Revelation (Written)

Saturday, 27 February 2021

She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. Revelation 12:5

In the previous commentary, it was noted that the timeline of this could be speaking of the past, when Christ was born into the world, or it could be speaking of the future when Christ will be born into the nation of Israel as her Messiah. The latter view is surely correct. One’s view on the matter will shape how the rest of the vision is formed. One option against the first view is that no definitive structure of the dragon fits past history at the time of Christ’s birth. Therefore, it is most surely a future event when Israel is in the pains of labor concerning Messiah being born into the collective body.

The verbs of the verse support the latter view quite well. A more literal translation says, “and she brought forth a male child, who is about to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, and caught away was her child unto God and His throne.”

The verb “brought forth” is aorist. The verb “is about” is present. And the verb “caught away” is aorist. He was brought forth at a set time. He is about to rule the nations, and he was caught away at a set time. With this understood, John begins the verse with, “She bore a male Child.” The Greek reads, “a Son, a male.” As Vincent’s says, “The object is to emphasize, not the sex, but the peculiar qualities of masculinity – power and vigor.” That is then evidenced in the next words, saying, “who was to rule all nations.”

The Greek, being in the present tense (noted above), conveys the thought of, “who is about to rule all nations.” This is well reflected in the 2^nd Psalm –

“I will declare the decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
⁹ You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’” Psalm 2:7-9

In these words, Revelation 12 corresponds to the twelfth letter of the Hebrew aleph-bet. The twelfth letter, lamad, pictures a shepherd’s staff, and it signifies “teach,” “yoke,” “authority,” and “bind.” In this chapter is found the “male Child who is to rule all nations.” In this case, and as noted in the psalm, it will be “with a rod of iron.”

Iron denotes strength, be it in binding together, in government, in hard service, in bondage, etc. A rod of iron then means that the rule of this Son will be firm over the nations with no chance of it being overthrown or subverted. With that thought in mind, John continues the verse with, “And her Child was caught up.”

As noted above, the verb is aorist. There is no reason that this cannot be speaking of a past event even though the previous clause is a future event. The Child of Israel, her Messiah, was caught up as is recorded in Acts 1 –

“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, ¹¹ who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’” Acts 1:9-11

Christ ascended at that time, and He will return again to Israel, even to the same mount from which He ascended –

“Then the Lord will go forth
And fight against those nations,
As He fights in the day of battle.
⁴ And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,
Which faces Jerusalem on the east.
And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two,
From east to west,
Making a very large valley;
Half of the mountain shall move toward the north
And half of it toward the south.” Zechariah 14:3, 4

Until His return, however, John finishes the thought with the words, “to God and His throne.” Jesus said to His disciples that He was going to His Father (John 14:12). He says a comparable thought several times elsewhere, such as in John 20:17. Upon His ascension, He returned to God. In this ascension, it is to the throne of God, as is evidenced already in Revelation. The throne is the position of power and authority. This is where He remains until He will come again.

Life application: Some commentators claim that this verse is speaking of the Church, and not Jesus, because “her Child was caught up to God and to His throne.” The idea is that the Church, not Jesus, will be raptured in the twinkling of an eye. Another support for this view is that in Revelation 2:27, Jesus grants authority to those who overcome (meaning those who make up the Church) to rule [the nations] with a rod of iron.

This is incorrect. The authority that is granted here is referring to the overall ruler of the nations (as is defined in Psalm 2 noted above). This rule belongs to the Messiah. Further, the Greek of the verse, “a Son, male,” dispels this. The repetition clearly identifies this One as an individual, not a corporate body. It is referring to Jesus and His right to rule.

Jesus, after His work on earth, was caught up to God. In like manner, the church will be gathered in the clouds. This verse then demonstrates that the church age is a distinct dispensation, and also that Christ will return again to rule during the millennium.

In other words, God is not through with the Jewish people and there is still a plan for them in the future. This future begins with the tribulation period of Revelation and continues through the millennial reign. In order to dismiss this, doctrine will suffer. Further, the analysis of the remaining chapters of Revelation will only become more and more convoluted as scholars must “symbolize” passages that would otherwise be taken literally.

God has a plan for the Jewish people, and Jesus will return to them. Their unfaithfulness in no way negates His faithfulness. This is a wonderful truth that extends even to us. Though we fail in many ways, if we are His, He will never reject us. This is the glory of God’s Christ. He is ever faithful and true. He is JESUS!

