Chapter 12 begins a new section in the book of Revelation, which gives an overview of the conflict between Christ and Satan, and focuses on the end time events and the coming of Christ.
The chapter is basically divided into three parts:
Part 1 – verses 1 to 6
Part 2 – verses 7 to 12
Part 3 – verses 13 – 17
Let's start by looking at part 1 of this chapter.
Revelation 12:1 "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:"
In Bible prophecy a woman represents a church - a pure woman represents a pure, faithful church, and an impure woman represents an impure, unfaithful and apostate church.
So the woman being described in these verses represents God's church, His faithful people.
So the woman represents God's church, and this woman is clothed with the sun, the moon is under her feet, and she has a garland of 12 stars on her head. Note this woman is clothed with the heavenly bodies that God created to give light to the earth (Genesis 1:14-17), and just as God said of His believers that they are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14) this is in striking contrast to the woman of chapter 17, who is clothed and adorned with earthly things, who has corrupted her purity and has become a harlot.
The moon under her feet represents a symbol of permanency.
A permanent or sure foundation is only found in Jesus, He is the Church's foundation.
But as the moon is a reflector of the light of the Sun, which is the glory of the righteousness of Christ who is the embodiment of the Gospel, so too is the Old Testament a reflector of the Gospel of Christ and His righteousness through types and shadows (John 5:39, 46-47; Luke 24:27, 44). All their hopes and longings were wrapped up in the Messiah to come as prefigured by the Sacrificial system and Old Testament scriptures.
Notice that the 12 stars constitute the crown. A crown denotes rulership and organization. With the Old Testament Church you had the 12 tribes of Israel, also the 12 Judges, the Old Testament priesthood consisted of 24 courses or 2 x 12 (1 Chronicles 24:1-18). The New Testament Church was led by the 12 Apostles and the final remnant Church, the Church that will be translated symbolized by the number 144,000 which is a multiple of 12.
Also we have already seen in chapter 1 that the seven stars were symbolic of the leaders of the Church. This woman of chapter 12 represents the Church of God of all ages, in both the Old and New Testament.
Revelation 12:2 "And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered."
With child - The church is presented at the time the Messiah is about to be born. Some see a reference to Isaiah 7:14.
For the figure of a travailing woman see Isaiah 26:17; 66:7-8.
Travailing in birth, pained to be delivered - The sorrow and bitter anguish in the hour of trial (Jeremiah 4:31; 6:22-24). But it also carries the idea of joy after the painful ordeal (John 16:20-21).
Here we have a representation of God's people awaiting and longing the coming of the Messiah. This is seen in the instance with Simeon and Anna, when Christ was brought to the temple to be dedicated:
But this woman is not the only character here.
Revelation 12:3 "And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
John tells us that all of a sudden a great red dragon appears. This dragon is in conflict with the woman, (the church) it doesn't like the woman and basically wants to do away with her. We also see that this dragon tried to devour/destroy Christ at His birth. It was Satan, working through pagan Rome, who tried to destroy Christ:
So we see that the dragon is not only Satan but also the earthly powers that he works through. The dragon is described as "red" probably because of the fact that in all his connection with the church of God he has appeared in the role of persecutor and destroyer. It has been his studied purpose to destroy the children of the Most High. Note that when Satan is referred to as a serpent it is used in reference to his cunning, deception and lies. When Satan is referred to as a dragon it is in reference to the exercising of his persecuting powers. Seven Heads - Notice that the crowns are upon the heads thus showing that the heads are ruling at this period of time. But Revelation 17:9-10 shows that these heads are consecutive, therefore we can see in chapter 12 that one of the heads is Pagan Rome. Seven heads appear also on the beast John saw rising from the sea... Here in Revelation 17:3 we see a woman (the church) sitting on this beast. The heads in Revelation 17:9-10 are identified as "seven mountains" and "seven kings." It seems reasonable to conclude that the seven heads of the dragon represents political powers that have championed the cause of the dragon, and through which the dragon has exercised his persecuting power. The beast here is none other than Satan himself as verse 9 shows us. Here is an interesting symbol showing that Satan took one third of the angels of heaven and cast them down with himself when he fell into sin. Satan was just waiting for Jesus to come to earth so he could try and devour Him. Notice that the Bible refers to Satan as the dragon. Over and over again as we go through Revelation it will refer to this dragon, so we need to be aware that the dragon is Satan, and he isn't happy with the woman (the church). For a description of the seven-headed serpent in ancient mythology see Isaiah 27: This dragon has 7 heads and 10 horns. Those 10 horns are mentioned time and time again in scripture. They're mentioned in the 7th chapter of Daniel, the beast there had 10 horns. The one we will study in Revelation 13 has10 horns, and the one in Revelation 17. Those 10 horns have meaning, particularly in the last days, and we will look at this in more