https://www.unsealed.org/2019/03/revelat...is-of.html
Revelation 12 is a fascinating chapter. Up to this point in the book of Revelation, we have seen views of end time events in the throne room of God in heaven (the “third heaven”, where God dwells). We have also seen views on earth and in the atmosphere (the “first heaven”). Now, in chapter 12, we are privileged to see a view of end time events as they appear in the universe/space (the “second heaven”), as well as in the first and third heavens.
Revelation 12 uniquely gives an overview of the entire Tribulation Week (Time of Jacob’s Trouble) from all 3 vantage points – the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd heavens.
An overview of the entire tribulation period, you say? Well, I want you to consider the structure of the book of Revelation itself. It seems that in his visions, John is first given a sweeping overview, followed by what I call "detail pop-outs". These details are given in separate parts of his visions, after the overview. I believe this is the structure of Revelation chapter 12 as well. I suggest to you that verses 1-6 give an overview, and the rest of the chapter fills in the details.
Verse 1 - 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.
There is no reason to believe anything other than that this is a literal alignment that appears in the heavens (constellations – second heaven – space). God placed the sun, moon, and the stars deliberately, and He controls their movements (Genesis 1:14).
The only woman constellation is Virgo. While “Virgo” is the corrupted astrological name for the constellation, in the Mazzaroth (God’s redemption plan in the heavens) Virgo is generally considered to represent Israel. At this point in time, the woman is in unbelief (believing Jews are instead considered part of the church).
This vision of John’s is reminiscent of Joseph’s dream in Genesis 37:9-11.
This sign, in its completion, seems to appear in the heavens in one time only in human history – September 23, 2017.
Verse 2 - She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth.
The heavens obviously can’t be pregnant, but the theme of labor pains and birth is used to describe the “discomfort” of the end of the age in multiple places in scripture. (Isaiah 26; Matthew 24). It’s interesting that the woman is described as already in birth pains and in the agony of giving birth here, before the dragon is described.
It’s possible the crying out in verse 2 illustrates the early fulfillment of Ezekiel’s vision of the Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37), where Israel is restored nationally and physically before she is restored spiritually. This is described in Isaiah 26 as Israel laboring by herself (without God) to attempt to obtain deliverance. The woman is clearly Israel, and it is her who is in pain.
God is not about to bring to the point of birth without delivery (Isaiah 66:9). Israel is about to enter TRUE birth pains, and receive TRUE deliverance.
Verse 3 - And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.
This is “another sign”, separate and distinct from the “great sign” in verses 1-2. This sign has prompted a whole host of speculations as to what it might be!
The dragon constellations include Draco, Serpens, and Hydra. Will any or all of these be involved in the sign of the red dragon? What about the yearly Draconid meteor showers in the fall? What about Planet X? Some people suspect a mysterious planet or planetary system could be involved.
Maybe the dragon sign won't be in the sun, moon, and stars at all - maybe it's a separate kind of sign from the "great sign". As of the time of this post, no one is truly sure how the dragon sign will play out, although it will likely become clear as the time of its fulfillment is imminent. I am inclined to agree that we probably won't physically see a sign.
The seven-headed, ten-horned dragon, however the sign plays out, is clearly a reference to satan. (We are explicitly told this in Revelation 12:9 and 20:2)
Elsewhere, we see a seven-headed, ten-horned Beast (Daniel & Revelation), which is also satan, or the human kings he controls. The heads are wearing diadems (like crowns); we are told they are kings.
Verse 4 - 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.
The Bible refers to angels as “stars of heaven” multiple times, such as in Job 38:7. It seems that this third of the stars of heaven is quite possibly referring to the portion of the angelic host that joined satan/Lucifer in his initial rebellion (Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:12-17). When they fell, they were cast to the earth, where they are now the powers, principalities, and rulers of this present world (Ephesians 6:12).
If verse 4 is giving an overview of the "war in heaven", then this casting down of stars to the earth would suggest the fallen angelic host will no longer have access to the third heaven, where God dwells. While satan has this privilege currently, we are not told if his horde does or not.
There may be a connection between this event and Seal 6, in which “stars fall from the sky” (Revelation 6:13). If this connection is valid, then it seems that the fallen angels will somehow be involved in the fulfillment of the so-called dragon sign. ("alien invasion" anyone?)
Note that the dragon isn’t actually devouring the woman or her child, but is anticipating devouring her child. He wants to, but the child hasn't been born yet.
One might say the dragon is being restrained from devouring the child (wink, wink).
