Revelation (Written)

Tuesday, 9 March 2021

So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. Revelation 12:15

The previous verse mentioned the woman flying to a place in the wilderness where she is nourished during the second half of the tribulation period, as it says, “from the presence of the serpent.” These are those of Israel who will take heed to Jesus’ words of Matthew 24:15, 16. They will flee to the mountains as He instructed. For the rest of Israel, there will be consequences for not paying heed. This verse now begins with, “So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman.”

The intent here is that of completely destroying Israel in order to thwart the plans of God as laid out in Scripture. This will be done through human agency. The idea of an advancing enemy being equated to a flood is recorded in Isaiah 59. That passage is referring the recorded events of the Redeemer of Zion and it is most likely anticipating this verse of Revelation –

“So shall they fear The name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.” Isaiah 59:19

The devil will incite a group of people to chase after the woman like a flood. This will be an attempt to destroy the remaining Jewish people of the land. But the Lord will be their Protector and Defender. For those of Israel who failed to heed Jesus’ words and flee to the mountains, His words of Matthew 24 continue, saying –

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. ²² And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” Matthew 24:21, 22

The intent of the serpent is to totally exterminate all of Israel. That is seen in John’s next words, “that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood.” Being carried away by a flood means destruction. This is the intent of the serpent as he works through this army to destroy Israel. But the Lord will keep safe those who believe His word and flee to the mountains.

With this in mind, there are other interpretations given for this verse such as a literal flood of water, or a river symbolizing a flood of lies in the religions of the world which are working against God.

The first option is unlikely because God is in overall control of nature. Even though the devil is allowed to cause natural disaster elsewhere in the Bible, the passage rather supports a wave of people coming against Israel. The second option is also unlikely because of the parallels elsewhere in the Bible which match both the flood of enemies and the judgment from God.

Life application: Revelation is a book of the future. Its contents are given under inspiration, and they will come to pass. But interpreting what is stated there can be difficult simply because it is future. However, there is a likely scenario that will play out, and it is based on the words of the prophets and the words of the Lord.

The symbolism of the woman must be deemed as Israel. Any other interpretation will be faulty. Though it was hardly imaginable that Israel would once again be a nation, that is no longer the case. It is inexcusable to insert the church into the typology now that Israel is clearly understood to be a part of His end-times scenario.

From that springboard, many passages from the Old Testament suddenly come into clearer focus, and the words of Jesus concerning these events do as well. Let us trust that the God who has been so faithful to Israel will also be equally faithful to us. He is the covenant-keeping Lord. We shall be safely kept because of this. Thank God for His covenant faithfulness. Thank God for JESUS!

Lord, the devil thinks he can win against You by destroying the Jewish people and thus showing that You are unable to keep the promises of Your covenant with them. But he is mistaken and so are all the nations who rage against them. You are in complete control of all things, including the preservation of Israel. Hallelujah to You for Your faithfulness! Amen.

Monday, 8 March 2021

But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. Revelation 12:14

John now continues with the thought from verse 12:6. The words closely match what is said there –

“Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.”

What this signifies is that verses 7 through 13 were a parenthesis and now the outlying information is being returned to. Now, John begins the verse with, “But the woman.” Understanding that the woman is Israel, John next says that she “was given two wings of a great eagle.”

There is an article before “wings” that should be included. The Greek literally reads, “the two wings of the eagle, the great.” The second article before “great” is to highlight its size. The symbolism goes back to various passages from the Old Testament, such as –

“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.” Exodus 19:4

“As an eagle stirs up its nest,
Hovers over its young,
Spreading out its wings, taking them up,
Carrying them on its wings,
¹² So the Lord alone led him,
And there was no foreign god with him.” Deuteronomy 32:11

In those Old Testament verses, the strength is from the Lord as He carried the people. In this verse in Revelation, the wings are given to the woman. Signifying they have been supplied with the means to carry themselves. If the eagle is the same as the Old Testament (meaning the strength of the Lord), as it should be so interpreted based on the definite article, then it is showing that these are believers in the Lord, being given His Spirit to bear them through the trial ahead. This is reflective of the words of Isaiah –

“But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

This strength of the Lord, represented by the eagle’s wings, is given so “that she might fly into the wilderness to her place.” This is the flight referred to by Jesus in Matthew 24 –

“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), ¹⁶ “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” Mathew 24:15, 16

The mountains of the Judean desert are a vast and mostly inhospitable wilderness. Such a wilderness in Scripture is a place of testing, but also of closeness and intimacy with the Lord when the one tested responds in accord with the will of the Lord. That is seen in the temptations of Christ where Matthew 4:1 says, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” It is to this area that the woman, meaning these of Israel who have heeded the recorded words of Christ, will flee. It will be to a place, “where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time.”

