden and seduced mother Eve.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.
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.
Noe is Greek for Noah. What was going on then?Matthew 24:37
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Who was marrying and giving in marriage? Those before the flood, the fallen angels and the daughters of Adam. Jesus told us that it is going to be just like it was in those days before the flood. They, those seducing fallen angels, are coming again to marry and give in marriage! That is also why Paul says in 1 Cor. 11:10 that a woman should have power, the veil of Christ, on her head, i.e. be subject to Him. The reason? Read it yourself: "For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels." Because of the angels who will be coming to seduce them.[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.
There's going to be a whole bunch of people swept away, just like they were in the flood of Noah.[39] And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
The woman taken in the field is taken by whom? By Satan and his angels, swept away in their flood of lies, just like those swept away in the flood of Noah days![40] Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Those left working in the field, who wait upon the true bridegroom, who aren't swallowed by the flood of lies, who aren't seduced by Satan and the fallen angels, those "virgins" who endure until the end, they are the ones who shall be saved.[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.
Satan's a big "tattle tale"! Every time you do something wrong he runs to your Father and tells on you and tries to get you in trouble! Read about the conversation this "smart aleck" had with our Father concerning Job in Job 1:6-12.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?
They overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb and by kicking that old dragon in the teeth with their testimony, WITHOUT FEAR of harm or death, knowing that they have the victory![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.
Rejoice ye that dwell in the heavens? Oh yeah, sure! You kicked him out! It's easy to sing Hallelujah now, isn't it? Didn't we read back a few chapters that "there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour" (Rev. 8:1)? Nice and peaceful![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."
Now there's a surprise! He comes after those rascally children of God! He'll be sorry.[13] And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
Again, these two wings aren't found attached to the fuselage of a jet owned by Eagle Airlines. Our Father is liken to this great eagle in Deut. 32:9-11. This 32nd chapter of Deuteronomy is the very "Song of Moses" that the overcomers are singing in Rev. 15. It is therefore a part of the Book of Revelation. Notice that God's people are found in the "wilderness" and protected by "wings" of the great eagle, our loving Father.[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.
And so the woman is given the two wings of this great eagle that she might fly into the wilderness of the world, fully protected and nourished during the great tribulation. Of course, the great eagle is our loving Father.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!
He's trying to drown the woman in the field and take her, isn't he?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.
Our feet don't even get wet from this dragon's flood of lies! With God and mother nature on our side (remember the two witnesses) he doesn't have a prayer of a chance![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.
Them's fight'n words! But you know, to Christian soldiers there's nothing funnier than an angry, out of control, flailing dragon, puffing smoke! After kicking him around awhile to show others he's a loser just take the sharp two-edge sword and go for the head![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:
Yes, there sure is enmity, isn't there? But you see, "the losers", Satan and his offspring, the kenites, only bruised the heel of the "man child". This happened when the stake was driven through His feet at Calvary. But "the winners", the seed of woman, the real bruisers, take the head off that old serpent, the dragon, the devil, Satan. We have the victory!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.
Now here is Revelation 12 from our earlier study.
This Bible Study was originally written by Roger
Christopherson,
published at http://www.theseason.org/
Without the leading by the Holy Spirit, there is no understanding of the truths, for all the truth of the Scriptures are revealed to us by God's Spirit.
Now here is our revised study ofREVELATION
Chapter 12
"This Vision Received While John is still in Heaven in spirit"
However
"The Great
Dragon is Cast out of Heaven [7-9]."
"The Fourth Vision is about How it Effects us Here on Earth [7-18]."
Revelation 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:
In this chapter twelve we leave the last three and a half year period, and return all the way back to the world that was [before the first earth age, but after God created the heaven]; and some of the events that happened in the world that then was. Then we take a fast sweep through God's plan up to the first day of the Millennium. All of these events recorded in this twelfth chapter may be some-what confusing to you.
This "wonder" is a great sign in the heavens. The "woman" here is not the church. This "woman" has nothing to do with the church. She symbolizes mother Israel and her 12 Royal sons, stars, chosen before the foundation of this earth age, through whom would come Messiah. [John 16:21]
Satan had the same political and social order in existence at the end of the first earth age, prior to this age of flesh man, that he will be ruling over the earth with at the end of our current earth age. Fix in your mind that the time period that is being symbolically spoken of here is that time when the souls of men were not yet in the flesh, it was in that time before the events actually happened following Genesis 1:2.
Revelation 12:2 "And she being with child, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered."
This "child" to be delivered is the Messiah, and the woman delivering the child is the symbol of "Israel", however, in the physical sense this child is to be born in this earth age, and we call her "Mary". It is Satan's sole purpose to destroy this child. This woman (Israel) symbolically, is the wife and the son of Almighty God, and God wants us to feel and understand the events that occur. What happens to them affects Him, exactly as it would you or me in a similar case.
