Revelation Lesson #12 Series

A thorough study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show his servants things which must shortly come to pass. (Rev. 1:1)

Welcome to our study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ given unto Apostle John.

I am Phillip Smith, your host and fellow servant of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

As we continue our study in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, as given to John, we begin in chapter 12.

In our study of chapter 12, we transition from the general descriptions of the spirit realm and the increasing punishment of the unrighteous up to the end and judgment closer to the creation of the earth. It seems Jesus is telling John about his spirit birth, the war in heaven with Satan, and the casting down of Satan and his angels to earth. Let us read.

Rev. 12:1. 12 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:

We immediately notice in heaven a woman who is esteemed higher than all the celestial bodies; clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet. She is one to be recognized as special. With twelve stars in her crown, she belongs to God (twelve meaning belonging to God) and she is crowned meaning found righteous.

Who is she? As we continue we will be able to determine who she is.

Rev. 12:2. 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

The woman is to become a mother; being crowned with twelve stars in her crown, she is to become the mother of all righteous. Yet her birth pains are perhaps pains of despair over the conditions she is found and the future of her offspring. NOTICE:

Rev. 12:3-4. 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. 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.

A very troubling time is at hand. A great red dragon is waiting to devour her child as soon as it is born. This dragon is described with seven heads with crowns and ten horns. Seven means complete. This dragon is complete and is entirely evil. He has power and authority upon himself and underlings with authority and power (ten horns) We recognize the horns as strength and power. They also indicate kings or kingdoms. Therefore, these ten kings or kingdoms will exist to bring evil into the world and propagate evil.

In a moment we will identify exactly who this great red dragon is.

Rev. 12:5. 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.

The woman delivered a man child ‘who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron’. Who is to rule all nations with righteous judgment? Jesus, the son of God.

Now, who is the woman? She is the spirit mother of Jesus. To further prove this, John is told to write: ‘her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne’. Who is on the throne of God? God! Who is at the right hand of the throne of God? Jesus!

We have now been told of the spirit birth of Jesus. Jesus wanted all men to know of his spirit birth to believe in his deity and his spirit which dwells in the spirit realm.

Rev. 12:6. 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.

Because of the pursuit of the woman who gave birth to the successor of the throne, by the great red dragon, she was protected from the dragon by fleeing to the wilderness; a place prepared by God. This appears to infuriate the dragon because war broke out in heaven.

Rev. 12:7-8. 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

It appears the great dragon wanted authority and to rule. With a male offspring to the king to inherit the throne, the kingdom would be handed down to the descendant, not another. The dragon was in no position to be given the throne unless he could overpower the king and take the kingdom. So war broke out. But the dragon and his angels could not prevail. He could no longer remain in heaven.