Now we are in middle of the last 7 year period just before Jesus Christ 2nd
coming. In this chapter Jesus is introducing another important character
called dragon in His divine plan. This dragon is not just going to
appear at that time. He is not a new character but he has already in this world
from the time Adam and Eve was created by God. Let us see in detail
- What this dragon is trying to do from the beginning this
world is created (history)? - Revelation 12:1-5
- What is going to happen to this dragon? -
Revelation 12:7-9
- Who is this dragon? - Revelation 12:9
- What this dragon is going to do? - Revelation
12:6,10-17
What John saw first?
1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.
2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.
- What John saw first and where he saw that?
1a Now a great sign appeared in heaven:
- (David Guzik)
Because John plainly says this is a
sign, we don’t expect this woman to appear literally on the earth.
God will use this sign to communicate something to John and to us.
- Who is the main person/character in this
sign?
1b a woman, 2a Then being with
child
- What is the appearance of this woman?
1c clothed with the sun, with the
moon under her feet, and on her
head a garland of twelve stars.
- What is the important thing happening
through her?
2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.
- Who is this woman? How we can find out?
- We can find out her by
identifying her child because we
have more clues about this Child in
verse 4 & 5. We also have
some more
clues in verse 4.
- Read
Who is this Child? & Who
is this Woman?
topic in Rev
12:5 notes.
What John saw next?
3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red
dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.
4a His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them
to the earth.
- What John saw next and where he saw that?
3a And another sign appeared in
heaven:
- Again John saws that this is sign and
he saw that in heaven.
- Daniel saw many vision with many signs.
Those signs are explained or interpreted
either in same chapter, book or other portion in the
Bible itself:
- Dan 8:3-8 - 3 Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and there, standing beside the river, was
a ram which had
two horns, and the two horns were high; but
one was higher than the other, and the
higher one came up last.
4 I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no animal could withstand him; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great.
5 And as I was considering, suddenly
a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and
the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
6 Then he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing beside the river, and ran at him with furious power.
7 And I saw him confronting the ram; he was moved with
rage against him, attacked the ram, and
broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to withstand him, but he
cast him down to the ground and trampled him; and there was no one that could deliver the ram from his hand.
8 Therefore
the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it
four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven.
- Explanation for those signs are given in the following verses:
Dan 8:20-25 - 20 The
ram which you saw, having the two horns--they are the kings of
Media and Persia. 21 And the
male goat is the
kingdom of Greece. The
large horn that is between its eyes is
the first king.
22 As for the broken horn and the
four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power.
23 "And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes.
24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive;
He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.
25 "Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means.
- a ram which had
two horns (8:3) ---> the kings of
Media and Persia.
(8:20) - Medo-Persian rule after Babylon
- a male goat
(8:5a) ---> the
kingdom of Greece. (8:21a)
- the goat had a notable horn between his eyes
(8:5b) --->
the first king of Greece. (8:21b) - the Alexander the Great
- the large horn was broken, and in place of it
four notable ones came up
(8:8b) --->
four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power (8:22b) - the four Generals who divided the Alexander's Empire.
- Who is the main person/character in this
sign?
3b behold, a great, fiery red dragon
- Who is this dragon?
- Dragon means serpent or
sea monster.
- Rev 12:9 clearly
says that this is Satan.
- Rev 12:9
- So the
great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old,
called the
Devil and Satan,
who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the
earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
- Antichrist is also described similar in
Rev 13:1 with small
difference in number of crowns
and its
location.
- Rev 13:1 - 1 Then I stood on the
sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea,
having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns,
and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2
Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like
the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The
dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
- Here are few basics about Satan: (For more details read
Satan
article).
- Satan
means "adversary." like
roaring lion looking to
devour believers:
- 1 Peter 5:8 - 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your
adversary the devil walks about like a
roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
- Satan was Cherub means high
ranking angel
served God around the throne in Heaven.
- Ezekiel 28:14,15a - 14 "You
were the anointed cherub who covers; I
established you; You were on the holy mountain
of God; You walked back and forth in the midst
of fiery stones. 15
You were perfect in your ways from the day you
were created,...
- Due to his pride he was
fallen from
heaven to earth but still now he
has access to Heaven to get permission to
interfere with God's people.
- Isaiah 14:12-15
- 12 "How
you are fallen from heaven, O
Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to
the ground, You who
weakened the nations!
13 For you
have said in your heart: 'I will
ascend into heaven, I
will exalt my throne above the
stars of God; I will
also sit on the mount of the
congregation On the farthest
sides of the north; 14 I will
ascend above the heights of the
clouds, I will be like
the Most High.'
15 Yet you
shall be brought down to
Sheol, To the lowest depths of
the Pit.
- NIV:
Isaiah
14:12-15 - 12 How
you have fallen from heaven,
O morning star,
son of the dawn! You have been
cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the
nations! 13
You said in your heart, "I will
ascend to heaven; I will raise
my throne above the stars of
God; I will sit enthroned on the
mount of assembly, on the utmost
heights of the sacred mountain.
14 I
will ascend above the tops of
the clouds; I will make myself
like the Most High."
15 But you are
brought down to the grave, to
the depths of the pit.
- He is called Serpent who
deceive and lie people.
- Rev 12:9
- So the great dragon was cast out,
that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
- Gen 3:1-15 - 1 Now
the serpent was
more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"
2 And
the woman said to the serpent,
- What is the appearance of this dragon?
Why Satan is
described as wild dragon?
3b behold, a great, fiery red dragon
having
seven heads and ten horns, and
seven diadems on his heads.
4a His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them
to the earth.
- Here Dragon appearance is a
Personification of Satan, as it is of
Pharaoh -
- Ezekiel 29:3 - 1
In the tenth year, in the tenth
month, on the twelfth day of the
month, the word of the Lord came
to me, saying, 2
"Son of man, set your face
against Pharaoh king of Egypt,
and prophesy against him, and
against all Egypt. 3
Speak, and say, 'Thus says the
Lord God: "Behold, I am against
you, O Pharaoh king of
Egypt, O great monster who lies in the
midst of his rivers, Who has
said, 'My River is my own; I
have made it for myself.'
4 But
I will put hooks in your jaws,
And cause the fish of your
rivers to stick to your scales;
I will bring you up out of the
midst of your rivers, And all
the fish in your rivers will
stick to your scales. 5 I will
leave you in the wilderness, You
and all the fish of your rivers;
You shall fall on the open
field; You shall not be picked
up or gathered. I have given you
as food To the beasts of the
field And to the birds of the
heavens. 6 "Then all the
inhabitants of Egypt Shall know
that I am the Lord, Because they
have been a staff of reed to the
house of Israel.
- Ezekiel 32:2 - 1
And it came to pass in the
twelfth year, in the twelfth
month, on the first day of the
month, that the word of the Lord
came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man,
take up a lamentation for
Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say
to him: 'You are like a young
lion among the nations, And you
are like a monster in
the seas, Bursting
forth in your rivers, Troubling
the waters with your feet, And
fouling their rivers.'
- This appearance represent Satan's character
at this time.
- It also represent his major
rules in history.
- This dragon sign is explained
in Rev 17:3,7,9,10a,12
- Rev 17:3,7,9 - 3 So he carried me
away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman
sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy,
having seven heads and ten horns. ....
7 But the
angel said to me, "Why did you marvel? I will
tell you the mystery of the woman and of the
beast that carries her, which has
the seven heads and the ten horns .....
9
Here is the mind which has wisdom: The
seven heads are seven mountains on which the
woman sits. 10 There
are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is,
and the other has not yet come. And when he
comes, he must continue a short time.
11 And the
beast that was, and is not, is
himself also the eighth, and is
of the seven, and is going to
perdition. 12
The ten horns which you
saw are ten kings who have
received no kingdom as yet, but
they receive authority for one
hour as kings with the beast.
- (Walvoord) “From the similar description
given in 13:1 and the parallel references in
Daniel 7:7-8, 2, it is
clear that the revived Roman Empire is in view .
. . The seven heads and ten horns refer to the
original ten kingdoms of which three were
subdued by the little horn of Daniel
7:8, who is to be identified with
the world ruler of the great tribulation who
reigns over the revived Roman Empire.”
- We will go through this in
details while we study
Rev 17
- Fiery Red represent:
- (David Guzik)
Again, we are reminded that this is a
sign. The creature here is not
literally a great, fiery red dragon, but
the dragon represents his nature and character
- (Warren Wiersbe)
The color red is associated with death
(Rev. 6:4) and Satan is a murderer (John 8:44).
The heads, horns, and crowns will appear again
in Revelation 13:1 and 17:3. The heads represent
mountains (Rev. 17:9), and the horns represent
kings (Rev. 17:12). We shall study the meaning
of these symbols in more detail later.
- (Johnson) His description “symbolically
suggests his fierce power and murderous nature
. . . a picture of the fullness of evil
in all its hideous strength.”
- His Seven Diadems/Crowns:
- (David Guzik)
This dragon has great power (seven heads and ten horns) and
claims royal authority (seven diadems). The crowns represent his
presumptive claims of royal authority against the true King. He wants to be considered a king.
- Jesus really comes with many
diadems/crowns. Because He is
real true King. He is King of
Kings and Lord of Lords:
- NAS: Revelation 19:12
- His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are
many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.
- What are all the important things he did and tried to do?
- What he did with his tail?
4a His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them
to the earth.
- Who are these stars?
- Are these literal
Stars?
It may simply means
literal stars:
- Rev 8:12
- Then the fourth angel sounded:
And a third of the sun was
struck, a third of the moon, and
a third of the stars,
so that a third of them were
darkened. A third of the day did
not shine, and likewise the
night.
- Are these not
literal Stars, if so Why?
