THE GIFT OF PROPHECY AND GOD’S REMNANT CHURCH Lesson 4 for January 24, 2009

This week we studied the vision in Revelation 12 and its relationship with the Remnant Church. We need to interpret and clear up the symbols in this vision (the woman, the dragon, the male child...)

The chapter is divided in three sections: First section: Verses 1-6 describe a woman that is giving birth to a son. She is attacked by the dragon. Second section: Verses 7-14 describe the same events, but emphasizing the dragon’s actions. This section ends at the same prophetic time as the first one. Appendix: Verses 15-17 are set after the first and second sections. They describe what the dragon does after the 1,280 days or the time, times and half a time. A remnant arises in that moment.

FIRST SECTION SECOND SECTION APPENDIX 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. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 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. 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. 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. (v. 1-6) And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 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. 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.” Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 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 (v. 7-14) APPENDIX 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. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (v. 15-17)

THE SYMBOLS IN THE VISION The woman She is the CHURCH OF GOD, all the true believeres in the history of this world. (Isaiah 54: 5-6; 2 Corinthians 11: 2) He is clothed with the sun which is Christ (Malachi, 4: 2; Revelation, 1: 16) He wears a garland of victory (Revelation 2: 10) He has twelve stars that may represent both God’s people in the Old Testament (the 12 tribes) and in the New Testament (the 12 apostles)

THE SYMBOLS IN THE VISION The woman In verse 1, she represents the people of God who was waiting for the coming of the Messiah. They were standing on the Sanctuary atonement system based in sacrifices. That was a shadow and a reflection of Christ, just like the Moon reflects the light from the Sun (Hebrews 8:5) In verses 6 and 14, she represents the persecuted Church.

THE SYMBOLS IN THE VISION The male Child He is Jesus, the promised Messiah. He ascended into Heaven (verse 5) and was glorified (verse 10).

THE SYMBOLS IN THE VISION The dragon He is Satan (see verse 9) who drew a third of the angels in Heaven after his initial rebellion (verse 4). He got expelled from Heaven (verse 8) and he was definitely exiled to Earth after Christ being glorified (verses 10-13)

THE SYMBOLS IN THE VISION The desert and the water Water represents “peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.” (Revelation 17:15) The flood represents an invasion (Daniel 9:26) Satan “flooded” the true Chruch with unconverted people. He corrupted it and began persecuting those who still embraced the Truth. True Christians had to hide in the desert (that is, places with no or few people), like the Valdenses and other groups of believers.

THE TWO SECTIONS TOGETHER 1 There is a war in Heaven. Satan and his angels are expelled. “His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.” (verse 4) “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.” (verses 7-8)

THE TWO SECTIONS TOGETHER 2 Jesus was born in the bosom of the Church and ascends to Heaven where He’s glorified. In that moment, Satan is exiled to Earth permanently; he has no more access to Heaven (Job 1:6) “And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 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.” (verses 4-5) “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down… 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.’” (verses 9-10, 12)

THE TWO SECTIONS TOGETHER 3 Satan tries to destroy the Church of God for 1,260 years. The desert helps the woman. “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.” (verse 6) “Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 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.” (verses 13-14)

THE 1,260 DAYS One thousand two hundred and sixty days: This persecution period can be found in Daniel and Revelation expressed in different ways: One thousand two hundred and sixty days: Revelation 11:3; Revelation 12:6. A time and times and half a time: Daniel 7:25; Daniel 12:7; Revelation 12:14. Forty-two months: Revelation 11:2; Revelation 13:5.

THE 1,260 DAYS 3½ years = 42 months = 1.260 days/years We must use the prophetic arithmetic since those are prophetic times: One day = 1 year (Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6) One month = 30 days = 30 years One year = 360 days = 360 years One thousand two hundred and sixty days  1,260 years 1.260 days = 1.260 years A time and times and half a time  1,260 years 1 + 2 + ½ = 3 ½ times = 3 ½ years Time = years, from the Aramaic term ‘iddan which the Septuagint translates as year (Daniel, 4: 16) Times = 2 years. The Aramaic word for “times” means “two times”. 3 ½ years x 360 days = 1,260 days = 1,260 years Forty-two months  1,260 years 42 months x 30 days = 1,260 days = 1,260 years 3½ years = 42 months = 1.260 days/years

THE 1,260 DAYS 538 BC 1798 AD The apostate Church ruled the known world for all those years, persecuting those against her. She used the civil power during that period of time.

“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. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Revelation 12:15-17) APPENDIX: THE REMNANT

The woman (the Church of God) is helped by the Earth (not the desert) who prevented the flood of false believers and the persecution from destroying her. That happend from 1620 when the “Pilgrim Fathers” boarded the Mayflower for America. There they could worship God, enjoying freedom of religion in a new world. APPENDIX: THE REMNANT

APPENDIX: THE REMNANT So persecution was shortened 178 years before the 1260 years ended. “The persecution of the church did not continue throughout the entire period of the 1260 years. God in mercy to His people cut short the time of their fiery trial. In foretelling the “great tribulation” to befall the church, the Saviour said: “Except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” Matthew 24:22. Through the influence of the Reformation the persecution was brought to an end prior to 1798.” Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, cp. 15, pp. 266.

APPENDIX: THE REMNANT They arose after 1798. Satan shows his anger against a part of God’s Church: “the rest of her offspring” (verse 17) Who are they? What are they characterized by? APPENDIX: THE REMNANT They arose after 1798. In the “earth” that helped the woman: America. They keep God’s Commandments. They have the testimony of Jesus Christ which is “the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10)

APPENDIX: THE REMNANT 1 The Adventist Church emerged in the second half of the 19th Century, some years after 1798. 2 The Adventist Church was founded in North America, and then spread out throughout the world. 3 The Adventist Church teaches that we must keep all God’s Commandments. 4 The Adventist Church believes the sister Ellen Gould White received the gift of prophecy. She also believes that the gift of prophecy will be poured out abundantly within God’s Church in the End Time (Joel 2:28)

“God’s remnant people, standing before the world as reformers, are to show that the law of God is the foundation of all enduring reform and that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is to stand as a memorial of creation, a constant reminder of the power of God. In clear, distinct lines they are to present the necessity of obedience to all the precepts of the Decalogue. Constrained by the love of Christ, they are to co-operate with Him in building up the waste places. They are to be repairers of the breach, restorers of paths to dwell in. Isaiah 58:12.” Elena G. de White, Prophets and Kings, cp. 56, pp. 678