Revelation 12
Chapters’ 12-14 explain the 7 main personages that are involved with the coming events of this revelation. These 7 are: The Woman, The Dragon, The Man-Child, Michael, The Beast out of the sea, The Beast out of the earth, and The 144,000 Jews. The focus in this chapter goes to Israel. This account probably goes back in time to summarize Israel, Christ, and the Satanic war against them. We are reviewing a few things and then end up right at the midpoint of the Tribulation: the first half of the Tribulation involved the seal judgements and the trumpet judgements. The previous chapter outlined the ministry of the 2 witnesses during the first half of the Tribulation.
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:
This wonder must have been seen from Earth due to the temple being opened; was it a giant video for all to see?
Many commentators attribute these symbols as to ancient pagan sources. Others state that this is in reference to ‘the church’, and that the church was present there in the Garden of Eden and all the way through Revelation.
In Gen 37:9,10, we see Joseph’s dream explaining the sun, moon, and stars as Israel. The sun was Jacob, the moon Leah, and the 11 stars were Joseph’s 11 brothers.
Israel is always referred to in the feminine tense. The sun relates God’s glory upon her. The moon shows how she is to shine from God’s light. The 12 stars shows the 12 tribes as the ruling authority. The woman is Israel.
“Clothed with the Sun means clothed in the imputed righteousness of Christ the Son [sun] of God. This only happens in the new birth. Therefore Israel clothed in the righteousness of Christ happens when she comes to know her God in obedience to the everlasting Gospel. [This] is described as ‘But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings’ [Malachi 4:2].” (J.B. Fennison)
A primary function of clothing is to provide shelter and protection from external elements.The sun and the moon appear together in scripture typically as a ‘dual witness’ (Jer 31:35-37). The sun would be for ‘signs’ and seasons (Gn 1:14). They were given as a witness that the Jews would continue being a people of God as long as the sun and the moon remain in the sky (Ps 89:35-37). (adapted from Garland’s Commentary)
Furthermore, this could be referring to an actual astronomical event occuring in the sky, not just the vision that John had.
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
Israel was prophesied to (Is 9:6) bring forth a child, the Messiah. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:…”
The crying, travail, and pain were more in a spiritual context for the nation (the woman)(Is 66:7-10), rather than referring to Mary. The birth of Messiah was not without much battle, pain, crying, and travail by the nation of Israel in the centuries leading up to it.
Israel, via Eve, had the promise of the Messiah in her; Gen 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.”
Gen 22:18 “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed ; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”
Mic 5:2-3 “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.”
Thus, Israel travailed much in those centuries prior to her bringing forth the Messiah (via Mary, a Jewess).
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.
A great red dragon – identified in vs. 9 as Satan. Red signifies bloodshed. The dragon refers to Satan’s power (Leviathan was the most powerful of God’s created animals).
Having seven heads…… – These probably refer to Gentile nations and rulers that Satan has under his control.
“A study of related passages indicates that all ten horns are found on one head—the seventh, or last, head. “If the seven heads stand for seven successive world empires, the ten horns must be on the seventh head to agree with Daniel’s placement of the ten horns at the time of the end.” (Garland’s Commentary) Dan 7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
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.
Third part of the stars of heaven – generally believed to refer to the angels that followed Lucifer in his rebellion; however, no number is given to how many specifically followed him. It is probable that at some point before the creation of man, Satan and his host were cast out of heaven and to the earth (Is 14:12-14, Ez 28:12-17).
“This is not his final casting out, but his original fall in sin and corruption of a portion of the heavenly host (Isa. 14:12; Eze. 28:14). This occurred early in God’s created order, prior to the temptation of Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:1-5).” (Garland’s Commentary)
For to devour her child… – Satan was standing by and was very alert to the prophecy of the coming Messiah. Gen 3:15 speaks of the ‘seed of the woman’ (Jesus Christ) and the ‘seed of the serpent’ (Satan and his forces), and that ‘it (Jesus) shall bruise thy (Satan’s) head’ and ‘Thou (satan) shall bruise his (Jesus’) heel’. Satan tried to murder the baby Jesus through the pronouncement of King Herod.