Since, this is the sign so
this could not be just the
literal stars:
- In Joseph Dream 2nd Dream
star represents Joseph's
siblings:
- Gen 37:9-11 - 9
Then he dreamed still another
dream and told it to his
brothers, and said, "Look, I
have dreamed another dream. And
this time,
the sun, the moon, and
the eleven stars bowed down to
me."
10 So he told it to
his father and his brothers; and
his father rebuked him and said
to him, "What is this dream that
you have dreamed?
Shall your mother and I
and your brothers indeed come to
bow down to the earth before
you?"
11 And his brothers
envied him, but
his father kept the
matter in mind.
- Daniel saw
similar vision:
- Dan 8:3-11 - 9 And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. 10 And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. 11 He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. 12 Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered.
- Explanation for those signs are given in the following verses:
Dan 8:23-25 - 23 "And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes. 24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. 25 "Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means.
- (David Guzik)
- In the latter time of their kingdom: The prophecy in this passage reads equally true of both Antiochus and Antichrist. This is an example of a prophetic passage that has both a near and far fulfillment.
- Having fierce features: Antiochus Epiphanes was known for his cruel brutality; this will also become the legacy of the coming Antichrist.
- Who understands sinister schemes . . . through his cunning: Antiochus was known for his flattery and smooth tongue. The coming Antichrist will strike a covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27).
- His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: Antiochus Epiphanes was empowered by Satan and allowed by God. The same will be true of the coming Antichrist.
- Shall prosper and thrive: Antiochus Epiphanes looked like a total success. The coming Antichrist will look like a complete winner until God topples his reign.
- He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people: Antiochus Epiphanes not only destroyed his enemies, but also harshly persecuted the people of God. The coming Antichrist will also destroy and persecute.
- He shall cause deceit to prosper: Both the rule of Antiochus Epiphanes in the past and the Antichrist in the future are marked by deceit. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)
- He shall magnify himself in his heart: The coins of Antiochus Epiphanes were inscribed with this title: theos epiphanies meaning, "God manifest." The coming Antichrist will also exalt himself: So that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4)
- He shall even rise against the Prince of princes: Though Antiochus Epiphanes hated and fought against the people of God, it was because he really hated God. The same will be true of the coming Antichrist, who will hate the Jews because they hate God.
- Broken without human hand: History tells us that Antiochus Epiphanes died of disease, not by the hand of man. In a similar way, no man will defeat the coming Antichrist, but the hand of Jesus will strike him down (Revelation 19:20).
- In the above
Dan 8:10 passage
the
Antichrist in
future "cast down some
of the host and
some of the
stars to the
ground, and
trampled them"
represent more
of trampling or
persecuting
people of God.
These are specified in
Rev 12:6, 13- Rev 13, 17, 18.
- (David Guzik)
It cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground: These are
symbols used in the Old Testament for
angels,
kings
and
leaders, or
the people of God at large. Here it is fulfilled in Antiochus Epiphanes and his attacks against rulers and God's people in general.
- The terms stars of heaven (Genesis 12:3, 15:5) and
the hosts of the Lord (Exodus 12:41) are
used of God's people in general.
- At the same time here
in Rev 12:4a
- "His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them
to the earth." but not trample them.
- So, here these stars may
not represent God's people but
represent angels.
- One of the names for Satan is
Lucifer, which means "brightness";
he is also referred as "morning star"
in NIV Is 14:12.
- Isaiah 14:12 - "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!
- NIV: Isaiah 14:12 - How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!
- Paul reminds
us that Satan
comes and
deceive people
as Angel
of Light.
- 2 Cor 11:14 - And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
- Since these angels are
thrown into the earth
so, they are the fallen
angels, demons or evil spirits
who serve the Satan.
- Similar to
Michael the archangel has his
own of angels, Satan
has his won angels who fallen
with him by his deception.
- Rev
12:7-8 -7
And war broke
out in heaven:
Michael and his
angels fought
with the dragon;
and the dragon
and his angels
fought,
8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for
them in heaven
any longer.
- Paul also
points out that
there are
many
angels serving
under Satan
.
- 2 Cor 11:15 - 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
- Angels are a
Company, Not a
Race (a group of
persons related
by common
descent or
heredity, a population so related, a group of
tribes or
peoples forming an
ethnic
stock: the
Slavic race, any
people united by common history,
language,
cultural traits, etc.:
the Dutch race):
- Angels are spoken of as hosts, but not as a race (Ps 148:2). Because of this nature they sinned individually, and not in some federal head of the race. May be because of this God made no provision of salvation for the fallen angels. (Lectures in Systematic Theology - Henry C. Thiessen)
- Even though here in this passage it says dragon by "His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them
to the earth". It is not by Satan's force they fallen to the earth but may be Satan deceived those angels like he did to Adam and Eve. By their free fill they chose to follow Satan instead of God. By this way they chose to sin against God individually.
- (David Guzik)
Many believe this describes one-third of the angelic host in league with Satan (his angels of Revelation 12:9). This army of angelic beings in league with Satan makes up the
world of demonic spirits.
- (David Guzik) Since Satan only drew a third of the stars of heaven, it means that
two-thirds of the angels remained faithful to God. It’s comforting to know that faithful angels outnumber fallen angels two to one.
- (Seiss) “God
never made an
evil being;
but He made
angels,
principalities,
and powers
capacitated for
mighty joys and
distinctions in
His glorious
domain, yet with
free will,
implied in the
very creation of
moral beings,
which they could
exercise for
their
everlasting weal
or woe. Many
have remained
steadfast, to
wit, ‘Michael
and his angels.’
But some abode
not in the
truth, but
revolted against
the rule of
Heaven, and became
unchanging
enemies of God
and His
Kingdom..”
- Application: Is Satan disturbing/troubling
you? What way you experience Satan and His angels in your life?
Are you able to differentiate whether your trouble is due to
your selfishness, your mistake, or from Satan? Please take a
moment and ponder these question and feel free to share your
experience.
Who is this Child?
4b And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth,
to devour her Child as soon as it was born.
5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
- Where the dragon was standing and what the dragon ready to do?
4b And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to
devour her Child as soon as it was born.
- Is this Child is a girl or a boy?
5a She bore a
male Child
- What this Child will do?
5b who
was to rule all nations with a rod
of iron.
- What happened to this Child?
5b And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
- NIV: Rev 12:5 - She gave birth to a son, a male child, who
will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child
was snatched up to God and to his throne.
- This child
- will rule all nations with a rod of iron,
- was caught up to God and His throne
- about to devoured by dragon as soon as
he was born
- Who is this Child who
will rule all nations with a rod of iron
and was
caught
up to God and His throne?
- There is only one person in history who
matches all these criteria. That person is Jesus Christ.
- Jesus is the only
person who going to rule all nations with a rod of iron
Rev 19:15
- Now out of His
mouth goes a
sharp sword,
that with it He
should strike
the nations. And
He
Himself will
rule them with a
rod of iron.
He Himself
treads the
winepress of the
fierceness and
wrath of
Almighty God.
Rev 1:5a
- and from Jesus Christ, the
faithful witness, the firstborn
from the dead, and the
ruler over the kings of the
earth.
Acts 1:11 - 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven,
will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
- Psalm 2 - 1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
3 "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us."
4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.
5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure:
6 "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion."
7 "I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.' "
10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
- As we read in
Rev 11:15,17 Jesus starts His
reign just 3.5 years before He comes back to
this earth to rule all nations with a rod of
iron.
- Rev 11:15,17 - 15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud
voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms
of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"
16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before
God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God,
17 saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God
Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken
Your great power and reigned.
- Jesus is the only
person who was caught up
to God and His throne.
He resurrected first from
the death (He is the
firstborn of dead) and destroyed the
enemy death. He is now sitting at
God's right hand in His thrown.
Acts 1:9 - 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched,
He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
- Rev
1:5a
- and from Jesus
Christ, the
faithful
witness, the firstborn
from the dead,
and the
ruler over the
kings of the
earth.
- 1 Cor 15:20-28 - 20
But now Christ is risen
from the dead,
and has become
the firstfruits
of those who
have fallen
asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the
resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so
in Christ all shall be made alive.
23 But each one in his own order: Christ the
firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.
24 Then comes the end, when
He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.
25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.
26 The last enemy that will be
destroyed is death.
27 For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted.
28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
- Acts 2:33,34
- 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.
33 Therefore being
exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.
34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand,
35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." '
36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that
God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
- Eph 1:20-22 - 15
Therefore I
also, after I
heard of your
faith in the
Lord Jesus and
your love for
all the saints,
16
do not cease to
give thanks for
you, making
mention of you
in my prayers:
17
that the God of
our Lord Jesus
Christ, the
Father of glory,
may give to you
the spirit of
wisdom and
revelation in
the knowledge of
Him, 18
the eyes of your
understanding
being
enlightened;
that you may
know what is the
hope of His
calling, what
are the riches
of the glory of
His inheritance
in the saints,
19
and what is the
exceeding
greatness of His
power toward us
who believe,
according to the
working of His
mighty power
20
which He worked
in Christ when
He
raised Him from
the dead and
seated Him at
His right hand
in the heavenly
places, 21
far above all
principality and
power and might
and dominion,
and every name
that is named,
not only in this
age but also in
that which is to
come. 22
And He put all
things under His
feet, and gave
Him to be head
over all things
to the church,
23
which is His
body,
the fullness of
Him who fills
all in all.
- Rev 5:6 - 5 But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals."
6 And I looked, and behold,
in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
- Following
verse is quoted
in Matthew 22:44;
Mark 12:36; Luke
20:42; Acts
2:34; Heb 1:13;
- Psalm 110:1 -
A Psalm of David. The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."
- Matt 22:41-45 - 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?" They said to Him, "The Son of David." 43 He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying: 44 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool" '? 45 "If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his Son?" 46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.
- When Jesus was about
to devour by Satan?
