Prophecy - 94

Rev 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
Rev 12:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
Rev 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
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.
Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
Rev 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
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 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
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 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Rev 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
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 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Rev 12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
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 12:17 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.


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I find the following study fascinating and hope you will as well--


1995 May-- XXVIII -- 5(95) -- EXEGESIS (Critical explanation of analysis) OF REVELATION --THE WOMAN, THE DRAGON, THE MAN-CHILD AND THE REMNANT OF HER SEED -- Part 1


Revelation 12 --

This chapter focuses on TWO visions - TWO "wonders," significant apparitions - seen by John.

One is a woman with child (v. 1-2)

Rev 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a WOMAN clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
Rev 12:2 And she BEING WITH CHILD cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

...and the second is "a great red dragon" (v. 3)

Rev 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a GREAT RED DRAGON, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

The interrelationship between these two symbols is continued to the time of "the war with the remnant of her seed." (v. 17)

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.

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The "fiery red (Gr. purros) dragon" is defined "as that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan." (v. 9)

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.

The "CHILD" is called "a MAN CHILD, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron." (v. 5)

Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a MAN CHILD, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

He is also "the SEED" of the woman, since the "REMNANT" are referred to as a "SEED." The woman is not defined, but the very elements of the two visions a SERPENT, a SEED, and a WOMAN - bring to mind the first gospel promise in Genesis 3:15, where the seed of the woman would bruise the serpent's head.

Gen 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the SERPENT, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the WOMAN, and between thy SEED and her SEED; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

The role of the "MAN CHILD" is described further as "MICHAEL" (v. 7)...

Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: MICHAEL and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

...the "Christ" or Messiah (v. 10)…

Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his CHRIST: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

... and the "Lamb" (v. 11).

Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the LAMB, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Verse 7 brings us to our first judgment call.

Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: MICHAEL and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels

Are we going to read into this verse, our perceptions, or are we going to let the text speak for itself?

"There was war in heaven."

Is the word, "heaven," to be understood the same as the word is used in verses 1 and 3?

Or are we to interpret it as meaning, the dwelling place of God?

If the latter, our traditional perceptions place this war prior to the creation of man.

The text indicates that as a result of this "WAR," Satan "WAS CAST OUT UNTO THE EARTH."

This then would mean that this "EARTH" existed some time before the creation of man, and further that God created man and placed him where Satan was confined???

If on the other hand, we read this word "heaven" as it is used of the other two visions" - the stage where the symbolic drama was being enacted - the "war in heaven" then becomes the battle of the Man-Child, the incarnate Michael with the dragon, and the resultant victory of the Cross, where the blood of the Lamb was spilt. This would harmonize with the next pronouncement John hears from the heavens - "Now is come salvation." (v. 10).

Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Following through on the fact that the Devil "was cast out into the earth" (v. 9), "is cast down" (v. 10), the action of the prophecy turns to activity on the earth and the sea.

John hears a command - "Rejoice, ye heavens (plural), and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath." (v. 12)

The use of the plural for "heavens," and the reference to the "inhabitants that dwell in them," removes the use of the term as the place of the vision, to the reality where God dwells.

But why the use of terms "earth" and "sea" to refer to the inhabitants upon whom Satan manifests his wrath? He was merely "cast out into the earth."

We must leave this an open question in the light of what follows - the two "beasts" of Chapter 13, one of which would "rise out of the sea" (v. 1),...

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.

... and the second which would come "up out of the earth"

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.

The first activity of the devil, after his defeat, was to manifest his wrath against the woman "which brought forth the man child." (12:13)

The "woman" flees into the "wilderness."

Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

(We meet this term again in Chapter 17, where another "woman" is pictured as being in a "wilderness" See 17:3.)

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.

The woman of Revelation 12 is in the wilderness for a given period -"A thousand two hundred and threescore days" ...

Rev 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

...and "for a time, and times, and half a time" (v. 14).

Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

Why two different time descriptions for the same period?

First, the designation of verse 14 is the same as Daniel 7:25...

Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time

...thus linking the prophecies of the two books.

The language of verse 6, - 1260 days - is also the time that "the two witnesses" prophesy "clothed in sackcloth." (Rev. 11:3)

Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

This links the "two witnesses" closely with the "woman."

