Rev 12: The Dragon's War - Part 2

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What we will not do. we will not redefine the bible

The phrase “What can be, unburdened by what has been” is a favorite of Kamala Harris.

Some think she made it up, but the concept predates her and is a Marxist philosophy.

That attempts to bury, destroy the truth of the past, to allow them to do things that would normally be unconscionable to a culture that has any sense of their history and moral tradition from the bible. It is painted with a veneer of optimism encouraging people assume the “what can be” is a better tomorrow, but in fact in every and all situations were Marxists have had an opportunity to chart a future, has become much worse when it is tethered from the Conservative histiry of a moral tradition.

So we will not redefine the bible and come up with a “new” view of history.

Instead this section Chapter 12 - is about bringing in the larger full context of the bible’s spiritual battle into focus so we can see that the end time events are not “weird” and unhinged from what has been, but instead in full continuity with the entire scope of history in the Bible.

Exact date of death of my mom, and then fill out a deed sowing she passed away, and clean up the title.

Tonight we look at the War of the Dragon… the cosmic spiritual conflict that has been going on since before the dawn of mankind.

New Spirit-Filled Life Bible: Notes The Revelation of Jesus Christ

In this series of visions, specific events are pictured symbolically, emphasizing timeless principles of spiritual warfare. We are thus enabled to see the spiritual reality and meaning of events in our historical experience, such as the birth of the Messiah, together with Satan’s continuous attempts to destroy Him before He completed His redemptive work, and His exaltation, followed by the resultant persecution of His church. Knowing that they share in His victory will enable His people to endure patiently any future afflictions

Still carrying on my moms name.

Moms Death certificate

(Opener for each class ) who am I: Ken Geer

Siblings

Thanks for visiting our church. If your a member of another church, you remain a member of that church, and we bless your church, and thank you for joining us for this study. We look foreword to more unity in the body of Jesus.. each church of Jesus is a candle in the dark and we are praying that we may all grow brighter, in these end times. we must all work together.

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if you have a different perspectives on Revelation . That is just fine. I am comfortable with that . I will give you my view, and reasons, and what the significance is (if any). I will do my best to accurately represent other major views. we are looking to study the Bible, not confirm our bias. so we must be willing to study.

Last 4 of socials.

Our desire is to be like the good Bereans. they were challenged with a strange new teaching that Jesus was the messiah and had been crucified. they had to deal with a pretty unsettling set of thoughts. but they got through it.

Need beneficiary deeds needed for all three of us.

If you do have corrections for me. you may briefly state you concern in the class in the form of a question, but it would be best for others if we hold our discussion/or disagreements on these things till after class. - I am happy to learn and grow. I am not the final authority on revelation. For that I refer you to Jesus.

Charles H Janet Heflin.? On the chain of deed.

Mobil home Need to get the title, of the

Invite the Holy spirit, ask him to give us a spirit of humility unity and love. Make us more like Jesus.

Sell it, need title check with DMV

Jesus let us know and LOVE with our whole heart: “Your word, your Will and your Ways”

Little house warrantee deed, quit claim deed and warrantee deed

Rev 12 uses 2 “signs” that appear in heaven. the usage of the word “sign” is a signpost telling us this section will have symbolic spiritual language and we do not have to view it litterally.

Tenant in common interest

Sorry this passage does not on it’s own prove that there were dragons, and pregnant women, only their concepts in this passage are signs of something else.

This passage appears to be a “flash back” story device to backup and help explain the the nature of the spiritual conflict going on, as it explains historical events from a spiritual viewpoint.

The conflict begins with the dragon on the offensive and the woman and her son barely escaping.

The second movement of the flashback shows the dragon cast out of heaven and confined to earth with only a little time left to menace the earth and the Lamb’s followers.

In Rev 13 , we will learn about Satan's end-time playbook.

2 deeds – half of the relatives.

youth Presence Conference

A vision of a dragon & a woman with sun moon and stars, a male Child, and the wilderness. Rev 12:1-6

“a sign” = Symbolism alert!

If we want to understand this passage we must carefully discern the symbolism. Like a puzzle we start with the easy pieces, the corner and edge pieces that are mostly solved for us.

A woman (a GREAT sign!)

A great red dragon (just a “sign”)

A male child

wilderness

lets start with the dragon because i think it is probably the easiest symbol to identify correctly…

Revelation 12:3 ESV

And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.

Revelation 12:9 ESV

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 12:10 ESV

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

A great red dragon (just a “sign”) - 7 heads, 10 horns, and on his head 7 diadems (kingly crowns), tail sweeps 1/3rd stars from heaven, attempts to devour child - a very interesting description to give us plenty to check throughout the bible

The red dragon of Rev 12:3 is identified in Rev 12:9 as the Devil or Satan. so here we have our corner piece.

Satan was a particularly powerful and high-ranking angel who led one third of the angelic host to rebel against God (Eph 2:2; Rev 12:1–12). Like the other angels and demons, Satan is an invisible being who is highly intelligent and very powerful. Here are some of his names:

Satan is a Hebrew word that means “adversary” (שָׂטָן).

Devil is the Greek word “diablols” and means “slanderer.” (Matt 4:1, 5; Lk 4:2, 3; Eph 6:11),

Both imply accuser —a legal adversary who slanderously accuses someone in court.Satan stands at the throne of God and fights the saints by accusing them (see Job 1–2; Zech. 3).

Satan can only do things God gives him authority to do

Stan is accusing god’s people

Satan accused Job in heaven before God Job1:6-12.

Satan accuses a high priest in Zech 3.

By contrast (in contradistinction to Satan), Jesus Christ, is the “heavenly Advocate” (1 John 2:1–2)

But God has a bigger grander objective than Satan is aware of and is unwittingly serving God even as he hates him.

Satan is given authority to cause limited harm, but is unwittingly used by God for a purpose the is much greater than the limited harm Satan is allowed to inflict.

Satan is obviously limited in many ways. HE is created. Jesus was never created.

Satan need God’s permission. God needs no permission.

Note there is no DUALITY implied here. Jesus ins our advocate, and Satan is our accuser, but God could wipe out Satan with just a thought , so while Satan is an adversary to God’s People, He is nothing compared to Jesus!

“Red” Dragon last thing that was red was the moon red as blood, and before that the red horse whose rider took away peace by having people kill each other. Death, War, Murder, Blood. (pretty Dark images are coming to mind just with the color)

a Just and fitting color for this demon Serpent!

Other Kings that were called a Dragon include:

While, Horns and and crowns do indicate power and authority in the bible, before we attempt to decode with our own understanding… look at the passage and the rest of Revelation and then the rest of the bible.

the 7 head and 10 horns are used to identify this entity in three places in revelation.

a “Beast” coming out of the sea, has 10 horns and 7 heads with 10 crowns are on the next chapter Rev 13:1.

later revelation describes a “scarlet beast” that a woman is riding, full of “blasphemous names” in addition to the 7 heads, and 10 horns. Rev 17:3.

But perhaps more significantly, Daniel sees a beast with 10 horns in his night visions in Dan 7:7.

it is the 4th in a series of beasts that represent 4 kingdoms (Babylon, Persia, Greece, and a fourth kingdom different from the rest) and this beast wages war against God’s holy people Dan7:21. there are many additional details in the Daniel 7 passage which we will unravel when we look at the Antichrist. It is enough to see that what we have identified as Satan is also referenced in Daniel and is somehow mixed up with the Antichrist is a strong way.

However, revelation give us the interpretation directly. (see how easy Revelation is) in Rev 17:12.

Revelation 17:12 ESV

And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.

SO 10 Horns = 10 kings.

The 7 heads is another corner piece because, revelation specifically give us an interpretation about what the 7 heads mean.

Rev. 17:9 ), and the horns represent kings (Rev. 17:12). We shall study the meaning of these symbols in more detail later.

Revelation 17:9–11 ESV

This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction.

So the 7 heads, is for 7 hells, as will as 7 kings, and connects to an 8th king( the beast himself).

So this dragon is Satan, but, is very well connected with these 7 mountains, who are also 7 Kings, and 10 horns that are also kings.

Admittedly this is getting a bit confusing, and we will unravel it another night.

However, not how Satan is so closely connected with the power of Governments, Authority, and Power!

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have the group read the scripture out loud together. there is a blessing on those who read and those who hear!

Revelation 12 ESV

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. 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. Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 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. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Rev 12 is obviously fairly metaphorical and allegorical, yet spiritually accurate.