detail as we go through our studies as they're very important. The 7 heads on this dragon represent the different nations down through time that have been in opposition to God's people. In Daniel it says about this beast: So these 10 horns are the same, they're identical all the way through from Daniel into Revelation. Revelation 12:4 "And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born." So the dragon's tail drew a third of the stars of heaven, in our study of the trumpets it describes that their tails had stings, so the tail in scripture represents the power he had with which he drew a third of the stars to the earth. The tail represents lies in Bible prophecy and it was with lies against God that Satan deceived a third of the angels. We see here that the woman is pregnant and about ready to give birth, and the dragon is there ready to devour the child as soon as it's born. This represents the efforts of Satan to destroy the infant Jesus. One needs only to recall the attitude of Herod as he listened to the message from the wise men, and subsequently all the baby boys under two were killed. Revelation 12:5 "And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne." So it tells us that she gave birth to a male child, and then it gives characteristics of that child. It is no doubt that this man child/seed of the woman is Christ. Here is the fulfilment of a 4,000 year prophecy. But we also see the ultimate destruction of His enemies at His second coming, as Christ is to rule all nations with a rod of iron. It brings to mind the shepherd's rod which had a double function. The crook on one end served to help and guide the sheep, while the heavy ferrule on the other end, a metal cap or ring to strengthen the rod, made it also a weapon of assault. This was used for the protection of the flock, to repel and kill wild animals that would scatter and destroy it. Caught up to God and His throne - Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus was caught up to the Father and His throne. Now there has only been one child that has ever been born that was to rule all nations with a rod of iron and was caught up to God and to His throne, and that child was Jesus Christ, the only child that has ever been born to fulfil that prophecy. Revelation 12:6 "And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days." So this woman, whom the dragon is persecuting, has fled into the wilderness, and it says that she would remain there for 1,260 days. Now we've looked at this time period several times already. We found out in Ezekiel... In Bible prophecy a day represents a literal year. So the woman was going to flee into the wilderness for 1,260 years - the period of Papal persecution. This ends the first section of Revelation 12. Now the scene completely changes. Revelation 12:7 "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels," Michael - Also known as Michael the Archangel, simply meaning the chief of the angels who is like God. It is clear, as we harmonize scripture, that this is a reference to Christ. The name Michael in Hebrew means "one who is like God". He is also referred to as the Archangel in Jude. However, the Thayer definition for the word Archangel in Jude 9 is: "archangel, or chief of the angels". Michael is NOT a created angel but is the one in charge of and the head of all the angels. It simply means, arch or chief of the angels, and Michael - one who is like God. In Jude 9 there is a dispute over the resurrection of Moses, for we know that Moses was resurrected as he was present at the mount of transfiguration: It is of interest to see that it is Michael the Archangel that is there contending for the body. This teaching is often attributed to a specific Church but this teaching was known to exist a hundred years before this Church ever existed. Note the following Bible Commentary and the dates for this particular theologian. Now we find in John 5 that it is the voice of Christ that brings about the resurrection. Jesus is also the express image of the Father's person: This shows us that Christ, who is like God, because He is His Son is the chief of the heavenly host. There are more verses to show comparisons, but we think it enough thus far to prove that Michael is none other than Christ. So we see that there is a very real conflict taking place here between Christ and His angels and Satan and his angels. When Satan is represented as a dragon it represents him as a persecutor and destroyer as this symbol is used with this association. Revelation 12:8-9 "8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." They did not prevail, no place was found for them and they were cast out to the earth. This tells us clearly that the third parts of the stars that Satan drew out with his tail in verse 4 are angels; they were cast out with him to this earth. Now this should tell us something. Next time we are faced with something that we don’t understand or why there seems to be such opposition, remember that the devil and his angels are very real, and they oppose strongly anything that is of God. Revelation 12:10 "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." So the devil and his angels are cast out of heaven, the accuser of the brethren is cast out, and it says that now salvation has come. There is great rejoicing in the courts of heaven over the casting down of Satan and his host. The true character of Satan was shown at the cross. He was shown to be a liar and murderer where the opposite was revealed about Christ. Deliverance and victory come through the cross. Salvation - Greek "sōtēria", meaning “deliverance”, “preservation”, “salvation”, here perhaps “victory”. The Greek has the article, hence we should read “the victory”.
