Chapter 12: The Woman—Christ’s Church

Back to 1The Bible’s Greatest Prophecies Unlocked!

Chapters 12, 13 and 14 represent an interruption—an inset—in the overall flow of Revelation. This is because God wants the readers to be aware of what His true Church—His true people—will be doing for the nearly 2,000 years from John’s vision until the Return of Christ. God has always had His true Church—the persecuted (John 15:20; II Tim. 3:12), few (Matt. 7:14; 20:16;22:14), “little flock” (Luke 12:32) that will rule with Christ (Rev. 2:26; 3:21)!

We have seen that Christ will be established as King of kings and Lord of lords. But the saints will be resurrected and join Him. Chapter 12 introduces more directly the Church through which Christ has been preparing these others to rule with Him.

John describes God’s Church from before Christ’s birth (Rev 12:4), through His life, resurrection and ascension (Rev 12:5). He then describes the 1,260 years of persecution this Church endured and how it had to flee to remote areas to avoid the government powers that sought to destroy it. But Christ promised that His true Church would always exist (Matt. 16:18)—and it has!

This is also an important chapter in that it shows (Rev. 12:14) that God will protect His Church—described as a woman here—from the horrible time of intense, severe trial soon to befall this world!

All of Revelation 12:1-17 describes her, and the devil’s attacks against her. Soon, an angry Satan will lash out at Christ’s Church one last time, forcing her need for protection: “And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 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 12:13-14). Those of the faithful sixth era of the Church escape!

The “time, and times, and half a time” are the three and a half years of the Tribulation and Wrath of God. Rev 12:17 shows how the devil turns his attention to the “remnant”—the lukewarm era, previously explained.

Understand. This is not the “woman” pictured in chapter 17—she is depicted as a great whore(Rev 17:1)! That woman is a description of the great false church, representing the false Christianity of this world. The woman of chapter 17 actually persecutes the chapter 12 different woman that is God’s true Church. Rev 12:17, describes it as those who “keep the commandments of God.” Recognizing the difference between these two women is another vital KEY to understanding the book of Revelation!