Satan through Herod tried to
kill Jesus when he was born:
4b And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to
devour her Child as soon as it was born.
- Satan played through king Herod.
He tried to kill
Jesus:
Matt 2:16-18 - 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
2 saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.' "
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 Then, being
divinely
warned in a
dream that they
should not
return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
13 Now when they had departed, behold,
an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."
14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,
15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he
sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:
18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more."
19 But
when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20 saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead."
21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into
the land of
Israel.
22
But when he
heard that
Archelaus was
reigning over
Judea instead of
his father
Herod, he was
afraid to go
there. And being
warned by God in
a dream, he
turned aside
into the region
of Galilee.
23
And he came and
dwelt in a city
called Nazareth,
that it might be
fulfilled which
was spoken by
the prophets,
"He shall be
called a
Nazarene."
- (David Guzik)
The attempt to devour her Child was initially fulfilled by Herod’s attempts to kill Jesus as a child (Matthew 2:16-18).
It was also
fulfilled
throughout
Jesus’ life as
Satan attacked
Him (John
8:59 and Mark
4:35-41).
- John
8:59 - 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad."
57 Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?"
58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."
59 Then
they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
- (Warren Wiersbe) Just as soon as the child was born, Satan tried to destroy Him.
- 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).
Who is this Woman?
1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.
4b And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth,
to devour her Child as soon as it was born.
5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
- This male Child is Jesus so the woman who gave birth to Jesus
either simply
means Virgin
Mary or Israel because
Jesus came through them.
- (David Guzik)
Roman Catholics claim this woman is Mary, pictured as the “Queen of Heaven.” Mary Baker Eddy said she was this woman.
- It is common in Roman Catholic art to represent
Mary as standing on a crescent moon with twelve stars around her head.
- This male Child is obviously Jesus. This means that the woman of Revelation 12:1
cannot be the church, because Jesus “gives birth” to the church, not the other way around.
- The woman must therefore either be Mary or Israel,
the only two “women” who could have “given birth” to Jesus.
- The rest of
Revelation 12 will demonstrate that this woman is Israel, not Mary.
- Based on the remaining verses in
Revelation 12
clearly shows that this woman with 12 stars
represents 12 tribes of
Israel or Israel Nation:
- Rev 12:6
- Then the
woman
fled into the
wilderness,
where she has a
place prepared
by God, that
they should feed
her there one
thousand two
hundred and
sixty days
- Rev 12:13-17 -
13
Now when the
dragon saw that
he had been cast
to the earth, he
persecuted the woman who gave
birth to the
male Child.
14
But the woman
was given two
wings of a great
eagle, that she
might fly into
the wilderness
to her place,
where she is
nourished for a
time and times
and half a time,
from the
presence of the
serpent.
15
So the serpent
spewed water out
of his mouth
like a flood
after the woman,
that he might
cause her to be
carried away by
the flood.
16
But the earth
helped the
woman, and the
earth opened its
mouth and
swallowed up the
flood which the
dragon had
spewed out of
his mouth.
17
And the dragon
was enraged with the
woman, and he
went to make war
with the rest of
her offspring,
who keep the
commandments of
God and have the
testimony of
Jesus Christ.
- In Joseph
Dream 2nd Dream
star
represents
Joseph's
siblings:
Gen 37:9-11 - 5
Now Joseph had a
dream, and he
told it to his
brothers; and
they hated him
even more.
6
So he said to
them, "Please
hear this dream
which I have
dreamed:
7
There we were,
binding sheaves
in the field.
Then behold, my
sheaf arose and
also stood
upright; and
indeed your
sheaves stood
all around and
bowed down to my
sheaf."
8
And his brothers
said to him,
"Shall you
indeed reign
over us? Or
shall you indeed
have dominion
over us?" So
they hated him
even more for
his dreams and
for his words.
9
Then he dreamed
still another
dream and told
it to his
brothers, and
said, "Look, I
have dreamed
another dream.
And this time,
the sun,
the moon, and
the eleven stars
bowed down to
me."
10
So he told it to
his father and
his brothers;
and his father
rebuked him and
said to him,
"What is this
dream that you
have dreamed?
Shall
your mother and
I and your
brothers indeed
come to bow down
to the earth
before you?"
11
And his brothers
envied him, but
his
father kept the
matter in mind.
- Rom. 1:3 - 1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God
2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
3 concerning
His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
- Rom 9:4-5 - 1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,
2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,
4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, nd the promises;
5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all,
the eternally blessed God. Amen.
- NLT Rom 9:4-5 - 1 In the presence of Christ, I speak with utter truthfulness -- I do not lie -- and my conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm that what I am saying is true.
2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed -- cut off from Christ! -- if that would save them.
4 They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God's special children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave his law to them. They have the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises.
5 Their ancestors were great people of God, and
Christ himself was a Jew as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.
- Israel is often compared to a woman
- (Warren Wiersbe) In the Old Testament,
- Israel is often compared to a woman, and even a woman
in travail (pain, anguish or suffering resulting from mental or physical hardship.
the pain of childbirth) (Isa. 54:5; 66:7; Jer. 3:6-10; Micah 4:10; 5:2-3).
- The apostate world
system is compared to a harlot (Rev. 17: Iff),
- and the church to a pure
bride
(Rev. 19:7ff).
- (David Guzik)
Women often represent religious systems in
Revelation.
- Jezebel is associated with a
religious system of false teaching (Revelation 2:20)
- The Great Harlot is associated with
false religion (Revelation 17:2)
- The Bride is associated with the
church (Revelation 19:7-8)
- Is 54:5,6 - (The Future Glory of Zion)4 "Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore.
5 For your
Maker is your husband, The Lord of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth.
6 For the Lord has called you Like a
woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, Like a youthful wife when you were refused," Says your God.
7 "For a mere moment I have forsaken you, But with great mercies I will gather you.
8 With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you," Says the Lord, your Redeemer.
- Is 66:7-10 - 5 Hear the word of the Lord, You who tremble at His word: "Your brethren who hated you, Who cast you out for My name's sake, said, 'Let the Lord be glorified, That we may see your joy.' But they shall be ashamed." 6 The sound of noise from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the Lord, Who fully repays His enemies!
7 "Before she was in labor, she gave birth; Before her pain came,
She delivered a male child.
8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or
shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children.
9 Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?" says the Lord. "Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?" says your God.
10 "Rejoice with Jerusalem, And be glad with her, all you who love her; Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her;
- Jer. 3:6-12 - 6 The Lord said also to me in the days of Josiah the king: "Have you seen what
backsliding Israel has done?
She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot.
7 And I said, after
she had done all these things,
'Return to Me.' But she did not return. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
8 Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also.
9 So it came to pass, through her casual harlotry, that
she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees.
10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned to Me with her whole heart, but in pretense," says the Lord.
11 Then the Lord said to me, "Backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.
12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: 'Return, backsliding Israel,' says the Lord; 'I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful,' says the Lord; ' I will not remain angry forever.
- Hosea 2:19-20 - 19 "I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes,
I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy;
20 I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the Lord
- Micah 4:10 - Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O
daughter of Zion, Like a
woman in birth pangs. For now you shall go forth from the city, You shall dwell in the field, And to Babylon you shall go. There you shall be delivered; There the Lord will redeem you From the hand of your enemies.
- Micah 5:2-3 - 2 "But you,
Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The
One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting."
3 Therefore He shall give them up, Until the time that
she who is in labor has given birth; Then the remnant of His brethren Shall return to the children of Israel.
NIV: Micah 5:2-3 - 2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. "
3 Therefore
Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites
- (David Guzik)
The pain described refers to the
travail of Israel at the time of Jesus’ birth (under Roman occupation and oppression).
- (David Guzik) Some teach that the woman is a symbol representing all the people of God, including faithful Israel and the church. They
use this to advance the idea that the church is here during the tribulation period. But if the woman represents all the people of God (the church and faithful Israel), then
who are the rest of her offspring described in
Revelation 12:17?
It is better to see her as Israel in general or Messianic Jews in particular.
- Are these events happened already in History?
What this woman did?
6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
- Who is this woman?
As we saw earlier this woman represent
Israel. For details read
Who is this Woman? topic
in Rev 12:5 notes.
- What this Woman did?
6 Then the woman fled
into the wilderness
- Why the Woman flee?
Dragon/Satan
- Rev 12:4b-5 -
4b And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth,
to devour her Child as soon as it was born.
5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
- To where did the Woman flee?
6a Then the woman fled into the wilderness,
- What is wilderness?
- From Dictionary:
a wild and uncultivated
region, as of forest or desert,
uninhabited or inhabited
only by wild animals; a
tract of wasteland.
- (1.) Hebrew word midhbar, denoting
not a barren desert but
a district or region suitable
for pasturing sheep and cattle
(Ps. 65:12; Isa. 42:11; Jer.
23:10; Joel 1:19; 2:22); an uncultivated place.
- This word is
used of the
wilderness of
Beersheba (Gen.
21:14), on the
southern border
of Palestine;
the wilderness
of the Red Sea
(Ex. 13:18); of
Shur (15:22), a
portion of the
Sinaitic
peninsula; of
Sin (17:1),
Sinai (Lev.
7:38), Moab
(Deut. 2:8),
Judah (Judg.
1:16), Ziph,
Maon, En-gedi (1
Sam. 23:14, 24;
24:1), Jeruel
and Tekoa (2
Chr. 20:16, 20),
Kadesh (Ps.
29:8).
- Gen 16:7
- Now the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the
wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur
- Gen 21:14
- So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and
wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.
- Exodus 18:5 - and Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to
Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God
- Mat 3:1-3 - 1 In those days John the Baptist came
preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the
wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.'
- Matt 4:1 - Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the
wilderness to be tempted by the devil
- How long they are going to be there?
6c one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
- 1260 days
is 3.5 years 30days/month or
42 months.
- Is this happened already in History?
