Revelation 12-14

Revelation 12

The Woman

John sees a woman:

• Clothed with the sun.
• Moon under her feet.
• Crown of twelve stars.

Most likely represents: faithful Israel/church

The Male Child

The woman gives birth to:

• A male child
• One who will rule all nations with a rod of iron.
  • Quoted from Psalm 2:9

This child is Jesus Christ. The child is caught up to God (His ascension).

The Dragon

The great red dragon 

• Seven heads with seven crowns
• Ten horns 

He attempts to destroy the child but fails.

The woman flees into the wilderness for 1,260 days (there’s that number again!) 

War in Heaven

Michael and his angels fight the dragon.

Satan is cast from heaven to earth. He is identified as:

• The ancient serpent
• The devil
• Satan
• The deceiver of the whole world

Believers overcome Satan by:

• The blood of the Lamb
• The word of their testimony
• Loving not their lives even unto death

Satan attacks the woman (Israel) but God protects her.

• Given two wings like eagles
• Nourished in the wilderness for 3.5 years (half of 7)

The dragon then makes war against “the rest of her offspring” or those who:

• Keep God’s commandments.
• Hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation 13

The Beast from the Sea/ Anti-Christ

A beast rises from the sea with:

• Ten horns with ten crowns
• Seven heads.

Its appearance combines:

• Leopard
• Bear
• Lion

(from Daniel 7- combining all animals into one shows completeness of all kingdoms).

The dragon gives the beast:

• Power
• Throne
• Authority

The world marvels at the beast. People worship the dragon and the beast. 

The beast blasphemes God and persecutes God’s people. 

He is allowed authority for 42 months (half of 7 years)

The Beast from the Earth (False Prophet/Anti-Spirit)

A second beast appears.

He has:

• Two horns like a lamb.
• Speaks like a dragon.

He performs miraculous signs and tells people to worship the first beast.

He causes an image of the beast to be worshiped.

The Mark of the Beast

Everyone is required to receive a mark on the right hand or forehead. Without it, people cannot buy or sell.

Number of the Beast: 666. John calls for wisdom in understanding its meaning.

Revelation 14

 The Lamb and the 144,000

John sees the Lamb standing on Mount Zion and the 144,000 with Him.

• They have the Father’s name on their foreheads.
  • Opposite of the beast’s number on their foreheads
  • Reminds of קֹדֶשׁ לַיהוָה on Aaron’s headpiece (belonging to YHWH)

They sing a new song before God’s throne.

They are described as:

• Redeemed
• Virgin
  • Opposite of sexual immorality
• Blameless

The First Angel

An angel proclaims the eternal gospel to every nation.

He calls the world to:

• Fear God
• Give Him glory
• Worship the Creator

The hour of judgment has come.

The Second Angel

The second angel announces “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!”

The Third Angel

A warning is given that anyone who worships the beast/image or receives the mark will face God’s judgment. 

Believers are called to endure faithfully. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.”

Two Harvests

Harvest of the Earth

One like A Son of Man appears on a cloud with:

• A golden crown.
• A sharp sickle.

An angel appears and tells Jesus it is time to reap. Jesus gathers the earth’s harvest.

Harvest of Judgment

A second angel comes with a sickle. A third angel (with authority over fire) tells him it is time to gather grapes.  The second angel gathers grapes and they are thrown into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

Application

We are given multiple times in history. Some events have already happened and some are future events (some are both!). It can be hard trying to make sense of all of it, but we need to remember that we are part of a larger spiritual battle. Victory comes through God alone, even when Dragons and Beasts try to defile His name. We must continue to worship God alone and endure- life is just a vapor, let us live it to the fullest.