09.24 Revelation 12:1-6 WONDERS IN HEAVEN
Revelation 12:1-6 WONDERS IN HEAVEN
Intro: This is a chapter of great controversy. Many stumble here and fall into the trap of false doctrine. A person’s interpretation of the whole book hinges on what they believe about this particular passage of scripture. As always, we will intrepret the scriptures in a way that allows them to speak for themselves. Notice the word “wonder”, it means a sign, an unusual event worthy of special notice. Something very strange is going on here. The vision that John is seeing is partly past and partly future. Let’s spend a few minutes looking into these verses and notice some wonders in Heaven.
I. Revelation 12:1-2 A WOMAN
A. She has been variously interpreted as: The Virgin Mary, The Church, and many female cult leaders and even some women preachers have tried to set themselves as this woman.
B. Her true identity?
1. Seen in her attire: Ill. Genesis 37:9-11 a. Sun - Glory, Isaiah 46:13 b. Moon - Dominion - Genesis 13:15 c. Crown - Rule - The Jew will dominate the post-millenial world. 2. Seen in her crown - (12 Stars - Ill. 12 tribes - Genesis 37:9; Genesis 35:22) C. Her Pain - This also displays her identity.
1. Her Cry - Israel has ever cried for her deliver, the Messiah to come - Exodus 3:7, God has heard their pleas. 2. Her Travail - Israel has been in travail since the beginning. (Ill. All the persecutions.) (Ill. Isaiah 66:7-8) (Ill. Israel is not finished with pain and suffering, she will go through the tribulation.) 3. Her Pain - Israel desired and desires to see Messiah come - Isaiah 9:6 D. The woman without doubt pictures Israel. (Ill. God’s Wife - Isaiah 50:1; Jeremiah 3:8)
The church is a virgin bride, 2 Corinthians 11:2. The woman pictured here is obviously no virgin!
II. Revelation 12:3-4 A DRAGON A. The identity of the Dragon is clear from verse 9.
B. Let’s notice several features of his character.
1. Great - Power and control in the world - Matthew 4:8-9. 2. Red - His murders - John 8:44. 3. Dragon - His vicious nature - 1 Peter 5:8. 4. 7 heads - His wisdom - Ezekiel 28:12. 5. 10 Horns - His power over the final kingdom of man. 6. 7 Crowns - His perfect authority in the world system - 2 Corinthians 4:4.
C. His Activity 1. 1/3 of the stars - The angels who followed him in his rebellion - Isaiah 14:13-14. 2. Destroy the child - Satan hates the child of the woman. This is a reference to the events surrounding the birth of Jesus - Matthew 2:13-18. Ill. Genesis 3:15. Throughout the history of Israel, satan has tried to corrupt or kill off the bloodline that would produce Jesus. (Ill. Cain, Noah, Isaac, Jacob, David, Etc III. Revelation 12:5 A MAN CHILD A. His Identity is plain 1. He will rule the world - Psalms 2:9 2. He will be caught up to God. A plain reference to the ascension of Jesus! (Ill. His life and His work! - Mark 16:19) (Ill. Stephen - Acts 7:55-56) (Ill. Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 1:13; Hebrews 8:1; Hebrews 10:12; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22) B. The child can only be the Lrod Jesus! He alone is worthy!
IV. Revelation 12:6 A JOURNEY
A. Speaks of a time of great persecution. (Ill. The events of the Tribulation - covenant, betrayal, murder, etc - Matthew 24:15-22; Daniel 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4) B. God will miraculously preserve His chosen people - (Ill. Petra!?)
C. This will be a sad time for anyone left behind! God help us in the time left for us to work to get past little old petty things and win some people to Jesus!