November 28, 2009

1Mastering “…the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”

LTS

November 28, 2009

The Woman, The Manchild, & the Dragon

CHAPTER 12:1-2SESSION 1


The Heptadic Structure

2nd1st 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

The 7-Sealed Scroll

Pare

nthe

sis

Pare

nthe

sis

8,9 10-14

6

7

16

3 “Woes”

Pare

nthe

sis

15


Parenthetical Chapters• Chapter 10

– The “Little Book” – The Seven Thunders

• Chapter 11– The Temple– The Two Witnesses

• Chapter 12– The Woman, the Man Child, & the Dragon

• Chapter 13– The Two Beasts


Seven Great Openings• A door opened in heaven 4:1• The seals are opened 6:1-8:1• The Abyss opened 9:2• Temple of God opened 11:19• Tabernacle of testimony opened 15:5 • Heaven is opened 19:11• Books of Judgment opened 20:12


And the temple of Elohim was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Revelation 11:19

The end of Chapter 11 (v.19) really introduces Chapter 12(Chapter 12 is an extension of Chapter 11)


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:

And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

Revelation 12:1,2


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.

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.

Revelation 12:3,4


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 Elohim, and to his throne.

And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of Elohim, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Revelation 12:5,6


And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

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.

Revelation 12:7-9


And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our Elohim, and the power of his Messiah: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our Elohim day and night.

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.

Revelation 12:10,11


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.

Revelation 12:12


And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

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.

Revelation 12:13,14


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.

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.

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of Elohim, and have the testimony of osfei Messiah.

Revelation 12:15-17


The Setting…• Now, the scene shifts to a series of signs which

depict a woman struggling against her adversary, the dragon

• This is a Jewish scene, but with aspects which range all the way back to man’s fall in the Garden of Eden and the subsequent promise of a redeemer

• The signs which John sees in heaven portray events which have happened and will happen on the earth


The Woman and the Dragon• One of the most important chapters in the

Bible: an overview of the enigma of Israel, without which the Bible cannot be fully understood

• Chapter 12 really begins in Rev 11:19: – The real Temple is in heaven, not on earth – The real ark is in heaven, not on earth –Moses’ was but a replica Heb 8:5

Represents throne of Elohim 1 Sam 4:4; Isa 6; Ezek 1, 10; Rev 4, 5


Pattern for the Ark

Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of Elohim when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

Hebrews 8:5


The Mercy Seat

And David arose and went with all the people who were with him to Baale-Judah, to bring up from there the ark of Elohim which is called by the Name, the very name of efei of hosts who is enthroned above the cherubim.

2 Samuel 6:2 (NAS)




Revelation 12:1,2


A Great Wonder• A great sign – indicates this is symbolic or

figurative of the reality being conveyed• A picture is worth 1,000 words!• The fact that we are here told that this is a sign,

goes far to prove that the Apocalypse in general is to be taken literally, except where indication to the contrary is given

Sign




Revelation 12:1,2


Four Women of Revelation

1. Jezebel of Thyatira Rev 2:20 2. This one Rev 12, Jer 3:20

3. The harlot Rev 17, 18

4. The bride Rev 19:7; 21:2, 9; 22:17

– Espoused virgin 2nd Cor 11:2


Two Primary Mistakes

1. Interpretation of the symbols of this chapter to have pagan origin

– assumes that efei subjected the correct understanding of His inspired revelation to a dependence upon uninspired and blasphemous writings of those who do not know Him


Two Primary Mistakes

2. Interpretation of this woman as being the church

– Messiah birthed the church, not the other way around

– The sun/moon/stars have a direct corollary to Joseph’s dreams

– The reference to ‘clothed with the sun’ and ‘the moon under her feet’ refer to promises made to Israel which can only cease if the sun and moon cease before efei


The Woman• Israel is described as a woman in travail in

OT Isa 54:5; 66:7; Jer 3:6f; Micah 4:10; 5:2-3

• She gives birth to the man-child Rev 12:5; Ps 2:9; Rev 2:27; Rev 19:15

• This is Israel Micah 4:9; 5:2 – “Unto us a child is born...” Isa 9:6 – “Seed of woman” Gal 3:16

Jer 31:31– The Messianic Line begins Gen 3:15


To Understand the Woman• She must be seen as representing an historic

development within God’s overall plan which:– Originated with the promise of a redeemer to Eve (Gen. 3:15)– Led to the creation of the nation of Israel through whom the

redeemer would come (Isa. 7:14; 9:6-7; Mic. 5:2; Rom. 9:5)– Found partial fulfillment in His First Coming by virgin birth

from Mary (Isa. 7:14; Mtt. 1:25; Luke 1:34)– Finds ultimate fulfillment in His Second Coming to establish

the Millennial Kingdom and to rule in the line of King David of Israel (Isa. 9:7; Jer. 23:5; 30:9; Amos 9:11; Zec. 6:12-13; Luke 1:32-33; Acts 1:6; Rev. 20:4)


To Understand the Woman• That Israel will play a key role in the end-time

drama is not surprising– The seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy (the

Tribulation) will primarily concern Israel, just as the first sixty-nine did (cf. Dan. 9:24-27)

– Israel’s presence in the end times is consistent with God’s emphatic promises of her continued existence as a nation (Jer. 31:35-37; cf. 33:20-26; 46:28; Amos 9:8)


Comparing the WomenWoman with Sun and Moon

• Clothed with Sun (Rev 12:1)

• A virgin (Isa. 7:14; Mtt. 1:25; Luke 1:34-35)

• In pain (Rev. 12:2)• Stands (Rev. 12:1)• Supported by moon (Rev. 12:1)• Head crowned (Rev. 12:1)• Persecuted by dragon (Rev. 12:4,

13)• Flees to wilderness (Rev. 12:6, 14)

• Associated with Jerusalem (Rev. 12:5 cf. Rev. 11:8)

Woman who Rides Beast• Clothed with purple and scarlet

(Rev. 17:4)• A fornicator (Rev. 17:4)

• At ease, drunk (Rev. 17:4, 6; 18:7)• Sits (Rev. 17:3, 9, 15)• Supported by beast (Rev. 17:3)• Head marked as harlot (Rev. 17:5)• Rides beast empowered by dragon

(Rev. 13:1-4; 17:3)• Seen from the wilderness (Rev.