Revelation 12:3 "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."
This wonder, the "Great red dragon", is always Satan. Here again, it is all symbolically happening in heaven, prior to this earth age. All these events described are just like it will be at the end of this earth age when Satan returns. Satan had seven dominions of power in the first earth age, and will have ten agencies of power when he returns to earth in person. Satan had complete universal control over that prior earth kingdom; and he had total political control. This we will see in Revelation 13, is a copy of this earth age, and the United Nations, with it's ten units of power, taking control over all it's dominions. Though the forms of government and their systems appear at first to be the same, we will see the differences between these two ages: That of the first when we were in spirit bodies, and this flesh age we are now in.
Revelation 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."
The "stars" of heaven are the "sons of God". This "old dragon" caused one third of all of God's creation to follow him in the first earth age. One third of us, God's children, are all those of us while still in our "spirit bodies". We are also called "angelic souls". No my friend, we do not have wings, but the cherubs do.
What it is saying here, is through Satan's fall in the first earth age, he drew one third of God's children to him. He caused them to fall, and they worshipped him, and believed in him to be their God. That is also his desire for this age; to cause you and me, the children of God, to worship him.
When we read that "all living came from mother Eve", it means that "Messiah came from, or through mother Eve". He came through the offspring of mother Eve. (The Virgin Mary) And it is through the Messiah, Christ, offering eternal life to all mankind. For acceptance of God's gift, all mankind must pass from death to eternal life through the blood of Jesus Christ. So we see this refers to spiritual life, and not necessarily physical life.
So symbolically we saw the dragon, Satan, standing before the woman (mother Israel), which was ready to be delivered, to devour her child as soon as it was to be born. It was to be born at the appointed time. The appointed time was at the first advent in this earth age, of man in the flesh.
So we now jump ahead to that time,
to this earth age.
Revelation 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."
That "man child" that was brought forth in the little town of Bethlehem when Jesus the Christ child was born. There are only two times that anyone sits upon this throne, and the first time He was still a child. Get it? That child is Jesus Christ.
This verse covers both advents [comings]; the first is Christ's birth as a child, and His second coming will be His return at the seventh trumpet. Then He will come to rule all nations with a rod of iron. Jesus Christ will come as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Revelation 12:6 "And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her a thousand two hundred and threescore days."
This time is when God's protection is given for the woman "Israel". Following the resurrection, and transposing these days into years, it would bring us up to the early 1800's A.D., when the house of Israel nations became superpowers.
Revelation 12:7 "And there was war in heaven: Mi'-cha-el and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,,"
This now brings us back into heaven.
The war is between Satan [the dragon] and his angels, who are fighting against Michael and his angels. Satan will lose.
Revelation 12:8 "And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven."
This is the time of the sounding of the sixth trumpet, when Satan and his fallen angels are released upon the earth for the final five months period, spoken of in Revelation 9:5-11. Satan will spend five months here on earth deceiving all mankind, then go to the pit for the thousand years. After that thousand years, Satan [not his fallen angels] will be released for a short period, then go to perdition [perish in "The Lake of Fire" to be no more]. Once Satan is kicked out of heaven, he will not be allowed to return. Today, Satan is still in heaven accusing the saints before the Lord.
Revelation 12:9 "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Sa'-tan, which deceived the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
If you were ever confused about who Satan is, John calls him by the names he was called by, while playing his different roles on earth. The "dragon" is Satan's role in that first earth age, when one third of all of God's children followed him. Satan's evil spirit is allowed on earth now, along with his demons. However, you haven't seen Satan in person yet. Satan and his angels, both physically and bodily, will come to earth just as they did in Genesis 6.
When Satan is cast out it will be as it was in the days of Noah. This is what Jesus said in Matthew 24:37: "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Mankind will be mixing with these angels, and buying into their lies, just as our women were marrying them and having children to them during Noah's day before the flood, only it will be spiritual this time, not physical.
Sodomy will be common, and all forms of filth will be made public, and accepted and considered normal. The world and even most of our so-called Christian churches with Kenite influence are preparing us, and our mind to accept all forms of filth in sex and marriage as being natural; and to consider their perversion as being of God.
Your acceptance and view of this filth of sodomy and religious form will tell you to what state of depravity your mind has sunk. The condition of your soul will be determined by what you know, and how you stand on these issues, at Satan's arrival to earth.
Revelation 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 [authority] of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."
This is why Satan's other name is "the accuser", for he continually stands before God's throne accusing all the saints of God. When you mess up, Satan will let God know about it. That is why it is important for us to repent immediately when we become aware of sin in our lives. Then all barriers between God and us are removed. Satan will continue to accuse you before God, right up to the time he is caste out to the earth.
