PROPHECY – Why Are The Nations Raging? The Books of the Revelation, Chapters 12 and 13 – Urgent Message For Today

PROPHECY

PROPHECY. REVELATION CHAPTERS 12 AND 13

as it relates to us today!

This is where the Devil / Satan began his rage on earth. This is when his raging and final days of destructive efforts are made manifest on the earth; this is where and how Satan is at work now, and where we are now in this cosmic End of Days Battle with him; and this is where we are headed in the very near future.

(First, it is important to note the uses of the past tense in conjunction with the present tense and future tenses, in these prophetic scriptures, all in these same paragraphs in verses, particularly in chapter 11, verse 15 through 17. Why?Because this is a picture of how God exists in the dimension we call ‘time’. He was, He is, and He always shall be. God is pre-existent, currently present and eternal, and this is the correct view of time-related events from God’s perspective in prophecy.

Importantly we must ask how this affects us, our views and our response to  scriptures and God’s commands? We are seeing, in our day, what has happened (past) is still happening (present) and will continue to occur (future) until all is fulfilled. I.e., “you are already experiencing prophetic matters that you may have thought were yet to come”. Are you prepared?

The Seventh Trumpet: Christ’s Reign Foreseen – A Past, Present or Future event?

Revelation 11:15, Then the seventh angel sounded; (past tense), and there were loud voices in heaven, saying,

“The kingdom of the world has become (present tense) the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign (future tense) forever and ever.” Verse 16. And the twenty-four elders, who sit (present tense) on their thrones before God, fell on their faces (past tense) and worshiped (past tense) God, verse 17, saying,

“We give (present tense) You thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the One who is and who was, (past tense), because You have taken (past tense), Your great power and have begun (present tense) to reign.

(Past tense – Present tense – Future tense.)

Verse 18. And the nations were enraged, (past tense) and Your wrath came, (past tense), and the time came (past tense), for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”

Verse 19. And the temple of God which is in heaven (present tense) was opened (past tense); and the ark of His covenant appeared (past tense) in His temple, and there were (past tense) flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder, and an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.

(Past tense – Present tense – Future tense.)

The Woman, Israel.

Revelation 12:1, A great sign appeared (past tense) in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars (past tense); verse 2, and she was pregnant, and she cried out, (past tense) being in labor and in pain to give birth.

The Red Dragon, Satan.

Verse 3. Then another sign appeared (past tense) in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven crowns. Verse 4. And his tail swept away (past tense) a third of the stars of heaven and hurled (past tense) them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth, he might devour her Child (past tense).

(Past tense – Present tense – Future tense.)

The Male Child, Christ.

Verse 5. And she gave birth (past tense) to a Son, a male, who is going to rule (future tense) all the nations with a rod of iron; and her Child was caught up to God (past tense) and to His throne. Verse 6. Then the woman fled (past tense) into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished (future tense) for 1,260 days.

The Angel, Michael.

Verse 7. And there was war in heaven, (past tense) Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, (past tense) verse 8, and they did not prevail, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven (past tense). Verse 9. And the great dragon was thrown down, (past tense) the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down (past tense)to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Verse 10. Then I heard (past tense) a loud voice in heaven, saying,

(Past tense – Present tense – Future tense.)

“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, (present tense) for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, (present tense) the one who accuses (present tense) them before our God, day and night. Verse 11. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. Verse 12. For this reason, rejoice, (present tense) you heavens and you who dwell in them (present tense) . Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down (present tense) to you with great wrath, knowing (present tense) that he has (future tense) only a short time.”

(Past tense – Present tense – Future tense.)

Verse 13. And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. Verse 14. But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly (future tense)  into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time, times, and half a time, away from the presence of the serpent. Verse 15. And the serpent hurled water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. (future tense). Verse 16. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon had hurled out of his mouth. Verse 17. So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments (present tense) of God and hold to (present tense) the testimony of Jesus.

Past tense – Present tense – Future tense.

The point to be made here is that the (heathen) nations and Satan have been raging, are raging and will rage into the near future; and since Satan knows his time is short, he is in his death throes. And like the mortally wounded beast he is, he will wreak as much havoc, destruction and death as possible as far as God will allow.

Revelation chapters eleven and twelve give us a peek into the past, present and future, from God’s perspective and for our instruction in our current and future days, of what is upon us, what is yet to come and how we are to prepare and respond.

(Note: watching for the signs of these days will do little more than cause your distress and will change nothing – except perhaps to deceive you and to cause you to stand idle. God has given and is giving us clear instructions as to what we are to be doing in these days – “going in His name, making disciples; teaching all that He has commanded us; and baptizing them in the Name of the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit – and loving one another the same way He has loved us).

