REVELATION 12 PART 1
VERSES 1 - 6
VERSES 1 - 6
photo courtesy of watchfortheday.org1) 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:
2) And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
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.
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.
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.
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. King James Version (KJV), Public Domain
COMMENTARY
The commentaries agree that this chapter of Revelation is to interpreted symbolically, as the Apostle John describes a "great wonder "(or sign).
1) We go all the way back to Genesis 3:15 to God's prediction in the Garden of Eden of the age-long conflict of Satan and God's only begotten Son. The woman is to be understood as the whole body of believers from the beginning of creation. We are clothed in "the light of the world", Jesus Christ. The "moon under her feet" is the counterfeit light, or the followers of the Antichrist. The 12 stars on her crown represent the 12 tribes of Judah, or the 12 Apostles, or both.
2) Every woman throughout time has "travailed" in childbirth, but this entire creation has "travailed" since Adam to return to the original intent of God concerning His creation. Even more so now, as we await the rapture, we see the climax coming when we shall be delivered.
Here is an interesting read about the wonder in heaven of this woman clothed with the sun that I found at a website, Signs of the End - A Discovery of Biblical Timelines:
http://www.watchfortheday.org/1260tetrad.html. My take-away from this is that God continues to communicate with us whether we study His Word or not! I love to study His Word.
3) The seven heads with seven crowns are seven kingdoms of the past. The ten horns are ten kings of the end times. We will learn more of this in Chapter 17.
4) We are not told on which day of creation God created the angels. We are told when He created man and He declared it was good. We are not told when the rebellious angels were cast out of heaven. When Satan was banished from his position in heaven, he took one third of the angels God had created. We know angels do not procreate. Satan had been cast out of heaven before Eve sinned in The Garden of Eden and has been working to thwart God's plan of salvation ever since.
Satan still has access to heaven, but heaven is not his home. He is the accuser of the saints to God, so he continues to be allowed an audience with God. Contrarily, this world is not my home; my home is in heaven with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!
Here is an interesting read about the wonder in heaven of this woman clothed with the sun that I found at a website, Signs of the End - A Discovery of Biblical Timelines:
http://www.watchfortheday.org/1260tetrad.html. My take-away from this is that God continues to communicate with us whether we study His Word or not! I love to study His Word.
3) The seven heads with seven crowns are seven kingdoms of the past. The ten horns are ten kings of the end times. We will learn more of this in Chapter 17.
4) We are not told on which day of creation God created the angels. We are told when He created man and He declared it was good. We are not told when the rebellious angels were cast out of heaven. When Satan was banished from his position in heaven, he took one third of the angels God had created. We know angels do not procreate. Satan had been cast out of heaven before Eve sinned in The Garden of Eden and has been working to thwart God's plan of salvation ever since.
Satan still has access to heaven, but heaven is not his home. He is the accuser of the saints to God, so he continues to be allowed an audience with God. Contrarily, this world is not my home; my home is in heaven with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!
5) The man child obviously symbolizes Jesus Christ, but can also include all of those who believe on Him. The "catching away" also speaks of Jesus AND the believers during the rapture and must also include the Two Witnesses
6) This verse refers to the second half of the tribulation. Now, follow this: the woman represents God's people, who through time, begat Jesus AND His Church; but at this time, the sign refers to Israel. Jesus had spoken in perfect English (I jest) in Matthew 24: 15 - 21, that when you see the abomination of desolation you are to flee to the mountains. There have been 144,000 sealed by God and He will protect them, have no doubt!
Do you know where you will spend eternity? Click here for more information on the need for salvation and what you can do for it: https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html
You are encouraged to leave a comment with your thoughts or words of encouragement to us if this ministry is a blessing to you; and please pray for this ministry that our LORD will use us for His glory.
6) This verse refers to the second half of the tribulation. Now, follow this: the woman represents God's people, who through time, begat Jesus AND His Church; but at this time, the sign refers to Israel. Jesus had spoken in perfect English (I jest) in Matthew 24: 15 - 21, that when you see the abomination of desolation you are to flee to the mountains. There have been 144,000 sealed by God and He will protect them, have no doubt!
Do you know where you will spend eternity? Click here for more information on the need for salvation and what you can do for it: https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html
You are encouraged to leave a comment with your thoughts or words of encouragement to us if this ministry is a blessing to you; and please pray for this ministry that our LORD will use us for His glory.
You are also welcome to share this post on your favorite social media, because you never know who will be helped by reading it. Thank you.