Rev 12 conveys the same essential message as Dan. 7, (about the 4 beasts and the war on the saints, and

The primary difference being that John writes after Christ’s first coming, victorious death, resurrection, and ascension (Rev12:5)

Rev 12 indicates:

1) the ongoing warfare on Earth (Rev 12:9 );

2) the overcoming ability of the redeemed because “the kingdom” has come (Rev 12:10);

3) the two-edged truth that their victories often cost martyrdom (Rev 12:11); and

4) the basis of their triumph: the Cross (“the blood of the Lamb”) and the authority of God’s Word (“the word of their testimony”—Rev 12:12 ).

Note regarding the different Interpretative Schemes:

Various interpretive systems see this at different times within redemptive history. Those viewpoints of pre-, a-, and postmillennial has often fragmented the church. No complete interpretive scheme will be verified until after Christ comes. But this passage gives us a common base of wisdom for each group to receive while embracing one another, since we all face a common Adversary (Rev 12:9 ).

Revelation 12:9 ESV

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.

“our wisdom is to embrace the Cross as our salvation and our source of overcoming victory. Then we can enter the conflict in confidence, knowing we shall triumph even though circumstances temporarily set us back. In the time of conflict, it will make no difference who was “right,” but only that we were on the Messiah’s side in this agelong spiritual struggle.” - Jack Hayford.

The text provides two indisputable facts:

1) the kingdom of God has already established triumph over the Serpent (vv. 9, 10);

2) still, those engaged in conflict in the name of the Lamb sometimes are vanquished to death (v. 11).

Breadth and balance are given to our perspective. The presence of the kingdom at this time calls each believer to responsible spiritual warfare and anticipated victories. Yet, at the same time, the presence of evil struggles for survival; though “cast down,” the Serpent writhes viciously. Thus our temporal situation is often a fierce and sometimes painful struggle, seeming to issue in an indeterminate standoff before our Enemy. But he only has “a short time,” until finally the kingdom to come (v. 10) shall become the kingdom accomplished (Rev. 19–22). Let us do battle in faith and with faithfulness and, looking to that day of His ultimate kingdom, know the Holy Spirit is preparing us for kingdom victories today. See Dan. 7:21, 22.

(Dan. 7:21, 22/Gen. 1:1*) J.W.H.

“a sign” = Symbolism alert!

If we want to understand this passage we must carefully discern the symbolism. Like a puzzle we start with the easy pieces, the corner and edge pieces that are mostly solved for us.

A great red dragon (just a “sign”) - 7 heads, 10 horns, and on his head 7 diadems (kingly crowns), tail sweeps 1/3rd stars from heaven, attempts to devour child

A woman (a GREAT sign!), clothed with sun, moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of 12 stars. - Pregnant and giving birth to a child

A male child = one who will rule all nations with a rod of iron, (but caught up to heaven to his throne = Jesus obviously)

wilderness = woman fled to wilderness prepared by god for 1,260 days. (what is that for?)

covered last week and to day in our summary.

The Woman is about to give birth

who is the Child? (Jesus - how do we know?)

Revelation 12:4 ESV

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.

clue1: Just as soon as the child was born, Satan tried to destroy Him.

What else?

The Bible Exposition Commentary (Chapter Eight: The Terrible Trio (Revelation 12–13))

This conflict between Satan and “the woman” began soon after man fell (Gen. 3:15). Throughout Old Testament history, Satan tried to prevent the birth of the Redeemer. There was always a “dragon” standing by, waiting to destroy Israel or the ancestors of the Messiah. Pharaoh is called a “dragon” (Ezek. 29:3), and so is Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 51:34). At one critical point, the royal line was limited to one little boy (2 Kings 11:1–3). When Jesus Christ was born, Satan used King Herod to try to destroy Him (Matt. 2). Satan thought that he had succeeded when he used Judas to betray the Lord and hand Him over to be crucified. But the Cross was actually Satan’s defeat! “And they overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 12:11).

Even today Satan has access to heaven, where he accuses God’s people; but he cannot dethrone the exalted Saviour. His strategy is to persecute God’s people and devour them if possible (1 Peter 5:8). He has a special hatred for the Jewish people and has been the power behind anti-Semitism from the days of Pharaoh and Haman (see the Book of Esther) to Hitler and Stalin. Finally, in the middle of the Tribulation, there will come a wave of anti-Semitism such as the world has never seen (Rev. 12:6). But God will protect His people during those three-and-a-half years (1,260 days; see Rev. 11:2; 13:5).

Apart from the 144,000 (who are sealed and protected), a believing remnant of Jews will survive this very troublesome time. We are not told where God will protect them or who it is that will care for them. Matthew 24:15–21 will take on special meaning for those believing Jews who live in the end days. Note especially the parenthesis in Revelation 12:15.

Revelation 12:5 ESV

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,

clue 2: The Child was sent to rule the nations

rule = literally, “to shepherd,”

with a rod of iron, a symbol of firmness, but not tyranny

remember that the one who overcomes and keeps Jesus works until the end will be given authority to rule over the nations, and will rule them with a “rod of iron” as if he is helping Jesus Christ rule in the millennium. Rev 2:27.

Later in Revelation Rev19:15, we see that it will be Jesus, that will rule nations with a rod of iron. Rev 19:15

Revelation 19:15 ESV

From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

But he will also strike nations down and smash them like grapes… in his fury.

However, several messianic prophesies about the messiah ruling with a rod of Iron, meaning no compromise, his righteous law will be executed firmly.

NO kangaroo courts, and unjust judges, and criminals being released, and victims being prosecuted. True Justice will be executed.

A famous Messianic prophetic Psalm Ps 2 quoted by Jesus on the cross:

Psalm 2:7–9 ESV

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.”

Daniel 7 is als a famous messianic prophesy:

Daniel 7:13–14 ESV

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

So this revelational event being described is the birth of Jesus and his ascension to heaven.

Again we see that these Parenthetical sections “SideBars” can be about different time periods. this is clearly a flash back, or rather a view of the entire span of the cosmic spiritual conflict.

Also wroth noting that in one sentence/verse of prophetic narration, the entire 33 years of Jesus Life was skipped over. This is something that can happen in prophesy, it does not need to provide complete detail of everything, and often skips important pieces of the narration, temping someone to think there is nothing there. But we must be careful not to base our theories or ideas in revelation with Arguments from silence. The revelation narrative can easily skip over things, or miss with the chronology.

So the child is the messiah (first coming) and this is like an edge piece in our symbolic puzzle.... not to hard to figure out were it goes.

a woman in heaven a great sign…

Revelation 12:1 ESV

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.

Joel Richardson makes the great point about this… The women is a “GREAT SIGN” but the serpent is just “ANOTHER SIGN”

I think this is rather awesome, as the Dragon/Satan is obviously pretty taken with himself, and postures himself as great and mighty, but next to God he is rather insignificant… apart from how God will use him to accomplish his purposes.

Could this be Mary mother of Jesus?

The male child is obviously and clearly Jesus the messiah and his incarnation at his first coming.

so Might naturally think, must be Jesus mother,

Does that fit? close! in some ways…

The event were Herod was trying to kill the babies in Bethlehem and Joseph and Mary left for Egypt (the wilderness) possibly for 1,260 days does fit against this symbolic description of what is happening to the woman and the child.

Revelation 12:6 ESV

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 12:17 ESV

Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

However, a few difficulties:

the woman is a “great sign in heaven”, so to map the sign against to a literal mother who gave birth to Jesus is breaking with the symbolism.

2. the rest of her description (sun, moon stars) is clearly symbolic…without clear meaning if this is Mary mother of Jesus.

How is Mary clothed with the Sun, standing on the moon, and having a crown of 12 stars? or given wings to fly?

3. most importantly there are other offspring from the woman Rev 12:17. Christians are considered children by faith of Abraham, TO be Marys children is a big stretch for me.!

Note: also obviously not the church.. the church is never depicted as pregnet, but as a virgin, and the church did not birth Jesus, Jesus instead is seen as the bridegroom of the church so

lets try Decoding the description of the woman (like we did with the mighty angel) by looking for biblical references to see if the description is clearly pointing at something a 1st century Jewish christian would understand.

A basic principle - always remember - the Book of Revelation is the culmination of all the previous prophetic writing. So to identify the woman, we use the context of the entire bible.

Revelation 12:1–2 ESV

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.