Let us see some few historical events
happened to Mary and Israel and compare those
with this event:
- Mary and Joseph flee to Egypt when Jesus is
around 2 years old and hopefully returned back
within the same year because Herod died on 4 BC.
So her wilderness is approximately one year.
- The Birth of Jesus (At Bethlehem of Judea, BC 5)
Mat 2:1-7
- The Birth of Jesus Told by Angels to the Shepherds (Near Bethlehem, BC 5) 55 vs
Mat 2:8-20
- Circumcision, Temple Service, and Naming of Jesus (The Temple at Jerusalem, BC 4)
Mat 2:21-40
- Eastern Wise-Men (Magi) visit The New-born King (Jerusalem & Bethlehem, BC 4)
Mat 2:1-12
- Flight to Egypt & Slaughter of the Children (Bethlehem & Road to Egypt,
BC 4) Mat 2:13-18
14 15.
- Herod's wrath on Bethlehem's children
Mat 2:16-18
- Herod dies in
Spring of BC
4 Mat 2:19
- The Child Jesus Brought from Egypt to Nazareth (Egypt and Nazareth,
BC 4) Mat 2:19-23
15
- Jesus visiting Jerusalem in His 12th Year (Nazareth & Jerusalem, AD 7-8) 56 vs
Mat 2:41-52
- As we saw earlier this woman is not Mary but
she represent here Israel. Israel
were under
Egypt for
approximately 400 years, Babylon for 70 Years
and many times under neighboring
countries/kings.
- Are these are wilderness?
No these are slavery.
- Israel was wandering in wilderness
for 40 years when they move from Egypt
to Promise Land (Canaan)
- One other possibility is in history after Jesus resurrected to heaven
Israel was scattered and wiped Jerusalem
and the temple on 70 AD by
Roman Emperor Titus. After 1878 years
later after II World war Israel again
formed their nation and declared independence on
14 May 1948.
- Jeremiah 49:36
- Against Elam I will bring
the four winds From the
four quarters of heaven,
And scatter them toward all
those winds; There shall be no
nations where the outcasts of
Elam will not go.
- Here Israel was
not fled
into wilderness but scattered
all over the world as a refuges
to live and
establish. They
were scattered for 1878
years outside their home
land.
- So, in history of Israel they never
stayed in wilderness place for 1260 years.
- Is this going to happen in future?
6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a
place prepared by God, that they should
feed her there
one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
- Here in this passage Israel is in wilderness
for 1260 days or 3.5 years. This is no where
close to any past wilderness of Israel history.
- So, this must be happening in future.
- We can see some more details about this
wilderness and how God protect these
Israelites in Rev 12:13-17
- Rev 12:13-17 -
13
Now when the
dragon saw that
he had been cast
to the earth, he
persecuted the woman who gave
birth to the
male Child.
14
But the woman
was given two
wings of a great
eagle, that she
might fly into
the wilderness
to her place,
where she is
nourished for a
time and times
and half a time,
from the
presence of the
serpent.
15
So the serpent
spewed water out
of his mouth
like a flood
after the woman,
that he might
cause her to be
carried away by
the flood.
16
But the earth
helped the
woman, and the
earth opened its
mouth and
swallowed up the
flood which the
dragon had
spewed out of
his mouth.
17
And the dragon
was enraged with the
woman, and he
went to make war
with the rest of
her offspring,
who keep the commandments of God
and have the testimony of Jesus
Christ.
- BIG GAP:
Rev 12:1-5 is happened already
at the same time verse 6 is yet
to happen in future. Here
between verse 5 and
verse 6 there is a big gap.
It is very important to have
this closer in depth study
otherwise we will miss the great
amount of details. Majority of
Old Testament believers didn't
have this type of closer in
depth study so they were
confused with Jesus first coming
and second coming. We can see
the similar pattern in following
scriptures:
- Dan 9:26
is History
fulfilled in AD
70 at
the same time
Dan
9:27
is future
event ie last 7
year period
before Jesus
Christ comes 2nd
time.
Dan 9:26
- 26 "And after the sixty-two weeks
Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall
destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the
middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate."
- Isaiah 61:1-2a
is presently
fulfilled during
Jesus time
when He reads
this in a
Synagogue as in
Luke
4:18-21.
Jesus didn't
read
Isaiah 61:2b
which is about "day
of vengeance of
our God"
which is yet to be
fulfilled
during the last
3.5 years just
before Jesus 2nd
coming.
- Luke 4:16-21
-
16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.
17
And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."
20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
- Is 61:1,2 -
1 "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn
- Likewise
there are many
prophecies in
Old Testament
yet to be
fulfilled are
prophesied with some fulfilled
prophecies.
- Application:
Unless otherwise
if we didn't
spend time and take a closer
look or in depth
study then we
will miss
important
details. Let us
spend time in
His word and sit
under His feet.
So, that may the
Lord God
Almighty
enlighten our
understanding.
- 2 Cor 4:6
- For it is the
God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has
shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ
- Ezra 9:8 -
And now for a little while grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place,
that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.
- Psalm 13:3 -
Consider and hear me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, Lest I sleep the sleep of death;
- Psalm 18:28 -
For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
- Who prepared this place?
6b where she has a place prepared by God, that they should
feed her there
- Is this place exist now? Where is
this place could be?
6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a
place prepared by God, that they should
feed her there
one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
- Why God provided this Israel fleeing
to wilderness event here
- then war in heaven
and
- then again providing
details about Israel flee to
wilderness?
- One thing
happening here
is summary and
details
approach. Here
Rev
12:6
provides brief
summary at the
same time they
are explained in
detail in
Rev
12:7-17.
- Rev 10:11 elaborated in Rev 11-18
- Rev 11:15-19 elaborated in Rev 12-18
- Rev 14 elaborated in Rev 15-18
-
Study and
meditate Rev
12:7-12
then you will
find detail
answers by
yourself.
What war John saw?
7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought,
- Where he saw this war?
7a And war broke out in heaven:
- Between whom this war happened?
7b Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and
the dragon and his angels fought
- Who is this Michael?
- Michael means One like God.
- Is this Michael is Jesus Christ?
(David Guzik) Some individuals and groups (such as the Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses)
insist on saying that Michael is actually Jesus. This is wrong on every count.
- Some say Michael must be Jesus, because
he has his angels. But if Satan - a fallen angelic being - has his angels (Revelation 12:7), which can’t Michael - an unfallen angelic being - have his angels?
- Some say Michael must be Jesus, because
he is called the archangel (Jude 9), which means
leader or prince among the angels, and they say that only Jesus is the leader of the angels. But we know from
Daniel 10:13, 10:20 and 10:21 that
Michael is one angelic prince among others. Also, Paul refers to an
archangel in
1 Thessalonians 4:16 in a way that presupposes other archangels.
- Some say that Michael must be Jesus, because Paul says that at the rapture, the
Lord will call His people with the voice of an archangel (1 Thessalonians 4:16). But
Jesus can use an angel to call out for His people
without being that angel, just
as much as God can use a trumpet
to sound out a call without
being the trumpet.
- Jude 9 says that
Michael would not rebuke or accuse Satan on His own authority, but only say “The Lord rebuke you.” This shows that Michael isn’t Jesus, because Jesus often rebuked Satan and demons in His own authority (Matthew 17:18, Mark 1:25, 9:25, Luke 4:8, 4:35).
- What will be the problem if we say
Michael is Jesus Christ?
- Some say Michael must be
Jesus, because
his name
means One like God. But
if this were a title of Jesus,
it could
argue
against His deity, not
for it - because it would say
that
Jesus is
like God, but not God.
“There is also an unquestionable
Godlikeness in all holy beings,
which must be very exalted in
those preeminent among the
ministers of the throne.”
(Seiss)
- Michael is not to be identified with Christ, any more than any
other of the great angels in this Book. Such identification here would confuse hopelessly the actors in this heavenly scene.” (Alford)
- So, Michael is "One like God" but not God
or anyway equal
to God. Jesus is not like God but
Jesus is God.
- Application: We are like or
reflect God but never become
God.
- Luke 6:40 -
A disciple is
not above his
teacher, but
everyone who is
perfectly
trained will be
like his
teacher.
- Michael is archangel means
leader for many angels.
- Jude 9 - Yet
Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"
- 1 Thes 4:16
- For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of
an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
- Only Michael is referred as
a archangel. In Apocrypha Enoch
20:1-7 Michael, Gabriel and
other four unfamiliar names are
listed as archangel.
- Michael is also referred as
Prince
among the angels or Prince of
Israel.
- Dan 10:13,20,21
(Note the
good and evil angels as prince) -
12 Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.
13 But the
prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.
14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come."
15 When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless.
16 And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, "My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength.
17 For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me."
18 Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.
19 And he said, "O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!" So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."
20 Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come.
21 But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except
Michael your prince.
- Dan 12:1
- "At that time Michael shall stand up, The
great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.
- Archangel is prince or leader
under him
there are many angels are working.
- There are only two kinds of angels called
Archangel
and Angels (who works under the
Archangel). Other kids of sprit beings who serve
our God are
Cherub/Cherubim (Gen 3,Ex 25,
Ezekiel 1, 10), Seraphim (in
Isaiah 6), and Living Creatures
(in the Book of Revelation 4, 5, 6, 15).
- Who is this dragon?
9b that serpent of old, called the
Devil and Satan, who
deceives the whole world;
10c for the accuser of our brethren,
who accused them before our God day and night
- Who fought with this dragon?
7c and the dragon and his angels fought,
- Like Michael has his own angel dragon/Satan who was a
Cherub deceived and become leader for other fallen angels. For more details read
Who are these stars? topic in
Rev 12:3 notes.
- Is this Spiritual war?
How is this
battle fought?
- Bible says war between believers and Satan
is spiritual
- Ephesians 6:12 -
10 Finally, my
brethren, be strong in the Lord
and in the power of His might.11
Put on the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil.