For background, here is the lead up to the above verses please read:

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 11 – The Two Witnesses –

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 11 – The Two Witnesses –

Episode 13

 (These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, “SO WHAT?”)

We are between the SIXTH Trumpet Judgement and the coming SEVENTH Trumpet Judgement of God. This is the point where no one will any longer repent of their murders nor of their sorceries, drugs, intoxications, nor of their sexual immorality nor of their thefts. It is now that God’s mercy to salvation is withdrawn, and He orders the release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates which is a great army of two hundred million soldiers who will now kill a third of mankind. We are entering the final three and one half years of the Great Tribulation, The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord and The final judgments, The Wrath of The Lamb are now at hand.

The Two Witnesses

Revelation 11:1, Then there was given to me a [footnote ‘a’] measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “[footnote ‘b’] Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar [of incense], and [count] those who worship in it. Verse 2. But leave out the court [of the Gentiles] which is outside the temple and do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles (the nations); and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months (which is three and one-half years). Verse 3. And I will grant authority to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, (which is forty-two months, or, three and one-half years), dressed in [footnote ‘c’] sackcloth.”

(Commentary Break: We are now at the mid-point of the Great Tribulation, The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord. There are three and one half years of God’s Judgements, remaining, The Wrath of The Lamb.

John is given a measuring rod like a staff, an implement used to make measurements. In this case, to measure (number 1), the temple of God and (number 2), the altar, and (number 3), to count those who worship in it’. This will inventory, confirm, validate and verify that which has been established by God. The Hebrew language here, tells us that John is, in essence, to lay  the facts of this matter to rest; i.e., to bring this message to closure, and to move to a conclusion. A more colloquial way of saying it would be, “we are taking inventory and closing up shop and moving on to bigger and better things”. The end has come and this is the first of the final acts.

The conclusion of ‘these things’ first of all, is that all of the saints of all the ages have now been Raptured, are standing before His Throne, and are eternally with God. (See Revelation chapter 7, Verses 9 and 10, “After these things I looked, and this is what I saw: a vast multitude which no one could count, [gathered] from every nation and from all the tribes and peoples and languages [of the earth], standing before the throne and before the Lamb (Christ), dressed in white robes, with, palm branches in their hands; and in a loud voice they cried out, saying, “Salvation [belongs] to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb [our salvation is the Trinity’s to give, and to God the Trinity we owe our deliverance].” – These are the Raptured Elect of God.)

Secondly, and conversely, John is told NOT to measure the outer court of the Gentiles because they are the ones bearing The Mark of The Beast and will join the Beast ‘to trample the holy city for forty-two months’, which is the remaining three and one half years of the Great Tribulation. All those who now remain on the earth are doomed to suffer the 7^th Trumpet Judgement and the 7 Bowl Judgements of Tribulation, the Wrath of the Lamb and will be sentenced to the eternal lake of fire.

Additionally, God has given authority to His two witnesses to prophesy for three and one-half years. They are dressed in sackcloth which symbolizes a time of mourning. (End Commentary break).

Verse 4. These [witnesses] are the two olive trees and the two lampstands which stand before the Lord of the earth. Verse 5. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. Verse 6. These [two witnesses] have the power [from God] to shut up the sky, so that no rain will fall during the days of their prophesying [regarding judgment and salvation]; and they have power over the waters (seas, rivers) to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every [kind of] plague, as often as they wish.

Verse 7. When they have finished their testimony and given their evidence, the beast that comes up out of the abyss, (the bottomless pit), will wage war with them, and overcome them and kill them.

Verse 8. And their dead bodies will lie exposed in the open street of the great city (Jerusalem), which in a spiritual sense is called [by the symbolic and allegorical names of] Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.

Verse 9. Those from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations [footnote ‘d’] look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. Verse 10. And those who live on the earth will gloat over them and rejoice; and they will send gifts [in celebration] to one another, because these two prophets tormented and troubled those who live on the earth.

(Commentary Break: Verses four through nine are pretty much self-evident, with the exception of the metaphors of the two olive trees and the two lampstands to describe the two Witnesses. The olive tree as used here, represents the people of God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit; The two lampstands represent the eminent prophets who will precede Christ’s appearing with His armies in heaven. His robe has been dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. His armies, which are also in heaven, are clothed in fine linen, following Him on white horses (see Revelation 19, verses 13 through 16).

Please Note: Many theologians and bible teachers say that this appearing of Jesus on a white horse, is His 2^nd advent, whereupon He comes to the earth to wage this battle. THIS IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND IN SCRIPTURES. (Only an Angel descends to the earth.)

