THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Exploring Revelation Chapter 12-14 Part 1

Clarifying the events and meanings of the interposing chapters 12,13,14.

Genesis is the book of unveiling the beginnings…. Revelation is the book of unveiling the endings. The common thread throughout the Bible is Jesus the Messiah King saving mankind and setting up His Kingdom. After the fall of man, Genesis 3:15 reveals Him to be the redeeming seed of Woman that defeats and destroys the works of satan. (In the current chapter 12 we are engaged in, in verses 13-17, we see the prophetic filling up with meaning of that curse on the “Serpent” (satan) in Genesis 3:14. “…Because thou hast done this…upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat…” As realized…. soon will come the crushing of his head. [Revelation 19:20 & 20:10] Hebrews 2:8 says that God “….hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we se not yet all things put under him.”

The Book of Revelation first confirms “in the things which are”

(Revelation 1:19) Christ’s current victory over satan as “…the faithful witness, and the First begotten of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth…” (Revelation 1:5) and in His current ministry as High Priest Mediator in the establishing of a peculiar people out of the World for His Name as Overcomers and to be kings and priests of God. [Revelation 1,2,3 with Hebrews 7:17-25] Then secondly, the Book of Revelation unveils “the things which shall be hereafter” …the meaning and means by which God employs in accomplishing all things put under Him.

Chapter 12 introduces the Woman, Man-child and the casting down of satan out of the 2^nd and 1^st  heavens down to the earth. Note: The text refers to both THE WOMAN AND THE SERPENT being in heavens and on the earth at the same time, representative of their having representation in both realms. This not being The Heaven of heavens, but the heaven associated with this World/earth. This is clearly seen in that the serpent was present in this heaven. And since long ago, he has been relegated to the heavens associated with this World, having already fallen from the Heaven. [Isaiah 14:12]

Thus also the vision is instructive as to where the Man-child was caught up to, not to the Heaven, but into the heavens associated with the World and Earth. That being into the Presence of God on the Administrative Throne and Jesus Christ where He receives His investiture. There is rejoicing in the heavens as Christ now begins to take His Kingdom in the realm above.

Revelation 12:7 THE UNSEEN WAR IN THE heavens associated with the World/Earth. This war referred to is not “was” but “arose” and is therefore future and has no reference to an earlier period. The war arose as a direct response from satan’s particular enmity against this child. It is his resistance to the birth and catching up of the worthies who were watching, praying and thereby were faithful and fruitful living Christians, (Luke 21:36) who will rule from this sphere from where he is now ejected.

The Woman is in travail….as satan is aware and is in a posture of destroying. Meaning that the times leading up to the First Fruits offering are increasingly tough. It is not the immature prematurely taken as the Fruit the Lord will pick away from the heat of the Tribulation. As there is no purpose nor need for further ripening. They will be rescued as a reward for overcoming the flesh, the World, and satan by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony. And they loved not their lives unto the death. Only those not yet ripe will be left to endure the Great Tribulation.

There is no hint of a Resurrection with this catching away, as

this is not the event of 1Thessalonians 4:13-17 or 1 Corinthians 15:51,52. For the Manchild/Firstfruits event is lacking: in the voice of the arch-angel, the sounding of the 7^th Trump, the raising of the faithful out from among the dead, the remaining now ripe that endure through the Tribulation. The First Resurrection being at the “Harvest”; those faithful of all time, including the Apostles who had previously died and who had secured their rights to the Millennial reign with Christ far before Matthew 19:28. There is no hint of superiority of the First Fruits as it relates to future thrones or ruling. [Revelation 20:4-6]

The 12^th chapter is critical for not only understanding correctly the Book of Revelation, but the entire Bible as it relates to the salvation plan and the Kingdom of God. Whatever the interpretation of this chapter, it must be consistent with the remainder of the Book if it is going to be considered true. That is to say, one must deal with the figures of speech, the Woman and the two members of Her Family, in that one is taken to heavens before the Anti-Christ is manifest, while the other is left upon the earth to be persecuted by him. IT IS HERE THAT THE ERRORS OF OUR DAY ARE FURTHER PROMOTED ON TWO FRONTS: The one being that ALL Christians are TAKEN and that prior to the Beast’s manifestation. The other insists that ALL Christians must remain till the end of that period. Neither being correct in its interpretations.  Chapter 14 greatly helps to rightly discern the happenings of chapter 12.

VERSE 10 &11 The Kingdom is now begun. The time of patience over. Satan is cast out of heaven associated with the World. The First Fruits is raised up into that place. These are they whose right of territory were contested by the accuser during the time of the Throne of grace. Now it is contested by battle and might. Satan is conquered FOR them in once sense, and BY them in another. They loved not their souls unto death. They crucified their souls. They despised the things of this World and had their eyes set on the prize of the heavenlies’ inheritance in Christ. Their sins against God were specified by satan/the accuser day and night. But against them/him was the Blood of the Lamb, and the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

The Blood of the Lamb is also a reference to the Passover of Israel.

TYPES

Enoch and Noah. As the Woman is partly Enoch and partly Noah.
Sarah and Hagar. As the Woman is partly Sarah and partly Hagar.