The Rev 12:1 passage begins with a woman who is “clothed” with the sun and moon. Under her feet are twelve stars. Not only is she pregnant, she is also in labor!

are sun, moon and stars used symbolically about people elsewhere in the bible (since the blood moon, and dark sun and falling stars does not fit here)

The woman’s description has elements in common with one of Joseph’s dream in Genesis, were we find the symbolism of the sun, the moon and the twelve stars (eleven without Joseph)

Genesis 37:9–11 ESV

Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

Jacob’s dad was Jacob (renamed asIsrael) and his marital situation was a bit complex. He was married to Leah and Rachel, who were sisters. He was also involved with their maidservants, Bilhah and Zilpah. read all about it in 11 chapters of Genesis 25-35. In this account the Jacob interprets the dream as Sun is Jacob, Moon is Rachel, and stars are the 12 sons.

Since Jacob start the nation of Israel, and his sons are the 12 tribes of Israel, these signs (sun., moon, and star) clearly look to make the woman symbolic of Israel.

Does that fit the rest of the passage better than Mary? we need to see if this decode works out as we finish our study.

Note however, that Gods word often compares Israel to a woman. Sometimes a wife, sometimes a whore, and several times as a woman giving birth(Isa. 54:5; 66:7; Jer. 3:6–10; Micah 4:10; 5:2–3). so this is not a strange idea or concept. A woman is very reasonable symbol biblically for Israel.

Micah 4:10 ESV

Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you shall go out from the city and dwell in the open country; you shall go to Babylon. There you shall be rescued; there the Lord will redeem you from the hand of your enemies.

Now that we have a reasonable grasp on the symbols lets see what the overall symbolic narrative has to say.

The red Dragon Rev 12:3 is also “ancient serpent” Rev 12:9 and is a clear allusion to Gen 3:1-5 were we see him lying, deceiving, and then condemning them when they sin, and bringing them to spiritual death, and eventually physical death.

So this passage is bringing to mind the history of the serpent the Devil. we are reminded of his past, present and future.

Genesis 3:1 ESV

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

He started of attacking a woman.

Genesis 3:14 ESV

The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.

The Dragon was cursed to be an ordinary snake. so sad… but what comes next, is the start of the end for the Dragon.

Genesis 3:15 NKJV

And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

He will now fight against the Woman, in the form of Israel (her seed) for the rest of his life.

His goal is to destroy the bloodline that will produce the seed that will be the messiah.

Satan will have some success, and be able to bruise the heel of the messiah, even ans his heal bruises his head (killed)

however this chapter rightly begins with introducing the mush Greater character (the GREAT sign) the Women ISRAEL.

Revelation 12:1 ESV

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.

Lets say for now this is Israel, as the son moon and stars connect with the family of Jacob/Israel and the 12 sons.

Israel is indeed a great sign… one of the strongest proof point of God’s existence and interaction with man through history.

a nation long destroyed coming back to it’s land almost 2K yrs later, with the same language, same bloodline, same location, and culture. Prophetically fulfilling all kinds of very specific scriptures.

Revelation 12:2 ESV

She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth.

Israel has been chosen by God to bring forth the Messiah. This did not start with Mary. It did not start with Jacob and Rachel. It goes back to Adam and Eve of course.

Genesis 3:15 ESV

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Tracing the messianic “seed” prophesy trail through scripture is exciting to do at Christmas time, and something I usually do on the first Sunday of Advent.

God’s curse on the serpent Gen 3:15. (first “seed” prophesy - starts the spiritual conflict narrative. satan does not have children literally, but effectively when we follow his lies)

The repeated Seed promises to Abraham Gen 12:3, Gen 18:18 Isaac Gen 17:19, Gen 21:12, blessing all nations Gen 22:18, Gen 26:4, Gen 28:14, Jacob, Num 24:17-19, Judah Gen 49:10.

The promise to King David that his offspring would rule forever 1 Ch 17:11-14 , 23-27. 2 Ch 21:7.

A promised Redeemer Job 19:25-27.

Declared to be the son of God Ps 2:1-12.

Clearly there was going to be one born that would crush the head of the the serpent.

Without a doubt Israel has been in the agony of birthing the messiah, ever since Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

Satan would be worried and try to stop the fulfillment of the prophesy… that story has been going on throughout the Old Testament

At one point the bloodline is reduced down to a single person! The attack on that family is quite evident.

Then at just the right time to fulfill Daniels prophetic centerpiece timeline in Dan 9:24 Jesus is born to Mary.

But as we see in the Christmas birth genealogies, Jesus is being born to Israel as a direct bloodline fulfillment of the messianic prophesies that had been promised for so many generations.

Revelation 12:3 ESV

And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.

just “another sign” So we know that this is satan, (and he has some power though various kings)

Revelation 12:4 ESV

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.

Scientifically stars, don't land on earth, this is symbolic, obviously.

What are stars of heaven?

in case you did not know the bible has an interesting relationship with stars and Angles, stars are sometimes used to describe an angel…

But in this case we don’t have to do that study because a few verse later Revelation tell us in Rev 12:9 he has angels and they get thrown down with him.

Revelation 12:9 ESV

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.

So these stars are actually angels falling from heaven, caused by the tail of the dragon!

when does this fall of angels happen?

Satan is seen in the garden as a serpent that talks and has legs in the Garden. (sounds like a dragon right?)

Adam and even don’t say wow that is weird a talking walking Snake! Uh God… whats up with this? No they don’t think it is weird at all.

so I it is a bit interesting that this symbolic view of satan is almost exactly how he is described in the Garden of eden.

when Jesus is talking to his 72 disciples he tell them he saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. So it makes some sense that this event of satan falling to earth happend sometime before Jesus was born on earth and for that matter, perhaps even before the Garden of Eden explaining the presence of Satan on demonic attack on humans right after that.

OTOH, Jesus is a God who stands outside time so technically I think that event could could have happened at any time in history and Jesus would have been accurate.

take a look

Luke 10:17–20 ESV

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

And Jesus give us authority to trample on similar demons and powers of the enemy such that they cannot harm us! Woot!

also in Genesis 6 there are fallen angels mentioned causing trouble with humans. so it makes sense that Satan would have caused angels of heaven to be cast to earth early in before the garden or early in the Genesis timeline.

Yet during this time even though satan walked on the earth (along with his angels), according to Job, he could still appear before God.

So although he and his angels have been cast to earth it appears they can still appear in heaven.

But regardless Satan is waiting to destroy Jesus at his birth.

Revelation 12:4 ESV

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.

Satan still tries even though he is destined to fail… and he is against this woman and her seed generation after generation.

the line of David was almost wiped out during the reign of Jehoiakim (609-598 BCE) and his son Jehoiachin (598 BCE).

Jeremiah 36:30 prophesies that Jehoiakim will have no one to sit on the throne of David. This prophecy was fulfilled when Jehoiachin’s reign was cut short, and he was taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar, ending the reign of Jehoiakim’s descendants (2 Chronicles 36:8, 9; 2 Kings 24:8).

After Jehoiachin’s captivity, the throne of David remained vacant for about 50 years, until the reign of Zerubbabel (559-539 BCE), a descendant of David through King Jehoiachin’s son Shealtiel (Haggai 1:1, 12; 2:2, 23). However, this line was not considered the direct, unbroken continuation of the Davidic throne.

The promise of Jeremiah 33:17, “David will never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel,” was fulfilled through the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who was born of a virgin and descended from David through his son Nathan (Luke 3:31). Jesus’ lineage through Joseph, who adopted him as his own, also connected him to David’s line through Solomon (Matthew 1:1-17).

Revelation 12:5 (ESV)

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

Satan tries hard to kill Jesus and sabotage his ability to be a spotless lamb, that could be the sacrifice that takes away the sin of the world.

Herod killed the babies in Bethlehem to try to destroy Jesus.. (reenacting the Pharaohs attempt to destroy the Jewish deliver Moses)

He tempted him in the wilderness trying to get him to sin so he could not fulfill the prophesies.

He tempted/deceived his disciples to corrupt Jesus (Peter “get behind me satan”),

He tempted the crowd to throw him off the brow of a hill

He tempted/deceive his Judas to betray him

he tempted/deceived the lawyers and politicians of his day to kill him

he tempted Pilot to go along with it.

Jesus disallowed some attempts, and authorized others, in order to stay on track with the plan His father had given him.

The first time Jesus was here It was his time to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but this second time it will surely be his destiny.

Instead pure & Innocent Jesus is slaughtered on the Passover as the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world as was prophesied.

Satan may have thought he finally won.- but as he himself prophesied, three days & nights later up from the grave he Arose, with a mighty triumph o’re his foes!