Lord, it is evident that even when we are faithless, You remain faithful. When we turn our backs on You, You still abundantly forgive when we turn and call on Jesus as Lord. Thank You for this. And thank You for being faithful to the people of Israel despite their disobedience. Great and splendid is Your working in and for the people of Your world! Amen.

Friday, 26 February 2021

His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. Revelation 12:4

John now continues with his description of the vision before his eyes. In the previous verse, he described the great, fiery red dragon. He continues with that imagery now, saying, “His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven.”

Like in verse 6:13 and elsewhere, the meaning of the words “stars” is not intended to be taken literally. Rather, it is speaking of either heavenly beings, such as angels (thus these would be fallen angels), or it is speaking of humans in high positions, religious or otherwise. This is seen, for example, in Daniel 8:10. Regardless as to which is correct, John next says, “and threw them to the earth.”

Possibly these beings were in powerful, or exalted, positions and have been cast out of those positions. The dragon is probably a symbol of Satan’s power being worked out in a human government. As such, it would then mean that it has consolidated great power by removing people from their high positions. These “stars” could be either religious or political figures. Either way, the dragon has strengthened its own authority by removing these figures. In this strengthened position, it then says, “And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth.”

Again, the woman is Israel, not the church. If the dragon is speaking of an earthly system, the idea is that this great power is ready to act against Israel at the time of her giving birth. The reason for this is “to devour her Child as soon as it was born.”

Here, the translators have chosen to capitalize the word “Child,” thus they have interpreted this to indicate that it is Christ Jesus. The Greek word is teknon. It means a child, descendant, or even inhabitant. Such a child can be a fully grown person, such as is assumed to be the case in Matthew 9:2 –

“Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.’”

In that verse in Matthew, the word “son,” is the Greek word teknon. John uses the term numerous times in his epistles when speaking of believers in Christ. Thus, it reflects a state of being. HELPS word studies defines it as –

“…properly, a child; (figuratively) anyone living in full dependence on the heavenly Father, i.e. fully (willingly) relying upon the Lord in glad submission. This prompts God to transform them into His likeness.”

If the word “Child” here is speaking of Christ, which is the likely interpretation, it could be referring to Him at any time.

In other words, the dragon has positioned itself in anticipation of the birth of the Child. Therefore, this scene is either a look back into the past at the coming of Christ, or a look into the future when Israel is about to “give birth” to their knowledge of Christ, whom they have rejected for the past millennia. Either way, the woman is Israel, not the church. Christ wasn’t born from the church. Rather, the church came from Christ’s completed work.

As Revelation is a book of prophecy, and unless this portion of the vision is looking back to the birth of Christ, it is most probable that what is being described here is actually future. Even though Christ was literally born two thousand years ago, He has not yet been “born” into the life of Israel. However, with the coming of the two witnesses, the people have come to the point where He is coming to be understood as their Messiah.

The idea of giving birth in this manner is not unknown to Scripture. Paul uses similar terminology in Galatians 4 –

“My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, ²⁰ I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.” Galatians 4:19, 20

Life application:  Satan has been at war with the message of the coming Christ since the beginning. He was prophesied all the way back in Genesis 3:15. From that time on, the devil has used every means possible to thwart this redemptive process. In His first advent, Israel rejected Him. But He promised He would return to them when they called out to Him –

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! ³⁸ See! Your house is left to you desolate; ³⁹ for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Matthew 23:27-39

When Christ returns, Satan will be bound for a thousand years (Revelation 20:2). In order to stop this, he will work to again subvert the very people through whom Christ came and to whom He has promised to return. But the book is written, and the devil is not God. God’s plans cannot be thwarted!

If the scene John is describing is future, as is the likely scenario, the attempt to subvert Israel’s conversion and to stop the coming millennial reign of Christ will not succeed. This is because God has spoken. What He has determined will come to pass. There will be the promised rule among Israel, and it will be under the authority of God’s Messiah, our Lord JESUS!

Lord, the plan You have laid out in the Bible is glorious and it is one that spans the ages. From Adam all the way to the end, You are in complete control. Despite our weaknesses and failings, You have accomplished wondrous deeds by bringing many of Your wayward children home by the work of this precious Child who came and dwelt among us! Amen.

Thursday, 25 February 2021

And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. Revelation 12:3

John continues with the vision which began in verse 12:1. The woman clothed in the sun has cried out in labor and in pain, ready to give birth. After noting this, John continues, saying, “And another sign appeared in heaven.” This doesn’t mean a new vision, but another part of the same unfolding vision.