Revelation 12:11 "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."
When Satan and his fallen angles are cast out onto the earth, the "elect" and those who have the seal of God in their minds will overcome them through the power given them in Christ's blood. You are the "elect" when you understand who Satan is, and what will come to pass. God has promised you and me that we have power over Satan, and God's protection is extended to each of us who are sealed in their minds with His truth.
"The word" of your testimony will allow you to overcome them, you won't even premeditate what to say, for God, through the Holy Spirit, will put the words in your mouth. The death that comes is to the "two witnesses" only, and to them it is for 84 hours [three and a half days].
Revelation 12:12 "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."
When Satan is cast out, those dear souls in heaven will start a celebration in heaven. Those are the dear Christians that have died and are in heaven with the Father. However, Satan [the devil] is coming to earth with his angels to bring the wrath of their deception with them. Satan is not after your body, but after your soul.
Satan knows God's word, and the judgment passed upon him. He is sentenced to death already, and he knows his time is short. He will come to earth with his bag of tricks, and lying wonders, and with the authority from God to deceive every man on this earth. The only exception is to those who have the seal [knowledge] of God [written in God's Word] in their minds for they will not be deceived.
If you have not taken the time to put that truth of his Word into your mind, you will fall for Satan's razzle-dazzle sideshow of tricks. Satan will walk this earth with his fallen angels, and you will see them, hear their speech and they'll even present themselves as fellow men. You are not going to fly out of here, but face them in this generation, and you will either stand against Satan and his realm, or you will fall. What is at stake here is your soul, not your flesh body.
Revelation 12:13 "And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child."
We see the woman here again, "Israel", who is now identified and promoting Jesus Christ. Though Satan has the rest of the heathen world, but also he wants your soul. If you still think the woman [Israel] are the Jews, It will be almost impossible for you to understand this. For "Israel" is the offspring also of the tribes that were taken and scattered by Assyria. Yet today they exist in large part as the Christian nations of the world. The prophet Hosea identified them in Hosea 1:10.
Hosea 1:10 "Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured not numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, `Ye are not My People,' there it shall be said unto them, `Ye are the sons of the living God.' "
Hosea is calling attention to the time of the end, to the house of Israel in the end times and how they will be remembered. In the locations where each of these tribes are located, not in Palestine, but in Europe, America or where ever those nations are established. There this house of Israel will just not consider themselves as Israel, but as Gentile nations. However also, in that location they will call themselves "sons of the living God". Jesus Christ is the "Living God" and those that are sons of God are called Christians. This could not be the Jews under any condition for they do not consider Jesus Christ as the Son of God, or in any form of deity.
The race "Caucasian" are the peoples of the old "House of Israel", who went through the Caucasus Mountains after 722 B.C., and settled throughout western Europe, and colonized elsewhere around the world. They are the Christian nations. These are people who represent the woman who brought forth the manchild, Jesus Christ, and God's salvation to the world. The persecution then is caused by the deceiving of these Christians into following Satan.
Revelation 12:14 "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 two wings of this great eagle are going to spread into this wilderness with truth. They are going to place in the minds of this "woman" [Israel], God's elect, the truth. Then the elect will understand who Satan is, and all the supernatural events that are around him.
Revelation 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."
The "flood" is a flood of lies and deception. Are they aimed at the heathen religions? No! Satan is after the Christians, and his camouflage in his appearance is that of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only one to claim Himself to be the "Son of God", and by that laid the claim to be the only way of salvation. That is the name and position that Satan wants, and he is out to get from you. Satan already has the rest of the world deceived. The "woman" is you, and anyone else who professes to be a Christian. Even Gentiles that have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ are grafted in and part of the tree of Israel. We then are the target of this flood of lies and deceptions coming from the mouth of Satan, and Satan will have his revivals and church services.
Revelation 12:16 "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 sword of God is the truth of God's Word, and this is what came out of Jesus Christ's mouth. In turn, what comes out of the mouth of Satan will be a flood of lies and deceptions that will make up his false religion. Satan will take the Word of God and twist and distort it into his lies to appear to be of God. Satan [the Antichrist] will make it look so good and positive, that the unlearned of the Scriptures will take it as truth.
Most denominations today are infiltrated with Kenites in their church leadership, and have allowed their teaching in their seminaries, that the positions of in their doctrines they are ready to place themselves into the Antichrist's system. They will accept the Antichrist [Satan] as their Messiah. They will be proud to proclaim themselves to be part of that one world system of Satan's, thinking he is Christ. This is why it is important to check out God's holy Word for yourself.
Revelation 12:17 "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."
But Satan comes to earth first and he (Satan) will claim he is God.
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