Revelation 12:5 (ESV)

but her child was caught up to God and to his throne,

Jesus is resurrected, and after a short time with his disciples leaving plenty of eyewitnesses and testimonies, he went to heaven.

Acts 1:9–11 ESV

And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

John 16:7–11 ESV

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

NOTE: The ruler of this world is Judged. that rurel is Satan (as seen in the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness Luke 4:5-8) Missler https://www.khouse.org/personal_update/articles/2008/throne-david

Jesus is saying the holy spirit (the helper) will convict of Judgement because “Satan” has been judged. (past tense), once again reenforcing the fact that satan has already fallen and been judged, but his execution is all that needs be done.

1 Peter 3:21–22 (ESV)

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

lets get back to the War of the Dragon narrative in Revelation...

Revelation 12:6 ESV

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.

What could this be?

there are many idea about this, but here is my take…

After Jesus leave the Holy Spirit with the Church, Israel faces the destruction of Jerusalem and flees into the wilderness of the nations (the Great diaspora), and although she is harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd, God is never the less preparing her for her return. She is nourished and protected, even though she faces one persecution after another for the next 2,000 years. This is probably not be the right idea, as it does not fit the 1,260 days.

I am sure there is much more to understand in this verse.

so after Jesus goes to heaven, the woman has to flee to the wilderness for 1,260 days.

Revelation 12:6 ESV

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.

Whats that about?

On of the most puzzling parts of this chapter… I think! but lets see what we can learn…

What is the wilderness?

It could be the dry untamed desert rock wasteland found in some places around israel

But in OT the wilderness can represent “a place of spiritual refuge” (see 1 Kings 17:2–6; Hosea 2:14).

Israel fled into the wilderness to escape slavery in Egypt,

Mary and Joseph fled there to escape Herod’s attempt to kill Jesus (see Matthew 2:13–18)

Christians of Jerusalem (including John) fled there to escape the city’s destruction in AD 70.

When does the 1,260 day clock start? (3.5 lunar years)

when the woman flees?

as soon as Jesus ascends?

or at 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem?

or at the start of the last half of the tribulation?

or some other time?

Timing is tough in heaven and revelation.

Becuse of the “this fleeing” i am reminded the advice gaving the disciples instructions about the days of the great tribulation, and mentions fleeing…

Matthew 24:15–21 ESV

“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.

It ends saying the great tribulation will be the worst ever, from the beginning of the world!

worse than flood with Noah,

worse than destruction of Jerusalem,

worse then capture to Babylon,

worse than 70 AD with Romes seige of Jerusalem

worse than then the holocaust,

Therefore this is clearly talking about an end-time event and the abomination of desolation spoken by Daniel is about something that will happen in the middle of Daniel’s 7 week period. (more on this when we cover the Antichrist)

there is a problem with that being the time period though because Rev 12:17 is going to say that after this war, the woman flees into the wilderness for 3.5 yrs then we get to all the stuff of Rev 13, happens while the Dragons wrath is focused on Christians.

However, at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem many Christians that that was the moment and followed Jesus instructions and escape the Roman seige. so perhaps this aligns withthat time period of the temples Demise? (BIG QUESTIONS IN MY MIND HERE)

Were will Israel run to be protected?

DISPENSATIONAL INTERPRETATION: A portion of national Israel is evidently to be providentially protected during the last half of the Great Tribulation by some type of flight. The wilderness here could be Petra in Edom (see Dan. 11:41; Matt. 24:16).

The passage returns to this woman’s flight in Rev 12:13. but before then it again takes some to to lay out more about the War in heaven.

Revelation 12:7–9 ESV

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 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.

The word “Now” inside the context of the vision, indicates that war in heaven starts after the woman flees.

This is clearly after the original time the stars/angels were cast to earth, for now Satan has angels and they are fighting with the dragon against Michael and his angels!

In the narrative this looks like it would be after Jesus is ascended to heaven, but before he comes back.

However timing these things is not easy so nothing definite.

This is MAXIMUM SPIRITUAL WARFARE: A Battle between angels and demons!

Satan likes to imagine he is is like god, but he is only on par with the Michael the archangel. Even here he looses.

His original sin was Pridefully thinking he could be like God. It is the same prideful lie he feeds us “that we can be like god”. Don’t like your gender change it. be like God!

NOTE THAT: Satan and all his demons are no match for Michael (Israels’ archangel)

Before this War, the demons had “a place” in heaven… they may have been cast down to earth earlier by the Dragon/Satan’s Tail, but now they

such that satan could do stuff like go to the throne of heaven and accuse people like Job

Satan and his demons are now thrown to the earth, a second time, but this time he is barred from entering heaven “no longer any pace for them in heaven”

After this war in heaven, satan is thrown down to earth with his devil-angels. (timing of this moment is open to some dispute)

A passage in Isaiah (Isa 14:12-15) appears to be speak about Satan and covering the same war prophetically

Isaiah 14:12–15 ESV

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.

We know that this is the nature of spiritual warfare from other places in the bible.

I think this war could have happened at two points I think:

1) just before his resurrection when Jesus ransacked hell and lead captives in his train, Eph 4:8

2) at some significant point in the Great Tribulation (the demonic powers take on a significantly more impact role)

Lets see what happens next…

Revelation 12:10 ESV

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

once again the voice from heaven.(but without context as an angel )

a Loud voice from heaven told the 2 witnesses to “come up here”. Rev 11:12. then in Rev 11:15, has loud VOICES (plural)

Revelation 11:15 ESV

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”

Then the message of the loud voices in Rev 11:15 says something very similar to Rev 12:10 .

Rev 12:10 = kingdom of God & Authority of Christ have come

Rev 11:15 = The Kingdom of our Lord and His Christ are including the kingdoms of the world (vert close to the same effect)

And this situation is connected to the fact that the accuser of the saints has been thrown down.

Satan was able to accuse the brothers(saints) night and day before God since the time of Job. but he now is thrown down.

I wonder if he is still able to accuse like he used to like in the days of Job.

somehow I think he has now lost that capability and this passage is actually making that clear.

He is no longer able to get before God in heaven to acuse them, think about How much rage he must have. I dont think he will be satisfied to point and shake his finger from earth hoping God is listening to him!

But note the next verse...

Revelation 12:11 ESV

And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

Satan has been conquered! The dragon has been defeated!

why? how?

The very people he had been accusing… had two weapons for his defeat

1) the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) who took away there sins and adopted them into his family. Our salvation is secure, not because of our own works, but because of His finished work at Calvary.

2) their were bold enough to tell the world about what Jesus had done for them, even when threatened by death… and that love cannot be stopped.

THIS IS A BOLDNESS OF CHRISTIAN TESTIMONY we sometimes hear about, but one that we must take to a whole new love.

This is the courage and boldness of queen Esther,

Esther 4:16

It is a struggle that not all Christian have had to face, but one of witch God has indicated may be required.

Heb 12:4

Revelation 12:12 ESV

Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

How much rage satan must have for having Jesus escape his clutches! (Rev12:12)

I’ve got Good news and Bad news…

This is some really Good news for the population of heavens for they no longer have to put up with the dragons demonic visitations. He is persona non Grata now.

But unfortunately, this is also Bad News. The earth & sea, (God always cares for the land) are gonna fill some pain as the Dragon Devil begins to rage in his wrath.

At this point Satan realizes the delay is over. NO MORE DELAY.

He is now going complete nutso.

New Spirit-Filled Life Bible: Notes The Revelation of Jesus Christ

DISPENSATIONAL INTERPRETATION: According to this view of vv. 13–17, when the dragon is cast forth upon the Earth, he immediately begins to persecute Israel; however, as previously noted, a remnant of Israel is given divine deliverance in her place, prepared for protection. When he realizes he cannot touch national Israel, he pursues the rest of her offspring who are openly and actively ministering as witnesses of Jesus Christ (see 7:3–8; Matt. 24:15–20).

Revelation 12:13 ESV

And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.

his goal is the same… get the woman who produced the messiah!!!

Revelation 12:14 ESV

But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.

“redbull” gives you wings - ad (that is a bunch of bull) - caffeine cant give you real wings, but God can!

Two wings of a great eagle (v. 14): The symbolic prototype was God’s protecting and nourishing His people in their deliverance from bondage in Egypt (see Ex. 19:4). In vv. 15, 16 the serpent utilizes all resources to destroy the woman. - Jack W. Hayford et al., eds., New Spirit-Filled Life Bible: Notes (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Bibles, 2002), 1834.