“Ultimately, the seed of the serpent did in fact bruise the heel of the redeemer—at His crucifixion (John 8:44). Yet this ‘victory’ of the serpent resulted ultimately in the bruising of his own head.” (Garland’s Commentary)
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.
Israel (through her daughter Mary) brought forth Jesus Christ, the Son of Man. He would someday rule all nations in the Millennial kingdom. After His crucifixion and resurrection, He was caught up to the right hand of the Father’s throne. He will have His own throne (inherited from David) when He rules in the Millennium.
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.
If this vision is telling the ‘big picture’ overview for Messiah and the woman, Israel, then this verse might be future tense for us right now. It may be chronologically in the midpoint of the Tribulation. The time period is after the Messiah’s ascencion (see vs. 5), and before His rule in the Millenium. 1260 days = 3.5 yrs. This wouldn’t be the first half of the Tribulation because Israel will be living in unwalled villages and at peace for much of this time. Once the AntiChrist sets himself up to be worshipped as God, the Jews follow Matthew’s prophecy of immediately running out of their homes and fleeing.
Where will they flee too? Special place in Israel? Egypt? America?
Place prepared of God – many believe this to be Petra, a rock-hewn city that is impenetrable from without; however, it is open on the top and is an easy target for war planes. God will prepare a very strongly fortified place for them: it must be very large to accommodate the millions that will go there.
Who will feed her? Gentiles? Angels? America?
Thus, at the midpoint of the Tribulation, Israel will flee most likely to ‘Petra’, a place prepared of God, where God will take care of her for the last 3.5 years of the Tribulation.
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 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.
This war might be occurring right at the point when Israel flees; Satan then moves to possess the AntiChrist; there is a spiritual war in either the 2nd or the 3rd heavens with the angelic beings. Michael is the only identifiable archangel; he is probably the strongest of all the angelic beings, good or bad. Michael is the Prince of Israel. It might be that the devil(s?) had a spot in the abode of God where he accused the brethren. Jesus Christ prophesied this and said: “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Lk 10:18). This may be the first time he is cast out; though many say that this is a second, more official casting out. Thus, most likely, Satan and his angels were cast out of Heaven as there ‘abode’ to the earth sometime prior to creation, and then here at the midpoint of the Tribulation they were not allowed to ‘visit’ heaven any longer. So, at the midpoint of the Tribulation, all devils are forced to stay in the area of earth, and no longer are allowed a ‘place’ in heaven. Michael and his angels fight the devil and his angels in the 3rd heaven and the devil loses and is kicked out for good. Satan quickly goes to indwell the AntiChrist at this time. What a devilish time this will be.
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.
This is heralding the leading up to the end of the last 3.5 yrs. of the Tribulation when Jesus Christ personally displays His mighty power on Earth. This is not the end of the Tribulation, but it is the end of the Devil’s ‘time’; he goes to the AntiChrist and tries his best and will fail, though. And Jesus Christ’s wrath pours out on the Earth during this last half of the Tribulation.
It appears that the Devil is currently accusing the brethren, day and night, but this all ends at the midpoint of the Tribulation when he is cast out of heaven. The context, however, seems to point to the saints of the Tribulation, and maybe specifically only the Jews (v. 11).
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.
It appears that the ‘they’ here is referring to the Tribulational saints…for these ‘they’ all die a martyrs death. Tribulational saints are saved by the blood of the Lamb just like we are!
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.
Rejoice everyone! Know that the Devil is limited in power and time! Especially the Tribulational saints…and maybe simply just the Jews then. This coming down of the Devil is to indwell and impower the AntiChrist. Great wrath will come when he sets himself up as god in the holy of holies in Jerusalem. He will have wrath against the Jews (and secondarily, the Gentile Christians). Interestingly, when the Devil is cast out of heaven, he knows the timeline then (he knoweth that he hath but a short time); he knows that in 1260 days the the Son of God is coming to the Earth!!!