Being a “sign,” it is given to represent something else. In other words, the language is not to be taken as literal. Rather, what is seen is given as an allegory. Just as the woman is given as a picture of Israel, what is seen here is only a picture representing other things. As it is seen “in heaven,” it is representing spiritual matters. With that understood, John says, “behold, a great fiery red dragon.”

The word drakón, translated as “dragon,” is introduced into Scripture here. It will be seen thirteen times in Revelation. Of this word, HELPS Word Studies states –

“…properly ‘seeing one,’ used of mythical dragons (huge serpents) seeing their prey from far away; (figuratively) Satan (Rev 12:7,9) exercising his subtle (indirect) impact on heathen governments (powers) – i.e. accomplishing his hellish agenda from ‘behind the scenes.’”

As stated, this dragon can represent Satan, or it can represent the powers of Satan as worked out in governments. The same Greek word is found in the Greek translation of the Old Testament in the account of the serpent on the pole in Numbers 21. It is also used in Job 41:1, Isaiah 27:1, Jeremiah 51:34, and Ezekiel 29:3 – all in various ways. For example, in Ezekiel, it is used as a metaphor for Pharaoh, king of Egypt.

The description of it being “great” signifies that it is large and powerful. The color, translated as “fiery red,” was used in verse 6:4. This is its last use in Scripture. As seen then, the color being fiery red is overwhelmingly agreed upon to signify war, just as the planet Mars, the red planet, is a symbol of war. This probably isn’t coincidence as even from the first chapter of the Bible, the heavenly objects are meant “for signs and for seasons.” Planets and constellations are mentioned elsewhere in the Bible in this way.

Of this dragon, John next says it is “having seven heads.” The symbolism here is probably that of a group of nations. This type of apocalyptic literature was seen in the Old Testament writings, such as in Daniel 7. The dragon is a body of united governments, and the heads probably represent individual nations. From there, it says, “and ten horns.” Horns in Scripture signify power and authority. What is seen here is similar to the words of Daniel –

 “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. ⁸ I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.” Daniel 7:7, 8

John next says, “and seven diadems on his heads.” The word translated as “diadem,” is diadéma. This is its first use in Scripture and it will be seen three times. It signifies a royal crown. HELPS Word Studies says –

“…referring to: a) the pagan empires of ancient history which opposed God (Rev 12:3); b) the end-times coalition led by Antichrist (Rev 13:1); and c) the infinite majesty (kingship) of Christ (Rev 19:12).”

Their analysis places this account in Revelation 12:3 as ancient history. This is a possibility. As this is apocalyptic literature, it could be a panorama of past history leading into the future, or it could be events that are yet ahead in the redemptive narrative. Those options will be explored in the verses ahead. For now, the symbolism appears to be –

A great, fiery red dragon – An entity filled with satanic influence, bent on war.
Having seven heads – Comprised of seven distinct nations.
And ten horns – Under the authority of ten powerful rulers.
And seven diadems on his heads – Seven of the entities are kingdoms or nations under a single leader rule.

Obviously, there is speculation as to the structure of this beast, but this gives a general outline of what it may be comprised of.

Life application: Jesus called the devil “a murderer from the beginning…” Right from the time of the creation of man, the devil set out to kill and destroy. In the Garden of Eden, he tempted man and caused death to enter the world when man believed his lies. He continues to deceive and destroy both individuals and nations. He does it by influencing people and nations as well.

The picture given here is a corporate body that has been established on earth and which has the intent of thwarting God’s purposes for the redemption of man. This redemption was promised all the way back in Genesis 3:15 and reflects the anticipated Messiah. From the beginning, and even until today, all of the devil’s efforts are to undermine what God has done in and through Christ.

But the devil is a created being. He is finite and limited. God is infinite and unlimited. There should be no fear that the devil can steal one of the redeemed of the Lord away. Such cannot occur. Once a person is saved by the blood of the Lamb, he is forever secure. Let us trust this and not be overcome with anxiety about the wiles of the devil. Let us put our hope, trust, and confidence in the Lord’s Christ. Let us fix our eyes on JESUS!

Oh God, no matter what the devil tries and no matter how fierce are his minions who work his evil, we know that You are infinitely greater. We know that Your plans and purposes for the restoration of all things will never be thwarted. Your book is written and the prophecies are given. We can watch them unfold with great surety that all will come about as stated! Amen.

