Difference between revisions of "Chapter 12: The Woman—Christ’s Church"

Latest revision as of 13:32, 29 May 2012

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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!

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+'''Next Part [[Chapter 13: Two “Beasts”]]'''
+----
+'''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 (vs. 4), through His life, resurrection and ascension (vs. 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!
+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 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 thedragon 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” (vs. 13-14). Those of the faithful sixth era of the Church escape!
+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. Verse 17 shows how the devil turns his attention to the “remnant”—the lukewarm era, previously explained.
+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(vs. 1)! That woman is a description of the great false church, representing the falseChristianity of this world. The woman of chapter 17 actually persecutes the chapter 12 different woman that is God’s true Church. Chapter 12, verse 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!
+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!
-===Chapter 13: Two “Beasts”===
-The 13th chapter describes a symbolic “beast” and a second beast with “two horns” (vs. 11). The first beast is a description of the Roman Empire—a political kingdom. The second two-horned beast represents the headquarters of the great false church that controls the first beast.
-Only by comparing Revelation 13 and 17 and Daniel 7, with Daniel 2, can you fully understand the scope and magnitude of the beasts, and the system they represent. Numerous Old Testament scriptures refer to them, but these chapters describe them best.
-(Read our free booklet Who or What Is the Beast of Revelation? for a more thorough explanation of the Roman system and the beast.)
-===Chapter 14: The 144,000===
-Chapter 7 introduced the 144,000, and the 14th chapter gives more details about their identity. Verses 1-5 give a nine-point description of them standing before God’s throne as “the firstfruits” (vs. 4) of God’s kingdom.
-As when He protected Israel from the plagues of Egypt, God often protects His servants. We will see in the next chapter that the seven last plagues will soon be poured out on the earth. The 144,000, plainly the number of saints in the First Resurrection, are with Christ in His kingdom, and are therefore protected from these terrifying last plagues.
-===The Three Angelic Messages===
-Chapter 14 also pictures three angels bearing three messages (vs. 6-11). Examine these angelic messages, which include a warning not to receive the “mark of the beast.” Other prophecies show that most will ignore this important warning!
-Those of the final great babylonish system will be deceived into receiving the much talked about, but little understood, MARK OF THE BEAST. These messages announce the fall of Babylon through the seven last plagues and warn against receiving the mark.
-The final destruction of this system is an incredible event. Like so much of Revelation, many take phrases out of context in order to support the false ideas and doctrines of men. Verse 11states, “And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever.” Many dismiss this as merely a reference to souls burning forever in hell, and misunderstand the point of the context.
-The time frame of this event is yet to come. It refers to “Babylon” (vs. 8), “that great city, because she made all nations drink of…her fornication.” This is the final, religious/political, end-time revival of the Holy Roman Empire also described in Daniel 2:42-43 as the “toes,” and in Daniel, 24 as the tenth horn. Revelation 13 describes it as the seventh and last horn. Revelation describes it as the seventh head (which has not yet appeared), and having ten horns.
-Revelation 14:9-10 states, “If any man WORSHIP THE BEAST [this final end-time revival and its leader] and his IMAGE, and receive his MARK…he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone…in the presence of the Lamb.” As long as those participating in this “beast” system continue to rebel against God, they will receive “no rest day nor night” (vs. 11). This does not say that they will be burning in hell for eternity. What it does say is that once their bodies are burned up, the smoke ascends forever. The fire extinguishes itself, but the gases from the smoke will continue to circulate in the atmosphere.
-The fire that is talked about is here on earth, not in an “ever-burning hell.” Malachi plainly states, “And you shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, says the LORD of hosts” (4:3).
-Revelation 14:12 contains a description of God’s servants, who will not take the mark of the beast. These are only a relative few commandment-keepers in a sinning world that has followed a system that has rebelled against God. This verse explains that only the “faith of Jesus” (not merely faith IN Jesus) gives them the strength to resist receiving the mark. Typical human faith will be of no value!
-===Chapter 15: The Seven Last Plagues Introduced===
-We have now reached the last part of the seventh seal—which is the seventh trumpet, the third woe, or the seven last plagues (vs. 1). All four of these terms represent the exact same thing! As we have seen, they are synonymous. Let’s now examine what they mean.
-Recall from chapter 11 (vs. 15-19) that the blowing of the seventh trumpet represents the moment when Christ returns to set up His kingdom. The time setting is that God’s WRATH has come!
-Here is what John wrote: “And the nations were angry, and YOUR WRATH is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should give reward unto Your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear Your Name, small and great [the first resurrection]; and should destroy them which destroy the earth” (vs. 18).
-John records that the nations “were angry.” But so is God! Notice it said, “YOUR wrath is come.” Keep this straight! The last part of the seventh seal, the seventh trumpet, the third woe, the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES—and the vials—are all one and the same event—GOD’S WRATH! It is this time that will have finally come to all surviving inhabitants on earth!
-Notice: “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the WRATH OF GOD” (15:1)
-Before this occurs, verses 2 and 3 show that the resurrected saints sing praise to God. God’s anger is about to be complete. If something is “filled up,” there is room for no more. This represents the final sum of God’s punishment.
-'''Next Part  [[ Chapter 16: The Seven Last Plagues (Vials) Are Poured Out]]