Verse 7 - Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,
“Now” brings us to a different part of the vision, referencing back to the dragon of verse 3-4. This seems to lend credence to the view that verses 1-6 are an overview, and we are about to be filled in with the details, starting with the dragon.
Is the war in heaven when the child is snatched? Is it when the woman flees? We are not told what causes the battle, but the most likely scenario in my opinion would be the rapture of the Church. John MacArthur makes the interesting suggestion that the prince of the power of the air and his demon hosts may try to hinder the passage of the raptured believers as they pass through their realm (Rev 12:3-4), which would trigger the battle with Michael and the holy angels (Rev 12:7-8). I believe this has strong merit, as the dragon is poised to devour the child as it is being born.
This is a monumental war, guys. It's not like war erupts in heaven every day, like it does on earth. This war is over something BIG.
Verse 8 - but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.
There is no longer any place for Satan and his demons in heaven. Now listen, until this moment, there apparently WAS a place for them in heaven.
“Place” here doesn’t so much refer to space or room, but to purpose (Strong's 5117, topos). Biblehub describes this as "the condition or station held by one in any company or assembly" or "opportunity, power, occasion for acting".
What was satan's purpose in heaven? Satan, after his initial fall, retained access to God’s throne in order to accuse believers before Him (remember the book of Job?).
There’s no longer any purpose/place for him to do so all of a sudden. Why?
I would suggest there is momentarily no longer any believers left to accuse on earth - as they have all just been raptured. Think about it... Big event, big war, no purpose for satan in heaven anymore...
Verse 9 - 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.
As we learned in verse 8, since there is no longer purpose for them in heaven, they are cast to the earth. There is still purpose for them there, which is a "woe" for the inhabitants of earth. Note that verse 12 is coincident with this event.
I see possible connection between the casting down of Satan and his horde in verse nine with Seal 6, where the “stars” fall from heaven to the earth (Rev 6:13 - "and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind"). In v4 we have already been introduced to the fallen angels as being “stars”, and we know Satan and the demons are cast down to the earth. Are the figs dropping as part of the "fig tree generation"? Is the strong wind the Holy Spirit ascending to heaven with us - the reverse of the Holy Spirit descending as a strong wind from heaven on Pentecost, detailed in the book of Acts? What do you think?
Verse 5 - 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,
Rapture time!!!
Using an interlinear translation, we see the woman give birth to a male huion arsen (Strong’s 5207 and 730). This male child is to shepherd the nations with a rod of iron. The woman is identified as Israel (the corporate entity), who brings forth Jesus (the male child – huion arsen). A child, teknon (Strong’s 5043), is then caught up to God and to His throne.
When Jesus ascended to heaven, He was not seized suddenly with great force, nor was He in any danger from the dragon. In Acts 1:9, Jesus is lifted up (eperthe – Strong’s 1869) until He is hidden from view. We see this word in 19 other instances in scripture, and it means "exalts; lifts itself; lifting up voice or eyes; lifting up; turning gaze".
The child in Rev 12:5 is "caught up" - herpasthe (Strong’s 726), not eperthe . Where else do we see Strong’s Greek 726? 1 Thessalonians 4:17 – Those who are alive and remain will be caught up together…; 2 Cor. 12:2, 4 Paul is caught up to the third heaven; Acts 23:10 – take him away from them by force; Acts 8:39 – Philip is snatched by the Spirit of the Lord. There are 14 instances of this word in scripture and it means "plucked; seized; snatched suddenly and forcefully". There is quite a difference between being lifted or raised and being snatched or seized, isn’t there?
Let’s take a look at the child who is snatched. Is it the same child as the male child – huion arsen? Well, no, in fact, it isn’t. This child that is snatched is a teknon (Strong’s 5043). This is a commonly used word to mean children, child, descendant (gender neutral).
If Israel represents the corporate entity of Israel, the child (neutral gender) represents the corporate entity of the church – Jew and Gentile made one in Christ. It is the church that is snatched up, suddenly and forcefully. It is the church to whom Jesus has promised to share His iron-rod rule with (Revelation 2:26-27).
The woman, currently unbelieving, is left behind.
Are you stunned? From Isaiah 66 we know that “before she was in labor she gave birth”. This is entirely consistent with Jesus telling us that when we BEGIN to see all these things (the beginning of birth pains sign He describes on the Mount of Olives), that our redemption draws near. As Israel enters her birth pains, the time of Jacob’s Trouble, the body of Christ will be delivered. The nation that is born in one day is the body of Christ (1 Peter 2:9).
Listen folks - the rapture IS equivalent to salvation at this one moment in human existence - there is no partial birth, no partial rapture!
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