Bible Study

BOOK OF REVELATION UNCOVERED: Chapter 12

by: Dr. Dean Crosby

[Editor's Note: For this study, the author uses easy to understand Contemporary English Version (CEV) of Bible that has been created by the American Bible Society. His insights are given in capital letters. This include explanations and historical background information for the words you have just read in order to make the startling predictions made in this important and fascinating book comprehensible. Occasionally make changes will be made in the CEV words if a variance is detected from the meaning found in the King James Bible.]

REVELATION 12

1 A great sign appeared in the sky. It was a woman (THOUGHT TO REFER TO ISRAEL) whose clothes were the sun. (THIS CAN REFER TO THE ADMIRATION THAT GOD HAS FOR HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE) The moon was under her feet, and a crown made of twelve stars was on her head. (THIS SENTENCE CAN REFER TO THE DOMINION THAT ISRAEL WILL ACHIEVE WHEN IT IS RESTORED TO HOLINESS UNDER JESUS WHEN HE RETURNS IN THE "SECOND COMING" TO ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM WHICH WILL BE RULED FROM ISRAEL) 2 She was about to give birth, ( REFERS TO ISRAEL'S RESTORATION) and she was crying because of the great pain.

(THAT WILL OCCUR DURING THE SPIRITUAL RE-BIRTH OR RESTORATION. HERE ARE SOME OTHER VERSES THAT ELABORATE ON THIS EXPLANATION: ISAIAH 66:6-9 Do you hear that noise in the city and those shouts coming from the temple? It is the Lord shouting as he punishes His enemies. 7 Have you ever heard of a woman who gave birth to a child before having labor pains? 8 Who ever heard of such a thing or imagined it could happen? Can a nation be born in a day or come to life in a second? Jerusalem is like a mother who gave birth to her children as soon as she was in labor. 9 The Lord is the one who makes birth possible. And he will see that Zion has many more children. The Lord has spoken.)

3 Another sign appeared in the sky. It was a huge red dragon (SATAN ) with seven heads (THOUGHT TO BE AREAS OF THE WORLD) and ten horns, (THOUGHT TO BE THE NATIONS THAT USED TO BE PART OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE THAT WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE ANTI-CHRIST) and a crown (THIS IS THOUGHT TO INDICATE SATAN'S CONTROL) on each of its seven heads. (REGIONS OF THE WORLD) 4 With its tail, it (SATAN) dragged a third of the stars (ANGELS) from the sky and threw them (OUT OF HEAVEN) down to the earth. Then the dragon (SATAN) turned toward the woman (SOME BIBLE COMMENTARIES STATE THIS REFERS TO THE VIRGIN MARY BUT WAIT UNTIL VERSE 6 WHERE YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT IT REFERS TO ISRAEL) who was ready to be delivered (DELIVER TO GOD THE 144,000 JEWS HE HAS CHOSEN FOR SALVATION) because it (SATAN) wanted to devour (KILL) her child ( SATAN HATED THIS OFFSPRING OF ISRAEL THAT WOULD BE SAVED BY GOD) as soon as it was born. (CHOSEN BY GOD)

5 The woman brought forth a child, (MANY THINK THIS REFERS TO JESUS BUT THIS IS A PROPHECY OF A FUTURE EVENT THEREFORE "CHILD" MORE LIKELY REFERS TO THOSE DESTINED FOR HEAVEN) who would rule all nations with an iron rod. (AFTER JESUS ESTABLISHES HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH THE SAVED JEWS WILL BE GIVEN GOVERNMENTAL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS) The child was snatched away (REFERS TO THE RAPTURE) and he was taken to God and His throne.

