Is it later than we think according to the Revelation prophecy? Biblical historians have defined the riddles, enigmas, esoteric imagery and metaphors of the Revelation, if we take the time to research the information. Once we define the symbolism, the message will be understood so we will be spiritually ready for the return of Jesus Christ. Yes, it will happen just as He promised!
In this series Great Red Dragon, chapter 12 of Revelation, we have discovered that the prophetic verses 1-5 have already been fulfilled. Looking back at fulfilled prophecy provides an accurate interpretation, because historians have recorded when, how and by whom the prophecy was fulfilled.
Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared for her by God, that they should feed her one thousand two hundred and sixty days...Rev. 12:6. There is a lot of symbolism and information packed into this one verse. Keep in mind that the woman symbolizes Israel - represented by the twelve tribes. The woman, 12 tribes, fled into the wilderness. Why did they flee and where is the wilderness?
The term wilderness as it is used in this text, is a metaphor describing a place of isolation and safety from outside intrusion. This definition describes the relationship between Jesus and His apostles, who represented the 12 tribes of Israel. The 12 tribes of Israel served the Old Covenant that promised a Messiah.
During their wilderness experience, Jesus privately and exclusively, witnessed to His apostles out of the Torah - law and the prophets - which recorded prophecy that proclaimed how a New Covenant would eventually be established by the coming Messiah - confirming to them that He fulfilled these prophecies. The apostles represented both the Old & New Covenant - two witnesses.
The apostles were not ignorant, only uneducated, who would later be anointed by God to carry the knowledge of the Kingdom of Heaven to the Gentiles. Because of their important mission the apostles needed the personal and intense instruction of Jesus, devoid of interruption and confusion from the world and the devil -- the wilderness.
Jesus was here only a very brief time to prove to His apostles that He fulfilled all the prophecies of the Law and the Prophets. How long did He have to prepare them? The text says...they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. The apostles were spoon-fed by Jesus in the wilderness for 1260 days -- then He was crucified and rose from the dead. Jesus then sent His apostles into all the world to preach His gospel message.
In ancient times their calendar was calculated at 360 days for a year. It was called a Prophetic Calendar - 30 days for each month. It took centuries to finally synchronize the seasons -- eventually accepting the 365.2422 days in a calendar year. The Prophetic Calendar is still considered accurate for prophetic references. 1260 days divided by 360 days = 3.5 years. This is confirmed by the 42 months figure in other references. 1260 days divided by 42 months = 3.5 years. This is the amount of time that Jesus and His apostles ministered together, before His crucifixion.
In my blog series Two Witnesses in April to June 2015 archives, I go into detail about this period of time, for those who want to understand what took place during the 1260 days -- the wilderness.
As we continue in the prophecy of Revelation chapter 12, we find that...war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought...but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer...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 angel were cast out with him...verses 7-9.
This portion of chapter 12 was fulfilled the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead. How do I know? Verse 10 tells us...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 the brethren, who accused them before God day and night, has been cast out. Salvation, strength and the kingdom of God, and the power of His Christ has come. Because of the victory of Jesus Christ, Satan the accuser has been cast to the earth, along with his disobedient angels.
Jesus had forewarned His followers about the coming fulfillment of this prophecy. Jesus said...I saw Satan fall like light lightning from heaven...behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you...Luke 10:18-19. Once Jesus Christ rose from the dead, the power & authority of Satan & his demon angels was broken, and returned to mankind.
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death...verse 11. Now this chapter reveals that after Jesus Christ sacrificed His blood for the sins of mankind, His disciples are sent into the world to give their testimony of the power of His blood to save, heal and deliver men out of the hands of Satan -- their accuser. So far in chapter 12, the first eleven verses have been fulfilled.
Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time...verse 12. The word woe is an exclamation of grief. Why would Jesus tell John that the inhabitants of heaven would rejoice when Satan is cast to the earth, but woe to the inhabitants of the earth who will experience his great wrath? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
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