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. Revelation 12:2

John’s vision of the woman, clothed with the sun, continues now, saying, “Then being with child.” The woman, who is believed to represent Israel (see the previous commentary), bears a son. This could be one of two circumstances. It could be Israel bringing forth the Messiah at the time of Christ’s first advent, or it could be Israel in the end times symbolically bringing forth Messiah (accepting Him as Messiah). More likely, it is the latter.

It is from a mother that a child is born. In other words, it is Israel who brought forth the Child who is the Redeemer and Lord. Jesus was not brought forth by the church. Instead, the church issued from His work at the cross. It is absurd to think the church brought forth Jesus.

The symbolism now being conveyed goes all the way back to Genesis 3:15 which is known as the Protoevangelium, or the “first Gospel.”

“And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15

The seed of the woman would be the one to destroy the devil’s work. In the physical sense, this was Mary in whose womb Christ was conceived, but Mary was of the seed of Israel and the line of David. It is this group of people who are symbolically represented by the woman. John next says, “she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.”

This is a reference to Isaiah 26:17 which is speaking of Israel –

“As a woman with child
Is in pain and cries out in her pangs,
When she draws near the time of her delivery,
So have we been in Your sight, O Lord.”

The symbolism of Israel being the woman continues in Isaiah 66 –

“Before she was in labor, she gave birth;
Before her pain came,
She delivered a male child.
⁸ Who has heard such a thing?
Who has seen such things?
Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day?
Or shall a nation be born at once?
For as soon as Zion was in labor,
She gave birth to her children.” Isaiah 66:7, 8

Again, in Micah, it says –

“Be in pain, and labor to bring forth,
O daughter of Zion,
Like a woman in birth pangs.
For now you shall go forth from the city,
You shall dwell in the field,
And to Babylon you shall go.
There you shall be delivered;
There the Lord will redeem you
From the hand of your enemies.” Micah 4:10

The church is never said to be such an entity.

Life application: As noted in the previous verse, the words of this chapter of Revelation have been, and continue to be, used to predict the dating of end-times events. By looking to conjunctions in the stars and equating them with the symbolism in Revelation, people have scammed countless multitudes into believing they have determined a set date for events like the rapture, the second coming, and so on.

If you are presented with such an analysis, don’t waste your time on the video, and be sure not to waste your money on the book. The future will unfold exactly as God intends, and it will not be as they predict. Be sure of this. We are given a general outline of events so that when they happen, those who have experienced them will know it was of God. The only thing that happens when people insert themselves into the narrative in advance is that they damage other people’s faith, and they make themselves look stupid.

In the end, let us be patient and do as the Lord says for us to do. Let us be witnesses to the wonderful workings of God in Christ. Let us be witnesses for our precious Lord JESUS.

Heavenly Father, since the world began, You have spoken through Your holy prophets concerning the coming of the Messiah. And You have brought Him forth through Your beloved people Israel. And now all nations share in the rich heritage of the birth of Your Son – fully God and fully man. Thank You for what Christ Jesus means in our lives. We once again have restoration with you. Hallelujah and Amen.

Tuesday, 23 February 2021

Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Revelation 12:1

Note for Chapter 12: The events portrayed in this chapter have been, and continue to be, used in an attempt to predict the future, such as the dating of the rapture. This is an incorrect, arrogant, and twisted approach to Scripture, and should be rejected by the follower of Christ, not pursued or applauded.

Regardless as to whether the evaluation of these verses by me is correct or not, it is certain that attempting to predict the dating of such future events is, in fact, wrong. Jesus indicates this in Acts 1. We are to allow God to work out the timing of future events according to His wisdom, and we are to not attempt to usurp the Lord by ignoring His words concerning such matters –

“It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. ⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:7, 8

Revelation 12:1 introduces a new interlude with beautiful symbolism of the workings of God through human history. During this display, in this and in the coming verses, there will be seven distinct characters and four different conflicts presented for contemplation.

In this verse, John begins with, “Now a great sign appeared in heaven.” The word “sign” is correct. It is from the Greek word sémeion, and it is something that represents something else. In other words, circumcision was given to Israel as a “sign.” It was to signify the coming of Christ who would “cut” the sin nature in man. Circumcision does not make a person righteous, but it rather anticipates righteousness. Thus, it is a “sign” of something to come.

Charles Ellicott rightly says of this word, “It is a sign which is seen: not a mere wonder, but something which has a meaning; it is not ‘a surprise ending with itself,’ but a signal to arrest attention, and possessing significance; there is ‘an idea concealed behind it.’”

