Revelation-
...
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven
a woman clothed with the sun,
...
*
A woman-
2 Corinthians
{11:1} Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. {11:2} For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
A chaste virigin to Christ.
Galatians
{4:26} But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all
Ephesians
{5:23} For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. {5:24} Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. {5:25} Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it
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Without clothes the woman would be naked- if clothed with rags the woman would be pictured as one dirty, defiled. Clothed with the sun she is clothed with brightness, purity.
Malachi
{4:2} But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. {4:3} And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.
Clothed with the sun. The woman, the true church, God's church clothed in the sun- righteous, light, pure, holy.
...
and the moon under her feet,
and upon her head a crown of twelve stars
...
The moon only gets its light from the sun, it is dark without the sun illuminating it. A lesser light is under the feet of the woman, the woman would stand upon the lesser light, the light that is borrowed, that is taken from the sun.
The crown depicting victory has twelve stars. Significantly throughout the Bible the number 12 is used- 12 tribes, 12 apostles, 12 gates, 12 angels. The crown having 12 stars just reenforces the importance of the role this woman has, the role that God's true church plays. I read somewhere that 12 is important because it is made up of 7 and 5 - 7 being God's perfect number, 5 man's perfect number and combined they are 12. If ever is might fit that way it would be in Jesus who was God with us, God and Man. Jesus the One who bridges the gap between sinfilled man and Holy God.
...
And she being with child cried,
travailing in birth,
and pained to be delivered.
...
God's church is comprised of people who are God's. Surely as Jesus was brought forth in birth from one among God's chosen people, He came forth from God's church. The people who made up God's church at the time Christ was to be born were in great distressed, they longed for the Messiah to deliver them from the crushing Roman rule.
...
And there appeared another wonder in heaven
and behold a great red dragon,
having seven heads
and ten horns,
and seven crowns upon his heads.
And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven,
and did cast them to the earth
...
(Other places w/7 heads-
Rev.{13:1} And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a
beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten
horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads
the name of blasphemy.
Rev. {17:3} So he carried me away in the
spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a
scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having
seven heads and ten horns.
Rev. {17:7} And
the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will
tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that
carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
Rev. {17:9} And here is the mind which hath
wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which
the woman sitteth.)
(Other places w/dragon-
Rev. the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his
hand. {20:2} And he laid hold on the dragon, that old
serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a
thousand years,
Rev. {16:13} And I
saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth
of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of
the mouth of the false prophet.
Rev. {13:11} And I
beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had
two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Rev. {13:4} And they worshipped the
dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they
worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast?
who is able to make war with him?
Rev. {13:2} And the beast which I saw
was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a
bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon
gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority
Rev. {12:17} And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and
went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep
the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus
Christ
Rev. {12:16} And the earth helped
the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed
up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth
Rev. {12:13} And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the
earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the
man child.
Rev. {12:9} And the great dragon was cast out,
that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which
deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth,
and his angels were cast out with him.
Rev. {12:7} And
there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought
against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels
Rev. {12:4}
And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and
did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the
woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her
child as soon as it was born.
*******
Red dragon-
Dragon- that old serpent, the devil, and satan
Seven heads- mountains
Mountain-
Nations and Kingdoms, including God's Kingdom.
Zion is the mountain of the Lord's house -Isaiah 2: 1-5; 11: 9; 13: 4; 41: 15; 42: 15
The Rock from the mountain of God replaces the kingdoms of the earth - Daniel 2: 35, 44,45;
Ezekiel 35: 2, 7, 8
Zechariah 4: 7
A mountain and an animal both represent kingdoms. But the mountain may represent a more eternal kingdom. This may be because of their nature. An animal lives a short time and dies. But a mountain is tall and permanent. It can reach the heavens. A mountain may represent the kingdom of God or a kingdom that tries to be like God.
Dan. {2:35} Then was the iron, the
clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces
together, and became like the chaff of the summer
threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no
place was found for them: and the stone that smote the
image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth
Dan. {2:44} And in the days of these kings shall the
God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be
destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people,
but it shall break in pieces and consume all these
kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. {2:45} Forasmuch as
thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain
without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass,
the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made
known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and
the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
Horns-
Horn
Ruler, head of a kingdom, Power strength. A symbol of kings, kingdoms, divisions of kingdoms, power, authority. It is generally a kingdom with a military force.
Horn with crowns - Monarchies
Ten horns are ten kings (kingdoms) that shall arise. (Daniel 7: 24)
The great horn is the first king (kingdom). (Daniel 8: 21)
The ten horns are ten kings. (Revelation 17: 12)
For you are the glory of their strength: and in your favour our horn shall be exalted. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. Psalm 89: 17,24.
Then lifted I up my eyes, and saw, and look four horns. And I said to the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. Zechariah 1: 18-19.
Crown
Crown
Victory, life, royalty
There are two types of crowns, the royal crown and the wreath of victory (stephanos) placed on the head of the winner.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: From now there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but to all them also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4: 7-8.
Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him. James 1: 12.
And he brought out the king's son, and put the crown on him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king. 2 Kings 11: 12.
Thus says the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. Ezekiel 21: 26-27.
********
Red dragon- dragon- that old serpent, the devil, and satan
Seven heads- seven mountains- seven kingdoms
Ten horns- ten rulers
crowns- royalty
stars- angels
...
And there appeared another wonder in heaven
and behold a great red dragon,
having seven heads
and ten horns,
and seven crowns upon his heads.
And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven,
and did cast them to the earth
...
The devil- earthly kingdoms, with ten rules, having power.
The devil using his tail took 1/3 of the angels of heaven and they were cast to earth from heaven.
...
and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered,
for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
...
The devil stood near the woman- God's people, Jesus was about to be born- the Savior as an infant and the devil didn't want Him to be born- the Savior of the world, the conquerer of death, the bringer of eternal life, restorer of all that is good. No, the devil didn't want Jesus to be born.
...
And she brought forth a man child,
who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron:
and her child was caught up unto God,
and to his throne.
...
Rev. {2:24} But unto you I say, and unto the rest
in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which
have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will
put upon you none other burden. {2:25} But that which ye
have already hold fast till I come. {2:26} And he that
overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him
will I give power over the nations: {2:27} And he shall rule
them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they
be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Rev. {19:13} And he was clothed with a vesture
dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
{19:14} And the armies which were in heaven followed
him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and
clean. {19:15} And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword,
that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule
them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the
fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. {19:16} And he
hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING
OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
Jesus!
*******
It's true that Jesus and the true followers of Christ have been persecuted by Satan and will be persecuted by Him until Christ comes again and the battle between good and evil is decided for every person.
From the moment of Jesus' birth Satan stepped up His activity. That Satan rules the majority is no surprise, no surprise at all. He's working hard to get as many as he can and he has no standards, no morals, no compunctions whatsoever to get in his way.
May God bless and Keep us in Christ now and forever, safe from the evil of the devil and all his way.
Please Lord open our eyes, give us the understanding we need to be yours now and forever by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
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