12 For
we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of
the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of
wickedness in the heavenly
places.13
Therefore take up the whole
armor of God, that you may be
able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to
stand. 14 Stand therefore,
having girded your waist with
truth, having put on the
breastplate of righteousness, 15
and having shod your feet with
the preparation of the gospel of
peace; 16 above all, taking the
shield of faith with which you
will be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked one.
17 And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of
God; 18 praying always with all
prayer and supplication in the
Spirit, being watchful to this
end with all perseverance and
supplication for all the saints
- In Daniel 10:13 Satan's/evil angel
blocks/delays God's/good angel message
delivery to Daniel. This not seems like
spiritual.
- Dan 10:13,20,21
(Note the
good and evil angels as prince) -
12 Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.
13 But the
prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.
14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come."
15 When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless.
16 And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, "My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength.
17 For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me."
18 Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.
19 And he said, "O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!" So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."
20 Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come.
21 But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except
Michael your prince.
- (David Guzik)
We know this is a
real
fight; but is it a
material or a spiritual battle? Our
battle with Satan and his demons
is spiritual,
fought on the battleground of
truth and deception, of fear and
faith (Ephesians 6:12). In regard to material
attacks against the believer,
Satan and his demons were
disarmed at the cross
(Colossians 2:15). But
it is possible that among angels, there is a material battle to be fought in a way we can only imagine.
What is the result/outcome of this war in heaven?
8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.
9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."
- Who won the war?
8a but they did not prevail,
-
Is this
war already happened or going to happen? When this war
happen?
- Is there anywhere in the Bible this
type of war (between good and evil angels)
specified?
No.
- Is this happened when Satan fall
when he sin (before he deceives Adam and Eve)?
No. Because he has access to heaven
after that.
- He is called as
Accuser of our Brethren, who accuses
believers before our God day and night.
- Rev 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the
accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
- Zechariah 3:1-2 - 1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and
Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.
- Job 1:6-12 - 6
Now there was a day when the
sons of God came to present
themselves before the Lord, and
Satan also came among them.
7 And the Lord said to Satan,
"From where do you come?" So
Satan answered the Lord and
said, "From going to and fro on
the earth, and from walking back
and forth on it."
- To resolve below two questions we need to
know when this war happen.
- Is Satan has access to heaven now?
- Is this war
happened during Jesus death on
the Cross? or Does Jesus disarmed (Col 2:15) and judged
(John 16:11) Satan on the Cross means this?
- Let us find clue in following verse:
- Rev 12:10b
- "Now salvation, and strength, and
the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come,
- Rev 12:10b clearly
gives us answer: As we discussed in Rev 11:15 &
17 The kingdom of our God, and the power
of His Christ will come only during the
middle of the last 7 year period just
before Jesus Christ 2nd coming. So,
this war will happen only at middle of the
middle of the last 7 year period just
before Jesus Christ 2nd coming.
- Rev 11:15, 17 -
15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"
16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God,
17 saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because
You have taken Your great power and reigned.
- (Warren Wiersbe) The dragon was cast out
of heaven (Rev. 12:9), and
he took with him a third
of the angels (Rev.
12:7, 9), They are spoken of as
"stars" in Revelation 12:4 (see
also Dan. 8:10). This is
evidently a reference to the
fall of Satan (Isa.
14:12-15), when he and
his hosts revolted against God.
However, the casting out
described in Revelation 12:7-10
is yet future.
- (Warren Wiersbe) What is this celestial conflict all about?
The fact that Michael led God's angels to victory
is significant, because Michael is identified
with the nation Israel (Dan. 10:10-21: 12:1;
note also Jude 9). The name Michael means
"who is like God?" and this certainly parallels
Satan's egocentric attack on Jehovah—"I will be
like the Most High" (Isa. 14:14). Apparently,
the devil's hatred of Israel will spur him to
make one final assault against the throne of
God, but he will be defeated by Michael and a
heavenly host.
- (David Guzik)
In
Luke 10:18, Jesus said “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” This fall Jesus spoke of either refers to the first fall of Satan (from glorified to profane), or
they are a prophetic look ahead to the second fall at the mid-point of the seven year tribulation period.
- Because He will lost complete access so he
will not accuse the believers in Christ
- Rev12:10c
- for the accuser of our
brethren, who accused them
before our God day and night,
has been cast down.
- Because of this we can see the urgency of
Satan:
- Rev12:12b
- Woe to the inhabitants of the
earth and the sea! For
the devil has come down to you,
having great wrath, because he
knows that he has a short time."
Rev12:13 - Now
when the dragon saw that
he had been cast to the earth,
he persecuted the woman
who gave birth to the male
Child.
- Now we can answer the following questions
clearly:
- Is Satan has access to heaven now?
Yes, Satan will keep on
accusing believers day and night
until this event happen at the
beginning of last 3.5 years
just before Jesus 2nd coming.
- Is this war happened
during Jesus death on the Cross?
or Does Jesus disarmed (Col 2:15) and judged
(John 16:11) Satan on the Cross means this?
NO. By judgment and
disarming of Satan restrict
Satan to control believers in
Christ. Satan cannot touch
believers without the permission
of God but he will keep continue
in accusing
the believers.
- What privilege will this dragon and his angel lost due to
this defeat? or What happened to the accuser of our
brethren?
8b nor was a place found for them
in
heaven any longer.
9a So the great dragon was cast out,
9c he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10c for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night,
has been cast down.
- Satan and his angel lost the complete access
to heaven.
- Satan is
also called as
Accuser of our Brethren,
who accuses believers before our
God day and night.
- Rev 12:10
Then I heard a loud voice saying
in heaven, "Now salvation, and
strength, and the kingdom of our
God, and the power of His Christ
have come, for the
accuser of our brethren,
who accused them before our God
day and night, has been
cast down.
- Zechariah 3:1-2 - 1 Then he showed me Joshua the high
priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and
Satan standing at his
right hand to oppose him. 2 And the Lord said
to Satan, "The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke
you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?" 3 Now
Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.
4 Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him,
saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him." And to him He said, "See, I
have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes."
5 And I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So they
put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel
of the Lord stood by.
- Job 1:6-12 - 6
Now there was a day when the
sons of God came to present
themselves before the Lord, and
Satan also came among
them.
7 And the Lord said to Satan,
"From where do you come?" So
Satan answered the Lord and
said, "From going to and fro on
the earth, and from walking back
and forth on it." 8
Then 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, one who fears God
and shuns evil?" 9
So Satan answered the Lord and
said, "Does Job fear God
for nothing? 10
Have You not made a hedge around
him, around his household, and
around all that he has on every
side? You have blessed the work
of his hands, and his
possessions have increased in
the land. 11
But now, stretch out Your hand
and touch all that he has, and
he will surely curse You to Your
face!" 12
And the Lord said to Satan,
"Behold, all that he has is in
your power; only do not lay a
hand on his person." So Satan
went out from the presence of
the Lord.
- 1 Kings 22:21 (Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab
1 Kings 22:1-28pp) - 20 And the Lord said, 'Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?' So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner.
21 Then
a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, 'I will persuade him.'
22 The Lord said to him, 'In what way?' So he said, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And the Lord said, 'You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.'
23 Therefore look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared disaster against you."
- Jesus is there always to
intercede for us:
- Isaiah 53:12
- Therefore I
will divide Him a portion with
the great, And He shall divide
the spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul
unto death, And He was numbered
with the transgressors, And He
bore the sin of many, And
made
intercession for the
transgressors.
- Romans 8:34
- Who is he who condemns? It is
Christ who died, and furthermore
is also risen, who is even
at the right hand of
God, who also makes intercession
for us.
- Heb 7:25 - 24
But He, because He continues
forever, has an unchangeable
priesthood.
25
Therefore He is also
able to
save to the uttermost those who
come to God through Him, since
He always lives to make
intercession for them
- 1 John 2:1 - 1
My little children, these things
I write to you, so that you may
not sin. And if anyone sins, we
have an
Advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous.
- (David Guzik)
Satan’s work of accusing only
ends here, when
he is cast out from his access
to heaven.
Today, we have (and
need) an intercessor and
advocate
(Hebrews 7:25, and 1 John
2:1).
- (Warren Wiersbe)
The name
devil means "accuser," and
Satan means "adversary."
Satan stands at the throne of God and
fights the saints by accusing them (see
Job 1-2; Zech. 3). But
Jesus Christ, the "heavenly Advocate"
(1 John 2:1-2). represents the church before
God's holy throne. Because Jesus Christ died for
us, we can overcome Satan's accusations "by the
blood of the Lamb." Our salvation is secure, not
because of our own works, but because of His
finished work at Calvary.
- What John heard next and from where he heard this?
10a Then I heard a loud voice saying
in heaven,
- To whom this loud voice addresses? or Who did the
loud voice address?
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and
they did not love their lives to the death.
12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."
- Addressing to those who dwell in Heaven.
- Who are they?
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and
they did not love their lives to the death.
- It is clear that they and
them refers to
Believers in
Christ.
- Where they are now?
12a Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them!
- They are now in Heaven. At this middle of
great tribulation majority of believers in
Christ are in Heaven except few remnants.
- Who's loud voice is this?
- Since this loud voice addressing Believers
in Christ as "they and them"
and refers God as "our God" so this loud voice
could be from the angels or the four
living creatures.
- What this loud voice proclaimed?
- What residence in heaven has to do? Why believers/overcomers has to rejoice in
heaven?
12a Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them!
- Why they have to
rejoice?
10c for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
8b nor was a place found for them
in
heaven any longer.
9a So the great dragon was cast out,
9c he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
- Heaven will rejoice when Satan is cast out,
because there is no one in heaven to accuse the
believers in Christ.