Now, we first see “a great sign in heaven.” In Genesis 1:14, it says the heavenly lights were given “for signs and for seasons.” There, the Hebrew word oth is used, carrying the same general meaning as the Greek word used here. This is a clue that even the heavens declare the unfolding plan of God. The very order of the constellations carries His message and displays His wisdom. In Daniel 4:3, it is proclaimed, “How great are His signs!”

God has woven into the creation His workings in a way that reveals the message of redemption found in Jesus. Other types of signs we are given come from His word. They are symbolic messages which convey truths concerning reality. These are known as apocalyptic symbols.

In this verse, we begin to see one of them as John next describes the sign, saying, “a woman clothed with the sun.”  To be “clothed” with something is to have that characteristic as one’s very nature. In the 104^th Psalm, it says, “O Lord my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty, Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment…”

This woman then bears the radiance of the sun. In Malachi 4:2, the coming Messiah is called “the Sun of righteousness.” John next continues the description saying, “with the moon under her feet.” The moon is the lesser light which rules the night, as is indicated in Genesis 1:16. It is also the sign of coming judgment when it is eclipsed.

During an eclipse, it turns a blood-red color – a sign used several times in the Bible in this way (Joel 2:31, Acts 2:20, and Revelation 6:12). The full moon shines during the nighttime. But the night is also the time Jesus said holds the power of darkness (Luke 22:53). And so even during times of darkness, the reflection of the sun on the moon provides illumination.

John finishes the verse by saying, “and on her head a garland of twelve stars.” The stars were explained in Genesis when Joseph (whose life is used in the Bible as a picture of Christ) had a dream. They represent the twelve sons (and thus the twelve tribes) of Israel (Genesis 37:9).

With these things in mind, we can evaluate who this woman represents. Three main figures have been proposed by past scholars – Mary, the mother of Jesus; the church; or the Jewish nation.

It is certainly not Mary. She was the human mother of Jesus who came from one of the tribes of Israel. Further, the corresponding symbolism in the chapter surely negates it being her.

The woman is also not the church. As will be seen in the coming verses, the woman will bring forth a Son, who is Jesus. The church did not bring forth Jesus. Only a bias against the nation of Israel (the Jewish people) could come to such a conclusion.

What seems most likely is that the woman represents the nation of Israel who brought forth the Messiah. Jesus was of the tribe of Judah from the nation of Israel. He is the glory of Israel shining forth and clothing the nation with His splendor. He is the One adorned by the twelve tribes of Israel. He is the One who stands over the night in both rule and judgment. He was born from Israel. He lived as a Jew under the Law of Moses. He died in fulfillment of that law while, at the same time, establishing a New Covenant for the house of Israel and the house of Judah (See Jeremiah 31:31) in His blood. He was resurrected as a Jew. And He will return to His people Israel and rule among them from Jerusalem during the millennial reign.

Therefore, Israel is the most reasonable interpretation for who the woman is.

Life application: The apocalyptic literature in the Bible is interpreted in an almost unlimited number of ways in order to suit the preconceived notions of the interpreter. What is presented here is a “best guess” of the symbolism presented based on what the Bible has revealed already. As noted, Joseph’s dream in Genesis revealed that the twelve stars reflected the twelve sons of Israel.

The main thing to remember is that the book of Revelation is given to reveal Jesus. The symbolism, even if interpreted incorrectly in one point or another, is always given for this main purpose. As this is absolutely certain, and as Jesus has explicitly told us that we will not be made aware of the times and seasons for the fulfillment of future events, let us not insert ourselves into the narrative, except as the Bible has already done so.

As members of the church, and as we know there will be a rapture, we can rightly say, “I know I will be raptured someday.” But when someone says, “I know when the rapture will be,” he has inserted himself into the narrative in a manner that Jesus has said will not happen. Therefore, that person is to be ignored. In the end, let us be patient and do as the Lord says for us to do. Let us be witnesses to the wonderful workings of God in Christ. Let us be witnesses for our precious Lord JESUS.

Lord God, Your word shows us that You have a plan, and that plan is being worked out carefully and precisely in the stream of time. You have shown that You will bring Your people to Yourself some wonderful day. But You have also given us work to do while we are here. Help us to be faithful to that calling, just as You are faithful in working out your plans. You are the God who will fulfill every promise You have made, and at just the right time. Praise You for Your faithfulness. Amen.