Great Red Dragon Series #1 - Part 193 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

Now a great sign appeared in heaven:  a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars...then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth...and another sign appeared in heaven:  behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads...Rev. 12:1-3.

Revelation chapter 12 is a riddle that can be solved, despite the fact it is rife with symbolism and esoteric imagery.  If we define the symbolism we will unlock the message within it.  The modern viewpoint on this chapter has varied opinions from modern scholars.  But the consensus is that the woman in this text symbolizes the Church.  The historical viewpoint regarding the identity of the woman contradicts the modern viewpoint?  Why are the two viewpoints so diverse?

The historical viewpoint reveals what the Church believed for over 1800 years of church history.  The modern viewpoint is what the Church has believed on this subject for about 100 years.  This blog is dedicated to introducing information from church historians who have named when, where and by whom many of the visions of the Revelation have already been fulfilled.  Whereby, those who embrace the modern viewpoint believe, that from chapter 4 of Revelation the visions are all future.

Looking back at fulfilled prophecy provides actual factual proof.  Jesus told us that we will understand prophecy of scripture in its fulfillment, so we will believe in Him...John 13:19; 14:29; 16:4.  Jesus never once told us to interpret prophecy of scripture, yet that seems to be the driving force of Bible scholars who embrace the modern viewpoint on eschatology.  But if one believes this chapter has already been fulfilled, the riddle will be solved by defining the symbolism and esoteric imagery, while historians will provide the recorded historical facts.  

Once a prophecy has been fulfilled it is easy to understand the message.  Martin Luther was an historian who saw Revelation prophecy fulfilled in his lifetime and recorded it for us to understand. But, we can also chose to ignore his recorded facts.

John saw a great sign in Heaven, which reveals that what he is being shown is designed and appointed by God, fulfilling His plans and purposes upon the earth.  So who is this mysterious woman in chapter 12 and what does she symbolize?  Who is the red dragon?  What is God revealing to us?  What is the historical viewpoint regarding this chapter?

The woman symbolizes Israel which is revealed by the garland around her head made up of 12 stars.  The 12 stars symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel, God's earthly government.  Israel was given the promise of a Messiah through Abraham, so Israel will birth the Messiah.  

The woman was clothed with the sun.  Sun symbolizes ruler or supreme authority, such as a king or queen.  Since the woman symbolizes Israel, the sun symbolizes God with His glorious presence covering her.  God is supreme authority over Israel, and all the events outlined in the vision.  The woman, Israel, is pregnant with the Messiah.

The woman is depicted with the moon under her feet.  The moon symbolizes a lesser power or authority.  Who is the lesser spiritual power in the universe?  Satan is the lesser spiritual power & authority. So the moon - Satan - is under the feet of the 12 tribes of Israel.  The Seed of the woman is the Messiah - Jesus Christ - so the moon is under His feet...Gen. 3:15.  The woman is in the pain of labor & will give birth to the Messiah.  Then another great sign appears.  What is that great sign?

The great red dragon appears on the scene strutting his stuff on the earth.  He is sporting seven heads.  On each of the seven heads is a diadem - crown - symbolizing royalty.  The seven heads symbolize seven empires or kingdoms on the earth.  Historians reveal, that the ten horns symbolize ten seats of power within the purview of the 6th head of the beast - the reign of the Imperial Roman Empire.  Jesus was born during the reign of the Imperial Roman Empire.

Now we know that the great red dragon symbolizes Satan, who rules over 7 royal kingdoms and 10 seats of power.  Satan...the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born...she bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron...and her Child was caught up to God and His throne...Rev. 12:4-5. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy.

As we proceed in chapter 12, we can see that by defining the symbolism we will understand the message in the chapter.  The promise of a Messiah was given to Israel, so Israel - the woman - gave birth to Jesus.  The male Child that the dragon attempted to devour as soon as He was born was Jesus.  Jesus Christ gave birth to the Church.  So far this portion of chapter 12 has been fulfilled - it is not a future event.

How did the great red dragon attempt to devour the male Child as soon as it was born?  Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~

Armageddon Series #4 - Part 192 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him...Rev. 12:9.  The moment Jesus Christ was resurrected, Satan and his entourage were cast out of Heaven to the earth, never to return.  How do I know this happened the day Jesus Christ was resurrected?

Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ have come for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down"...Rev. 12:10.  

The day Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead, the thousand year reign of Christ on the earth began, as this text explains.  That same day, Satan and his angels were cast to the earth.  Salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ was now offered to mankind.

