Revelation 12

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Monday November 17, 2008

Since we've been on the subject of Revelation & the end times, we'll continue with an explanation of the entire 12th chapter of Revelation.

Revelation 12:1 (NIV)
1. A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.

The woman "clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head" represents Israel. If we use scripture to interpret scripture, we can see that the twelve stars represent the twelve sons of Jacob, since it is from them that Abraham's descendents became as numerous as the stars in the sky:

Genesis 15:5,6 (NIV)
5. He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars-- if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 6. Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

The woman stands on the moon; and Psalms tell us that is a symbol of the fact that Israel's descendants, and David's throne, will endure forever:

Psalm 89:34-37
"My covenant I will not violate, Nor will I alter the utterance of My lips. Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David. His descendants shall endure forever, And his throne as the sun before Me. It shall be established forever LIKE THE MOON, And the witness in the sky is faithful."

The moon sympolizes the certainty of how God's Covenant with Israel is certain, and He will not violate it.

-------------------------------------
Revelation 12:2 (NIV)
2. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.

Israel gave birth to the Messiah in order to fulfill God's Covenant. Isaiag states that Israel on its own could NOT bring salvation to the earth; but GOD DID!!!

Isaiah 26:17,18 (NIV)
17. As a woman with child and about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pain, so were we in your presence, O LORD. 18. We were with child, we writhed in pain, but we gave birth to wind. WE have NOT brought salvation to the earth; we have NOT given birth to people of the world.

-------------------------------------------
Revelation 12:3,4 (NIV)
3. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. 4. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born.

We already established last week that the dragon is satan:

Revelation 12:9 (NIV)
The great dragon was hurled down-- that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Verse 4 shows how satan tried to kill Jesus through Herod, who when he heard that a King was born, out of satanic envy ordered all the babies to be killed.

---------------------------------------------
Revelation 12:5 (NIV)
5. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.

The male child who "will rule all nations with an iron scepter" is defined later in Revelation 19:11-15 as being Christ:

Revelation 19:11-15 (NIV)
11. I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "HE WILL RULE THEM WITH AN IRON SCEPTER."

We can also tell it is Christ because he is defined by the statement that he was "snatched up to God AND TO HIS THRONE!" The only person besides God the Father who is ever mentioned as sitting on God the Father's throne is Jesus Christ:

Revelation 3:21 (NIV) (Jesus speaking)
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on MY THRONE, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father ON HIS THRONE.

Notice that Jesus has His own throne in Heaven as well, and "him who overcomes" is given the right to sit with Him on it! But the Bible never says that believers will sit on the FATHER'S throne; only on Jesus' throne!
According to Ephesians 1:20, Jesus is now seated in a position of authority in the Heavenly realms AT THE FATHER'S RIGHT HAND! And according to Ephesians 2:6, WE are seated WITH CHRIST!!! That puts us at the Father's right hand as well. We don't sit with the Father on HIS Throne, but with Jesus on HIS Throne, at the Father's right hand!

(To be continued)

PRAYER
Thank You Father for sending Jesus to disarm satan and bring Your salvation, power, Kingdom, and authority to the earth. Thank You for Your Word that tells me about all I've received by entering Your Kingdom. Help me understand Your ways better and put them into practice as I renew my mind with Your Word and allow Your Word to govern my life.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out the Daily Word Archives at:
http://www.jimseekamp.com

To subscribe to the Daily Word, send an email with the subject "SUBSCRIBE" to mailto:dailyword@jimseekamp.com

If you wish to unsubscribe, please send an email with the subject "UNSUBSCRIBE" to mailto:dailyword@jimseekamp.com

To have Jim Seekamp speak at your church or group meeting, email him at: jimseekamp@jimseekamp.com