In Revelation chapter 12,
John sees a vision of a woman
"clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars"
(Revelation 12:1).
Note the similarity between this description and the description that Joseph gave of his father Jacob (Israel) and his mother and their children
(Genesis 37:9-11).
The twelve stars refer to the twelve tribes of Israel.
So the woman in
Revelation 12
is Israel
Additional evidence for this interpretation is that
Revelation 12:2-5 speaks of the woman being with child
and giving birth. While it is true
that Mary gave birth to Jesus, it is also true that Jesus, the son of David
from the tribe of Judah, came from
Israel
In a sense, Israel gave birth--or brought forth-- Christ Jesus.
Verse 5 says that
the woman’s child was "a male child, who
is to rule all the nations with a
rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne."
Clearly, this is describing Jesus. Jesus ascended to heaven
(Acts 1:9-11)
and will one day establish His kingdom on earth
(Revelation 20:4-6),
and He will rule it with perfect judgment
(the “rod of iron”; see Psalm 2:7-9).
The woman’s flight into the wilderness
for 1,260 days refers to the future time called
the
Great Tribulation
Twelve hundred, sixty days is 42 months (of 30 days each),
which is the same as 3 1/2 years.
Halfway through
the Tribulation period, the Beast (the Antichrist) will set an
image of himself up in the temple that will be built in Jerusalem.
This is the abomination that Jesus spoke
of in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14.
When the Beast does this, he breaks the peace pact he had made with Israel and the nation has to flee for safety--
possibly to Petra
(also see Matthew 24; Daniel 9:27).
]
This escape of the Jews is pictured as the woman fleeing
into the wilderness
Revelation 12:12-17
speaks of how the devil will make war against
Israel trying to destroy her
(Satan knows his time is short, relatively speaking—see Revelation 20:1-3, 10).
It also reveals that God will protect Israel in the wilderness.
Revelation 12:14
says Israel will be protected from the devil for "a time, times, and half a time (“a time” = 1 year; “times” = 2 years; “half a time” = one-half year; in other words, 3 1/2 years).
Jesus warned us that “false Christs and false prophets” will come and
will attempt to deceive even God’s elect
(Matthew 24:23-27; see also 2 Peter 3:3 and Jude 17-18).
The best way to guard yourself against falsehood and false teachers
is to know the truth To spot a counterfeit, study the real thing
Any believer who“correctly handles the
word of truth”
(2 Timothy 2:15)
and who makes a careful study of the Bible
can identify false doctrine
For example, a believer who has read the activities of the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
in Matthew 3:16-17
will immediately question any doctrine that denies the Trinity.
Therefore, step one is to study the Bible and judge all teaching
by what the Scripture says.
In Revelation chapter 12,
John sees a vision of a woman
"clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars"
(Revelation 12:1).
Note the similarity between this description and the description that Joseph gave of his father Jacob (Israel) and his mother and their children
(Genesis 37:9-11).
The twelve stars refer to the twelve tribes of Israel.
So the woman in
Revelation 12
is Israel
Additional evidence for this interpretation is that
Revelation 12:2-5 speaks of the woman being with child
and giving birth. While it is true
that Mary gave birth to Jesus, it is also true that Jesus, the son of David
from the tribe of Judah, came from
Israel
In a sense, Israel gave birth--or brought forth-- Christ Jesus.
Verse 5 says that
the woman’s child was "a male child, who
is to rule all the nations with a
rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne."
Clearly, this is describing Jesus. Jesus ascended to heaven
(Acts 1:9-11)
and will one day establish His kingdom on earth
(Revelation 20:4-6),
and He will rule it with perfect judgment
(the “rod of iron”; see Psalm 2:7-9).
The woman’s flight into the wilderness
for 1,260 days refers to the future time called
the
Great Tribulation
Twelve hundred, sixty days is 42 months (of 30 days each),
which is the same as 3 1/2 years.
Halfway through
the Tribulation period, the Beast (the Antichrist) will set an
image of himself up in the temple that will be built in Jerusalem.
This is the abomination that Jesus spoke
of in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14.
When the Beast does this, he breaks the peace pact he had made with Israel and the nation has to flee for safety--
possibly to Petra
(also see Matthew 24; Daniel 9:27).
]
This escape of the Jews is pictured as the woman fleeing
into the wilderness
Revelation 12:12-17
speaks of how the devil will make war against
Israel trying to destroy her
(Satan knows his time is short, relatively speaking—see Revelation 20:1-3, 10).
It also reveals that God will protect Israel in the wilderness.
Revelation 12:14
says Israel will be protected from the devil for "a time, times, and half a time (“a time” = 1 year; “times” = 2 years; “half a time” = one-half year; in other words, 3 1/2 years).
Jesus warned us that “false Christs and false prophets” will come and
will attempt to deceive even God’s elect
(Matthew 24:23-27; see also 2 Peter 3:3 and Jude 17-18).
The best way to guard yourself against falsehood and false teachers
is to know the truth To spot a counterfeit, study the real thing
Any believer who“correctly handles the
word of truth”
(2 Timothy 2:15)
and who makes a careful study of the Bible
can identify false doctrine
For example, a believer who has read the activities of the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
in Matthew 3:16-17
will immediately question any doctrine that denies the Trinity.
Therefore, step one is to study the Bible and judge all teaching
by what the Scripture says.
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