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December 30

The bible reading today is in the book of Revelation chapters 12-18.

From chapter 4-19, John was showing the 7 churches of Asia what God’s future work on earth looked like from heaven’s vantage point.

Over the years, I have read what my spiritual mentors had to say about the unveiling of future events found in Revelation. Some differed widely. But one thing that they all had in common was how important it was to understand that heaven shows us “what” happens and not necessarily “when”.

So I have tried to concentrate on the occurrences themselves and not lose their significance by getting bogged down in a timeline. Sometimes the occurrences and a timeline fit perfectly. But sometimes they don't.

Spurgeon told his church family that his messages on Revelation came from his Spirit-filled heart. But...He had no doubt that there were deeper meanings to the visions of earth from heaven than he understood at the time of his life and ministry.

And I say Amen and Amen to that!

Now to the text in chapter 12...“And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭12:1-2‬

This chapter speaks of a woman, a child birthed by the woman. and a red dragon.

Question: Who do they represent?

Before I take a stab at that...let’s look at some more of the text.

“The woman was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth.

And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth so that when she bore her child he might devour it.

She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron,

but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭12:2-6‬

The red dragon represents the devil of the garden of Eden. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭12:9‬

Yes, verse 9 gives me confidence that the red dragon in the story is Satan himself. And up to a certain time the deceiver had privilege at the court of heaven as seen in the book of Job. But now this text says that he doesn't any more. And he and his fallen angels/now demons are thrown down to earth by Michael the archangel to be used and judged by God.

Now the child born from the woman...who did the male child represent? “ Let’s look at Psalm 2.

“As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.””

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭2:6-9‬

Psalm 2 is a Messianic Psalm. Jesus was the Godhead choice for King in Israel...who would become king over all the nations on earth including Israel at some point in time.

And that Gentle Lamb of God would rule the nations with “a rod of iron”. The woman gave birth to the Messiah, Jesus.

And when would “he” rule the broken world with a rod of iron?

Perhaps that is related to the 1000 year reign of Christ on the earth before the new heaven and new earth are created. Revelation 20. At that time in the future, Satan would be imprisoned in a pit...not to deceive the nations again until after the 1000 years.

“Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also, I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

So the male child...He represented Jesus and the red dragon represented the devil. So who did the woman represent?

Some say, Mary. But nowhere in scripture do we read that Mary fled into the wilderness for 3 1/2 years after Jesus was born.

Some say the church. But the church didn't give birth to Jesus. Jesus gave birth to the church.

I think that the woman represented Israel. It was prophesied that from Judah the Messiah would come. And Judah was a son of Israel.

Israel birthed Jesus.

And during the great tribulation on earth, the devil will persecute Israel and those who turn to Christ during that Great tribulation prophesied by Christ in Matt 24. A remnant of Israel will believe and they will be protected by Jesus in the wilderness for 1260 days.

And where will the believers be at the beginning of the great tribulation? The woman’s child was caught up to God in heaven.

I believe that scripture indicates that Christ and his church of believers are one. Could it be that God will catch up the church...snatch up/rapture the church of believers to heaven before the great tribulation? We will see.

May Jesus our Revealer make this vision clear to each of us. For now, let us be ready for every good work and be found faithful as we head into the days of Revelation.

Have a great day