The words here are a reworded repetition of what was said in verse 6 which referred to a period of “one thousand two hundred and sixty days.” They are the same amount of time. A year in Scripture is three hundred and sixty days. Thus, verse six is referring to three- and one-half years. The words “a time” signify one year, “times” signifies two years, and “half a time” signifies half a year. Again, it is three- and one-half years. This shows that what is said in verses 12:7-12 were a parenthetical insert, and the narrative is returning to that of verse 12:6 now. This flight is said by John to be “from the presence of the serpent.”

This is the serpent referred to in verse 12:9 (aka the dragon; the serpent; the Devil; and Satan). However, though Satan is the serpent, he is working through a human agency. This then takes the reader back to the dragon of verse 12:3, meaning the “fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.”

Although that dragon (which is comprised of a group of nations) is not the same as the dragon of verses 7-12 (meaning Satan), the power behind it is. Satan is ultimately the leader of this multinational force. It is from that force that Israel will be kept safe and nourished.

Life application: When the people arrive at the location the Lord has chosen for them, He will nourish them for three- and one-half years. This may be a supernatural care for the people as it was during the wilderness wanderings, or it may be that there will be sympathetic people who tend to them by shipping in food, water, and whatever else is needed. Either way, God is already aware of what will occur and has shown that it will come to pass by placing it in His word. All of this will be in a place where the devil (meaning the satanically driven group of nations) will not harm them.

The analysis of the details here may not be one hundred percent right. The events are future, and one must take what is said elsewhere in Scripture and try to determine how it all fits together, but what is certain – despite the lesser details – is that the words of Jesus for Israel to flee to the mountains, and the words of Revelation now which speak of Israel being cared for in the wilderness, are speaking of the same future event.

The word has been given in advance, and when the time comes, those in Israel who believe what is recorded there will flee, just as they are instructed to do. As this is certain, then it is certain that the timeline of Daniel 9 is correct. It is also certain that the promises of the Lord from the Law of Moses, concerning Him never rejecting Israel, are reliable.

In other words, the Bible is seamlessly coming together to show us the faithfulness of God to the covenant He gave to Israel. As this is so, and as we are united to Him through faith in the New Covenant that was given in the blood of His Son, how much more should we trust His faithfulness to us! Let us never forget this. We are secure, and nothing can steal us away from Him. This is because of what He has done for us through JESUS!

Lord, for thousands of years Your care has been towards Israel. You safely led them to the land of Canaan, tended to them in Egypt, brought them again to Canaan, and gave it to them. And despite rebelling against you, You cared for them in exile and returned them both times to the land You promised on oath to them. Great is Your faithfulness to Israel. And so, how certain we are of Your faithfulness to those who have come to You through Christ. Thank You, O God, for Your great faithfulness! Amen.

Sunday, 7 March 2021

Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. Revelation 12:13

The previous verse revealed that the earth’s inhabitants would face woe. The devil, being filled with great wrath, knows his time is short. With that context in mind, John next says, “Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth.” As seen previously, the dating of when this event occurred is debated.

The heavenly scene John is witnessing is showing truths that have occurred or will occur, but when each occurs can be hard to pin down. Whether the dragon was cast down in a heavenly battle at the beginning, whether it was at the time of Christ’s crucifixion, or whether it occurred at some unstated point in history, it did occur. The most likely timing of the event was at the beginning. During Christ’s ministry, he was already dwelling on the earth. This is because Jesus says as much in John 12:31 –

“Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.”

The implication is that he was already cast out of heaven. He then deceived the man and became the ruler of the earth. At the time of Christ’s cross, he was then cast out of his authority to rule on the earth.

In being cast down, the dragon is working his evil within the confines of time, and time is ever moving forward. In this futile state, he will continue his attempt at thwarting the plan of God. He did this to Israel before the coming of Christ, to Christ in the temptations recorded in the gospels, and in his continued attempts to thwart God’s plans since then. John next records who his continued target is, saying, “he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.”

