Revelation 12 verses 3 through 7

Revelation 12:3 MKJV And another sign was seen in the heavens. And behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads!

Another sign?

God saw fit to place the stars in the heavens as signs, and it worked well enough to guide a ragged bunch of shepherds to the baby Jesus when he was born, and some wise men a few years later, but this sign had something to do with Satan, the dragon. I find nothing but speculation on this one.

“And behold a great red dragon,”

My Dake's bible states that Satan is referenced as the dragon 13 times. Everyone of those occurs from Revelation 12 on.

If you read my blogs on Revelation then you know that I have said that John wrote things that were meant to be understood. Why should the analogy of a dragon be any different? If we work off the assumption that John's readers would have been primarily Jewish and would have memorized the Law and the prophets what would they relate this to?

King David spoke of trampling the dragon. Psalms 91:13
Isaiah prophesied using most of the symbolism that we see in Revelation. Isa 27:1
The prophet Jeremiah referred to a dragon swallowing him up. Jer 51:34
Ezekiel the prophet spoke of a dragon that lies in the rivers. Eze 29:3
Rev 12:7-17, and Rev 13:2 give more detail about the dragon aspect.

Look at Daniel chapter seven and you will find the ten horns.

Daniel 7:7 AMP After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast [the Roman empire]--terrible, powerful and dreadful, and exceedingly strong. And it had great iron teeth; it devoured and crushed and trampled what was left with its feet. And it was different from all the beasts that came before it, and it had ten horns [symbolizing ten kings]. [Dan. 2:40-43; 7:23.]

The concept of the beast is not new for we see that reference in earlier portions of the Revelation, and the ten horns imagery has also repeated itself. When we compare notes between the prophets of old and John's writings we get a much more detailed picture of what will happen.

January 23, 2013, American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is finally brought before a senate investigations committee (a committee that works so hard at being polite and not offending that they do not ask the hard questions) and she was hopefully asked why everyone lied about the American deaths at Benghazi Libya, to which one of her replies was, “what does it matter?!”

Why does anything that happens after the rapture matter to the believer?

Because people will still be here, and continue to come to accept Jesus as the way. They will be martyred for their belief. I believe that having an understanding that the eternity that Jesus promises will give them a hope and the strength to carry on too. The times that are coming are going to be extremely hard, as violence from the skies falls on earth and an ever-increasing level of violence from people fills the earth.

It is really just a road map.
Those of us that have found him to be true and come to him already, have managed to take the straightest path on that map. It doesn't matter how we got there. It only matters that we found his overwhelming love and came to him. Everyone else is taking circuitous routes that will have them wandering some painful paths should they find his loving arms. Just know that he anxiously awaits your coming. And there you will find comfort and freedom that you have never known as you rest in him.

What would it take for me to convince you that you really do not want to be here during the tribulation years. The financial world will collapse; food and water will be a scarcity; Islam will be a violent, overwhelming force to reckon with, and governments, while collapsing, will be eradicating those who speak out against them. There will be multiple impacts in the oceans and fresh water sources by flaming objects; as a result shipping will be wiped out; all fishing will be wiped out; water will turn to blood and be undrinkable; earthquakes will be so violent that you may see the continents shift back together again, and people will be dying all around you.

Why does it matter? I suppose it doesn't if I do not care. Look, I have no interest in luring you into some last days cult. I want you to find the Jesus who has been calling out to you in your dreams. I want you to find peace in him and a love that you have never known.

Find a bible and begin reading. Try starting with the book of John, the same John that struggled to understand who Jesus was, struggled with a violent temper, struggled with loving people, but yet finally figured out that this Jesus was the awaited one, the Messiah they longed for, and it changed him. So much so that he was willing to die proclaiming who Jesus was. Strangely, of all the disciples he was the survivor, they could not kill him, though they tried. Exiled to this small island Jesus came to him and laid out the last days of broken man on this earth.

Jesus will return soon, in the clouds, to gather his own who are waiting for him, so that they can join with him and the Father in heaven. Jesus will physically return once more after this and this time he will not come as a tender lamb. He will come with vengeance and things will be set straight at last.

“...having seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads.”

Again from the Dake's notes: This represents Satan's domination of previous worldly kingdoms. If you think about it, the kingdoms of history all had their beginnings in violence as man has attempted to dominate people, with one main purpose throughout history, and that is so that those in control could have more and better things. It is not uncommon to see the wealthy rulers eating well while those that make that happen for them starve and die of disease.