And strength - Greek "dunamis" meaning “power”, “might”, “strength”. The reference here is doubtless to the display of power in the overthrow of the dragon. But also in the light of the cross we find that there is power in the cross of Christ to bring salvation to the believer. The kingdom of our God - Satan had contended that he was the rightful ruler of this world (Matthew 4:8-9; Job 1:6-7) seeing that Adam and Eve bowed to his sophistry thus giving him their allegiance. But Satan's failure to bring Christ under his control, as he tried to get Him to sin, assured the kingdom for Christ. Power of his Christ - Greek "exousia" meaning “authority” (Matthew 28:18). Christ has all authority and the cross established it. Satan had questioned the authority/supremacy of Christ, but the cross has put away any questioning. Satan was the accuser of the brethren in Old Testament days: Day and night Satan persecutes and accuses, whenever the opportunity presents itself. Revelation 12:11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." To Overcome - The mind of the prophet is absorbed in contemplation of those who have been accused by the instigator of evil. He thinks of how they have suffered, and the indignities to which they have been exposed. He remembers how amid hardships they overcame, not in their own strength, but “by the blood of the Lamb”. By the blood - Literally “because of the blood” or “on the basis of the blood”. The saints overcame because of the victory of Calvary. We can overcome Satan through the blood of Christ, because of His shed blood on Calvary. It washes/cleanses us from sin: It justifies the believer and makes our spiritual garments white: It makes us nigh unto God, buys/redeems us back from sin: It makes us perfect to do His will: And by our own personal witness for Christ and the gospel we can overcome him: By the word - Literally, “on account of the word” or “on the basis of the word”. Their testimony - That is, their personal witness concerning Jesus and the gospel. Loved not their lives - What fidelity! Men, Women and children that would die rather than disobey God. The people who love and serve God will upset and anger the devil, he has been cast out to the earth and he knows that he has lost the battle. Revelation 12:12 "Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." Now up until the time of the death of Christ, Satan had access to other worlds, he had access to the loyal angels, and you can read about this in the book of Job, where you find that the sons of God came before the Lord and Satan came as representative of this earth. But with the death of Jesus, and that’s what this is talking about, then his access to the other worlds and to the angels ended. And when that took place he had great wrath because he knew without doubt that when Christ died on the cross that the victory was won and that he had lost and he knew that it was over. And so it says Satan has great wrath because he knows that he has only a short time, and basically what Satan is saying now is; Take no prisoners! In other words he’s after any individual he can get, and if he can kill them then how much happier he is, because he wants to take no prisoners, because he’s lost the war. You see the war that took place in heaven was not so physical as it was verbal, and you find this over and over in the book of Revelation: So it’s out of the mouth, by persuasion. If you can persuade someone to do something then you’ve gained a great victory, and that’s where the battle is fought, it’s by words, persuasion. If Satan can do anything to persuade you to follow him and not follow God then he’s won the battle. It doesn’t matter if you go to church every day, if Satan can persuade you not to commit your life to Jesus Christ and not surrender to Him then he’s won the battle. You see it’s that which counts. We have to be willing to listen to what the Lord says, and to follow His counsel, to be persuaded by His word, the Bible, know what it says is true, and follow it, obey it – that’s what it takes to enter the kingdom of heaven. Christ speaking about Satan said: Satan was cast out to this earth, and he is very unhappy about that. Now this is talking about God’s people. Basically this has to be the story of each one of us, that we overcome the dragon, the devil. And how do we overcome Satan? By the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony and not loving our lives to the death. We have to be fully committed to Jesus Christ, we can’t permit anything to come between us and him. Jesus said anyone that loves father, mother, brother, sister, husband or wife more than Me is not worthy of Me. We have to commit our lives totally and completely to Him. And we can then overcome by the blood of the Lamb. Have you ever considered