The Revelation Of Jesus Christ – Chapter 12 Series

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.”