Revelation 12 – Great wonders in the heavens Teaching the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) Revelation 12 – Great wonders in the heavens Please visit our website: www.livingstonesnewforest.org.uk

Great wonders A great woman giving birth A great dragon A third of the stars falling to earth A man-child born and snatched up to God War breaking out in heaven The dragon hurled down to earth The pursuit of the woman The woman born up on eagle’s wings into the wilderness Very common in revelation Revelation 13 v 13 & 14, rev 16 v 14, rev 19 v 20 Sometimes deceitful miracles – a titanic battle

The woman A woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars. Some say the church – the woman gave birth to the man child – Jesus – Jesus gave birth to the church not the other way around Some say the woman was Mary – the problem is that Mary is then told to flee to the mountains where she will be protected for 1260 days, so it doesn’t fit The proper fit rests with Israel Genesis 37 – the sun and moon in Joseph’s dream were symbolic of Jacob (Israel) Israel the wife of Jehovah that brought forth the Messiah Ezekiel 18 verses 8 – 14 Jeremiah 31 verse 32 Isaiah 54 v 5 The wife of Jehovah brought forth Jehovah’s son (the Messiah)

The woman The woman in scripture always connected with religion Chapter 2 v 7 – Jezebel the woman of false religion Chapter 17 v 1 – Harlot – false religion Chapter 19 v 7 marriage of the Lamb – Wife Chapter 21 v 9 Bride – Lamb’s wife Jeremiah 3 verse 20 – the treacherous wife of Jehovah Ephesians 5 – the Church is the bride of Christ 1 Corinthians 10 verse 32 indicates three groups of people in the scriptures – Jews, Gentiles and the Church of God (Jews and Gentiles who are saved) All of the symbolism here reflects Jewishness

The woman and the child The territory of the kingdom Daniel 6 v 26 an indestructible kingdom Daniel 7 v 26 & 27 – A kingdom with everlasting dominion 2 Peter 1 v 11 – salvation is entering the everlasting kingdom of Christ The territory of the kingdom Psalm 47 v 7 & 8 – all the earth Psalm 103 v 19 – rules over all the earth Psalm 48 v 1 & 2 – from Israel and Jerusalem The crown of 12 stars 12 speaks of either 12 tribes or 12 apostles 12 tribes were part of the history of Messiah Rev 7 – 144000 symbolism of 12 in revelation The woman in labour

The woman and the child Cries of labour pains Israel travailing when Messiah came Described in Isaiah 26 verses 17 & 18 Also in Isaiah 66 – striving to be born and promised peace and comfort The child was a man-child The authority of the man-child – rule with a rod of iron (imagery from Psalm 2 v 7-11) The rod for discipline and comfort (Psalm 23 – they rod and staff comfort me) Rod of iron, however, is not for comfort but for judgement

The Child Zechariah 13 v 8 & 9 – two thirds will not turn to messiah and will die: one third will be saved Revelation 19 verses 13 – 15 rod of iron and wielding a sword The child was ‘caught up to God’ – ascension True of us too 1 Thessalonians 4 v 17 And of Paul – 2 Corinthians 12 He came from the Jewish woman (Mary was from Nathan’s line) at a time when Israel was in travail

Israel – the woman in travail 722 BC – captive by Assyrians Amalgamation with the Assyrians – lost national identity and produced the Samaritans The title ‘Jew’ came from Judah – previously called ‘The children of Israel’ After the kingdom was divided: Northern tribes under Rehoboam and Jereboam were idolators and worshipped Jeroboam’s two golden calves. Southern Kingdoms Judah & Benjamin became known as Judah

Israel – the woman in travail 586 BC Jerusalem burned down and then 70 years in Babylon Cyrus brought them back and the temple was rebuilt Men who were young at the time of Solomon’s temple said it did not compare well Prophets said neither would compare to the temple to come No voice of God or shekinah presence for 400 years 1st time God speaks after this is to Elizabeth when they were under Rome 2nd time to Mary Then there was the slaughter of infants when boys were killed fulfilling the prophecy of Ramah (Matt 2 v 18: Jer 31 v 15 and Genesis 35 v 16 It was into this that The Man-child came – Messiah the King

So what’s it all about This is a history of the battle for humanity between God and Satan We go on to read of the victory taken by God It demonstrates that the battle has been a spiritual one between the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places – Ephesians 6 v 10 – 20 It reminds us that the birth and progress of Messiah was fiercely contested We are also reminded that Satan will be full of wrath because he knows he has limited time – he is going to lose.

Teaching the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) Welcome to our service Please visit our website: www.livingstonesnewforest.org.uk