The Revelation Of Jesus Christ – Chapter 12
I. Things Which Thou Hast Seen – Rev 1
II. Things Which Are – The Church Age – Rev 2-3
III. Things Which Are To Come – Rev 4-22
A. The Throne Of God – Rev 4
B. The Seven Seals Book – Rev 5
C. The First Six Seals Are Opened – Rev 6
D. The Sealing Of The Saved – Rev 7
E. The Lamb Opens The Seventh Seal – Rev 8
The First Four Trumpets Sound
1st 1/3 Vegetation
2nd 1/3 Salt Water
3rd 1/3 Fresh Water
4th Celestial lights are darkened
F. Sounding of the Fifth and Sixth Trumpets – Rev 9
5th Locust – To torment men for 5 months
6th Horsemen – To kill 1/3 of mankind
G. The Little Book – Rev 10
H. The Measuring Rod – The Two Witnesses – The Seventh Trumpet Sounds – Rev 11
We are now seeing the period of time called the Great Tribulation. That started with the breaking of the 7 seals. That led to the 7 trumpets. In the last chapter the seventh trumpet sounds. Then John sees another sign in heaven.
I. The Woman and the Dragon – Rev 12
Rev 12:1-2 (NASB) “A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was with child; and she *cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.”
(a) A woman – v. 1-2
(1) clothed with the sun
(2) the moon under her feet
(3) a crown of 12 stars on her head appears
(4) she is pregnant – v. 2
(5) she cries out being in labor and pain
This woman here is called a great sign. Remember now John sees this great sign in heaven. This vision is a supernatural miraculous sign that was given to John and through this record to us too. This 1st Character is “a woman.”
She strangely dressed woman I might add. A woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of 12 stars.
Dr. McGee writes of a woman in the early 1800’s that actually claimed to be this woman. He also said that in history other women have claimed to be this woman too. They all attempted to start up a cultic following.
The Catholic Church teaches that the Woman here is Mary. They say it is the Virgin Mary. Mary we know from other passages did not die a virgin. She was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus but after his birth she had other children according to the Bible.
I believe this woman here is not a literally woman at all. She is a sign or a symbol.
Some believe that this woman represents Israel. Some of the protestant Churches teach that this woman is the Church, the bride of Christ. They say this woman is the universal Church.
Rev 12:3-4 (NASB) “Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. And his tail *swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw 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.”
(b) A great red dragon – v. 3
(1) with seven heads
(2) with ten horns
(3) whose tail sweeps away a third of the stars – v. 4
-the stars are thrown to earth
(4) stands before the woman
- ready to devour the child
This red dragon is the devil. His identity is clearly revealed down in verse 9. There has been a spiritual battle going on since the beginning of time. This passage shows us that the battle continues. Look where the Dragon stood – ready to devour the child. The Child is Jesus. The dragon is the Devil.
The plan the devil has is to devour Jesus. In the Greek the words, ‘the dragon stood before the woman.” Is set in the tense that means the Devil has always stood and continues to stand before the woman to devour the child. He stood ready to devour the child in ages past and he stands today as well. There have been many attempts to kill Jesus. Remember how the family of Jesus had to flee to Egypt – because there was an attempt to kill him as a child.
Rev 12:5 (NASB) “And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.”
(c) The woman gives birth to a son – v. 5
(1) who is to rule the nations with an iron rod
(2) he is caught up to God
(3) he is caught up to God’s throne
In verse 5 the child is born but before the dragon can get him - he taken up to heaven. He is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. He will rule with God upon his throne.
Rev 12:6 (NASB) “Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she *had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.”
(d) The woman flees into the wilderness – v. 6
(1) to a place prepared for her by God
(2) to a place where she can be nourished for 1,260 days
Here in verse 6 we see the woman fleeing for her life. This is the picture of the terrible holocaust in the end days. We are given a number here that is 1,260 days. That is 3 ½ years long.
Then she goes where she has a place prepared for her by God. Where is the place she goes? Many folks think it will be a place called Petra. If you saw the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark you might remember a scene where they came to a lost city. The movie actually showed the city of Petra. We don’t know for sure if it is Petra. I personally think this is all speculation. It might be Petra or some other city – it does not matter where it is – but it does matter that God prepared it and that she will be nourished there.
Rev 12:7-8 (NASB) “And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.”