what the blood of Christ does for you? It’s through the blood of Christ that we have redemption. We don’t have redemption through our efforts, or from anyone else. And there’s no one else that offers us redemption through themselves. Buddha doesn’t offer it, Confucius doesn’t offer it, Mohammed doesn’t offer it. They don’t offer us redemption because they did not die for us. Jesus Christ died for us, He was the only one worthy to do so and we have redemption by the blood of the Lamb, and we need to always be aware of that. So Christ’s blood gives us redemption. People may say; I’ve done too many bad things for Christ to love and forgive me, but the blood of Jesus Christ can cleanse anything, there’s nothing that it can’t cleanse. It doesn’t matter how dark the sin may be, if we are truly sorry and repent it can be washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. And you and I need to come to Jesus and let Him wash us from our sins in His own blood, make us white, make us pure, make us clean, in His blood, the blood of the Lamb. It doesn’t say from some sins, it says from all sin. In other words there isn’t any sin that Christ can’t cleanse. This is different than what anyone else offers. All others tell you that you have to do this and that in order to make it into the kingdom. If you go and blow yourself up for Mohammed then he’ll give you a special place in his kingdom. Christ doesn’t say that. Christ says come to Me and I will cleanse you from all sin, it’s a free gift of love that only He can offer us. This says that God has entered into a covenant with us, in which God says; I will be your God and you My people. And He says; if you enter into that covenant with Me, through the blood of My Son Jesus Christ I will make you complete in every good work to do My will. Change in the human heart does not take place by our strength and our power, it takes place by the word of Jesus in our lives, it has to work in us and change us and make us different. We can’t change our own nature, we can’t change what we are, only the Holy Spirit can do that. And so we have to let the Spirit of Christ into our lives, give ourselves to him, and let Him do His work in our life. That simply means that we need, every day, to take time to come to Him and let Him do His work of cleansing our soul, to keep my robe white, to keep it clean. This is what the blood of Jesus Christ will do for you and me. God does not love us based on our actions, He loves us just exactly the way we are. God does not say; I’ll wash you and then love you. No, the scriptures say that God loves us and then washes us. So if we come to him, he will take us and wash us and make us clean. No matter what we’ve done, no matter who we are. We have that promise that God gives to you and to me. Sometimes we may feel to unworthy to come before the Lord. Sometimes we may feel that we would rather go and hide somewhere, and that we wouldn’t even attempt to come before God and speak to Him and pray to Him. But we can be thankful that this verse gives us the assurance that by the blood of Jesus Christ we have been brought near to God, that we can come before Him, the Majesty and Ruler of the universe, because of the blood of Jesus Christ, because of what Jesus has done for us. Jesus has been made the way, and has brought us near to God thorough his blood. These are wonderful promises that He gives to you and me. Revelation 12:13 "And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child." Now that the dragon has been cast out of heaven and he can’t go back and is confined to this earth, it says that he turned his wrath on the woman, which is the church. So if you think that very quickly Satan isn’t real, you ought to try preaching the gospel, try witnessing for Christ and you will discover that Satan is very, very real. So the dragon persecuted the woman, and tried to do away with her. We read in history that the pagan Roman Empire turned its wrath on the church. Up until this time Rome had ruled, it had contained the Jewish nation, it had them confined so that they could not do anything. But now Jesus came, and He died, and all of a sudden salvation was not contained within the Jewish nation, but was free to every man, woman and child, no matter whether they were Jew or Greek. It was open to slaves, and to anyone who wanted to accept it, and it spread like wildfire across the Roman Empire, and all of a sudden paganism became threatened. And so they decided that the best thing they could do was to wipe it out, so they set out to get rid of it, and the devil turned his wrath upon the church. Rome didn’t care who you worshipped, they were polytheistic, they had lots and lots of gods, you could worship any god you wanted. They didn’t care if you worshipped Jesus