So far, we have covered Christ’s letters to the seven churches (Rev. 2, 3), the Heavenly Throne of God (Rev. 4), the Scroll with seven seals (Rev. 5), the Seals of God (Rev. 6), the sealing of God’s servants (Rev. 7), and the seven trumpets of judgment (Rev. 8-10), the Two Witnesses and the last trumpet (Rev. 11).

The are many interpretations of these events but, I believe as the end of these things nears, God will make them clearer to those who search for God’s truth. I believe most of the events so far are chronological but, there may be some that fold back upon previous events thus giving further revelation about them and some of the events are happening at the same time and only appear chronological because that is the only way John could write them down.

However, when we reach chapter 12, I believe it is clearly giving deeper revelation of things that are written in the first eleven chapters of Revelation. Imagine looking at the night sky and its panorama of stars, then focusing a telescope on a small section to reveal a close-up view of a constellation. That is what I believe is happening in chapter 12. We are looking at a magnified view of the 5th and 6th seals revealed in chapter 6. It may even be that the seven Trumpets of Revelation 8-10 are also somewhat overlapping the seals but, the fact that the Trumpets do not sound until the 7th seal is opened dims that interpretation –

“And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.” – Revelation 8:1-2

Now we will begin Revelation chapter 12 and the “great wonder” revealed.

Virgo, the Virgin, September 2017

“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.” – Revelation 12:1, 2

This sign I have written about extensively in Sign of the Ages p1 and in Sign of the Ages p2. The constellations have been known from ancient time as prophesies of things to come. Some describe prophesies that have happened and some prophesies yet to happen. The constellation Virgo is such. It describes an event that has happened , the birth of Jesus the Messiah 2000 years ago, and also an event that is yet to happen – described in Revelation 12.

However, the Revelation account involves more than just the constellation Virgo, the Sun and the Moon must also be in the right locations, the constellation Leo must also take it’s place, and the planets Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, and Venus must also be in place. Also Jupiter must enter a retrograde motion in Virgo’s womb, (Jupiter did enter Virgo’s womb on November 20, 2016 and began its retrograde motion which lasts until September 23, 2017).

 

Astronomers tell us this full alignment has never happened before in our history. It will all be in place on September 23, 2017, a few months from now. Only God, who created all these heavenly bodies, could have planned it and set it in motion and then revealed it to prophets centuries before it happens.

Remember, planets are called ‘wandering stars‘ because they are in constant motion. So, Jupiter leaves Virgo on September 23, 2017 and moves northeast into the constellation Taurus (the Bull) where it comes into conjunction with the planet Mars right between the horns of Taurus on August 13, 2024. Now the Hebrew name for Taurus is Shur, which means coming and ruling. The Hebrew name for Mars is Ma’adim, meaning ‘the Adam’, ‘the Red One’ or ‘the Son of Man’. Also, within Taurus is the star cluster known as the Pleiades, which means ‘the congregation‘. So, the meaning of this event is the coming governor, Jesus Christ,

with his congregation.

A very interesting fact is this event occurs exactly 7 years from September 23, 2017, when Virgo fulfills the first wonder of Revelation 12 (More is written about this in Sign of the Ages p2). August 13, 2024 is also the 9th of Av, a day of calamity for Jews.

This matches the timeline that Daniel gives where the false prince confirms a 7 year covenant with Israel, only to break it in 3 1/2 years ( Daniel 9:26, 27). This last 3 1/2 years is known as the Great Tribulation.

“And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” – Daniel 9:26, 27

(A prophetic week is understood to be seven years.)

 But, this is not all Revelation 12 reveals. There is another great wonder coming –

“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.” – Revelation 12:3

2000 years ago when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Satan tried hard to destroy him using Herod and his soldiers. Here we have a repeat of Satan’s performance except it is happening 2000 years later, at the end of days. How do we know this vision pertains to the end? When John was called into heaven to receive this revelation, God told him it pertained to things that would happen hereafter –

“After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.” – Revelation 4:1

John received this revelation after Jesus came the first time so it must pertain to future events. Also, Revelation 12 refers to the woman, which is certainly Israel, fleeing into the wilderness, war in heaven which results in Satan being thrown down to earth, and the kingdom of heaven coming on the earth – events which have not yet happened.

But, who is the ‘man child‘ to be born? John explains this way –

“And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” – Revelation 5

This could be a historical reference to Jesus who is to ‘rule all nations with a rod of iron’ and who was caught up to the throne of God. Some might say the woman fleeing into the wilderness is a picture of the Jewish dispersion after Israel and Jerusalem were destroyed by the Romans. However, the text clearly says this wilderness dispersion only lasts for 3 1/2 years not 2000 years –

“And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. (3 1/2 years)” – Revelation 12:6

Another possible explanation would be the ‘man-child‘ is the Church which is referred to as the church of the firstborn –

“To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect” – Hebrews 12:23

Whatever the full meaning, it is clear that this sign in the heavens begins end-time events. God directs the Arch Angel Michael and his angels to cast Satan and his angels out of heaven –

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” – Revelation 12:9

He can no longer stand before God to accuse the brethren. And now the full meaning of salvation marches forth –

“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:10

Imagine what it will be like have our prayers heard and answered immediately! Remember Daniel’s experience. He asked God for wisdom and understanding but, it took 21 days to get an answer because the Prince of Persia, one of Satan’s angels, blocked the angel Gabriel from bringing the answer. Gabriel had to have help from Michael to get through with the answer (Daniel 10:12, 13). Now, there will be no more opposing of our prayers! Even though the Devil will be wreaking havoc on the earth and his Antichrist will be fulfilling three and a half years of tribulation, the saints will be experiencing victory!

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” – Revelation 12:11

Some will lay down their lives only to stand with the great multitude of saints of the 6th seal –

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; …. And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” – Revelation 7:9-14

 – and some will stand on the earth through the Great Tribulation to greet the Lord when He returns. They will be raptured, rising in the air to meet the Lord but, not before the first resurrection of those who died in Christ and are seen in the 5th seal ( Rev. 6:9-1).

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

I will finish the last half of Revelation 12 in the next post. I know this article is long and packed with much detail. But, the information is worth reading and studying, especially since the time of these events may be rapidly approaching.

Another interesting point about the Great Red Dragon: shortly after the sign of Virgo is fulfilled the mysterious Planet X is supposed to appear between the legs of Virgo, and it looks like a red dragon with horns … It’s picture had to be taken with an infra-red camera because the Sun is blocking it now. More is written about this in Sign of the Ages p2.

God bless you as you read and study the Book of Revelation.