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
This persecution would fit right at the end of the Tribulation (at least the later 3.5 yrs) where Israel is cornered and needs salvation. When the devil is cast down to the earth he immediately enters in the antichrist, proclaims that he is god, and then immediately begins attacking the woman, Israel. The main reason for attacking the woman was because of who she brought forth…Jesus Christ. Now we are getting back to the main story line of this chapter: Satan vs. the woman (Israel). Verse 4 goes with this verse. This corresponds to Rev. 10:6,7 with the sounding of the 7th Trumpet and the mystery of God being finished.
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.
This is taking us back to verse 6. This explains how she, Israel, gets to her place in the wilderness. And, here we see that it is indeed for 3.5 years, the last half of the Tribulation.
Some say that the “great eagle” could be a reference to America. Some say that this refers to a mass airlift of the people to her hiding place. What is key here is that the analogy is to eagle’s wings which points to flying. But, consider typology from Exodus: “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagle’s wings, and brought you unto myself” (Ex 19:4). Thus, ‘two wings of a great eagle’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘flying’; but does seem to indicate God’s providential protection while travelling, escaping.
Who would perform this massive airlift? America? Israel herself? Someone, (a nation, angels) are taking care of the people in this place during these years. God would ‘feed her’ here (nourish). Why wouldn’t the devil be able to get to her in her hiding place? Is he not going to be able to ‘find her’ (with all of today’s satelite imageries, etc.?!). Will God supernaturally put a hedge about her that keeps all enemies away? Is America there to protect her?
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.
It might be that the AntiChrist blew up some damns to cause a flood to occur there. However, it states that it is ‘out of his mouth’ and is ‘as a flood’, thus this might be symbolism to some degree…maybe a flood of army forces. Maybe God protects Israel by the earth literally opening up and ‘swallowing’ up the flood of armies which was coming.
Every attack the devil has tried, fails: tanks, air attacks, ground troops, cruise missiles, etc. Israel is still there, since 1948! Water is a very interesting tactic. God keeps protecting his estranged wife. He brings an earthquake event. Maybe somewhat similar to the Red Sea and the Flood, but opposite a bit. The Earth’s opening up was more than capable of stopping this attack from the Devil. God is ‘helping’ the woman now; He is back in a relationship with her.
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.
This pushed the dragon over the edge. He must now gather together all military groups around the world to go after his arch enemy. Make war with the remnant – this remnant could be the following: 1) the 144,000 sealed Jews in Jerusalem; chapter 14 seems to promote this; 2) all but the 144,000 , who are living in Jerusalem; or, 3) whoever is being referred to in the previous verses that are in the special place in the wilderness.
Keep the commandments….. – These Jews are born-again believers who will live for God even to death.
At the point of her flight, she no longer represents all of national Israel for there will be numerous groups of Jews at the time of the end:
- Jews protected in the wilderness, where God continues the work of purging idolatry from
their midst (Hos. 2:14-17; Eze. 20:33-38).
- The 144,000 Jews protected by God’s seal, probably engaged in the work of worldwide
evangelism (Rev. 7, 14).
- Jews in the diaspora who come to faith during this time who are unable to reach the
wilderness with the woman.
- Jews in the diaspora who receive the Antichrist and his mark (John 5:43).
The [‘remnant’] speaks of all Jews who did not flee to the wilderness [that were saved (keep commandments, have Jesus’ testimony)]. [During the last portion of the last half of the Tribulation, it is the believing Jews elsewhere around the world that become his target.] This will include the 144,000 of Israel who were sealed for protection (Rev. 7:4-8). [Also,] there will be many other Jews who come to faith by their ministry and that of the two witnesses during the time of Jacob‘s Trouble. These Jews will be involved in evangelism, because they have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
(Garland’s Commentary)
Thus, it appears that after the devil is unable to destroy the Jews that are being protected by God in the wilderness, he will go after ‘the remnant of her seed’, saved Jews that are dispersed around the world.