New Spirit-Filled Life Bible: Notes The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Two wings of a great eagle (v. 14): The symbolic prototype was God’s protecting and nourishing His people in their deliverance from bondage in Egypt (see Ex. 19:4). In vv. 15, 16 the serpent utilizes all resources to destroy the woman.

But God is protecting the woman / Israel .. she gets “wings” not sure what they mean. but sound like a way to escape again!

Perhaps she is getting emergency air flights out of the land of Israel!

“wilderness” - is this a prophetic symbolic word again, or literal? last time it looked like Israel was dispersed to the nations.

Could it be that way again?

The Antichrist has come been the abomination that causes desolation in the temple, and Israel has had to flee again like they did at the time of Rome’s destruction of Jerusalem.

the time, times, and half a time = 3.5 years. meaning the last half of the tribulation Israel needs to be protected and away from the reach of the AntiChrist.

Could it be that perhaps America or some other friends of Israel have airlifted them out of israel?

Revelation 12:15 ESV

The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood.

The dragon is not done yet. this is apparently a “water dragon” for normally is it fire that comes out of a red dragon! (loL)

Something coming out of a mouth of Satan/Antichrist sound like words that have a particular effect.

a double edge sword out of the mouth of Jesus.

The fire coming out of the mouths of the 2 witnesses.

Now water coming out of the Dragons mouth. to sweep Isreal away with a flood.

water might be a torrent of lies, and a flood of deception trying to convert the nations giving Israel succor, into antisemites?

New Spirit-Filled Life Bible: Notes The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The flood symbolizes the peoples of the world (see 17:15; Is. 17:12).

Revelation 12:16 ESV

But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.

but we see that there is help from the very land the earth.

earth does not have a mouth.

but a real flood can be stopped by a large crevasse that is opened.

Revelation 12:17 ESV

Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Dragon Give up on Israel for a time, and turns back to the Christians

and now starts rev 13

Revelation 13:1 ESV

And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.

A Million Women is a gathering for those hungry to see the Lord’s hand cover this nation at the Mall in Washington DC on October 12th, the Day of Atonement, to fast and pray in unity as a LAST STAND moment for America.

There is an interesting verse about the arrival of the ANtichrist that is hard to understand that might fit with this event.

2 Thessalonians 2:6–7 ESV

And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.

Could there be something that occurs in this time in the war and casting down were the spirit of the Antichrist was blocked from indwelling the final person, is now free to do so?

if they had access to heaven they were in some way restrained.

when does this war happen?

interesting rabbit trail here…

Isaiah 66:7 ESV

“Before she was in labor she gave birth; before her pain came upon her she delivered a son.

“She” in this passage is probably Israel.

Jesus indicates that the wars and rumors of wars are the early birth pangs, and that the the full birth will be the Tribulation?

Matthew 24:6–8 ESV

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

What is the final delivery? (could it be Matt 24:36 , the very object of their question, “the sign of your coming and the end of the age”

If so then this story is appropriately positioned right after the 7th trumpet and no more delay.

Problem with this view is that the dragon is waiting to devour the child, but he is caught up to heaven

Revelation 12:4–5 ESV

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,

So we know that the birth pangs mentioned here are different and apply to the vision of the woman bringing Jesus forth the first time, not the second time.

Everyone willing to come pray and intercede is invited.

Ezekiel 40 + is about the millennium reign.

Ezekiel 38 - 40 is about the Magog Invasion

Ezekiel 38:1–3 ESV

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.

Gog looks to be the chief prince of these two lands Meschech and Tubal

but what kind of a Prince? hmm...

“Meshech & Tubal identified with the people names the Sarmatians and Mushovites who lived in the ancient province of Pontus in Northern Asia Minor.” - Herodotus, Histories IV

“Muscovy and the Thobelites were founded by Meshech and Tubal” - Joesephus, Antiquities I.6

Easton’s Bible Dictionary Meshech

MESHECH—drawing out, the sixth son of Japheth (Gen. 10:2), the founder of a tribe (1 Chr. 1:5; Ezek. 27:13; 38:2, 3). They were in all probability the Moschi, a people inhabiting the Moschian Mountains, between the Black and the Caspian Seas. In Ps. 120:5 the name occurs as simply a synonym for foreigners or barbarians. “During the ascendency of the Babylonians and Persians in Western Asia, the Moschi were subdued; but it seems probable that a large number of them crossed the Caucasus range and spread over the northern steppes, mingling with the Scythians. There they became known as Muscovs, and gave that name to the Russian nation and its ancient capital by which they are still generally known throughout the East”

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Meshech

MESHECH (Mēʹ shĕk) Personal name meaning either “sowing” or “possession.” 1. A people of Asia Minor (Gen. 10:2; 1 Chron. 1:5), known for trading in copper vessels (Ezek. 27:13), frequently associated with Tubal (Ezek. 32:26; 38:2–3; 39:1). This Meschech is identical to the Assyrian Mushki and the Greek Moschoi. At Ps. 120:5 the name appears in the form Mesech (KJV). 2. An otherwise unknown Aramean tribe (1 Chron. 1:17), perhaps identical with Mash (Gen. 10:23).

Tubal & Meshech = Eastern anatolia (Turkey)

land of Magog = land of the “Magog” a people

Gog = Prince (the word Rosh) but can also be a place or a Proper name

who is Gog? Bible usually lays some background for each person.

Since it is someone mentioned in Ezekiel and Revelation, and perhaps Amos, we might have a a very long-lived person.

Amos has this strange verse…

Amos 7:1–3 ESV

This is what the Lord God showed me: behold, he was forming locusts when the latter growth was just beginning to sprout, and behold, it was the latter growth after the king’s mowings. When they had finished eating the grass of the land, I said, “O Lord God, please forgive! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!” The Lord relented concerning this: “It shall not be,” said the Lord.

Amos 7:1 appears to be a bunch of strange detail about a particular mowing of grass (weird) especially with the “behold” making it sound as if it were of special importants… “the latter mowings after king’s mowing.” but what if the translation is a bit off?

Amos 7:1 is from the Massoretic text… but if we check the Septuagint finished in 270 BC, we get a very different interpretation. by much more ancient scholars that no doubt knew ancient Hebrew much better! (and the vagaries of how the sentence constructs can create different outcomes of meaning”

Amos 7:1 LES

Thus the Lord God showed me and behold, the offspring of locusts is coming early, and behold, one locust is Agag, the king.

Locust King is “Agag” the king.

Amos 7:1 NETS (Primary Texts)

Thus the Lord showed me and behold, an early offspring of grasshoppers coming, and behold, one locust larva, Gog the king.

Locust King is “Gog” the king.

• The Lord is summoning A Million Women, Esthers, young and old with their husbands and children to gather to the Washington DC Mall October 12, the Day of Atonement, in a LAST STAND moment for America.

Revelation 20:8 ESV

and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.

Magog = name of a people group.

Does not show up in the commentaries…

Daniel 12:4 ESV

But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

as we get closer to the end you should not be surprised that in your small study group you start discovering new things about the end times.

Live Stream Details: For those who cannot attend in person, the event will be live streamed on our social media platforms (Facebook, Youtube, and Rumble) on the day of the event. It will be from 9am-7pm EST.

• https://amillionwomen.org/

• Our church will be participating.

Ask for further questions… or cover issues in the parking lot.

• Start at church at 10 AM

• We will delay the stream: from 10am – 8pm

for anyone everyone that needs prayer.

We will not be providing refreshments… (BYOFood)

We recommend bringing water, drinks, any snacks you may need, and a picnic blanket as we will not be providing chairs. We will be taking communion together so you may prefer to have your own supplies on hand.

Public Transit Info: Closest Metro stations: Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter Subway Station, ~0.3 mile walk Smithsonian Station, ~0.3 mile walk L'Enfant Plaza Station, ~0.3 mile walk

Outline of revelation

Saturday, October 12, 2024 5:00PM

Intro

5 LESSONS: Bible is one unified story, Keys to eschatology 1,2,3,4 Matt 24, Daniel 9, Matt 25.

Alta Sierra Baptist Church 33990 Alta Bonny Nook Road Alta, CA 95701

ch1 The Introduction: The revelation of Christ’s Person, Authority, and Presence

We do this every year (why)

1 LESSON: Its all about Jesus

What are we doing?

ch2, 3 The Epistles to the Churches: The revelation of Christ’s Administrating of His Church

we are not celebrating Halloween, we are serving and

7 LESSONS: Each of these Letters from Jesus are important! Dont speed past these.

but now that Amber is a teacher and this falls on a Thursday, we have several adjustments to make.

ch4, 5 The Throne of God in Heaven: The revelation of Christ’s Right and Claim to Earth (The Lamb receives title to this planet.)