Revolutions have had many a grand entrance because people at the ground level had enough. In the end someone always manages to gain the upper hand the cycle starts again. As you read through the Revelation you will see a comment along this line, and to destroy those that destroy the earth.

Sitting comfortably in riches, it would be my hope that I could continue in my lavish lifestyle, so what benefit do I gain from destroying the earth? None if I lose my benefit, but what if people and their souls are an aspect of that earth? Then I have destroyed both to feed my greed, and though there is no denying that corporate greed has destroyed the earth it is clear to me that souls are counted as part of this equation.

Make some passes through prophetic books of the bible, such as, Daniel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Isaiah, just to name a few, and you will find analogies that use many of the same words. John's readers recognized this immediately.

Those earthly kingdoms are up to and including the rising power of Islam.

The dragon stood before the woman to devour her child

Revelation 12:4 KJV 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.

We already have established that we are dealing with Satan here.

“And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth:”

This is referring to the third part of the angels that followed him. Satan does not seem to have an allegiance to anyone but himself. Note that is says, “and did cast them to the earth:”

“and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered,”

The woman was Israel, but think about the deaths and path of destruction we see Satan causing.I heard a speaker, many years ago, say, Satan seemed to be taking pot shots at anything that looked like God might use it to bring salvation to the world. But the day that Jesus came up out of the water and God himself announced that this is my Son, the game was on, and Satan looked for a way to take him out every chance he got.

Jesus himself stated in Luke's gospel, 10:18 KJV “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.”

“and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered,”

Although not created for this purpose, it clearly became his corrupted goal to kill the man-child; the salvation of the world.

Satan's original name was Lucifer, the bearer of light, but pride brought him down.

The implications are that Satan waited and watched the course of man in his quest to kill off anyone that had the potential to be the path to salvation.

In a short period of time after the garden incident, what do we see? Cain killing the only man who seemed to get it, Able, his brother. Satan had already effectively killed Adam and Eve. Isaac's sons followed Satan's lead and thought hard about killing Joseph. Pharaoh would have killed every Jewish boy if he could have but even then God had a plan. Even when they left Egypt Pharaoh changed his mind and came after them in hopes of killing them all, and would have done it if he could have. When Jesus was born Herod, out of fear for his own throne had every male child age two and younger killed. What do you think motivated those acts? Satan and his desire to overtake a God that threw him out of heaven.

“And she brought forth a man child”

Revelation 12:5 KJV 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.

And she brought forth a man-child.

She = Israel.

We know Mary gave birth to Jesus but the context here is much larger.

The man-child = Jesus Christ.

My Dake's bible speculates on the possibility that the 144,000 Jews are the man-child.

If you wish to play the bigger picture then the man-child becomes anyone who is a follower of Jesus Christ.

Why say that? Did not the Apostle Paul try to teach us that we in Christ Jesus, if we have given ourselves to him. Try a few of these on for size: Romans 8:1; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 2:10

“who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron:”

This is exactly what caused the Jews so many problems. They were looking for a messiah that would rule over their enemies with a rod of iron. They expected a dominant ruler that would free them. Oh, he freed them if only they recognized it.

Many saw the cross as death and defeat. No, the cross was a payment and his rising from the dead, just as he said he would, was our victory. They should have known he would rise again.

He currently sits on the throne waiting for the right time to return. What time is that? When the last one comes into the kingdom, and only he knows that person. Maybe it is you.

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (Hebrews 1:3 ESV)

He is coming soon and then he will rule with a rod of iron. Consider: We tolerate so much nonsense now, but when he reigns, with the saints alongside, nonsense will end.

I must interject a short story here. I have made it on to one jury. 12 people deciding the fate of someone else. Our judge gave instructions that we were only to consider what was said in the witness chair as evidence. Did everybody get that! No conjecture!, no opinion!, and if there is a reasonable doubt then the person is innocent. Do you realize that at this point the law is still on the side of the accused. One member of our jury, a school teacher, decided that he should be the foreman. I was more than willing to do that with one goal in mind, to follow the judges instructions. For an entire week the school teacher made things up and tirelessly tried to sell people on his opinion. To be honest, I verbally accosted him and challenged him by saying, "is this what you teach our children?" Turns out it became a mistrial because I would not back down, and I would not let them convict this man based on their opinion.

