Revelation 12, Israel and Christ

 

Revelation 12, Israel and Christ

Who is the woman, the manchild and the dragon? Many have argued that the woman is the Virgin Mary. Because John said it was a great sign, we know it is not a literal woman but a symbol. This symbol is of the Israelites. Israel is where Christ was born. Romans 9:4-5 and Micah 5:2-3. Christ is the man child. The dragon is satan. He is red because he was a murderer from the beginning. Is called a dragon because he is the most dangerous being in all of God's creation. He is our enemy. The seven heads represent his intelligence. 10 horns suggest the final division of the Roman Empire ruled by satan. The crowns are on the thorns, not the heads so that means satan has delegated his authority to his followers. The third of the stars are satan and his followers who followed him to their own destruction. In Job we are reminded that satan still had access to heaven and occasionally met face to face with God. This was after he became a fallen Angel. We also know that satan cannot do anything to mankind without God's express permission. Now at the end of the tribulation satan and his angels have a great rebellion that leads to a war. Michael the Archangel fights against satan's army. Once defeated satan and his followers are cast down to earth. Once satan lands on earth, he goes after Israel to persecute them. This is the remnant 144,000 of the elect that lived through the suffering of the tribulation. All of those who think they're returning to Israel today for the Millennium is sadly mistaken. They are heading toward the great tribulation. The wing of an eagle is God's grace. He saved the Israelites from the Egyptians on the wings of an eagle, and he will deliver them in the same manner by His grace. 42 months into the wilderness is a time, and times and a time and a half. God will nourish the Israelites with food and water just as he did in times past. As violent as the spiritual and physical battles may be, the outcome of the war has already been decided. The victory was decided at the cross. Always in war, even the winning side suffers casualties. History is filled with examples of Christians who have laid down their lives or been martyred for Christ. These are believers who, in the very act of dying, have won the battle. They understand that believers who have a firm hold on the reality of eternal life will not hold to their physical life at all costs. We as Christians are to be called faithful and we are instructed to live the life of one who serves the Lord Jesus Christ. We are invited to place our lives at His disposal, available to be used anytime, anywhere, to encourage each other along the way and to pray always for our fellow soldiers in Christ.

 

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Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary. David Jeremiah and J. Vernon McGee