3 LESSONS: Basic approaches to Rev, Throne in heaven, Lamb of God,

ToDo list for today

ch6 The Breaking Open of Seals 1-6: The revelation of Christ’s Ministry as Savior and Judge (Savior, “going forth”; Judge, “great wrath”)

.

ch7 The 144,000–The Redeemed Host: The revelation of Christ’s Own: Sealed and Delivered (Both are the Church; on earth/in heaven)

What we will not do. we will not redefine the bible

ch8, 9 The 7th Seal–the first 6 trumpets : The revelation of Christ’s People Precipitating release Through Prayer (Opening a mighty concept)

??? NOTE: The 7th Trumpet–The Last Trump 1Cor. 15:52; 1Thess.4:16–appears as Revelation 11:15-19.

The phrase “What can be, unburdened by what has been” is a favorite of Kamala Harris.

Some think she made it up, but the concept predates her and is a Marxist philosophy.

ch10 The Mighty Angel Announcing the End: The revelation of Christ as Consummator of History and as Commissioner of the End Times’ Message

ch 11, 13 Two Witnesses Christ’s, The Wonder Woman, The Beast: The revelation of Christ’s Church in Confrontation with Evil (In persecution, in spiritual warfare, and in conflict with the world-system)

That attempts to bury, destroy the truth of the past, to allow them to do things that would normally be unconscionable to a culture that has any sense of their history and moral tradition from the bible. It is painted with a veneer of optimism encouraging people assume the “what can be” is a better tomorrow, but in fact in every and all situations were Marxists have had an opportunity to chart a future, has become much worse when it is tethered from the Conservative histiry of a moral tradition.

ch 14 The 144,000 and Six Angelic Actions: Christ’s Own Redeemed in Triumph (Each angelic action indicating victory)

So we will not redefine the bible and come up with a “new” view of history.

Instead this section Chapter 12 - is about bringing in the larger full context of the bible’s spiritual battle into focus so we can see that the end time events are not “weird” and unhinged from what has been, but instead in full continuity with the entire scope of history in the Bible.

ch 15, 16 The 7 Vials of God’s Wrath: Christ’s Commission Unto Final Judgment (Set in an atmosphere of worship)

Tonight we look at the War of the Dragon… the cosmic spiritual conflict that has been going on since before the dawn of mankind.

ch 17, 18 The Destruction of Babylon: Christ’s Sovereign Triumph Over Evil’s Spiritual and Economic Control of Mankind

New Spirit-Filled Life Bible: Notes The Revelation of Jesus Christ

In this series of visions, specific events are pictured symbolically, emphasizing timeless principles of spiritual warfare. We are thus enabled to see the spiritual reality and meaning of events in our historical experience, such as the birth of the Messiah, together with Satan’s continuous attempts to destroy Him before He completed His redemptive work, and His exaltation, followed by the resultant persecution of His church. Knowing that they share in His victory will enable His people to endure patiently any future afflictions

ch 19, 20 The Two Last Battles: Christ’s Final Triumph Over and Banishment of All Evil (Pre- and post-millennial)

ch 21, 22 The New Heaven and New Earth: Christ’s Ultimate and Eternal Union With His Own Bride

Tribulation

Wrath

(Opener for each class ) who am I: Ken Geer

Thanks for visiting our church. If your a member of another church, you remain a member of that church, and we bless your church, and thank you for joining us for this study. We look foreword to more unity in the body of Jesus.. each church of Jesus is a candle in the dark and we are praying that we may all grow brighter, in these end times. we must all work together.

How long is the tribulation?

if you have a different perspectives on Revelation . That is just fine. I am comfortable with that . I will give you my view, and reasons, and what the significance is (if any). I will do my best to accurately represent other major views. we are looking to study the Bible, not confirm our bias. so we must be willing to study.

Is the Tribulation 7 yrs? or 3.5 years? or longer? Good teachers have decide there is a credible proposition that it could be much longer. (Jack Hayford). Jack thinks the tribulation started with Jesus leaving. In the World you have “tribulation” but be of good cheer I have overcome the world.

Our desire is to be like the good Bereans. they were challenged with a strange new teaching that Jesus was the messiah and had been crucified. they had to deal with a pretty unsettling set of thoughts. but they got through it.

Come Quickly (for god it is quick)… and if you are upset about it that he has waited 2000 yr, it is not His fault. It is your fault for not recognizing that it could be up to him to decide what it means.

If you do have corrections for me. you may briefly state you concern in the class in the form of a question, but it would be best for others if we hold our discussion/or disagreements on these things till after class. - I am happy to learn and grow. I am not the final authority on revelation. For that I refer you to Jesus.

Rapture

Who will be taken when the Lord returns? Question Jack Hayford asked his mom as a young boy. His Mom came back with this after prayer. Those that are taken up with him now, will be taken up with him then.

Invite the Holy spirit, ask him to give us a spirit of humility unity and love. Make us more like Jesus.

Cessationism (distortion of scripture)

Often caused Christians to be filled with hate. Came up with the idea of Dispensation. Dispensationalism, is been given such a great spotlight, but not well defended by scripture. filmsy.???

Jesus let us know and LOVE with our whole heart: “Your word, your Will and your Ways”

Rev 12 uses 2 “signs” that appear in heaven. the usage of the word “sign” is a signpost telling us this section will have symbolic spiritual language and we do not have to view it litterally.

Sorry this passage does not on it’s own prove that there were dragons, and pregnant women, only their concepts in this passage are signs of something else.

This passage appears to be a “flash back” story device to backup and help explain the the nature of the spiritual conflict going on, as it explains historical events from a spiritual viewpoint.

The conflict begins with the dragon on the offensive and the woman and her son barely escaping.

The second movement of the flashback shows the dragon cast out of heaven and confined to earth with only a little time left to menace the earth and the Lamb’s followers.

In Rev 13 , we will learn about Satan's end-time playbook.

Before that lets do a bit of recap and summation of last week’s study

We covered the sections of scripture in Revelation about the 7th trumpet and we discovered a series of very import things:

The restoration of the earthly kingdom (run By Satan Now) go back to being owned and operated by Jesus “under new/ORIGINAL management” during the days of the 7th trumpet at his return!

Jesus delay is quickly coming to an end in the middle of Revelation.. Rev 11,

There will be no more delay! But the events of the 7th Trumpet will start to unwind over the course of some time, (Days, weeks, years… who Knows?)

The longer the delay the more that can be saved, but and end of delay will come.

this is the way of all things that last a long time, when the time finally runs out… there is a sudden change.

For thousands of years there were dodo birds. then suddenly one day the last one died… then no more dodo birds. (suddenlys happen, suddently)

There is a feeling of everything going on just as it has been from the beginning… and to laugh at anyone that says it will come to an end.

that is the way it was with Noah. but the end did come.

just because it delays does not mean it will never come.

We may be present through the entire tribulation, be prepared for that delay.

Personal view: Trying to envision a pretribulation rapture gets difficult at this point. since it is so clearly connected with a trumpet.

Even a mid point rapture is problematic.

a pre-wrath rapture is more likely, but a end of Tribulation Rapture at the return of Jesus is also very likely I think.

it sort of depends on how the final events unwind. and how long Jesus takes from his appearance to setting up his kingdom. If Jesus is pouring out his wrath after he gets to earth then the

Do not grow weary, our job is to Witness Jesus with Patient Endurance. Keep your faith fresh!

Do not let your love grow cold, Be about the Father’s business

At Jesus return (Day of the LORD) there are Multiple Days of Glory and Terror

what will happen during that time?

Joel Richardson wrote an entire book on this! “From Sinai to Zion”

about the events in the 2nd coming of Jesus We will have another study (perhaps multiples) on the Day of the Lord.

Books that Talk about Jesus 2nd Arrival: Revelation, Habakkuk, Micah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zecheriah, Joel. Through it all the Focus is on Israel!

WHEN A JEW RULES THE WORLD THE LAST-DAYS INVASION OF ISRAEL IN EZEKIEL

Various prophets who came before Ezekiel had been “for many years” declaring that at the end of the age, the Lord would bring a Gentile invader and his armies against Israel. Needless to say, the prophets that came before Ezekiel and clearly pointed to a last-days invasion of Israel are Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Isaiah, Micah, and Amos. While these prophets were very often speaking to the threats in their immediate or near future, they spoke through these events, with their ultimate subject being the final invasion of Israel by the Antichrist and His defeat by Jesus the Messiah.