It important to note that there is a 10 Nation Confederation identified in Ezekiel 38, also in Daniel chapters 7 and 9 and again in Revelation chapter 17, as the armies of Armageddon are from the nations of:

Gog, also known as Rosh, (which is Russia), and Rosh, (also known as Russia), Magog, also known as a region in Russia, Gomer, identified as an Eastern European and Southern area of Russia, Put, now named Libya, Cush, also known as Ethiopia, Persia, also known as Iran, Meshech, also known as Modern Day Turkey, and Tubal, also known as an area in central Turkey.

It is clearly stated in Revelation 19, verses 13 through 21, and Revelation 20 verses 1 through 3, that Jesus and His armies appear in the heavens. He does not come to earth and engage in a physical battle. Jesus supernaturally defeats the forces of the antichrist and of the Beast, then an angel is sent to the earth to complete the work of binding Satan. There are some theologians and bible teachers who suggest the angel may have been Jesus, but if the Bible is nothing else, IT IS ACCURATE AND COMPLETE IN ITS WORDING. It was an angel doing the bidding of The Lord.

Next, there is mention of Sodom and Egypt as a symbolism or an allegory for Jerusalem. See this link for a probable explanation.

Finally, the stage is set to lead the people on earth, who bear the Mark of the Beast, to believe they have been triumphant in the defeat of the two Witnesses. But this is merely a method to amplify their dismay, surprise and terror as the Witnesses to come back to life. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 11. But after three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear and panic fell on those who were watching them. Verse 12. And the two witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they ascended into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. Verse 13. And in that [very] hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell and was destroyed; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest [who survived] were overcome with terror, and they glorified the God of heaven [as they recognized His awesome power].

Verse 14. The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

The Seventh Trumpet – Christ’s Reign Foreseen

Verse 15. Then the seventh angel sounded [his trumpet]; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom (dominion, rule) of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” Verse 16. And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell face downward and worshiped God, verse 17, saying, “To You we give thanks, O Lord God Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all], Who are and Who were, because You have taken Your great power and the sovereignty [which is rightly Yours] and have [now] begun to reign. Verse 18. And the nations (Gentiles) became enraged, and Your wrath and indignation came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and [the time came] to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints (God’s people) and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and [the time came] to destroy the destroyers of the earth.”

Verse 19. And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning, loud rumblings and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm. (End of chapter 11).

One might wonder, since the elect of God have been removed from earth, and these events will not affect them, why God is revealing these judgements and those yet to come. Perhaps this can be a deterrent for those who read these words and heed them, before this days comes.

Next, we will read in Revelation chapters 12 through 14 a recapitulation of events past and events yet to come, but this is more akin to a ‘backstory’ of sorts, given with great detail and symbolisms explained.

At any rate, those with wisdom and insight should prepare while there is time.

Now to the main event:

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 12 – The Woman Israel, The Dragon, The Male Child, The Angel Michael

Episode 14

 (These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, “AND, WHAT? DOES THIS MEAN TO ME”)

We will now get a deeper spiritual perspective of the unfolding events of the Last Days. Chapter 12 gives us a review and an overview from above, of what was, what is and what is to come.

 Please remember and try to understand that “while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” This is the perspective of this Chapter twelve.

 (And, because of the extensive use of symbolism, metaphors and similes, I will comment more than usual, hopefully to give useful insights.)

The Woman, Israel

Revelation 12:1 And a great sign [warning of an ominous and frightening future event] appeared in heaven: a [footnote ‘a’] woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Verse 2. She was with child (the Messiah) and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.

(Commentary Break: It can be quite obvious that the woman clothed with the sun is Israel. The sun refers to Jacob, (who was also called Israel), and the moon is open to many interpretations, but one is that it possibly refers to Rachel, who is  the younger daughter of Laban and wife of Jacob, and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, who become two of the twelve tribes of Israel. The crown of 12 stars upon the woman’s head refers to the twelve tribes of Israel, originating with the sons of Jacob and Rachel.

 Verse 2 is, of course, referring to the birth of Jesus, which is very descriptive as “she, the woman Israel, cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth”. This is but another important time marker of the beginning to the Tribulation Period, known as the BIRTH PAINS, as spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24, verse 8.

 I am providing a reprint of Matthew 24 verses 3 through 14, below here, to give the full context of (#1), Jesus’ remarks on this matter, and (#2), to show the specific time of the beginning of the BIRTH PAINS segment of The Tribulation, which include the first 5 tribulations, broken at the time of the birth of Christ Jesus! The 6^th Tribulation Seal is not mentioned here, as it is the beginning of Daniel’s 70^th Week, also known as The Great Tribulation and the beginning of the FINAL SEVEN YEARS of the Tribulation!

