Revelation chapter 12
12 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2 and she was pregnant and she *cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.
Where have we heard this before? Let’s all the way back to the first book of the Bible, back to Genesis 37:5-11
5 Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have had; 7 for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf stood up and also remained standing; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 Then his brothers said to him, “Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.
9 Then he had yet another dream, and informed his brothers of it, and said, “Behold, I have had yet another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 He also told it to his father as well as to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have had? Am I and your mother and your brothers actually going to come to bow down to the ground before you?” 11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.
Many people mistakenly think this woman is the Church. If that’s the case, she’s in trouble, because the Church is the virgin Bride of Christ. Where do we learn that fact? Flip back to 2 Corinthians 11:2 2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
AND Revelation 21:9
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, full of the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
AND it is implied in Ephesians 5:22-27
22 Wives, subject yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
AND in Ephesians 5:31-32
31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
*Eve was taken from the Body of the First Adam, so perhaps the Bride of Christ be taken from the body (Church) of the Second Adam (Jesus Christ). In that way the church can meet both analogies.
Some say that Israel is the Bride of Christ, not the Church. They say the Church is the Body of Christ, so can’t be the Bride. Well, here, Israel is the mother of the Messiah, so how can it also be His bride? They say God is not a polygamist. I say, he’s not incestuous either. Yet He is the offspring and husband of Israel. These are illustrations/rhetorical devices of how He relates to the Church and Israel in different ways at different times. Just like in Exodus 4:22, Israel is called God’s firstborn son. How can it also be His bride? Again, it just serves as an illustration of one perspective (facet) of the relationship.
Exodus 4:22
22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: “Israel is My son, My firstborn.
This is a picture of national Israel, giving birth to the Messiah. Israel is the mother of the Messiah, allegorically speaking. Did Israel experienced labor pains? That is basically the entire OT (Tanakh) Israel is also the wife of YHVH and that illustrates a second way He relates to her.
*Refer also to the article by Arnold Fruchtenbaum in the big notes – pages
The Red Dragon, Satan
3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven crowns.
But the Beast also has seven heads and ten horns in Rev. 17:3
This is the first time we’ll see Satan as a red dragon. Look quickly ahead to Revelation 20:1-2 20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he took hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
4 And his tail *swept away a third of the stars of heaven and hurled them to the earth.
The consensus of commentators is that this is a reference to Satan’s rebellion in heaven prior to Genesis 1:1 and that he caused 1/3 of the angels to rebel against God. These would be the fallen angels, some of which became princes over nations (see Daniel 10:12-20), and if you like the Book of Enoch, 200 of these became the Watchers who corrupted human DNA and brought forth the Nephilim.
One way Satan could prevent a human Messiah was to thoroughly corrupt human DNA so that it would never be possible to fulfill the prophecy of Genesis 3:15.
12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in my way for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the latter days, because the vision pertains to the days still future.”
15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. 16 And behold, one who resembled a human was touching my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “My lord, due to the vision anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength. 17 For how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, there remains just now no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me.”
18 Then this one with human appearance touched me again and strengthened me. 19 And he said, “You who are treasured, do not be afraid. Peace be to you; take courage and be courageous!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I felt strengthened and said, “May my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” 20 Then he said, “Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am leaving, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come. (Greece was the kingdom that overthrew Medo-Persia).
And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her Child.
History is replete with Satan’s war against the One who was prophesied to crush his head in Genesis 3:14-15
14 Then the Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
Cursed are you more than all the livestock,
And more than any animal of the field;
On your belly you shall go,
And dust you shall eat
All the days of your life;
15 And I will make enemies
Of you and the woman,
And of your offspring (?) and her Descendant;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise Him on the heel.”
Note here that ‘the woman’ may not be referring to Eve, or women in general (though most are afraid of snakes) but is likely talking of the nation that will produce the Messiah, the One who will bruise Satan on the head.
*1. Satan now has a goal of disrupting God’s plan to produce a Messiah. One of the first things he does is to tempt Caan to kill Abel. Abel’s offering was ‘more acceptable’ because it was a blood sacrifice, (just like when God slayed an animal to make skins to cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness). Satan therefore knew that his opponent would come from the line of Abel, so he spurred Caan to kill him.
*2. One way Satan could prevent a human Messiah was to thoroughly corrupt human DNA (Genesis 6) so that it would never be possible to fulfill the prophecy of Genesis 3:15.
*3. Pharaoh and the first-born males of the race that was prophesied to defeat him.
*4. He overheard God speaking with Abraham and knew that he had 400 years to lay a minefield to prevent Israel from entering the promised land. ‘and afterwards’ (Gen 6 again)
Then with the Davidic covenant, satan knew his opponent had to come from the tribe of Judah, so he focused on them.
*5. Joash, hidden in the temple by a priest to escape the evil queen Athaliah’s purge. 2 Kings 11.
11 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and eliminated all the royal [a]children. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and abducted him from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and put him and his nurse in the bedroom. So they hid him from Athaliah, and he was not put to death. 3 So he was kept hidden with her in the house of the Lord for six years, while Athaliah was reigning over the land.