Habakkuk - Jesus will do signs and wonders in the desert again

the exodus of the future will be lead by Messiah Jesus, (with plagues and taking back land like Joshua)

Micah 5:1-7 - THE LAST-DAYS INVASION OF ISRAEL IN MICAH

Micah 5:1–7 ESV

Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border. Then the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which delay not for a man nor wait for the children of man.

“the Assyrian” is the Antichrist.

WHEN A JEW RULES THE WORLD THE LAST-DAYS INVASION OF ISRAEL IN MICAH

Israel would no longer have to fear her enemies, and the greatness of this Messiah’s authority would reach the whole world. But it is the next verse where we are told that this very Messiah will specifically deliver Israel from the invasion of “the Assyrian”: “This One will be our peace. When the Assyrian invades our land, when he tramples on our citadels . . .

He will deliver us from the Assyrian when he attacks our land and when he tramples our territory” (vv. 5–6). Obviously, there has been no point in history when Jesus delivered Israel from any Assyrian invasion. This passage is referring to the day when Jesus Himself will ultimately deliver Israel from the invasion of the Antichrist’s forces, represented here by ancient imperial Assyria. So according to Micah, the Antichrist is the one who “invades our land . . . attacks our land and . . . tramples our territory.” There can be no question that the geographic end-time thrust of Satan will be against the State of Israel.

Micah 7 - will do wonders greater than the days of Egypt, plagues and petulance ,

Isaiah 63 - He will walk through an area of the desert in Jordan / Saudi Arabia and covered in human blood an saints with him.

Isaiah 60 - 66 - details about what is happening in the middle east during this time?

Even starting at Isaiah 42 - 66 highlight the passages that appear to deal with the return of the Lord!

former enemy nations bringing Jewish refugees back to Israel with gifts to Israel help

Eze 36 - 39 : THE LAST-DAYS INVASION OF ISRAEL IN EZEKIEL

Ezek. 38:1–2, 8–9;

Going to take a long time to clean up the bones after the battle. “Angel of the Lord”

Zech 12 - 14.

Joel 2-3.

All through this the Focus is on Israel!

Many great saints that i respect hold different views, so no need to get dogmatic or wishy-washy here.

The 7th trumpet appears like it may have a significant connection to the event known as the rapture.

We are all children of God and belong to Jesus, and we should be able to to study and state our best opinion and give reasons for our opinion, and listen to others to see how we can gain better understanding and a fuller perspective that ultimately helps the body of christ best.

I have covered the main approaches before a little, and I will summarize them here.

we will get into them in depth very soon.

But we will review them again today because the 7th trumpet event does have a significant connection to the arrival of Jesus and the resurrection of the saints, the “elect”.

We will cover the key verses: At the “Great Trumpet”, the “Final Trumpet”, the “7th trumpet”, and sections of scripture that have a Day of the Lord associated with a trumpet call. they may not all relate to the same event, but they are remarkably similar in many respects.

1 Corinthians 15:52 ESV

in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

See all of 1 COR 15 it explains how Jesus rose from death to get a resurrected body and the dead in Christ will also rise to get a new body, (even those alive at that time that belong to Christ) and that Jesus is the first fruit of this process. That the seed of his crucifixion and death is rising again to create a vast harvest of new life. in RESURRECTED BODIES! all At the sounding of the last trumpet - 7th trumpet

after the trumpet you get a resurrected body

the last trumpet = 7th trumpet?

I feel the arguments against this being the 7th trumpet are lame.

Holy spirit knows all things, and would not be causing confusion about the “last trumpet” with the revelation “7 trumpets sounding” - one coherent story from genesis to revelations. Should not matter at all when the books are written.

Lots of scripture about the last/great trumpet:

Isaiah 27:13 ESV

And in that day a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were lost in the land of Assyria and those who were driven out to the land of Egypt will come and worship the Lord on the holy mountain at Jerusalem.

those driven out of Egypt, and lost in the land of Assyr

Joel 2:1 ESV

Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near,

The day of the Lord is coming and it is announce with a Trumpet

Jesus confirms that the arrival of Jesus and the the gathering of the elect are associated with a trumpet call

Jesus describes first that there will be a great tribulation Matt 24:21. then immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun, moon and stars will do their thing. Matt 24:29. And at that moment will come the sign of the Son of Man being seen in the clouds, and a loud trumpet call will send out the angels.

Matthew 24:30–31 ESV

Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

1 Thessalonians 1- Jesus return will bring righteous judgement / justice on the those that afflict the saints. and give them relief.

2 Thessalonians 1:5–12 ESV

This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is then connected with the arrival of Jesus for the resurrection of God’s people in 1 Thes 4.

1 Thes 4 - The Lord will descend from heaven at the Great Trumpet, and the dead in christ will rise, and then those that are alive!

1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 ESV

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Return of Jesus (no trumpet mentioned this time, but in connection with 1 Thes 4, we have additional details)

hard to separate the arrival of GOD to to earth from the event of teh the “Rapture”

Wont happen until a great falling away, and the Man of lawlessness revealed, and take a seat in the temple, and proclaims himself to be God.

The lawless one is by the power of satan with false signs and wonders. with wicked deception because they refused to love the truth

2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 ESV

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

The days of the 7th trumpet, include the “Day of the Lord”, but is not a single day

The 7th trumpet marks the end of delay.

At the 7th trumpet the mystery of god is fulfilled, complete

at the 7th trumpet the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of Jesus (world government we DO WANT, the sublime loving theocracy by a perfect being uncomfortable)

at the 7th trumpet Jesus begins his reign on the earth

at the 7th trumpet the window of God great mercy closes

7th trumpet indicates the final judgment will come to the enemy's of God’s people

The 7th trumpet includes the wrath of God on the raging nations

during the days of the 7th trumpet Jesus is bring plagues on the earth, and leading a conquest to Jerusalem

All through this the Focus on Israel!

have the group read the scripture out loud together. there is a blessing on those who read and those who hear!

Revelation 12 ESV

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. 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. Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 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. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Wow the is a very visual and dynamic chapter… easily very memorable to any that read it.

What do you think this passage about?

What questions do you have (will we need to cover some at the end?)

rev 12 is obviously fairly metaphorical and allegorical, yet spiritually accurate.

Rev 12 conveys the same essential message as Dan. 7, (about the 4 beasts and the war on the saints, and

The primary difference being that John writes after Christ’s first coming, victorious death, resurrection, and ascension (Rev12:5)

Rev 12 indicates:

1) the ongoing warfare on Earth (Rev 12:9 );

2) the overcoming ability of the redeemed because “the kingdom” has come (Rev 12:10);

3) the two-edged truth that their victories often cost martyrdom (Rev 12:11); and

4) the basis of their triumph: the Cross (“the blood of the Lamb”) and the authority of God’s Word (“the word of their testimony”—Rev 12:12 ).

Note regarding the different Interpretative Schemes:

Various interpretive systems see this at different times within redemptive history. Those viewpoints of pre-, a-, and postmillennial has often fragmented the church. No complete interpretive scheme will be verified until after Christ comes. But this passage gives us a common base of wisdom for each group to receive while embracing one another, since we all face a common Adversary (Rev 12:9 ).

Revelation 12:9 ESV

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.

“our wisdom is to embrace the Cross as our salvation and our source of overcoming victory. Then we can enter the conflict in confidence, knowing we shall triumph even though circumstances temporarily set us back. In the time of conflict, it will make no difference who was “right,” but only that we were on the Messiah’s side in this agelong spiritual struggle.” - Jack Hayford.

The text provides two indisputable facts:

1) the kingdom of God has already established triumph over the Serpent (vv. 9, 10);

2) still, those engaged in conflict in the name of the Lamb sometimes are vanquished to death (v. 11).

Breadth and balance are given to our perspective. The presence of the kingdom at this time calls each believer to responsible spiritual warfare and anticipated victories. Yet, at the same time, the presence of evil struggles for survival; though “cast down,” the Serpent writhes viciously. Thus our temporal situation is often a fierce and sometimes painful struggle, seeming to issue in an indeterminate standoff before our Enemy. But he only has “a short time,” until finally the kingdom to come (v. 10) shall become the kingdom accomplished (Rev. 19–22). Let us do battle in faith and with faithfulness and, looking to that day of His ultimate kingdom, know the Holy Spirit is preparing us for kingdom victories today. See Dan. 7:21, 22.

(Dan. 7:21, 22/Gen. 1:1*) J.W.H.