The emphasis on the woman in the wilderness is that there she will be fed, and "nourished."

Is she nourished by "the two witnesses"?

The text says - "They should feed her." (12:6)

Rev 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

The only antecedent to "they" connected with the same prophetic time element are "the two witnesses."

In contrast to the nourishment received, the "wrath" of the devil is symbolized as casting "out of his mouth water" ...

Rev 12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

...in such quantity so as to become a flood to overwhelm the woman.

We have read into this term, "water," persecution.

Are we justified?

John in his gospel defines "water" differently.

He quotes Jesus as saying - "He that believeth on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

Then John explains what this means - "This spake He of the Spirit which they that believe on Him should receive." (John 7:38-39)

If this concept is applied to "water" in Revelation 12, does it therefore represent the "doctrines of devils" which sought to overwhelm the true church of God, and which flowed as a "flood" during the 1260 day period? (See I Tim. 4:1)

1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils

Are we thus told that the only source of true nourishment is through the Two Witnesses?

Then we face another judgment call.

The 16th verse states that "the earth (not the sea) helped the woman" opening its mouth to swallow the flood so that she might be preserved.

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.

Is this "earth" to mean the place from whence the second beast of Revelation 13 arises?

To accept the term, "earth," in a prophetic sense, and to apply it to the data that follows Revelation 12 leads to some interesting observations.

The second beast of Rev. 13 speaks "to them that dwell on the earth"

Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

The First Angel's Message heralds the everlasting gospel first "unto them that dwell on the earth," and then "to every nation, and kindred, and tongue and people." (14:6)

Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Is the objective of the "everlasting gospel" to unmask the enemy, and preserve the purity of the woman?

There is a final confrontation. It reads: "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." (12:17)

Each of these clauses are pregnant with concept.

1) The "wrath" of the enemy continues against the "woman."
2) A new symbol is introduced, "the remnant of [the woman's] seed." And
3) This remnant "keeps" (not professes to, nor tries to keep) the commandments of God, and they "have" the testimony of Jesus Christ.

In this chapter, the word, "war" (polemos) is used twice, both times in connection with "the seed of the woman" - the Original Seed, and now the "remnant." (vs. 7, 17)

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.

The "war" concept is carried through this final section:

a) The first beast of Revelation 13 makes "war with the saints." (v. 7)

Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

b) "The spirits of devils ... go forth unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole world to gather them to the war (polemos) of that great day of God Almighty."

Rev 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

c) "These shall make war with the Lamb." [The verb form of "war" is used] (17:14) Those with the Lamb are "called, and chosen, and faithful."

Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

This presents another question to be pursued in the study of the book of Revelation as introduced by verse 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." (12:17)

What is the relationship between the Seed of the Promise, (The "Man-Child," "Michael," "His Christ," and "the Lamb") and the "remnant seed"?

Here is the data:

1) The victors of the last of the seven churches - Laodicea - sit with "the faithful and true Witness (martus)" on His throne. These overcome as He also overcame. (3:21)

Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

2) The 144,000 "follow the Lamb withersoever He goeth." (14:4)

Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

These "have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (7:14)

Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

3) The marriage of the Lamb "is come" because "His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." (19:7-8)

Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

The "remnant of [the woman's] seed " have the testimony of Jesus."

"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." (12:17)

The text does not say, "the woman has the testimony of Jesus,"… NO

...only "the remnant."

This phrase is used in several different places in the book of Revelation.

The word translated, "testimony" is marturia.

In John's writings - his Gospel, Epistles, and the Revelation - he uses the word 30x, and it is translated, "record" and "witness" as well as "testimony."

John also uses the verb form, martureo, 47x, and the word, martus, from which we derive our English word, "martyr," 5x.

How then are we to understand, the phrase, "testimony of Jesus" in Rev. 12:17.

By exisegetical interpretation, we have read this to mean, "the Spirit of Prophecy" by making a comparison with Revelation 19:10.

How is this phrase used in Revelation, apart from 12:17?

Note the following verses:

"John, who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw." (1:2)

"John ... was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." (1:9)

"I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (19:10)

"I beheld the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness (marturia) of Jesus, and for the word of God." (20:4)

What deductions can be drawn?

1) The "word of God" and "the testimony of Jesus" are associated together.
2) Gabriel, "His angel" (1:1), has this testimony, as well as the (apostolic?) "brethren" of John.
3) The "remnant of her seed" also have it.