Jesus explained to His disciples that the day He returns, He will send forth the Endtime Reapers to gather together Satan's kids, those who rejected His salvation, and bind them in bundles to be burned.  Then the Reapers will gather together His kids and take them to a safe place...Matt. 13:30. Once His kids are safe in the camp of the saints...the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up...II Peter 3:10.  The earthly battles are finally over, but one battle is yet to be fought before God provides...new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells...II Peter 3:13.

Armageddon is the final battle to be fought--a spiritual battle between Satan and God.  Armageddon means:  rendezvous with God.  When Satan is released from prison he...will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea...Rev. 20:8  

In this context the word nations means:  of the same habit.  Those who are of the same habit as Satan, are the angels who were cast to the earth with him.  The Bible calls them demons. There must be a gazillion demons since their...number is as the sand of the sea.  But who are Gog and Magog?  

Since Armageddon is future we will understand at the time of fulfillment, but we can look to the past for some understanding of the symbolism.  In documented biblical history, Gog and Magog are actually names for people or nations.  Gog and Magog are the Aramaic names for China and Mongolia.  Most Russian people are of Mongolian origin.  In the 12th century, these two nations plundered many defenseless lands, carrying away captives from Arabia, Syria, and Mesopotamia.

The large armies of Gog (China) and Magog (Mongolia/Russia) invaded the land of Israel in the 13th century, destroying everything in their wake.  At the end of this great battle, thousands of dead bodies were left in the battlefield for many months until the wild beasts and vultures could eat all of the dead bodies...Ez. 30:17-20.

We can speculate that Gog & Magog could be kingpins of Satan, whom he uses to lead the hordes of demon spirits to the battle of Armageddon.  Gog & Magog could be a metaphor for the twin demonic principalities of immorality (Sodom) and idolatry (Egypt)...Rev. 11:8.  We will understand clearly when this prophecy is fulfilled.

They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city...Rev. 20:9.  This portion of the prophecy is clear.  Satan, his demonic hordes and Gog & Magog head to Heaven, and launch a vicious attack on the camp of the saints, in one last attempt to take human beings from the hands of God.  Quite brazen, don't you think?  How long is this battle?  We don't know.  What do we know?

Fire came down from God out of Heaven and devoured them.  It is finally over! The devil who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever...Rev. 20:10.  

Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is Done!"...Rev. 16:17.  In Revelation 16 seven angels are commanded to pour bowls of the Wrath of God onto the earth, which eventually brings us to the end of the world and Armageddon.  Why did the 7th angel pour his bowl into the air?  There is no earth left for him to pour anything on.

The number 6 (bowls) is man's number meaning:  the sum total of human achievement--incomplete without God.  The number 7 (bowl) is God's divine number meaning:  perfect and complete - victory.  The word air symbolizes the invisible spiritual realm.  It is done means:  the old worldly system on the old earth, death and the devil, have been judged and punished.  There is no more sin, sickness, disease, or death -- all burned up with the earth -- gone forever!  Define the symbolism and the message is revealed.

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away...I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared as bride adorned for her husband...Rev. 21:1-2.

More to come on a new topic...stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~

Armageddon Series #3 - Part 191 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first...then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord...I Cor. 4:17.

The day that Jesus Christ returns this reference describes clearly what will take place regarding His followers.  Those who are in the graves will rise first, then those who are alive on that Day will rise with them to meet Him in the clouds.  Do you remember the last time the graves opened to release the dead?

The moment Jesus died on the cross we have the following report.  Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many...Matt. 27:51-53.  The gates of Heaven were opened by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and he took the Old Testament saints home with Him.

When Jesus returns, the bodies of those who died in the Lord will be reunited with their spirits that return with Him.  When they meet Jesus Christ in the air, He will take them to the camp of the saints...Rev. 20:9.  On that Day, Jesus will tell His reapers to...gather the wheat into My Barn...Matt. 13:30.  The wheat are the saints of Christ and My Barn is a metaphor for the camp of the saints.  

The prophetic parable of Jesus Christ - Wheat & Tares - is very clear about what happens the day He returns - no interpretation needed.  Another prophetic parable is found in Luke 13:23-27.  Someone asked Jesus, "Lord, are there few who are saved?'  

He told them...Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able...when once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us," and He will answer and say to you, "I do not know you, where you are from," then you will begin to say, "We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets."  But He will say, I tell you I do not know you, where you are from...depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.

Do you remember when Noah finished building the Ark and those who desired to follow God went into it with all the animals, where they would be protected from the wrath of God?  Then God shut the door...Gen. 7:16.  Jesus said...as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be...Matt. 24:37.  The earthly plight of mankind will have come full circle - God shuts the door.  But this time, it is shut forever!  