Matthew 24:3, And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 

And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people. And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars, (Tribulation Seals 1 through 2 as described by Jesus in Matthew chapter 24 and Revelation chapter 6). See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,(Tribulation Seals  and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

“Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name (Third and fourth Tribulation Seals). And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. (The Fifth Tribulation Seal). But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

To repeat: this is to give the full context of (#1), Jesus’ remarks on this matter, and (#2), to show the specific time of the beginning of the BIRTH PAINS segment of The Tribulation, which include the first 5 tribulations, broken at the time of the birth of Christ Jesus! The 6^th Tribulation Seal is not mentioned here, as it is the beginning of Daniel’s 70^th Week, also known as The Great Tribulation and the beginning of the FINAL SEVEN YEARS of the Tribulation! (End Commentary Break).

The Red Dragon, Satan

Verse 3. Then another sign [of warning] was seen in heaven: behold, a great fiery red dragon (Satan) with [footnote ‘b’] seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven royal crowns (diadems). Verse 4. And his tail swept [across the sky] and dragged away a third of the stars of heaven and flung them to the earth. And the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.

(Commentary Break: The seven heads and ten horns correspond to the heads and horns of the beast in Revelation chapter 17, verse 3 through verse 17, and to those of the beast in Daniel chapter 7, verse 7 through verse 8 and following verses as well. Daniel’s description reveals that the ten horns are ten kings who temporarily reign with the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation. These ten kings, or nations, as found in Ezekiel 38, in Daniel chapter 7 and 9 and again in Revelation chapter 17, as the armies of Armageddon are from the nations of:

1. 1. 1. Gog, also known as Rosh, (Russia) and,
      2. Rosh, (Russia),
      3. Magog, also known as (Russia),
      4. Gomer, also known as (Eastern Europe-Southern Russia),
      5. Put, also known as (Libya),
      6. Cush, also known as (Ethiopia),
      7. Persia, also known as (Iran),
      8. Meshech, also known as (Modern Day Turkey),
      9. Tubal, also known as (an area in central Turkey),
      10. Beth-Togarmah, also known as (Georgia, Chechnya, Turkey/Armenia).

 Next, John sees a sign in heaven: “An enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.” John then relates that the dragon was hurled down to the earth and positively identifies it as “that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray” (Revelation 12 verse 9). The dragon is not thrown to earth alone, however: “His angels were cast out with him” (verse 9). The angels that are ejected from heaven with Satan we associate with the “third of the stars” that the dragon’s tail swept from heaven to earth in verse 4. If the “stars” of Revelation 12 verse 4 are indeed a symbolic reference to Satan’s “angels” from verse 9, then what we have is a reference to the fall of a portion of the angels, (the heavenly hosts), who followed Satan in his rebellion. Two thirds of the angels remained loyal to God and are called the “holy angels” in Scripture (for example, Mark 8 verse 38); one third of the original angels joined Satan and are called “unclean spirits” or “demons” today (for example, Mark 9:25).

 This section closes with the obvious reference to Satan’s attempts to destroy the Christ Child. (see King Herod’s attempt to kill Jesus in Matthew 2, verses 1 through 18; and the crucifixion of Jesus in Matthew 27, and chapter 28, verses 1 through 15.) (End Commentary Break).

The Male Child, Christ

Verse 5. And she gave birth to a Son, a male Child, who is destined to rule (shepherd) all the nations with a rod of iron; and her Child was [footnote ‘c’] caught up to God and to His throne. Verse 6. Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that she would be nourished there for a thousand two hundred and sixty days (forty-two months; which is three and one-half years).

(Commentary Break:  Jesus is born and “was caught up to God and to His throne” is telling us of the ascension of Christ to heaven following His death and resurrection.

 Verse 6 continues by telling us that the woman, (which is Israel), flees to the wilderness where she had a place to nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, which is 42 months or 3 and one half years. This is a difficult passage, but the woman’s flight into the wilderness for one thousand two hundred and sixty days refers to the future time called the Great Tribulation. Twelve hundred, sixty days is 42 months (of 30 days each), which is the same as 3 and one half years. Halfway through the Tribulation period, the Beast (the Antichrist) will set an image of himself up in the temple that will be built in Jerusalem. This is the abomination that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24 verse 15 and Mark 13 verse 14. When the Beast does this, he breaks the peace pact he had made with Israel, and the nation has to flee for safety, possibly to Petra (also see Matthew 24 and Daniel 9 verse 27). This escape of the Jews is pictured as the woman fleeing into the wilderness.

