Rev 12:1-2 | KingComments | STEP | . After the temple of God and the ark of His covenant ( ) “a great sign appeared in heaven”. This sign connects to the temple and the ark. The temple and the ark are the center of God’s earthly people Israel. The great sign in heaven refers to Israel. The sign is ‘in heaven’, for it represents God’s plan with Israel according to His counsel ( ) and is therefore something that is fixed in His heavenly counsel. The woman represents in several places in this book a company of people or a system. In this way there is mention of Jezebel ( ), which is papacy, the great harlot ( ), and also professing Christianity which is closely connected to papacy. In that way, there is also mention of the bride (Revelation 19-22), which is the glorified church. Here the woman represents Israel. You can derive that from the characteristics. She is presented as God purposes her to be. In the time of the birth of the Child, which is the subject of the following verses, this was not so, for then Israel was under the yoke of Rome. Israel is “clothed with the sun”. The sun is a picture of the highest authority on earth (cf. ). It has always been God’s purpose to make Israel head of all nations ( ). That is emphasized by “the moon under her feet”. You can derive from that, that all earthly powers in the millennial kingdom of peace acknowledge the authority of Israel. Also the “crown of twelve stars” she is wearing, testifies to her glory. It is very well possible that the twelve stars represent the twelve tribes as channels through which the blessing of God in the millennial kingdom will flow to all parts of the earth. . After this glorious perspective for the future something curious about the woman is noticed: “She was with child.” Moreover, her pregnancy has come to the stage of giving birth: “She cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.”. This description gives a look back to the past and looks forward to the future. On the one hand you go back in time, namely, to the birth of the Lord Jesus from the people of Israel ( ; ). On the other hand you go to the future, for the labor pains, which refer to the time of the great tribulation ( ), are still to come. Nevertheless, the labor pains announce new life. This new life refers to the coming of the Lord Jesus, His second coming of course. That coming is seen as a new birth. This is why, for example, it says so remarkably in another place that He will come from – and not: to – Zion ( ). It is as if the people have given birth to Him only then. That is the moment that God “again brings the firstborn into the world” ( ). He will not come again as a defenseless Babe Who is rejected, but as the Ruler. To understand this representation of matters well, it is important to see that the intervening age of the church is not taken into account. Here at one time you switch from the past, where so many promises are made, to the future for the fulfillment of those promises. In the past the promises could not be fulfilled because of the unfaithfulness of Israel and the rejection of the Lord Jesus. In the future those promises will all be fulfilled on the basis of the faithfulness of the Lord Jesus. In this chapter you see how that will come to pass. . After the sign of Israel you see that “another sign appeared in heaven”. This other sign is the “dragon” or satan. His color is “red”, which represents the color of the blood of his many victims. It indicates the murderous activities of this enemy of God. He has also “seven heads” with a crown on each head and “ten horns”. You can find the explanation of that later in Revelation 13 and 17 ( ). These chapters deal with the Roman empire. In the description here the emphasis is on the satanic power that is hidden behind this empire. The heads represent both extraordinary intelligence and power. The crowns on the head point to the royal position claimed by the dragon. The horns refer to power and strength. . As has already been shown, the tail represent lies and false teachings ( ; ). These false teachings are spread by the dragon through the antichrist, the false prophet. “A third of the stars of heaven” that are dragged by his false teachings can refer to those who have a leading position in the Roman empire. They may be light bearers who will bring what is called Christian teaching after the rapture of the church. After you have seen the dragon in his devouring and deceptive work you see him standing before the woman who is about to give birth. His intention is to devour the Child Whom she will give birth to, as soon as It has been born. Here you see what you read in the Gospel according to Matthew about the attempt of Herod to kill the Lord Jesus when he hears about His birth ( ). . Here the birth of the Lord Jesus is first described and then the purpose of His birth: His government over all nations. But because He is hated and rejected, God takes away His Son, to Himself and to His throne. That has taken place at the ascension. . You read nothing in this chapter about the time of the church. The church is not a subject of the prophecy. The Christian period is skipped. We suddenly find ourselves in in the time of the great tribulation, which is in the second half of the seventieth week of Daniel 9 ( ). Therefore, the next action of God is linked to the flight of the woman, lest she fall prey to the dragon. Here the woman represents the people of Israel, but particularly that part of Israel that is connected to God, which is the believing remnant. God protects the woman against the persecutor by providing her with a hiding place. In that place he nourishes her for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, which is three and a half years (one month has thirty days). The fact that there is mention of “days” indicates the daily care of God for His own. They will pray the prayer “give us this day our daily bread” ( ) in the truest sense of the word. It seems much like Moab is the place where they experience His care and sustenance every day ( ; ). Now read Revelation 12:1-6 again. Reflection: What could you learn from this section, regarding your personal faith life?

‏ Revelation of John 12:1-2

The Dragon, the Woman and the Child

Rev 12:1. After the temple of God and the ark of His covenant (Rev 11:19) “a great sign appeared in heaven”. This sign connects to the temple and the ark. The temple and the ark are the center of God’s earthly people Israel. The great sign in heaven refers to Israel. The sign is ‘in heaven’, for it represents God’s plan with Israel according to His counsel (Rom 11:29) and is therefore something that is fixed in His heavenly counsel.