Point: The world is run by nonsense, but the day will come when nonsense will be dealt with swiftly.

Did others recognize that the messiah had come? Absolutely!.

Mary understood.

Think about this for a moment. Mary, the youngest of the bunch got it. When the angel spelled it out for her she merely said,“Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:38 KJV

Simeon the priest/prophet rejoiced in who the baby was.

When Joseph brought the baby into the temple on the eighth day, Simeon, who had been instructed by God to be there, sees the baby and says,“Lord, now You will let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word. For my eyes have seen Your Salvation which You have prepared before the face of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32 MKJV)

Ana, an old prophetess, too waited for his coming.

“And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in many days, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity. And she was a widow of eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, serving God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in at that instant gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all those in Jerusalem eagerly expecting redemption.” (Luke 2:36-38 MKJV)

The shepherds, having been told by the angels got it.

“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” (Luke 2:15-20 KJV)

The wise men got it.

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2 KJV)

And let us not forget Nicodemus; Jesus own family, and over 500 people including the disciples, would testify that they saw him alive. Jews began to get it in exponential numbers.

“and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. “

The child is Jesus Christ. Where is Jesus at the moment? Aside from the fact that he keeps appearing to Muslims in their dreams, he sits upon the throne. Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 10:12; Acts 1:9-11

the woman fled into the wilderness

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. (Revelation 12:6 KJV)

The woman is that which remains of Israel, for many will be killed. The woman shows up again in verses 13 and 16.

“into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God,”

Most tend to speculate Petra, and while that would make a good choice, it is an obvious one making it potentially dangerous in mans eyes, but it is God that has prepared the place, therefore where ever it is it will be the right place.

How many times have you cried out to God for direction only to receive no answer? Unless Israel has prepared themselves, most will take the most logical path out-of-town. God has a way of directing your thoughts so that clever idea you had was really implanted by him.

“that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.”

Without looking any further than the King James version you might not get a true sense for what is going on here. This is exactly what I did today as I read and took notes. Based on the KJV you might ask who is the “they”?

Dake's notes claim that it is the Arabs of Modern Jordan. That might be, but it is entirely up to God.

The English Standard version translates the passage this way:

and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. (Revelation 12:6 ESV)

This puts the responsibility back on God. Is that impossible? Not at all. Elijah was fed by Ravens while he spent time hiding in the desert. (1 Kings 17) When you start thinking outside the box, the "they" could be just about anything.

“ a thousand two hundred and threescore days”

1260 days: That equals three and one half years. “a time, times, and half a time”

You have been paying attention as we worked our way through the Revelation so you already have a familiarity with these numbers don't you. This is the last half of the tribulation period.

Jesus warned the Jews, that would listen:

"So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.” (Matthew 24:15-18 ESV)

When does this abomination take place? Now you have to dig a little. It is not that difficult, just get a good concordance or bible program for the computer and start looking up key words.

Daniel prophesied about this act.

“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” (Daniel 9:27 KJV)

Jesus went on to tell them,

“This will be the worst time of suffering since the beginning of the world, and nothing this terrible will ever happen again.” (Matthew 24:21 CEV)

The prophet Jeremiah prophesied,

“Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” (Jeremiah 30:7 KJV)

Addendum:

My desire is to write something relevant, inspired by God, and makes sense, so that those that choose to not read might have a clue about what is coming. These are not intended to be in-depth studies, although I admit they tend to be long. I have a commentary on the book of John, by Arthur Pink that must be about 1500 pages at least, but what if by some chance my ramblings helped you to understand more clearly. That would be outstanding in my opinion.

As I worked on this one it was hard not to see more of me coming out in it than God, but then that could be attributed to a poor self-image at times. If you were to ponder the prophetic gifts and the prophets of the old testament, you need to understand that God knew their human side would be involved. In other words you cannot detach the human influence from God's word. It is going to come through. Do not use it for an excuse though. You know your issues, like anger, and you need to work at keeping your personal stuff out of what God is trying to say. It is unavoidable to some degree and God knows that. He may have even chose you to deliver a message because of your personality and life experience. I cannot reach an executive type, for I have no common ground, but then what does that have to do with anything. If God wants to communicate with someone he will use what is available, including their dreams.