6 The woman (ISRAEL) ran into the desert (AFTER THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL SEND ARMIES TO INVADE ISRAEL) to a place that God had prepared for her. (THIS IS THOUGHT TO BE PETRA THE NOW EMPTY BUT WELL PRESERVED "GHOST TOWN" IN JORDAN) here she will be taken care of for one thousand two hundred sixty days. (DEFINITELY NOT MARY! THIS TIME PERIOD COVERS THE SECOND HALF OF THE TRIBULATION)

7 A war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels were fighting against the dragon (SATAN) and its angels. 8 But the dragon lost the battle. It and its angels (SATAN'S ANGELS THAT WE CALL DEMONS USED TO BE GOD'S ANGELS BEFORE SATAN CONVINCED THEM TO FOLLOW HIM IN WHAT IS A STUNNING REFUTATION OF THE "ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED" THEORY) were forced out of their places in heaven 9 and were thrown down to the earth. Finally the old snake ( CALLED THIS NAME BECAUSE HE FIRST APPEARED ON EARTH IN THE DISGUISE OF A SNAKE ) and his angels were thrown out. That snake, who deceives everyone (EVERYONE WHO IS STILL LEFT) on earth, (AFTER THE RAPTURE) is known as the devil and Satan.

10 Then I heard a voice from heaven shout, "Our God has shown his saving power, and his kingdom has come! God's own Chosen One (JESUS) has shown his authority. (OVER SATAN) Satan accused our people in the presence of God day and night. Now he has been thrown out! (READER APPLAUSE HERE !) 11 Our people defeated Satan because of the blood of the Lamb (THE BELIEF THAT JESUS DIED AS A SACRIFICE FOR THEM GIVES CHRISTIANS A SUPERNATURAL POWER FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT TO OVERCOME AND DEFEAT EVIL) and the word of their testimony. (ABOUT JESUS' SACRIFICE TO OBTAIN SALVATION FOR HIS CHOSEN) They were willing to give up their lives. (RATHER THAN BETRAY JESUS THROUGH A DENIAL OF THEIR FAITH IN HIM) 12 The heavens will rejoice with everyone who lives there. But pity the earth and the sea, because the devil was thrown down to the earth. He knows his time is short (BEFORE BEING TAKEN INTO CAPTIVITY AND CONFINED TO HELL) and he is horrendously angry."

13 When the dragon (SATAN) realized that it had been thrown down to the earth, it tried to make trouble (THROUGH A MILITARY DEFEAT) for the woman (ISRAEL) who had given birth to a son. (THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN GRANTED SALVATION) 14 But the woman was given two wings like those of a huge eagle, so that she could fly (FLEE) into the desert. ( TO ESCAPE THE COMPLETELY SUCCESSFUL INVASION OF ISRAEL BY MUSLIMS AND MOST LIKELY THE CHINESE MILITARY) There she would escape from the snake and be taken care of (IN HIDING) for a time, two times, and half a time. (THIS MEANS THREE AND ONE-HALF YEARS)

15 The snake then spewed out water like a river (SATAN CREATED A FLOOD) to sweep the woman (ISRAEL) away. 16 But the earth helped her and swallowed (THIS MIGHT OCCUR FROM A REGIONAL EARTHQUAKE THAT WILL OPEN LARGE CRACKS IN THE EARTH INTO WHICH THE WATER CAN DRAIN) the water that had come from the dragon's mouth. 17 This made the dragon (SATAN) outraged with the woman. ( SATAN REALIZES THAT ISRAEL IS ONCE AGAIN BEING HELPED BY GOD) So it (NOTICE HOW THIS BOOK KEEPS REFERRING TO SATAN AS AN "IT" TO RECOGNIZE HIS BESTIAL NATURE) started a war against the rest of her children. They are the people who obey God and are faithful to what Jesus did and taught. (THIS DESCRIBES A MIRACLE ALMOST NEVER MENTIONED IN CHURCHES. AT THIS TIME THE 144,000 JEWS CHOSEN BY GOD HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO HEAVEN BUT THANKS BE TO HIM, STILL MORE JEWS HAVE NOW ACCEPTED JESUS AS THEIR SAVIOR. THIS WILL OCCUR AFTER THEY EXPERIENCE GOD'S DIVINE PROTECTION FOR THEIR PEOPLE AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL INVASION OF THEIR COUNTRY DURING THE ANTI-CHRISTS MILITARY OPERATION . OF COURSE HE WILL CLAIM THE INVASION OF ISRAEL IS TO BRING PEACE TO THE WORLD. WAIT A MINUTE ISN'T THAT WHAT THE MUSLIMS KEPT SAYING WHEN THEY STARTED THEIR OTHER WARS WITH ISRAEL? FOR SURE !)

| Previous Chapter (Chapter 11) | Next Chapter (Chapter 13)