4 Now in the seventh year Jehoiada sent orders and brought the captains of hundreds of the Carites and of the [b]guards, and brought them to himself at the house of the Lord. Then he made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the house of the Lord, and showed them the king’s son. 5 And he commanded them, saying, “This is the thing that you shall do: a third of you, who come in on the Sabbath and keep watch over the king’s house 6 (a third also shall be at the gate Sur, and a third at the gate behind the [c]guards), [d]shall keep watch over the house [e]for defense. 7 And two parts of you, all who go out on the Sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house of the Lord for the king. 8 Then you shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes within the ranks shall be put to death. And you are to be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.”
9 So the captains of hundreds acted in accordance with everything that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the Sabbath, along with those who were to go out on the Sabbath, and they came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 Then the priest gave the captains of hundreds the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of the Lord. 11 The [f]guards stood, each with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king. 12 Then he brought the king’s son out, and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony; and they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!”
13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guards and of the people, she came to the people at the house of the Lord. 14 And she looked, and behold, the king was standing by the pillar according to the custom, with the captains and the [g]trumpeters beside the king; and all the people of the land were joyful and were blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, “Conspiracy! Conspiracy!” 15 And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks, and whoever follows her, put to death with the sword!” For the priest said, “She is not to be put to death at the house of the Lord.” 16 So they [h]seized her, and when [i]they brought her to the horses’ entrance of the king’s house, she was put to death there.
*6 Then he knew that God had decreed a blood curse on any line that sinned, so he worked hard on Jeconiah, and he thought he won, until the Holy Sprit fathered Jesus Himself, bypassing the blood curse.
*7. Herod and the male children under 2
*8 The temptations to bow before him
*9 The stormy seas on Sea of Galilee and the time when people wanted to stone Him but ‘it was not yet His time’
*10 The Crucifixion itself
Now that he lost that battle, his strategy has shifted to preventing Israel from repenting and calling out for Him. Ezekiel 28 – his mind is darkened, so he does not act logically.
The Male Child, Christ
5 And she gave birth to a Son, a male, who is going to rule all the nations with a rod of iron;
In those days, there was no metal stronger than iron
and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne.
Acts 1:9 9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight.
6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she *had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for 1,260 days.
All the references in the big notes about Petra /Bozrah
The Angel, Michael
7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they did not prevail, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,
“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. 12 For this reason, rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”
13 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she *was nourished for a time, times, and half a time, away from the presence of the serpent. 15 And the serpent hurled water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon had hurled out of his mouth. 17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
“**The church is referred to by a variety of names because one name just doesn’t capture what the church is.
Church
The name “church” is used to translate the Greek word ekklesia. A literal translation means “the called out” and refers to an assembly. It is used to refer to all Christians who are called out of the world of sin (Hebrews 12:23) or it can refer to Christians in a region who are called out to worship together (I Corinthians 1:2).
Kingdom
But “called out” doesn’t really tell us why we are called; at least, not directly. After all, a rioting mob is also a “called out” gathering. Hence, we also refer to the church as the kingdom. This recognizes that Jesus is Lord of His people and each Christian is a citizen in his kingdom (Colossians 1:13). It emphasizes that we are a people of laws and that Christ is our lawgiver (Luke 6:46).
Household
In a typical kingdom, you might not have direct interaction with the ruler or even most of your fellow citizens. This doesn’t capture the idea of the church well. Christians have a close relationship with God. He is our Father. This makes each Christian a member of God’s family (Ephesians 2:19; I Timothy 3:15). This is why we refer to each other as brother or sister. It is also why the love for each other defines Christians (John 13:35).
Body
Not every family is at peace. Too often members squabble with each other. The church is referred to as the body of Christ to emphasize the unity of its members. Unity is defined by the head who is Jesus. Just as a body is composed of different organs, each Christian performs different roles that together make the church function. And all members of the church are needed (I Corinthians 12:12-27). Eve was made from Adam’s body, so she is the body of Adam, as the Church is the body of Christ.
Bride
In both a household and a member of a body, the members typically don’t get to choose to be where they are, so in this aspect, these names for the church don’t quite capture the nature of the church. Thus, the church is called the bride of Christ. Jesus is seen as the groom. The actual “marriage” will take place when we reach heaven (Revelation 21:2). But currently, the church is committed to Jesus and is to be free from sin (pure) (Ephesians 5:22-33). This again emphasizes that Jesus is the head of the church but our relationship to Jesus is seen as a voluntary submission to him. Eve was Adam’s bride as well, so Eve was both the body and bride of Adam as the Church is the body and bride of Christ.
Temple
This name puts greater emphasis on the fact that Christians are set apart for a holy purpose. The church is seen as a spiritual temple — a holy place to worship God. The cornerstone is Jesus. The apostles and prophets are the foundation build against the cornerstone. Each Christian become a piece of the structure built on the foundation. Once again, Jesus sets the rules and the church acts as a unified whole that has a purpose in its existence.
Each name helps us better understand what the church is, but each doesn’t quite cover what the whole of the church is. The names are just different ways to look at the church.”
When Matthew 24-25 talks about ‘as in the days of Noah, so shall it be’ I think the primary push for Nephilim corruption of human DNA will be occurring, NOT prior to the rapture.
And the Jews’ escape to Petra/Bozrah would be their ‘ark’.