17:3)• Associated with Babylon (Rev. 17:5,

18)


“Replacement Theology”• There is a widely held view that:

–A) When Israel rejected her messiah she forfeited the promises to her;

–B) These promises devolve upon the Church, thus, becoming “spiritual Israel”

• Israel appears 75 times in the New Testament – Each time it refers to national Israel


Major Problems1. The promises involved were unconditional 2. The Book of Romans stresses that efei is not

finished with Israel Rom 9, 10, 11

3. The 70 Week Prophecy outlines the prophetic role of Israel

Dan 9:26

4. osfei has yet to fulfill the promise given to Mary to take David’s Throne Luke 1:21


From Augustine to Auschwitz

to Armageddon• Origen’s allegorical interpretations• Augustine’s Amillennial Eschatology• Medieval church’s quest for power• Reformation’s failure to address

eschatological issues• The Holocaust in Germany• The Great Tribulation




Revelation 12:1,2


Clothed with the Sun• Having been clothed, cast around,

wrapped in• When John saw her, she had already been

clothed by God and enjoyed the protection afforded by her clothing (Isa 61:10)

• So, how is the sun used in Scripture?


Clothed with the Sun• It should be noted that a primary function

of clothing is to provide shelter and protection from external elements– Let’s read Ezekiel 16:3-10

• The sun is protecting the woman

“For efei Elohim is a sun and shield”Psalm 84:11a


Clothed with the Sun• When we examine the Scriptural use of

the sun, we find both the sun and the moon often appear together as a dual witness

• When God created the sun and moon, He said they would be “for signs and seasons, and for days and years” (Gen. 1:14)


The Sun as a Sign?• The Hebrew word for sign is pronounced ōt,

which indicates a token or mark, something designed as a memorial, to bring to remembrance– Cain’s mark (Gen 4:15)– The rainbow (Gen 9:12)– The sign of Circumcision (Abrahamic covenant)– The sign of Passover (Exodus 13:9)– The sign of the Sabbath (Mosaic covenant)– God promised there would be signs in the sun and the moon

at the time of the end (Rev 6:12)


The Sun and Moon as a Sign?• Efei uses the sun and moon as dual witnesses:

Thus says efei, Who gives the sun for light by day And the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; efei of hosts is His name:

Jeremiah 31:35


"If this fixed order departs From before Me," declares efei, "Then the offspring of Israel also will cease From being a nation before Me forever." Thus says efei, "If the heavens above can be measured And the foundations of the earth searched out below, Then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel For all that they have done," declares efei.

Jeremiah 31:36-37


The Sun and Moon as a Sign?• Let the reader and the nations of the world take

note:

The Jews will continue as a people

so long as the sun and moon remain visible in the sky!




Revelation 12:1,2


Standing on the Moon• The emphasis in relation to the moon under her

feet is not so much standing upon, as in trampling or having authority over, but being supported– She is clothed by the sun– She is supported by the moon– Her position is SURE!




Revelation 12:1,2


A Crown of 12 Stars• Clearly an allusion to Joseph’s dream


And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:

For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

Genesis 37:5-7


And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

Genesis 37:8


And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

Genesis 37:9

Sun + Moon + 12 Stars (“Mazzeroth”)


And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

Genesis 37:10


And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

Genesis 37:10,11


A Crown of 12 Stars• The sun is a clear reference to Joseph’s father• The moon is a reference to Joseph’s mother• The 11 stars are a reference to Joseph’s

brothers (and adding Joseph gives us the full 12)• The twelve stars are to be understood in the

sense of the gates (tribes) rather than the foundations (apostles—representing the church) of the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:12)




Revelation 12:1,2


Being with Child• Where is the mention of the father?• Failure to mention the father is uncharacteristic

of Jewish writing• The lack of a father is significant and, when

combined with Scripture (Isa 7:14; Luke 1:34), points strongly toward the virgin birth

• The woman produces the child and not the other way around!




Revelation 12:1,2


Travailing in Birth• The woman was in the midst of birth pangs

when John saw her• The crying in travail is fulfillment of efei’s

promise in Genesis


Then efei Elohim said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." efei Elohim said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you will go, And dust you will eat All the days of your life;

Genesis 3:13,14


And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel." To the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children; Yet your desire will be for your husband, And he will rule over you."

Genesis 3:15,16


Travailing in Birth• Several elements correlate with this chapter:

– The woman and serpent– Enmity between them– Conflict between her offspring and the serpent– Childbirth (first mention in Genesis)– The woman experiencing labor pains

• The ties between the curse and the events of this chapter are undeniable!


Travailing in Birth• Thus is the genius of God:

Through the same vessel by which mankind

fell would the redeemer of mankind come forth!


Another Woman in Scripture• We find another woman in Scripture who is in

labor• Unlike this woman, she gives birth before her

labor pain came• “Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before

her pain came, she delivered a male child” (Isa 66:7)

• This speaks of the suddenness of the establishment of the Jewish nation prior to the Millennium (cf. Mic 5:3-5; Mtt. 24:8)


Next Session• Continue to study Revelation chapter 12• Be ready to talk about the manchild


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November 28, 2009

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