The tares are gathered and burned in the fire.  The tares are people who rejected Jesus Christ as their Savior, so  they will experience the second death - the Lake of Fire...Rev. 20: 11-15.  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up...II Peter 3:10.

At this time...Satan shall be loosed out of his prison...Rev. 20:7.  Satan's power and authority has been bound - limited - for 2000 years, and he is angry when he is loosed from his chains!  What does he do next?  He...will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea...they went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city...Rev. 20:7-9.

We must determine if this reference describes a scene in the spiritual realm or the earthly realm?  We have just learned that the camp of the saints is a place of protection where Jesus takes His saints, whom He gathers from the earth the day He returned.  The camp of the saints is juxtaposed to the beloved city - Heaven.  Satan gathers the nations together to battle, where they surround the camp of the saints & the beloved city.  So this battle obviously takes place in the spiritual realm.  

This battle is called Armageddon -- rendezvous with God.

The word nations in the original Greek language is ethnos meaning:  race or of the same habit  When Satan is released from the chain, he gathers together nations, those of the same habit from the four corners, the breadth of the earth for battle at the camp of the saints and the beloved city.  Who are those of the same habit?  Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of me...sheeple follow without question~~~

Armageddon Series #2 - Part 190 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

And when the thousand years expire, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison...Rev. 20:7.  What triggers the time when Satan is...loosed out of his prison?  When the prophecy of the thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth is fulfilled, at this moment Satan will be released from being bound a thousand years.  The thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth will be fulfilled, the moment the last person on the earth to accept Jesus Christ as his Savior is accomplished -- those who have become born again by the Spirit of God.  What happens next?

To answer this question let's turn to the a prophetic parable of Jesus -- Wheat & the Tares...Matt 13:24-43.  The parable is metaphorical language, yet Jesus interpreted it in verses 36-43 so please read the whole reference for full understanding.  Jesus defines the cast of characters in this end-time drama as follows:

Son of Man   ---   sows the good seed - wheat - sons of the kingdom

The devil       ---   sows the wicked seed - tares - sons of the wicked one

Field              ---   symbolizes the world where the seed is sown

Reapers         ---   God's angels reaping the harvest the last day of the world

Jesus told His apostles that Satan's kids and God's kids must live together on planet earth until He returns for the harvest.  What are tares?  Tares, also called a darnel, are noxious weeds that flourish in a wheat field.  It is a wheat look-a-like, but has a smaller head.  Tares easily become host to deadly fugus that can destroy a crop of wheat.  Wheat is a nourishing grain that provides health to the human body.

We can see why Jesus would use this agricultural illustration to describe His kids and Satan's kids.  Outwardly both appear very similar.  But the tares destroy from the inside where no one sees until the devastating results are manifested - then it is too late. This parable is a warning to the whole Christian era, right up to the fiery end of the world.  Every Christian must read it and learn what the Spirit is saying.

...the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels...therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age...the Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire...there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth...verses 39-42.

The wheat and the tares have lived together on planet earth during the whole Christian era, but the time finally comes when the Endtime Reapers will separate the two for their final judgment.  We can see by this reference that the tares - Satan's kids - are gathered together by God's angels, and burned in a fire, where there will be wailing & gnashing of teeth - great sorrow.  But what happens to God's kids, the wheat?

Jesus told His apostles...let them both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into My barn...verse 30.  When Jesus returns the first thing the angels do is gather the tares - Satan's kids - to be burned in the end time fiery end of the world.  Then they will gather the wheat - God's kids - and place them in My Barn.  What is a barn?

In the natural realm a barn is a safe place to store things for protection.  So Jesus is speaking metaphorically when He uses barn as a safe place to store His kids from His wrath on the earth...so the angel thrust his sickle into the earth, and gathered the wine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God...Rev. 14:19.  While the earth and Satan's kids burn, where is the safe place - barn - that Jesus takes His kids when He returns?

When we were last together I asked, "What is the definition of Armageddon?"  The word Armageddon is Hebrew for:  Har-Megiddon.  The root meaning of Megiddon is rendezvous.  The definition of rendezvous:  to assemble, or meet at a particular time & place; assemble the troops.  God has already set a time & place where He will allow Satan & his troops to rendezvous with Him.  It is at the time of the fiery end of the world - Armageddon.

When Satan is loosed from prison, he and his demonic troops will dare to surround...the camp of the saints and the beloved city...Rev. 20:9.  The camp of the saints is juxtaposed to the beloved city.  The metaphorical barn where the wheat - God's kids - are placed for protection is the camp of the saints...the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father...Matt.13:43.

Is there more to this story?  You bet!  Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~