As has been seen, it is common for scholars to claim this is the church. The idea is, “Israel is no longer God’s people, Jesus has prevailed and is in heaven, and so this must be speaking of the church.” That is incorrect. Christ came from Israel, not the church. The biblical fact is that though Israel has been under punishment for rejecting Christ, they are still God’s people, and the Lord has made promises to them that stand. The devil, persecuting Israel, is an attempt to – once again – thwart the plans of God.

Life application: The terrible time of tribulation for Israel was prophesied by Jeremiah and will be a time like no other in their history –

“Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, But he shall be saved out of it.” Jeremiah 30:7

This “time of Jacob’s trouble” will be an immense test for Israel. Yet Jeremiah assured us in speaking the word of the Lord, assures us that “he shall be saved out of it.” No matter how tough the times are, God has and always will preserve His people Israel. This is because He is the great covenant-keeping Creator.

As this is so, and especially considering the fact that Israel completely rejected Him when He came in the flesh, how much more sure should we be that He will keep His promises to us. Israel is a template for individual salvation. Just as the Lord has faithfully kept His word to them, despite their rejection of Him, He will faithfully keep His covenant with us when we fail Him. This is because He is the faithful covenant-keeping Lord. He is JESUS!

How absolutely precious it is to know that You are ever faithful to Your people, O God. When You speak, it is in absolute truth. And when You raise Your hand in a vow, nothing in all of creation can nullify Your word. Thank You for Your steadfast faithfulness to the people of Your flock. Amen.

Saturday, 6 March 2021

Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” Revelation 12:12

The previous verses relayed the fact that the devil and his angels were cast to the earth. However, those who had come to Christ “overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.” With that in mind, the words of this verse now are a point of rejoicing for some, and of terror for others. In them, John begins with, “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them.”

The word translated as “dwell” is skénoó. It signifies the pitching of a tent, and thus tabernacling. HELPS Word Studies says, “For the Christian, 4637 (skēnóō) is dwelling in intimate communion with the resurrected Christ – even as He who Himself lived in unbroken communion with the Father during the days of His flesh (Jn 1:14).”

Those who “did not love their lives to the death” of the previous verse are now given their rest as they rejoice and tabernacle in intimate communion in heaven. However, John continues with, “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea!”

The word translated as “inhabitants” is set in contrast to those who tabernacle. It signifies one who is a permanent resident. The earth is his home. Whereas those who gave up their lives found life, those who keep their lives will only find woe. The reason for this is then given by John, saying, “For the devil has come down to you.”

This has been true since he was cast out of heaven, but now there is a difference and a sense of urgency to the matter. Christ has come, the redemptive plan of God has been worked out for two thousand years, and during that time the devil has continued to wreak havoc among men. However, those who were Christ’s have always been safely guarded by Him. But with the church gone at the rapture, and with those who followed that event through martyrdom, there is only the world with very little resistance left.

Because of this, the remaining part of the tribulation period will be as close to hell on earth as anything man has ever seen. In fact, Jesus said as much –

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. ²² And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” Matthew 24:21, 22

It is now, during this period that the devil will bring great chaos to the earth. He is, as John says, “having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” The devil is aware of what lies ahead. He knows he will be bound for a thousand years. But before that happens, it is his intent and design to bring utter ruin to as many as he can. He will work as much devastation in just a few years as he has brought in eons before this.

The sad part of this is that the words are written for any and all to see. Countless houses have a copy of the Bible lying around, and yet how many will see this terrible time firsthand because they failed to simply pick it up and accept God’s pardon which has been offered through the giving of Christ.

Life application: The devil knows the Bible and the prophecies it contains. The world has come to the point of the tribulation period where there is no remedy left. The remaining amount of time is known directly from the Bible. It is a three- and one-half year span where the devil will work his iniquity. He will do this through the antichrist and the false prophet, and the world will follow their lead.

Once the wheels are placed in motion, nothing can stop them because the book is sealed. In our hands is God’s eternal and unchanging word – the Holy Bible. It is a roadmap to the events to come and it is completely reliable in all it contains and proclaims. The world will face many great calamities during this period. This is not only spoken in Revelation. Isaiah speaks of what is coming as well. In his prophecies, he says that man will become more rare than fine gold.