- (Warren Wiersbe) Believers in any age or situation can
rejoice in this victory, no matter how difficult
their experiences may be. Our warfare is not
against flesh and blood, but against the
spiritual forces of the wicked one: and these
have been defeated by our Saviour (Eph. 6: l0ff:
note also Eph. 1:15-23).
- What is the
outcome/result
when Satan
completely cast
down from
heaven?
10b "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God,
and the power of His Christ have
come GNT
Good News
Translation: Revelation 12:10
-
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "Now God's salvation has come! Now God has shown his power as King! Now his Messiah has shown his authority! For the one who stood before our God and accused believers day and night has been thrown out of heaven.
- Now the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come
- As we discussed in Rev 11:15 &
17 The kingdom of our God, and the power
of His Christ will come only during the
middle of the last 7 year period just
before Jesus Christ 2nd coming.
- Rev 11:15, 17 -
15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"
16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God,
17 saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because
You have taken Your great power and reigned.
- Once this war over and the first and foremost enemy Satan will cast down to earth. First Victory for Jesus in Heaven through His servants Michael the archangel and his angels.
- From that time there is no one to oppose/accuse His rule and reign or any believers.
- So, Jesus now no need to be advocate for us but in His full strength He can freely rule with rod of iron.
- Now God's salvation has come!
10b "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
- Whom the believers in Christ
overcame? or Who did the believers in Christ
overcome?
11a And they overcame him
- What is overcame means here?
- To whom this
"him"
refers to?
- Here "him" refers to Satan
- Believers in
Christ overcame
Satan.
- 1 John 2:13,14 - 13 I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.
- Does
overcoming Satan and
overcoming this
world means the same?
Yes, because Satan is ruler of this world.(John 12:31, John 16:11)
- Since all
the Adam's
descendents are born in his
blood so, we are
born with sin
and
obey
Satan naturally
by birth.
- By birth
we are under the
fold/control of Satan.
As we saw in Rev
11:15 now this
world is ruled
by Satan.
Satan is
the the
ruler of this
world.
- Eph 2:2 - 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
- NLT: Eph2:2 - 1 Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. 2 You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else
- NIV: Eph 2:2 - 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath
- Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
- Read
What is the state of humanity before or without Salvation? topic in Salvation article to understand better.
- Read
Kingdom of this
World Vs Kingdom
of God article
to understand
better by
getting answers
to questions
such as
- To Whom this kingdom of world belongs to now?, Is it not the kingdoms of this world now belongs to our Lord? Is it not Jesus Christ now reign this world forever and ever?, To Whom God delivered this world?....
- Jesus overcame this world so He challenges all believers in Christ to overcome this world:
- John 16:33 -
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
- Revelation 2:7 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who
overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." '
- Revelation 2:11 -
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who
overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." '
- Revelation 2:17 -
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who
overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it." '
- Revelation 2:26 -
And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations
- Revelation 3:5 -
He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
- Revelation 3:12 -
He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
- Revelation 3:21 -
To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
- How they overcame?
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
This tells us three keys to the saint’s victory over Satan.
- They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb:
- What it means? To understand better Read What is the state of humanity before or without Salvation? and How God Saves humanity? topic in Salvation article.
- We are born sinners and no way to obtain God's Holiness and His Righteousness so, we are destined for eternal separation from God and deserved for the God's severe eternal punishment.
- We have BIG GAP between us and GOD. There are no ways to reach God by our efforts. We desperately in need of help from God.
- But God..... instead of leave us in that eternal doomed state because of His great Love towards us and according to His rich Mercy and Grace
- Extended His hand to human beings and made a way to escape from His wrath and from the bondage/trap of Satan... (1 John 2:2, John 3:16, 1 John 4:19)
- Romans 5:8 - But
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- God made a way to all people/humanity by offering His life on our behalf as atoning/appeasing scarifies or propitiation that satisfies/pays off the wrath of God.
- 1 John 2:2 - And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
- Col 1:13-14
- 13 He has
delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
14 in whom we have
redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
- Eph 1:7 - 7
In Him we have
redemption
through His
blood, the
forgiveness of
sins,
according to the
riches of His
grace 8
which He made to
abound toward us
in all wisdom
and prudence,
9
having made
known to us the
mystery of His
will, according
to His good
pleasure which
He purposed in
Himself,10
that in the
dispensation of
the fullness of
the times He
might gather
together in one
all things in
Christ, both
which are in
heaven and which
are on earth--in
Him.
- Heb 9:14 - 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
- (David Guzik) The blood overcomes
Satan’s accusations. Those accusations mean
nothing against us because Jesus
has already paid the penalty our
sins deserved. We may be even
worse than Satan’s
accusations, but we are still
are made righteous by the work
of Jesus on the cross (Ephesians
1:7, Colossians 1:14, and
Hebrews 9:14).
- How
does
the
blood of the Lamb
conquer Satan in the life of the
believer? How does the death of
Jesus on the cross as our
substitute bring us victory? (David Guzik)
- Although, it is important to say that we should not regard the blood of Jesus in a superstitious manner. It is not a magical potion, nor is it the literal blood of Jesus, literally applied that saves or cleanses us. If that were so, then His Roman executioners, splattered with His blood, would have been automatically saved, and the actual number of molecules of Jesus’ literal blood would limit the number of people who could be saved. The
blood speaks to us of the real, physical death of Jesus Christ in our place, on our behalf, before God. That literal death in our place, and the literal judgment He bore on our behalf, is what saves us.
- By the blood emphasizes the
death of Jesus. He did not only suffer, He
died. Of the Lamb emphasizes the
substitutionary work of His death, because the Passover Lamb died as a
substitute for others.
- It works
first because
His victory is our victory.
“First,
you are to regard Satan this day
as being already literally and
truly overcome through the death
of the Lord Jesus. Satan is already a
vanquished enemy. By faith grasp your
Lord’s victory as your own,
since he triumphed in your
nature and on your behalf . . .
Come, my soul, thou hast
conquered Satan by thy Lord’s
victory. Wilt thou not be brave
enough to fight a vanquished
foe, and trample down the enemy
whom thy Lord has already thrust
down? Thou needest not be
afraid, but say, ‘Thanks be to
God which giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.’” (Spurgeon)
- It
works because
the work of Jesus on the cross
for us is the ultimate
demonstration of God’s love
(Romans 5:8), and a constant
remembrance of the
blood of the Lamb
assures us that every fear Satan
whispers into our mind is a lie.
- It
works because the death of Jesus
on the cross as our substitute
reveals the true nature of sin,
and this makes us want to avoid
sin. “Satan
makes sin seem pleasurable, but
the cross reveals its
bitterness. If Jesus died because of
sin, men begin to see that sin
must be a murderous thing.”
(Spurgeon)
- It works because the death
of Jesus on the cross as our
substitute purchases us as God’s
personal property, and this
makes us want to live unto God. “If anything can make a
man holy it is a firm faith in
the atoning sacrifice. When a man knows that
Jesus died for him, he feels
that he is not his own, but
bought with a price, and
therefore he must live unto him
that died for him and rose
again.” (Spurgeon)
- Therefore, we use the blood of the Lamb in
spiritual warfare -
not as a Christian
“abracadabra,” as if chanting
“The blood of Jesus, the blood
of Jesus” could keep Satan away
like garlic is said to keep away
vampires. Rather, our
understanding, our
apprehension, our
focus - may I say our
obsession with the death of
Jesus on the cross as our substitute wins the battle.
- “The precious blood of Jesus
is not meant for us merely to
admire and exhibit. We must not be content to
talk about it, and extol it, and
do nothing with it; but we are
to use it in the great crusade
against unholiness and
unrighteousness, till it is said
of us, ‘They overcame him by the
blood of the Lamb.’ This precious blood is to
be used for overcoming, and
consequently for holy warfare. We dishonor it if we do
not use it to that end . . . The
dog of hell knows the dread name
which makes him lie down: we
must confront him with the
authority, and specially with
the atonement of the Lamb of
God.” (Spurgeon)
- They overcame him . . . they did not love their lives to the death:
- Rom 6:1-6,11,15,16 - 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
- 1 John 2:15 - 13 I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one. 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16
For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the
lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.
- Mark 8:35 - For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.
- John 15:19 -
If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
- (David Guzik) Loving not
their lives overcomes Satan’s violence. If they do not cling to their own earthly lives, then there really is no threat Satan can bring against them. If they believe to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21), then how can Satan’s violence against them be effective?
- The ancient Greek word for love here is agape, which speaks of a self-sacrificing, decision-based love. It is up to each one of us to choose: will we love our lives to the death? Will our physical lives be the most precious thing to us, or will we find our life by losing it for Jesus? (Mark 8:35)
- Phil 1:21 - 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
- Defeating/Conquering/Overcoming the Satan or world does not mean the worldly/material/physical success but it is spiritual success.
- True believers in Christ continuing in faith in Jesus until they die whether they lived in material/physical prosperity/success or not.
- True believers in Christ never give up or deny Christ even it cost them their life as a Martyr.
- Rev 2:10 - 8 "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, 'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9 I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
- Revelation 13:7 - 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.
7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.
- John 17:14,16,18 -
14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
- They overcame him . . . by the word of their testimony:
- (David Guzik) The
word of their testimony overcomes Satan’s deception.
Knowing and remembering the work of God in their life protects them against Satan’s deceptions. As faithful witnesses, they have a testimony to bear - and because they know what they have seen and heard and experienced from God, they cannot be deceived by Satan’s lies telling them it isn’t true (as the testimony of the man born blind in
John 9:25).
- For witnessing and transformed life we need to renew our mid with the Word of God and apply those in our life or walk in it.
There are two kinds of witnessing life:
- Experiencing and sharing God's miracle in your life:
- John 9:25 - (Jesus healed the blind man) He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see."