The woman represents in several places in this book a company of people or a system. In this way there is mention of Jezebel (Rev 2:20), which is papacy, the great harlot (Rev 17:1-6), and also professing Christianity which is closely connected to papacy. In that way, there is also mention of the bride (Revelation 19-22), which is the glorified church. Here the woman represents Israel. You can derive that from the characteristics. She is presented as God purposes her to be. In the time of the birth of the Child, which is the subject of the following verses, this was not so, for then Israel was under the yoke of Rome.

Israel is “clothed with the sun”. The sun is a picture of the highest authority on earth (cf. Psa 104:2a). It has always been God’s purpose to make Israel head of all nations (Deu 28:1). That is emphasized by “the moon under her feet”. You can derive from that, that all earthly powers in the millennial kingdom of peace acknowledge the authority of Israel. Also the “crown of twelve stars” she is wearing, testifies to her glory. It is very well possible that the twelve stars represent the twelve tribes as channels through which the blessing of God in the millennial kingdom will flow to all parts of the earth.

Rev 12:2. After this glorious perspective for the future something curious about the woman is noticed: “She was with child.” Moreover, her pregnancy has come to the stage of giving birth: “She cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.”.

This description gives a look back to the past and looks forward to the future. On the one hand you go back in time, namely, to the birth of the Lord Jesus from the people of Israel (Isa 9:6; Mic 5:2). On the other hand you go to the future, for the labor pains, which refer to the time of the great tribulation (Mt 24:15-21), are still to come. Nevertheless, the labor pains announce new life. This new life refers to the coming of the Lord Jesus, His second coming of course. That coming is seen as a new birth.

This is why, for example, it says so remarkably in another place that He will come from – and not: to – Zion (Rom 11:26). It is as if the people have given birth to Him only then. That is the moment that God “again brings the firstborn into the world” (Heb 1:6). He will not come again as a defenseless Babe Who is rejected, but as the Ruler.

To understand this representation of matters well, it is important to see that the intervening age of the church is not taken into account. Here at one time you switch from the past, where so many promises are made, to the future for the fulfillment of those promises. In the past the promises could not be fulfilled because of the unfaithfulness of Israel and the rejection of the Lord Jesus. In the future those promises will all be fulfilled on the basis of the faithfulness of the Lord Jesus. In this chapter you see how that will come to pass.

Rev 12:3. After the sign of Israel you see that “another sign appeared in heaven”. This other sign is the “dragon” or satan. His color is “red”, which represents the color of the blood of his many victims. It indicates the murderous activities of this enemy of God.

He has also “seven heads” with a crown on each head and “ten horns”. You can find the explanation of that later in Revelation 13 and 17 (Rev 13:1 ; Rev 17:3 ; 7-12). These chapters deal with the Roman empire. In the description here the emphasis is on the satanic power that is hidden behind this empire. The heads represent both extraordinary intelligence and power. The crowns on the head point to the royal position claimed by the dragon. The horns refer to power and strength.

Rev 12:4. As has already been shown, the tail represent lies and false teachings (Rev 9:10; Isa 9:14). These false teachings are spread by the dragon through the antichrist, the false prophet. “A third of the stars of heaven” that are dragged by his false teachings can refer to those who have a leading position in the Roman empire. They may be light bearers who will bring what is called Christian teaching after the rapture of the church.

After you have seen the dragon in his devouring and deceptive work you see him standing before the woman who is about to give birth. His intention is to devour the Child Whom she will give birth to, as soon as It has been born. Here you see what you read in the Gospel according to Matthew about the attempt of Herod to kill the Lord Jesus when he hears about His birth (Mt 2:13-16).

Rev 12:5. Here the birth of the Lord Jesus is first described and then the purpose of His birth: His government over all nations. But because He is hated and rejected, God takes away His Son, to Himself and to His throne. That has taken place at the ascension.

Rev 12:6. You read nothing in this chapter about the time of the church. The church is not a subject of the prophecy. The Christian period is skipped. We suddenly find ourselves in Rev 12:6 in the time of the great tribulation, which is in the second half of the seventieth week of Daniel 9 (Dan 9:24-27). Therefore, the next action of God is linked to the flight of the woman, lest she fall prey to the dragon. Here the woman represents the people of Israel, but particularly that part of Israel that is connected to God, which is the believing remnant.

God protects the woman against the persecutor by providing her with a hiding place. In that place he nourishes her for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, which is three and a half years (one month has thirty days). The fact that there is mention of “days” indicates the daily care of God for His own. They will pray the prayer “give us this day our daily bread” (Mt 6:11) in the truest sense of the word. It seems much like Moab is the place where they experience His care and sustenance every day (Psa 60:8 ; Psa 108:9; Isa 16:4).

Now read Revelation 12:1-6 again.

Reflection: What could you learn from this section, regarding your personal faith life?