Is this to be understood singularly, one person, or collectively, the group?

There is an overall picture conveyed by Revelation 12.

In each period, whether in regard to "the Man-Child", or the period of the woman in the wilderness, or in the war against the "remnant," it is the "dragon" operating.

This dragon or serpent is specifically called "the Devil, and Satan."

In the following chapters, other symbols are used designating powers under the control and authority of the dragon doing the work which the 12th Chapter attributes to the dragon.

This chapter is the outline which the following chapters detail and enlarge.

A closer look at some of the symbolisms provides meaningful insights into a correct interpretation of past history.

The dragon or serpent is described as a "fiery serpent" (drakon purros), better translated as "serpent of fire." Hislop in his Two Babylons notes, that "along with the sun, as the great fire-god, and in due time,
identified with him, was the serpent worshipped. 'In the mythology of the primitive world,' says Owen, 'the serpent is universally the symbol of the sun.' In Egypt, one of the commonest symbols of the sun, or sun-god, is a disc with a serpent around it." A pictorial drawing from a Phoenician coin is used to illustrate the fact. (p. 227)

[For further study on this association between the serpent, the sun-god, and Sunday observance, see Robert Leo Odom, Sunday in Roman Paganism, Takoma Park: Review & Herald Pub. Assoc., 1944]

(Also look up this- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snakes_in_mythology)

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Consideration needs to be given to the designation of Jesus in the incarnation as the "Man-Child" (huios, arsen).

This reads literally "a son, a male."

In the Greek, there are two words used to designate man - anthropos, a human being - from which we derive the English word, anthropology, the study of man.

The second is - aner, a male person of full age in contrast to a child, or a husband.

Then there is this adjective - arsen - which emphasizes the male sex.

Jesus did not come into humanity as a eunuch, bereft of the forces which drive men, but was in all points tempted even as we, yet He sinned not.

His victory over the Devil and Satan is hailed by a loud voice proclaiming - "Now is come salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ (Messiah)."

Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

The word, "power" is exousia, authority. With the victory of Jesus, the dominion lost by Adam is returned to the new head of humanity, the Second Adam.

No longer could the Devil accuse mankind before the Throne of God, for "caught up unto God, and to His throne" (v. 5), ...

Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

...was One who was to ever live to make intercession for us. (Heb. 7:25)

Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

After noting the salvation and strength provided in the redemption accomplished by Michael in His warfare with the dragon, a three-fold agenda is given for victory over the dragon by each child of humanity. (v. 11)

Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

1) "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb." The only provision for our sins, is the sacrifice of Calvary. The wages of sin is death, but on the Cross, Jesus Christ tasted death for every one who would believe on Him. (Heb. 2:9) Through this sacrifice has been opened to us "a new and living way" into the holiest to the very "throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 10:19; 4:16)

2) "And by the word of their testimony." This reads in the Greek - dia ton logon tes marturias auton - "on account of the word of the witness of them." While we cannot contribute to the salvation and strength provided in "the blood of the Lamb," we can bear witness in our lives to the power of the Word, and testify with our mouths to the Truth revealed by that Word when made flesh, "full of grace and truth." (John 1:14) These are the only "works" for which reward will be given. We need to pray with Paul - "that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel," that "I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." (Eph. 6:19-20)

3) "They loved not their lives unto death." There is a price to pay for speaking forthrightly the truth. He who was "the Truth" (John 14:6) paid that price, and He said to all who would follow Him - "As my Father hath sent Me, even so send I you." (John 20:21) It is at this point, that for too many, the victory is lost. We are not willing to accept the cost imposed by truth. It may not be a physical death that we will be asked to endure. Once inflicted it is over; but professional assassination brings with it a death in life, and when confronted with this prospect men buckle. The agony of Calvary, in which Christ experienced the "second death," will never be known by the redeemed, but the death in life experienced by the Son of man when "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not" (John 1:11), will be the experience of those who follow the Lamb withersoever He goeth.

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We're going to stop here for now, by the grace of God may we find understanding, may we find enlightenment, may we find ALL that we need all by the grace of God!


The study of Revelation is so important and there is so much to learn from this book of prophecy, so much.

In Christ always!


Amen.