- Abiding in Christ and producing the fruit of the Holy Spirit:
- John 15:5 - 1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
- Gal 5:22-26 - 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
- Eph 5:18-20 - 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
- Matt 11:29 - 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
- Romans 12:1-2 - 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
- 1 John 4:20 - If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
- 1 John 2:29 - If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
- 2 Timothy 4:3-4 - 3
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to
their own desires, because they have itching
ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away
from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
5 But you be watchful in all
things, endure afflictions, do the work of an
evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
- Eph 4:14 - 11 And
He Himself gave some to be apostles, some
prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and
teachers, 12 for the equipping
of the saints for the work of ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till
we all come to the unity of the faith and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man,
to the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ; 14 that we should no longer be
children, tossed to and fro and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of
men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful
plotting, 15
but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in
all things into Him who is the head--Christ--
16 from whom the whole
body, joined and knit together by what every
joint supplies, according to the effective
working by which every part does its share,
causes growth of the body for the edifying of
itself in love.
- These both are necessary and it assures the salvation.
- 1 Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
- James 2:26 - For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
- (Warren Wiersbe) Christ's shed blood gives us our perfect standing before God (1 John 1:5-2:2). But our
witness to God's Word and our willingness to lay down our lives for Christ defeats Satan as well.
- Satan is not equal to God; he is not omnipotent, omnipresent, or omniscient. His power is limited
and his tactics must fail when God's people trust the power of the blood and of the Word. Nothing Satan does can rob us of "salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God. and the power of His Christ" (Rev. 12:10), if we are yielded to Him. God's great purposes will be fulfilled!
- 1 John 5:4-5 -
4 For whatever is born of God
overcomes the world. And this
is the victory that has overcome the world--our
faith. 5 Who is he who
overcomes the world, but he who believes
that Jesus is the Son of God?
- What is going to happen in residence
in earth and sea? Why woe to the inhabitants of earth?
12b Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea!
For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."
- (Warren Wiersbe) Heaven will rejoice when Satan is cast out,
but the earth-dwellers will not: for the last
half of the Tribulation will mean intense
suffering for the world.
- (David Guzik)
Heaven rejoices at the eviction of Satan. But heaven’s gain is the earth’s loss: Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and sea!
- (David Guzik)
Satan’s power is
real and
terrifying, but
not because he
is triumphant,
but because
he knows
he is beaten and
has a short time
left. He is like
a wounded,
cornered animal
that fights
ferociously
- Why doesn’t he just give up? Don’t forget that Satan is utterly depraved, and probably “insane” - he may have deceived even himself into thinking that he has a chance.
- A better question is “Why don’t we give up?” Our rebellion against God makes even less sense than Satan’s rebellion does.
- (Warren Wiersbe)
The "woe" in Revelation 12:12
reminds us of the "three woes"
referred to in Revelation 8:13.
The first "woe" is described in
Revelation 9:1-12. and the
second in Revelation 9:13-21.
The third "woe"' is referred to
in Revelation ll:14ff. but
this passage only
summarizes the events that will
climax God's plan for the earth.
It may be that part of this
third "woe" is casting out Satan
and permitting his terrible
wrath on earth.
Application:
- What might have triggered Satan for this war?
- (Warren Wiersbe) But perhaps there is another factor involved
in this war. After the church is taken to
heaven, believers will stand before the Judgment
Seat of Christ and have their works examined. On
the basis of this judgment, rewards will be
given (Rom. 14:10-12; 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 2 Cor.
5:10-11). It seems likely that
Satan will be
present at this event and will accuse the
saints, pointing out all the
"spots and
wrinkles" in the church (Eph. 5:24-27).
- (Warren Wiersbe) How furious Satan will be when the church
comes forth in glory "without spot or wrinkle,
or any such dung."
When the accuser sees that
his tactics have failed, he will become angry
and threaten the very peace of heaven.
- How does this future war apply to the church
today?
- (Warren Wiersbe) The same serpent who accuses the saints
in heaven also deceives the nations on earth
(Rev. 12:9): and one of his strategies is to lie
about the church. He deceives the nations into
thinking that the people of God are dangerous,
deluded, even destructive. It is through Satan's
deception that the leaders of the nations band
together against Christ and His people (Ps. 2;
Acts 4:23-30). God's people at
any age must expect the world's opposition, but the
church can always defeat the enemy by being
faithful to Jesus Christ.
- How to overcome this world?
- 1 John 5:4-5 -
4 For whatever is born of God
overcomes the world. And this
is the victory that has overcome the world--our
faith. 5 Who is he who
overcomes the world, but he who believes
that Jesus is the Son of God?
- By the blood of the Lamb
- by the word of their testimony
- do not love your lives to the death.
- Is this applicable for specific race or group of
people?
- Why God provisioned this to humanity?
- God so loved all who is in this world and
because of His amazing Grace He provisioned this
option to everyone.
-
John 3:16
- For
God so loved the
world that He
gave His only
begotten Son,
that whoever
believes in Him
should not
perish but have
everlasting
life.
- Eph 2:10 - 8 For
by grace
you have been saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of
works, lest anyone should boast. 10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for
good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in
them.
- God saved us for a purpose so be thoughtful in
submitting yourself to His plan.
What did this dragon do once he cast to the earth?
13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.
14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood.
16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.
17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
- Who is this woman?
13 Now when the dragon saw that he had
been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.
- As we saw earlier this woman
represent Israel.
For details read
Who
is this Woman?
topic in Rev 12:5
notes.
- Who is persecuting this woman?
13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.
15 So the serpent
spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after
the woman, that he might cause her to be carried
away by the flood.
- Dragon, Serpent, is Satan. We already discussed about
Dragon in Rev 12:3,4a in
Who is this dragon?
topic for more details read
this.
- When this happens?
- This happens immediately
after the heavenly war at the middle of the last 7 year period just
before Jesus Christ 2nd coming.
- Why the Dragon persecuting this
woman?
13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.
12b Woe to the inhabitants of
the earth and the sea! For the devil has
come down to you, having great wrath, because he
knows that he has a short time."
- Because Satan was cast down
completely with no access to
heaven so Satan was so fury to
attach God's chosen people in
earth.
- Since this happens at the
middle of the last 7 year period just
before Jesus Christ 2nd coming so,
Satan has only remaining last
3.5 years. Within this time
by persecuting them he
wants them to quit/deny their
faith in God so that he can
drag them to his side
which finally leads to the
Lake of Fire (Hell).
- (David Guzik)
Why does Satan attack the Jewish
people?
This is a question for all
history, not only for the Great
Tribulation. The reason is
because Israel, from the
time of Abraham, has
had a critical role in God’s plan of redemption.
- First, it
was in bringing forth
the Redeemer.
- Then, it was
in the
fulfillment of
His plan,
because Jesus
promised that
the Jewish
people would
exist
and welcome Him
when He returns
in glory to this
world (Matthew
23:39).
- (David Guzik)
If Satan succeeds
in destroying the Jewish people,
then God’s eternal plan is
thwarted.
- “The
persecution of
Israel is part
of the satanic
program to
thwart and
hinder the work
of God
. . . Israel is
hated by Satan
not because of
any of its own
characteristics
but because she is
the chosen of
God and
essential to the
overall purpose
of God for time
and eternity.”
(Walvoord)
- (Warren Wiersbe)
This, then, is the third
scene in the drama: Satan's
wrath on earth
(Rev.
12:13-16). Knowing that his time
is short, and having no more
access to heaven, the adversary
must vent all of his anger
earthward. He begins with Israel
(the woman), and creates a wave
of anti-Semitism. Satan has
always hated the Jews because
they are God's chosen people and
the vehicle through which
salvation came into the world.
Satan would like to destroy the
nation, particularly as the time
draws near for the Messiah to
return to earth to establish the
promised kingdom. A Jewish
remnant must be ready to receive
Him and form the nucleus for the
kingdom (Zech. 12:9-14:21; Rev.
1:7).
- What did this dragon/serpent do to
the Woman? How this dragon/serpent persecuted the Woman?
13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he
persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.
..... 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he
might cause her to be carried away by the flood.
- (David Guzik)
The fury poured out against Israel after the abomination of desolation (marking the half-way point of 70th week of Daniel) was spoken of by Jesus in
Matthew 24:15-22, and spoken of in distinctly Jewish terms (housetop . . . pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath). This passage in Revelation describes the fury that Jesus told them to flee.
- This either begins or continues the fierce
persecution of all those who would not submit to and worship this great Satanic dictator. The martyrs of this period were shown in
Revelation 6:9-11 and
Revelation 7:9-17.
- “It is precisely when Satan has lost the battle for the souls of saints in heaven that he begins the fruitless persecution of their bodies.” (Farrer)
- Is this real flood
like how it happened in Nova time?
- God promised
Nova that
hereafter He
will not destroy
the earth by the
flood.
- Gen 9:11-17 - 11 Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth." 12 And God said: "This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; 15 and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." 17 And God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth."
- But here
Satan is
persecuting the
Israel by flood
so it may be
literal flood.
But the sign
John saw in this
chapter
(Rev 12) still
continues, you
can notice this
in Rev 12:14
-Israel was
given wings.
- Rev 12:14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place
- Does this flood
represent something different?
- (Warren Wiersbe)
The phrase "water as a
flood" is not explained, but
there is a parallel in
Psalm
124. (Also note the phrase
"escaped as a bird" in verse 7
of this sane Psalm.)
- Psalm 124 -
1 A Song of Ascents. Of David. "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side," Let Israel now say--
2 "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, When men rose up against us,
3 Then they would have
swallowed us alive, When their wrath was kindled against us;
4 Then the
waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul;
5 Then the
swollen waters Would have gone over our soul."
6 Blessed be the Lord, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth.
7 Our soul has
escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
- We can read
similar in
- Is 59:19 - 16 He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.
17 For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak.
18 According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, Fury to His adversaries, Recompense to His enemies; The coastlands He will fully repay.