Christ. What they cared about was that in your worship you worshipped Rome. They had their own goddess. And to make sure that people’s allegiance was given to Rome, once a year all were required to come in before the magistrate, to take a little incense and simply drop that incense into the fire before this pagan goddess and say; “Rome”, in an act of worship to that goddess. Then they gave you a certificate and you could go and worship as you pleased. But the Christians would not do this. You see their allegiance was to the Lord Jesus Christ, and they did not love their lives unto the death, they were willing to make the supreme sacrifice, that they might have the right to worship the Lord. And so these Christians were gathered up, and they were taken into arenas filled with people. And the people in those arenas turned their thumbs down on the Christians. And lions, which hadn’t been fed in a long time, were turned loose in those arenas, and children, mothers and fathers became food for lions. They gave their lives for what they believed. And you can still go to Rome today, and you can visit and walk in the catacombs below the city, and you can see where they died there by the thousands. There are rooms in these catacombs that are totally full of human skulls of the people who died, who lost their lives for the Lord Jesus Christ. They made the supreme sacrifice because their commitment was to Jesus Christ and they did not love their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:14 "And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent." Now this period of time is the same as the one in verse 6 the 1,260 days/years. And it says that the woman fled into the wilderness. Two wings - These wings are used for fleeing into the wilderness from the wrath of the dragon. This figure is also used for the deliverance of the children of Israel from Pharaoh, when God lead and carried them out. Here we have depicted God caring for His Church. The wilderness - A desert, solitary place of waste. Thus a place of seclusion or obscurity was where the Church fled, away from civilization and the public gaze. There were a number of places but the most famous is that of the Waldensian valleys amid the Cottian Alps, 30 miles west of Turin in northern Italy. This was to be for 1260 prophetic days and thus 1260 years, as verse 14 is parallel to verse 6. This period is mentioned 7 times in scripture, twice in chapter 12, once in chapter 13 where it is known as 42 months, twice in chapter 11, once each in Daniel 7:25; 12:7, with each instance referring to the same period. This is a reference to the Papal supremacy of 538-1798 A.D. Notice the following: In 533 A.D. Emperor Justinian, who ruled from Constantinople in the east, decreed that the Bishop of Rome was the Universal Bishop over the entire Church. (Today the Pope remains the universal bishop over the Roman Catholic Church by reason of this decree) But the Catholics were suffering a violent persecution from the Arian Vandals of northern Africa. They were intolerant of the Catholics and termed them heretics. Thus unless they could be removed the Papacy could not rise to the power of Justinian's decree. Justinian sent his ablest General Belisarius to North Africa and totally wiped the Vandals from the face of the earth in the year 534 A.D. This only left the Arian tribe of the Ostrogoths, who had the throne of Italy and were restraining the power of the Papacy. They too were defeated by Belisarius in the year 538 A.D., leaving not enough of them to have their heritage remain. Justinian's decree could take effect now as the opposition had been removed. By 538 A.D. the Church of Rome had full supremacy. The longer time went on the less safe it was to live or mingle in populated areas where one could easily be recognized as or found out to be a so called heretic. To teach contrary to or stand up against the Papal Power could very easily and most likely result in the death of the so called offender. The only safety was in the mountainous regions and places of obscurity to where God's Church fled. Nourished and feed - The Waldenses were fed and nourished on the truths of God's Word, spiritual milk, spiritual meat and spiritual bread (1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5:12-13, John 6:51-52, 63). They had the Bible in their own tongue translated from the uncorrupted manuscripts of Lucian, the famous scholar of Syria in post-apostolic times. Revelation 12:15 "And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood." He cast out of his mouth a flood of persecution, hoping that the church would be carried away by it. But she fled into the wilderness, and was there from 538 AD to 1798 AD. And the devil cast out of his mouth, through pagan Rome and Papal Rome, such a flood