A vision of a dragon & a woman with sun moon and stars, a male Child, and the wilderness. Rev 12:1-6

“a sign” = Symbolism alert!

If we want to understand this passage we must carefully discern the symbolism. Like a puzzle we start with the easy pieces, the corner and edge pieces that are mostly solved for us.

A woman (a GREAT sign!), clothed with sun, moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of 12 stars. - Pregnant and giving birth to a child

A great red dragon (just a “sign”) - 7 heads, 10 horns, and on his head 7 diadems (kingly crowns), tail sweeps 1/3rd stars from heaven, attempts to devour child

A male child = one who will rule all nations with a rod of iron, (but caught up to heaven to his throne = Jesus obviously)

wilderness = woman fled to wilderness prepared by god for 1,260 days. (what is that for?)

lets start with the dragon because i think it is probably the easiest symbol to identify correctly…

A great red dragon (just a “sign”) - 7 heads, 10 horns, and on his head 7 diadems (kingly crowns), tail sweeps 1/3rd stars from heaven, attempts to devour child

Revelation 12:3 ESV

And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.

The red dragon of Rev 12:3 is identified in Rev 12:9 as the Devil or Satan. so here we have our corner piece.

Revelation 12:9 ESV

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.

Satan was a particularly powerful and high-ranking angel who led one third of the angelic host to rebel against God (Eph 2:2; Rev 12:1–12). Like the other angels and demons, Satan is an invisible being who is highly intelligent and very powerful. Here are some of his names:

“the devil” (Matt 4:1, 5; Lk 4:2, 3; Eph 6:11),

“the serpent” (Gen 3:1; 2 Cor 11:3; Rev 20:2),

“the great dragon” (Rev 12:9; cf Rev 20:2),

“the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2),

“the god of this age” (2 Cor 4:4),

“the evil one” (Matt 13:19, 38; Jn 17:15; Eph 6:16),

“the prince of demons” (Matt 9:34; 12:24; Mk 3:22; Lk 11:15),

“the accuser” (Rev 12:10), and

“the tempter” (Matt 4:3; 1 Thess 3:5). responsible for tempting Eve in the garden

what do you learn from this list? (Lucifer the lying looser)

If we are in Christ, we are protected from statan’s power and only when we sin or stray from God’s will in our life do we become exposed to a degree. Even then God protects those that belong to him.

Satan is a Hebrew word that means “adversary” (שָׂטָן).

Devil is the Greek word “diablols” and means “slanderer.” (Matt 4:1, 5; Lk 4:2, 3; Eph 6:11),

Both imply accuser —a legal adversary who slanderously accuses someone in court.

Revelation 12:10 ESV

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

Satan stands at the throne of God and fights the saints by accusing them (see Job 1–2; Zech. 3).

Job 1:6–12 ESV

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Do you see similarities between Revelation and Job?

Satan can only do things God gives him authority to do

Stan is accusing god’s people

God has a bigger grander objective than Satan is aware of

Satan is given authority to cause limited harm, but is unwittingly used by God for a purpose the is much greater than the limited harm Satan is allowed to inflict.

Satan is obviously limited in many ways. HE is created. Jesus was never created.

Satan need God’s permission. God needs no permission.

Zechariah 3:1–3 ESV

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments.

By contrast (in contradistinction to Satan), Jesus Christ, is the “heavenly Advocate” (1 John 2:1–2)

we see John speak about Jesus being an advocate in 1 John 2:1-2.

1 John 2:1–2 ESV

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Note there is no DUALITY implied here. Jesus ins our advocate, and Satan is our accuser, but God could wipe out Satan with just a thought , so while Satan is an adversary to God’s People, He is nothing compared to Jesus!

We return to Revelation.

what else do we learn about the Devil from this?

“Red” Dragon last thing that was red was the moon red as blood, and before that the red horse whose rider took away peace by having people kill each other. Death, War, Murder, Blood. (pretty Dark images are coming to mind just with the color)

Compared to a Serpent…

What do the 7 heads and 10 horns mean?

First, word for crowns (diadem) means “kingly authority”“ is it NOT (stphenos) wreaths of victory

a direct (but a bit naive) way to do interpretation is to use “dream symbol interpretation manual” approach.

Seven heads represent complete authority, intelligence, and cleverness, but not wisdom (see Prov. 1:7).

Ten represents earthly completeness, which is therefore limited.

Horns are a symbol of physical or political strength.

Seven diadems represent political authority.

Instead of the “dream symbol interpretation manual”… lets use the Bible instead and ask God what it means!

While, Horns and and crowns do indicate power and authority in the bible, before we attempt to decode with our own understanding… look at the passage and the rest of Revelation and then the rest of the bible.

the 7 head and 10 horns are used to identify this entity in three places in revelation.

Described the same as next chapter Rev 13:1, were the red dragon is now called a beast.

Revelation 13:1 ESV

And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.

and then later revelation calls him a “scarlet beast” that a woman is riding, but full of “blasphemous names” in addition to the 7 heads, and 10 horns.

Revelation 17:3 ESV

And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.

Searching the Bible for 10 horns immediately brings up Daniel. Daniel sees a beast with 10 horns in his night visions in Dan 7:7. it is the 4th in a series of beasts that represent 4 kingdoms (Babylon, Persia, Greece, and a fourth kingdom different from the rest) and this beast wages war against God’s holy people Dan7:21. there are many additional details in the Daniel 7 passage wich we will unravel when we look at the Anitchrist. It is enough to see that what we have identified as Satan is also referenced in Daniel and is somehow mixed up with the ANtichrist is a strong way.

Daniel 7:7 ESV

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

But we do not have to worry overly much yet about decoding Daniel for revelation give us the interpretation directly. (see how easy Revelation is)

Revelation 17:12 ESV

And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.

SO 10 Horns = 10 kings.

THe 7 heads is another corner piece because, revelation specifically give us an interpretation about what the 7 heads mean.

Rev. 17:9 ), and the horns represent kings (Rev. 17:12). We shall study the meaning of these symbols in more detail later.

Revelation 17:9–11 ESV

This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction.

So the 7 heads, is for 7 hills, as will as 7 kings, and connects to an 8th king( the beast himself).

So this dragon is Satan, but, is very well connected with these 7 mountains, who are also 7 Kings, and 10 horns that are also kings.

Admittedly this is getting a bit confusing, and we will unravel it another night.

However, not how Satan is so closely connected with the power of Governments, Authority, and Power!

The Bible Exposition Commentary (Chapter Eight: The Terrible Trio (Revelation 12–13))

This conflict between Satan and “the woman” began soon after man fell (Gen. 3:15). Throughout Old Testament history, Satan tried to prevent the birth of the Redeemer. There was always a “dragon” standing by, waiting to destroy Israel or the ancestors of the Messiah. Pharaoh is called a “dragon” (Ezek. 29:3), and so is Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 51:34). At one critical point, the royal line was limited to one little boy (2 Kings 11:1–3). When Jesus Christ was born, Satan used King Herod to try to destroy Him (Matt. 2). Satan thought that he had succeeded when he used Judas to betray the Lord and hand Him over to be crucified. But the Cross was actually Satan’s defeat! “And they overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 12:11).

Even today Satan has access to heaven, where he accuses God’s people; but he cannot dethrone the exalted Saviour. His strategy is to persecute God’s people and devour them if possible (1 Peter 5:8). He has a special hatred for the Jewish people and has been the power behind anti-Semitism from the days of Pharaoh and Haman (see the Book of Esther) to Hitler and Stalin. Finally, in the middle of the Tribulation, there will come a wave of anti-Semitism such as the world has never seen (Rev. 12:6). But God will protect His people during those three-and-a-half years (1,260 days; see Rev. 11:2; 13:5).

Apart from the 144,000 (who are sealed and protected), a believing remnant of Jews will survive this very troublesome time. We are not told where God will protect them or who it is that will care for them. Matthew 24:15–21 will take on special meaning for those believing Jews who live in the end days. Note especially the parenthesis in Revelation 12:15.

The Woman is about to give birth

who is the Child? (Jesus - how do we know?)

Revelation 12:4 ESV

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.

clue1: Just as soon as the child was born, Satan tried to destroy Him.

What else?

Revelation 12:5 ESV

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,

clue 2: The Child was sent to rule the nations

rule = literally, “to shepherd,”

with a rod of iron, a symbol of firmness, but not tyranny

several messianic prophesies about the messiah ruling with a rod of Iron, meaning no compromise, his righteous law will be executed firmly.