Few will survive the calamitous events of the last half of the tribulation. But for the people who trust in the Lord, there will be rest. Now is the time to call out to Him and be saved. Now is the time to put your hope, trust, and faith in JESUS.

Surely there is a time for rejoicing and a time for mourning. Lord, in the life of those who have called on you, there is the surety of eternal salvation. But in the lives of many others, there isn’t that assurance. Please hear our prayers for those who have not yet called on Jesus. We pray that they will know You before their time of judgment comes. Amen.

Friday, 5 March 2021

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:11

The words of this verse are referring to those in the previous verse, those whom the devil had accused before God day and night. These fallible Christians were unworthy in and of themselves to attain eternal life or the blessings of God. However, their failings are turned into glory because of the work of Another, Jesus. As John next says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb.”

It is an aorist verb, “they have overcome.” The deed was accomplished, and it is done. Also, the Greek uses the preposition dia, meaning “through.” Thus, it reads, “they have overcome through the blood.” The meaning is “because of,” “by reason of,” or “on account of” the blood.

The devil can accuse all day long, but those accusations mean nothing when one is in Christ. By faith in what He has done, a person overcomes –

“I write to you, little children,
Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
¹³ I write to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
Because you have overcome the wicked one.
I write to you, little children,
Because you have known the Father.
¹⁴ I have written to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
I have written to you, young men,
Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you,
And you have overcome the wicked one.” 1 John 2:12-14

John, writing to fellow believers, wrote extensively about overcoming. Exactly what it means to “overcome” is explained in detail in the commentary of Revelation 2:7. To understand that more fully, please refer to that analysis.

In the passage from 1 John 2, it explicitly says that in knowing Him who is from the beginning, one has overcome the wicked one. It is through this knowledge, and by acting upon it by receiving what Christ has done, that a person overcomes. In saying, “by the blood of the Lamb,” it is speaking of the all-sufficient and substitutionary atoning death of Jesus Christ that this comes about. The blood stands as representative of the work of Christ, culminating in His sacrificial death. With this understanding, John next says, “and by the word of their testimony.”

The thought is similar to 1 John (above) where it says, “Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you.” The word of God is the basis for the word of one’s testimony. Anyone can have a testimony, but what is that testimony based on? If it is based on the word of God which tells of Christ Jesus, then it will be a properly directed testimony. For these saints, they have overcome, but that overcoming is – at times – not without a cost. As John says, “and they did not love their lives to the death.”

The idea here is not that they have overcome because they went to their death, but that they were willing to go to their death because they had overcome. It is reflective of what Jesus said in his words to the church at Smyrna –

“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10

The death referred to is not a means of overcoming, it is – at times – an anticipated result of it. The scholar Alford renders these words, “they carried their not-love of their life even unto death.” What is it that the saint is to love the most? It is not his own life. It is to love the Lord with all of one’s heart and mind and soul. When He is our highest joy and our greatest hope, the life we currently live will find its proper perspective.

Life application: No one deserves the approval of God because all have inherited Adam’s sin, and all have then heaped up more sins in this life. This is evident because the devil stands accusing us before God. There would be no accusation if there were no actual guilt. However, with this guilt the prosecution then steps forward, fingers pointed at us.

But God has allowed our sin to be transferred to a qualified Substitute – Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God. When we call out to Him in faith, we are saved through His blood. And that is based on the word of our testimony. This word is the simple proclamation of every believer, “Jesus is Lord.”

When we confess Jesus as Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, Paul writes in Romans that we are saved. Why does Paul tie belief in the resurrection with Jesus being Lord? Only a dummy would call on a dead lord because a dead lord is no lord.

Jesus prevailed over death because He never sinned, also proving He didn’t inherit Adam’s sin (and thus, Adam’s guilt). The Bible says, “the wages of sin is death.” Because Jesus didn’t sin, He was resurrected to eternal life, having paid our sin debt by His blood.

Peter describes the absolutely incomprehensible value of the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ – “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18, 19).

Let us be ever grateful for what God has done through Christ. In Him we too are overcomers. Praise God for the Lamb! Praise God for JESUS!

Glorious and Almighty God! You have done for us what we could never have done for ourselves. You have redeemed us from the wages of sin by paying for them through the life and vicarious death of Your own Son. All hail the glorious and splendid works that You have accomplished for us. All hail the Lamb – our Lord and Savior, Jesus! Amen.