(e) There was a war in heaven – v. 7
(1) Michael and his angels are war with the dragon – Jude 1:9
(2) The dragon and his angels are waging war with Michael
-they are not strong enough – v. 8
- there was no longer a place in heaven for them
Here we read about a war that takes place in heaven. We know that the dragon and his angels will wage with Michael and his angels and that they cannot overcome him. There was no longer any place in heaven for the dragon and his angels. In Jude we find:
Jud 1:9 (NASB) “But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"
It seems that they had battled before over the body of Moses. We see that Michael is clearly placed on God’s side.
Rev 12:9 (NASB) “And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”
(f) The dragon was thrown down – v. 9
(1) Other names
-Serpent of old
-The devil
-Satan
*He deceives the whole world
(2) Other companions with him
-His angels
The devil would like folks to think he is number one. Some folks think he is number two. Well right here we discover he isn’t even number two in strength and power.
The word war means a literal war takes place in heaven that results in the Devil and his angels being cast out to earth. They did not prevail. There was no long any place in heaven for them.
Sometimes it is hard to understand how this all fits together. Most folks think that when Satan led his original rebellion that took place before God even the fall of man back in the garden that Satan and his fellow rebels were all cast out of heaven.
It appears from Scripture however that while the rebellion of the Devil and his angels took place long ago that the Devil and some of his angels still had access to heaven right up to this point.
Verse 9 is a interesting verse because is uses several names for Satan.
1. He is called the great dragon. In verse 3 he was called the great red dragon.
The root word for dragon comes from a root Greek word which point to a serpent with keen eyesight. The devil certainly has keen sight. He can see our weakness and knows just where to attack us.
2. He is called “that old serpent.” That certainly is a term that is meant to point back to the garden where as a serpent he tempted Eve. A serpent is a “subtle” animal. He does look dangerous or act dangerous but he lures his enemies with his subtlety. Eve did not think what he said would in the end bring sin and death upon all her children.
3. He is called the Devil. It means “The Accuser.” He is the “Diablos” one who falsely accuses and divides people without cause or reason.
4. He is called SATAN. He is your enemy and my enemy.
5. It is said “He deceives the whole world.” Certain the Devil is the great Deceiver.
Here is a thought that ought to get you thinking. I bet you never thought that when you got to heaven that you would ever see the Devil there. I bet you never thought that when you got to heaven you would witness a war between the Angels of God and the Angels of the Devil. You will my friend and when that old snake, that accuser, that dragon, and your enemy Satan is thrown out you and all of heaven are going to have a hallelujah fit.
Rev 12:10-12 (NASB) “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. 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. For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time."
Here in this battle many victories take place:
(g) There was heard a loud voice in heaven saying – Rev 12:10-12
(1) salvation is come
(2) power is come
(3) the kingdom of God is come
(4) the authority of Christ has come
(5) the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down
- he accuses them before God – day and night – Job 1:6-12
Job 1:6-12 (NASB) “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. The LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it." The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil." Then Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face." Then the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him." So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.
(6) the brethren overcame Satan
-because of the blood of the Lamb – John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18-19
John 1:29 (NASB) “The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
1 Pe 1:18-19 (NASB) “knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
-because of the word of their testimony
-because they did not love their life even when they faced death
(7) because of all these things – Rejoice – v. 12
-O heavens
-you who dwell in them
(8) but woe to the earth and the sea
- for the devil has come down to you
* having great wrath
* knowing the time is short
Rev 12:13-14 (NASB) “And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. 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, from the presence of the serpent.”
(h) The dragon persecutes the woman – v. 13-14
(1) after he sees he has been thrown down to the earth
-But the woman is given two wings
*so she can fly
Into the wilderness
Where she is nourished
Away from the serpent
The devil takes his anger out on the woman. But we see the woman is give two wings of a great eagle so she can escape from the dragon. Sometimes fleeing is the best way to resist the devil. If the devil is coming after you – run.
Rev 12:15-16 (NASB) “And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth.”
(i) The serpent sends water after the woman – v. 15
(1) like a flood
(2) out of his mouth
(3) that she might be swept away
-But the earth helps the woman – v. 16
*the earth opens its mouth
*the earth drinks up the water
The world has already been destroyed by a flood and God has promised that it would not be destroyed that way again. But here the serpent tries to drown the woman. It will not work – for even the earth will help her.
Rev 12:17 “So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”
(j) The dragon is enraged – v. 17
(1) he goes off to make war with the rest of the woman’s children
-those who keep the commandments of God
-those who hold to the testimony of Jesus
So what is the result of Satan’s failure – Satan is even more mad – he is enraged and he wants to take his anger out on anyone who has God’s name attached to it. That includes all the church – all the true believers.