 More likely however, rather than a literal place, this is ‘a time of relative peace’ for Israel during the first half of the seven year Great Tribulation period, which begins at the breaking of the 6^th Tribulation Seal and will last until the Sounding of the 6^th Tribulation Trumpet.. This is the time that they make the peace treaty as referred to in Daniel 9 verse 27. (End Commentary Break).

The Angel, Michael

Verse 7. And war broke out in heaven, Michael [the archangel] and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought, verse 8, but they were not strong enough and did not prevail, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. Verse 9. And the great dragon was thrown down, the age-old serpent who is called the [footnote ‘d’] devil and Satan, he who continually deceives and seduces the entire inhabited world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Verse 10. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom (dominion, reign) of our God, and the authority of His Christ have come; for the [footnote ‘e’] accuser of our [believing] brothers and sisters has been thrown down [at last], he who accuses them and keeps bringing charges [of sinful behavior] against them before our God day and night. Verse 11. And they overcame and conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death. Verse 12. Therefore rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them [in the presence of God]. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you in great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time [remaining]!”

Verse 13. And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who had given birth to the male Child. Verse 14. But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time (three and one-half years), away from the presence of the serpent (Satan). Verse 15. And the serpent hurled water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. Verse 16. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon had hurled out of his mouth. Verse 17. So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went off to wage war on the rest of her children (seed), those who keep and obey the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus [holding firmly to it and bearing witness to Him].

(Commentary Break: Although knowing these things, changes nothing in your life nor in your existence if you have already been Raptured from earth. Nor is there any way you can respond, or need to. But if you have not been saved by faith in Christ Jesus, and do not bear the protective Seal of the Lord, perhaps this is useful. Either way, for your information, Michael the Archangel is described in the Bible, in the books of Daniel, Jude, and Revelation, as a warrior angel who engages in spiritual combat. The word archangel means “angel of the highest rank.” Most angels in the Bible are portrayed as messengers, but Michael is described in all three books as contending, fighting, or standing against evil spirits and principalities (Daniel 10 verses 13 and 21; Jude 1 verses 9; and Revelation 12 verse 7). We do not have a full picture of any angel, and only two are named in the Bible. (Gabriel is the other). Scripture only gives us hints of their movements during human events, but it is safe to say that Michael the archangel is a powerful being (see Got Questions.Org).

 We see here that the Dragon and his angels are thrown down but they continue to deceive the whole world for a time. Knowing his time is short he persecutes Israel and the Christ with increasing ferocity, but is overcome and defeated by Christ Jesus and His armies, “by the Blood of the Lamb and because of the Word of their testimony”, and by the fact that they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death. This is our example and our response in the days leading up to these events.

 Once again we read that the woman (Israel) goes to the wilderness for safety, this time flown away on the two wings of an eagle, These two wings of an eagle are symbolic and used a metaphor of God’s strength and provision to a way of escape. We can see an example of this, which is found in Psalms 34. The Psalmist says, “The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous, And His ears are toward their cry for help. The face of the LORD is against evildoers to eliminate the memory of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears and rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The afflictions of the righteous are many, But the LORD rescues him from them all.”

It is also interesting to see that ”the Serpent spews or hurls out water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood”. Three significant floods are mentioned in the Bible.

 The first instance of a flood is found in Genesis 6, verse 17, “Behold, I, even I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish”, in Noah’s day.

 The second instance is found in Daniel 9 verse 26, “Verse 26.  “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing (see this article on “The Flood in Daniel 9” for details of the 62 weeks), and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood (this flood is a flood of people, of armies); even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.

The third instance is found in Matthew 24 verses 38 and 39, “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.”

Each instance refers to a catastrophic judgement instituted by God to bring an end to wickedness and to bring His Chosen Elect to Himself, making and forging us, more into the image of Christ, through tribulation. This changes everything for the earth and the people upon the earth. Take heed. Be prepared.

 This section ends with the serpent becoming enraged with the woman, who is Israel, and goes on to make war with her children, (her seed), which are those who keep and obey the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus, holding firmly to it and bearing witness to Him. This is saying not only the Jew, but now includes those who have been grafted into the Olive Tree of Israel – all Christians who carry the Name of Christ.  (End Commentary Break).

There we have it. Chapter 12. An abbreviated but a complete overview of God’s Plan for His creation, from beginning to end, run in a ‘fast forward speed’ so to speak.

God placed this in His Word, not just for your reading entertainment nor just for information, but it is important for our preparation for what is coming and for our understanding as ministers and witnesses of His Plan to this lost world.

Next, in Revelation chapter 13, we learn about the Beast from the Sea and the Beast from the Earth.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young