Revelation 12 shows us what time has accomplished according
to the plan of God. Though we think that God, on His eternal clock, does not
mark time, that is not so. Jesus came at the appointed time, born to redeem
Mankind (Gal 4:4). Jerusalem will be trampled until the time of the Gentiles
has been completed (Lk 21:24). And, at the fulfillment of the time allotted,
God will bring all things together under Christ so that He might be the head
(Eph 1:10). God purposes His will to be accomplished by set times, and has
seasons for each part of the workings of His plan to take place.
Childbirth represents a process that has a set time of fulfillment wherein God’s purposes are accomplished. Paul referred to this when he told the Galatians that he was in the pains of childbirth until Christ would be formed in them (Gal 4:19). The vision of the woman in labor, bearing a man child, represents the fulfillment of the time appointed to bring God’s will to pass.
Revelation 12 begins with the vision of a woman “clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars on her head”. In the Old Testament the Lord has referred to His people as a woman, or bride, and so we see that God’s current people (the Church) are represented by a woman, pregnant with His purposes. She is clothed with the sun, the glory of the Son of God. She stands on the moon. The scriptures tell us that the moon is appointed for seasons (Ps 104:19). The Church stands on the times of the Jews, and could have no footing without them. The Jewish nation held the promises of our faith until the Christians’ time came to be.
The crown represents Eternal Life, and the 12 stars are the Apostles of Christ. It was through revelation from God that the Apostles received knowledge of what the Church should be (Rom 16:25-26; Eph 3:5). And it was through the writings of the prophets of the Old Testament that this mystery was preserved.
At the time in which the woman is ready to bear her child (overcomers, birthed by the Church), the red dragon, satan, is poised to devour him. Satan tries to destroy God’s work before it begins. It would be a great threat to him and his kingdom if the child with the rod of iron were ruling. However, God’s plan is to continue the work of the man child ruling with a rod of iron, from His throne. The strength of victory lies not in the man child, but in the dispersion of the rod of iron to all the seed of the woman. The rod of iron is a reward to the overcomer (Rev 2:27) and resides with Christ (Rev 19:15).
God has purposed for the overcomer to be seated with His Son in His throne (Rev 3:21). Indeed, this is where God’s followers will fellowship with Him, represented as dining with Jesus (Rev 3:20). It is because satan can no longer hear God’s words that He is jealous of God’s people, who can hear them. The seed of the woman have more than the rod of iron; they have the testimony of Jesus, which is the Spirit of Prophecy. God’s people, who have the Spirit of Prophecy, can overcome satan because they hear God.
God did not just birth the Redeemer for a set time on the earth; He sent His essence into the believers through His Holy Spirit. Jesus told His disciples “It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” (Jn 16:7). The overcomer also receives the morning star (Rev 2:28). We are in the dark until the morning star rises in our hearts, bringing revelation and understanding (2 Pet 1:19). God has “blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ”, and “seated us with Him in heavenly places” (Eph 1:3; 2:6). All of God’s spiritual riches reside in Christ and are given to those who sit in the Throne with Him.
God has not removed satan (the dragon), and the tests and temptations that Jesus had to overcome are still on the earth. These tests and temptations are spiritual, in “the heart”, and enter the mind (2 Cor 10:5). The overcomer needs to be alert and ready for battle (Ephesians 6:14). In the next lesson we will look more closely at the dragon, and his war with the saints.
Childbirth represents a process that has a set time of fulfillment wherein God’s purposes are accomplished. Paul referred to this when he told the Galatians that he was in the pains of childbirth until Christ would be formed in them (Gal 4:19). The vision of the woman in labor, bearing a man child, represents the fulfillment of the time appointed to bring God’s will to pass.
Revelation 12 begins with the vision of a woman “clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars on her head”. In the Old Testament the Lord has referred to His people as a woman, or bride, and so we see that God’s current people (the Church) are represented by a woman, pregnant with His purposes. She is clothed with the sun, the glory of the Son of God. She stands on the moon. The scriptures tell us that the moon is appointed for seasons (Ps 104:19). The Church stands on the times of the Jews, and could have no footing without them. The Jewish nation held the promises of our faith until the Christians’ time came to be.
The crown represents Eternal Life, and the 12 stars are the Apostles of Christ. It was through revelation from God that the Apostles received knowledge of what the Church should be (Rom 16:25-26; Eph 3:5). And it was through the writings of the prophets of the Old Testament that this mystery was preserved.
At the time in which the woman is ready to bear her child (overcomers, birthed by the Church), the red dragon, satan, is poised to devour him. Satan tries to destroy God’s work before it begins. It would be a great threat to him and his kingdom if the child with the rod of iron were ruling. However, God’s plan is to continue the work of the man child ruling with a rod of iron, from His throne. The strength of victory lies not in the man child, but in the dispersion of the rod of iron to all the seed of the woman. The rod of iron is a reward to the overcomer (Rev 2:27) and resides with Christ (Rev 19:15).
God has purposed for the overcomer to be seated with His Son in His throne (Rev 3:21). Indeed, this is where God’s followers will fellowship with Him, represented as dining with Jesus (Rev 3:20). It is because satan can no longer hear God’s words that He is jealous of God’s people, who can hear them. The seed of the woman have more than the rod of iron; they have the testimony of Jesus, which is the Spirit of Prophecy. God’s people, who have the Spirit of Prophecy, can overcome satan because they hear God.
God did not just birth the Redeemer for a set time on the earth; He sent His essence into the believers through His Holy Spirit. Jesus told His disciples “It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” (Jn 16:7). The overcomer also receives the morning star (Rev 2:28). We are in the dark until the morning star rises in our hearts, bringing revelation and understanding (2 Pet 1:19). God has “blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ”, and “seated us with Him in heavenly places” (Eph 1:3; 2:6). All of God’s spiritual riches reside in Christ and are given to those who sit in the Throne with Him.
God has not removed satan (the dragon), and the tests and temptations that Jesus had to overcome are still on the earth. These tests and temptations are spiritual, in “the heart”, and enter the mind (2 Cor 10:5). The overcomer needs to be alert and ready for battle (Ephesians 6:14). In the next lesson we will look more closely at the dragon, and his war with the saints.
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