19 So shall they fear The name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun;
When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.
20 "The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," Says the Lord.
21 "As for Me," says the Lord, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says the Lord, "from this time and forevermore."
- Jer 46:7-9 - 7 "Who is this coming up like a flood, Whose waters move like the rivers? 8 Egypt rises up like a flood, And its waters move like the rivers; And he says, 'I will go up and cover the earth, I will destroy the city and its inhabitants.' 9 Come up, O horses, and rage, O chariots! And let the mighty men come forth: The Ethiopians and the Libyans who handle the shield, And the Lydians who handle and bend the bow
- Dan 9:26
- 26 "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate."
- NIV: Dan 9:26
- 26 After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. "
- (Warren Wiersbe)
This
"flood" is probably an
outpouring of hatred and
anti-Semitic propaganda.
- (Warren Wiersbe)
Or it
may symbolize armies that invade
Israel and seek to defeat the
remnant.
- Did the Woman escaped from this
persecution by dragon?
14 But the woman was given two
wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into
the wilderness to her place, where she
is nourished for a time and times and half a
time, from the presence of the serpent.
15 So the serpent spewed water
out of his mouth like a flood after the woman,
that he might cause her to be carried away by
the flood. 16 But the earth helped the
woman, and the earth opened its mouth and
swallowed up the flood which the dragon had
spewed out of his mouth.
6a Then the woman fled into the
wilderness
-
Who protects the Woman from dragon?
6 Then the woman fled into the
wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that
they should
feed her there
one thousand two hundred and sixty days
14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that
she might fly into the wilderness to her
place, where she is nourished
for a time and times and half a time, from the
presence of the serpent.
16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.
- God Protects them and provides all their needs
- Psalm 46:1
- To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth.
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
- Matt 6:33
- 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
- (David Guzik)
This passage also describes
God’s ultimate protection of Israel from the fury of Satan and his antichrist in the great tribulation.
- (Warren Wiersbe)
When Satan discovers that the
people he seeks to kill are
protected, then he turns on
those who were not earned to the
hidden place of safety. He will
declare war, and God will permit
him to have victory for a time
(Rev. 13:7); but ultimately, the
old serpent will be defeated.
- How the Woman escaped?
14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that
she might fly into the wilderness to her
place, where she is nourished
for a time and times and half a time, from the
presence of the serpent.
16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.
- (David Guzik)
Eagle’s Wings are an emblem from the Exodus deliverance (Exodus 19:4), another way of connecting these people with Israel.
- Some have wondered if the reference to the two wings of a great eagle do not in fact describe a great
military transport plane used to evacuate people in an emergency situation.
-
(Warren Wiersbe)
It is interesting that the
remnant's escape from Satan is
described in terms of a flying
eagle, for this is a repeated
image in the Old Testament with
reference to Israel. God
delivered Israel from Egypt "on
eagles' wings" (Ex. 19:4), and
cared for the people in the
wilderness as an eagle would her
young (Deut. 32:11-12). Their
return from Babylonian Captivity
was like "mounting up with wings
as eagles" (Isa. 40:31).
-
Exodus 19:4 - 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and
how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself.
-
Isaiah 39:5-8 - 5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the Lord of hosts:
6 'Behold, the days are coming
when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,' says the Lord.
7 'And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.' "
8 So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good!" For he said, "At least there will be peace and truth in my days."
-
Isaiah 40:31 - 29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might
He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
-
(Warren Wiersbe) if
flood
symbolize armies that invade
Israel and seek to defeat the
remnant
then the earth opening up could
well be an earthquake that God
sends to destroy the invaders.
- (David Guzik)
As it says in
Isaiah 59:19, When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.
-
To where did the Woman
fly?
14b into the wilderness to her place, where
she
is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the
presence of the serpent.
6a Then the woman fled into the
wilderness
- (Warren Wiersbe)
Note that the remnant
(Israelites) will
be sheltered for the last half
of the Tribulation. We do not
know where this sheltered place
will be, nor do we need to know.
But the lesson for all of us is
clear: God cares for those whom
He wants to use to accomplish
His purposes on earth.
- (David Guzik) Some believe this place in the wilderness is the
rock city of Petra, south of the Dead Sea.
- Reportedly,
Christian businessmen have stocked the place with food and evangelistic tracts written in Hebrew.
- In Isaiah 16
refers to Moabites
(Lot's decedent) who
were attached by
Assyrians but they seek
help to Judah and it fulfilled
already. Especially verse 4 is
compelling because it says "Let
My outcasts dwell with you, O
Moab; Be a shelter to them from
the face of the spoiler".
Many believe this
prophesy also applicable for the
future for remnant Israelites
who go through Jacob's trouble.
- Isaiah 16:4 - 1 Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, From
Sela (means
Rock in English, Petra in
Greek) to the wilderness, To the mount of the daughter of Zion.
2 For it shall be as a wandering bird thrown out of the nest; So shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon.
3 "Take counsel, execute judgment; Make your shadow like the night in the middle of the day;
Hide the outcasts, Do not betray him who escapes.
4 Let My outcasts dwell with you, O Moab; Be a shelter to them from the face of the spoiler. For the extortioner is at an end, Devastation ceases, The oppressors are consumed out of the land.
- (WikiPedia) Petra (Greek "πέτρα" (petra), meaning
rock; Arabic: البتراء, Al-Batrāʾ) is a historical and
archaeological city in the Jordanian governorate of Ma'an that is
known for its rock cut architecture and water conduits system. Established sometime around the
6th century BC as the capital city of the Nabataeans,[2] it is
a symbol of Jordan as well as its
most visited tourism attraction.[2] It lies on the
slope of Mount Hor[3] in a basin among the mountains which form the eastern flank of Arabah (Wadi Araba), the
large valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. Petra has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985.
-


- Who prepared this place?
6b where she has a place prepared by God, that they should
feed her there
14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that
she might fly into the wilderness to her
place, where she is nourished
for a time and times and half a time, from the
presence of the serpent.
- God will prepare a special
place where the Jewish remnant
will be protected and cared for.
(Warren Wiersbe)
- Application: (David Guzik)
Prepared uses the same ancient Greek word Jesus used in I go to prepare
a place for you (John 14:2-3). This demonstrates that
God’s careful planning works on earth as well as in heaven.
- John 14:2-3 - 1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
- How long they are going to be there?
6c one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
14c where she
is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the
presence of the serpent.
- Satan war in Heaven and he
will be cast down to this earth happens only at the
middle of the last 7 year period just
before Jesus Christ 2nd coming.. He
started to persecute them from
that time onwards but God protected
them in this place for remaining
last 3.5 years until Jesus
Christ comes.
- This 1260 days matches the
last 3.5 years before Jesus Christ comes back
2nd time to rule and
reign this earth.
- (David Guzik)
This is another reference to a three and one-half year period, indicating that these events - this dramatic persecution of Israel - takes place during the 70th week of Daniel 9.
- (David Guzik) This reference to a
three and one-half year period connects these events with the final seven years of the Daniel 9 prophecy. Since Revelation 12:5 describes the ascension of Jesus, and Revelation 12:6 describes yet-to-occur events in the 70th week of Daniel, between these two verses lies hundreds of years (our current period). This obvious “near-far” break in time is typical of prophecy.
Daniel’s seventy week prophecy has such a break (Daniel 9:24-27).
- Time and Times and
half a Time means here
Time + 2Time + Time/2 (ie.
a+2a+a/2). Replace
Time with 1 year then we will
get 1 + 2x1 + 1/2 = 3.5 years.
- Daniel 7:25
-
He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the
saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.
- Daniel 12:7
-
Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that
it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.
- What did dragon do when the woman escaped from all his trap or snares?
17a And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to
make war with the rest of her offspring,
- This is another failure to Satan. But he
never stops and acknowledge his failure. He is a
roaring Lion always looking to devour believers
in Christ.
- 1 Peter 5:8 - 8
Be sober, be vigilant; because
your adversary the devil
walks about like a roaring lion, seeking
whom he may devour. 9 Resist him,
steadfast in the faith, knowing
that the same sufferings are
experienced by your brotherhood
in the world.
- Application: This is what
our self does. Keep on trying whatever
we think (our opinion) is right and never
try to correct, or repent even if we know the
truth.
- Who is this offspring?
- Woman is Israel so their
offspring at this time may be
remnant left behind
gentile believers
because God protected
Israel/woman in a special place.
- Gal 3:29
- And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and
heirs according to the promise.
- Note: Here
Israel and this offspring are
not Church because Church is
taken up or raptured and now
they are in heaven.
- What testimony this offspring had?
17b who keep the commandments
of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
-
Phil 3:17 -
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise,
God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule,
let us be of the same mind. 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
- 1 Corinthians 11:1
-
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
- What happens to this offspring?
Rev 13:7 - It was granted to
him to make war with the saints and to
overcome them. And
authority was given him over every tribe,
tongue, and nation.
- Why God protected Israel/Woman but
not the offspring
from the dragon's persecution?
6 Then the woman fled into the
wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that
they should
feed her there
one thousand two hundred and sixty days
14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that
she might fly into the wilderness to her
place, where she is nourished
for a time and times and half a time, from the
presence of the serpent.
16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.
17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to
make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments
of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Application:
Following from Warren Wiersbe Commentary:
- 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.
- You and I are involved in a similar conflict today (see Eph. 6:10ff). Satan
is out to destroy the church, and our victory can come only through Jesus
Christ.
18 [No text
- Some manuscripts delineate the first phrase of Rev 13:1 as Rev 12:18.]
- NLT: Rev 12:18 -
Then he stood [fn] waiting on the shore of the sea.
- NLT: Rev 13:1 - And now in my vision I saw a beast rising up out of the sea.
It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on
each head were names that blasphemed God.
- NKJV: Rev 13:1 -
Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
|