of persecution that he thought the woman would be wiped out, wiped off the face of the earth, carried away by the flood. Those people had to flee; they had to move out into the mountains, in order to have the freedom to worship as they believed that they should. The Bible was taken away from them. Serpent cast out - Notice that here it is said that the flood came out of the mouth of the serpent but in verse 16 it is out of the dragon. Remember that when serpent is used it is a reference to cunning, deception and lies. It was through lies and deceit that the campaigns/crusades were waged against God's people in the wilderness regions, the false promises of pardon and paradise all of which were coming from the Papal Church's mouth. Satan sought to destroy the Christian church by the inundation of false doctrines as well as by persecution. Water as a flood - This is derived from the Old Testament where the River Euphrates is described as a flood (Joshua 24:2-3, 14-15). The same is found in Jeremiah 46:2-3. In Psalms 74:13 and Ezekiel 29:3 a dragon is identified as a water animal so this could possibly symbolize water as a symbol of destruction also. According to Genesis 15:8 the Euphrates was the appointed boundary between ancient Israel and Babylon. When the snows of Mt. Ararat melted, the Euphrates often overflowed into the appointed territory of Israel. Thus the prophets used this to illustrate the invasion of Israel by her enemies from the north. Here we can say that it is used to show the rising up or overflowing of the Church's enemies with the intent to destroy her. Some crusades are as follows:
— Against the Celtic Christians in Britain. Revelation 12:16 "And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth." It says the earth helped the woman, it swallowed up the flood. Certain events began to take place. Individuals began to stand up and say that is was not right, the abuse that Papal Rome placed upon them. People like Huss, Jerome and Wycliffe, who gave their lives, who burned at the stake, for the word of their testimony. Out of this movement that started across Europe came other individuals like Martin Luther in 1517, who translated the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into German, and gave the people a chance to read the Bible in their own language and to understand what it says. People for a thousand years had not had access to the word of God, they had not been able to read it, and all of a sudden it’s made available to them, in their own language, they took it and read it and poured over the scriptures. They became so knowledgeable regarding the word of God that priests could not dispute what they had to say – they knew the word of God better than the priests did. Out of that movement rose other people, like John Knox in 1560, who was a great reformer. You may not realise it but through men like John Knox and John Calvin we got our Bible, these are the men who gave us much of what we have in our Bible today. They are the ones who translated it and put it into the language of the people. This eventually became known as the Geneva Bible. It was the Bible of the reformers, it was the Bible they preached from, and out of that Geneva Bible came much of the King James Bible. Those men were great preachers of righteousness. That’s one way the earth helped the woman. The other way was the discovery of north America. The pilgrims went there to escape persecution. They wanted to go somewhere where they could worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience, according to what the word of God says. And as those first pilgrims got on the boat, ready to cross the ocean to North America, their pastor John Robinson met with them as they were ready to leave, and they took a commitment from him, and they said: John Robinson said to them; before you go, I want you to commit your life that you will follow the word of God, and whatever you learn that’s truth. If only Christians today would do the same thing as was done by those pilgrims. If only they would say; Yes, I will follow God’s word and keep it. This was the promise those pilgrims made, and that’s why the gospel spread in north America. Revelation 12:17 "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Dragon was wroth - Or "was enraged". He was not successful in his attempt to carry the woman away in the flood of persecution. Thus he turns his special attention against the remnant of the woman's seed. Remnant - Greek "loipoi" meaning "remaining ones", from the Geeek "leipo" meaning "to leave", "to leave behind". That which remains, or the residue, and therefore it is the last of her offspring but small or in a minority. In saying this it must be identical to the first or original Church. Let us look at some identifying marks:
1. It will be a minority, remnant.
— Everlasting Gospel - Jesus Christ and Him crucified (High priestly ministry in heavenly sanctuary). This standard is revealed in the character of the 144,000, the number that represents the living final remnant of God's people. Those who fail to permit God to produce within them the character essential for translation will be shaken out of the Church. Only those who are classed by God as over comers will comprise the final remnant. The majority of the final remnant will comprise of those who are now in Babylon but who ultimately will come out of Babylon. In the final call of God to His people, in Revelation 18:1-4, He calls out of Babylon, all those who still belong to Christ. There will finally, be one fold and one shepherd (John 10:16). Those who keep the Commandments - That the remnant is thus identified and indicates that the Commandments of God will be especially controverted in this struggle between the dragon and church. They will also keep the Testimony of Jesus Christ - Or “witness of Jesus Christ”. In the Greek this phrase may be understood either as the “testimony” (or “witness”) Christians bear concerning Jesus, or as the “testimony” (or “witness”) that originates with Jesus and is revealed to His church through the prophets. A comparison with Revelation 19:10 clearly favors the latter interpretation. There the “testimony of Jesus” is defined as the “spirit of prophecy,” meaning that Jesus is witnessing to the church through prophecy. So right down at the end of time, exists the remnant, of God’s people. They keep the Commandments of God. God is looking for people who are willing to keep His Commandments. Jesus said: This is a marvellous promise. You and I can’t do anything to add something to our salvation, that’s all done through the blood of Jesus Christ. Our responsibility is simply to obey. That’s what God calls us to do. So it says in verse 17 that these people follow God, they keep His Commandments and have the testimony of Jesus. John’s testimony was there that he was a follower of Jesus Christ, and he stood solidly for Christ, this should also be our testimony. How is our testimony? Is our testimony that we love the Lord Jesus Christ? That we stand firm for Him? That we will not to be moved no matter what? That we are going to follow Him? Do other people see Jesus in us? Our testimony should be sure for the Lord that we’re going to stand with Him all the way, until He comes back. So let’s be faithful while we look forward to His coming.
— Against the non-Catholic Christians of Thrace in 538 A.D.
— Against the Ostrogoths in Italy in 538 A.D.
— Against the Waldenses in Northern Italy on many occasion.
— Against the Albigenses in south and western France.
— In Ireland by Henry II of England with the support of the Papacy.
— Against the Lollards in England, the followers of John Wycliff.
— Against Spanish Protestants at the time of the Spanish Inquisition.
— Against the Hussites, the followers of John Huss in Bohemia.
— Against German Protestants at the time of the reformation.
— Against Swiss Protestants by Catholic Authorities.
— Against Dutch Protestants by Phillip II of Spain.
— Against English Protestants by the Spanish Armada.
— Against French Protestants called Hugenots in the St. Bartholemew massacre.
— Etc., all of which the Church of Rome had their hand in.
2. We also see that it arises after the 1260 years of Papal supremacy, thus after 1798 AD.
3. First arises in America, the earth that helped the woman.
4. Apostolic in nature, similar teaching and belief of the apostles.
5. It incurs the wroth of the dragon, unpopular.
6. Keeps the Commandments of God including the fourth.
7. Has the testimony of Jesus Christ which is the Spirit of Prophecy or the Gift of Prophecy manifest through a prophet or prophets (Revelation 19:10; 22:9).
8. Being the last it must be expecting the Second Coming of Christ.
9. The Gospel is to be preached in all the world (Matthew 24:14, Revelation 14:6), thus it must be a worldwide movement.
10. This Gospel is outlined in Revelation 14:6-12.
— Fear God - Victory over sin, righteousness by faith (Job 1:1; Proverbs 8:13; 16:6).
— Give glory to Him - Health and temperance, Christian standards (1 Corinthians 10:31).
— Judgment has come and is in progress.
— Worship Him - Christ the Creator of Heaven and Earth and the Sabbath.
— Expose who and what is Babylon and her teachings.
— Identify who the beast and his image are. — Expose the mark and worship of the beast.