What I Noticed Today (Revelation 12-13)
Revelation 12-15 represent an interruption in the chronological flow of the revelation. The seventh trumpet sounded in Revelation 11 but is not revealed until Revelation 16 when the chronology of events resumes.
Revelation 12 & 13
These chapters introduce seven characters that are very important to an understanding of the events of the last half of the Revelation:
- A woman clothed with the sun represents Israel (12:1-2).
- A red dragon with seven heads and ten horns represents Satan (12:3-4).
- A male child represents Christ (12:5-6).
- The archangel Michael casts Satan out of heaven (12:7-12).
- The offspring of the woman who is persecuted by the dragon (12:13-17).
- The beast from the sea, the future world dictator (13:1-10).
- The beast from the earth, the false prophet (13:11-18).
Revelation 12
The First Character.
In verses 1-2, a great sign appeared in heaven: it was a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon at her feet (see Genesis 37:9-11), and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in agony as she was about to give birth.
The Second Character.
In verses 3-4, another sign appeared in heaven: a great red fiery dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and on his head were seven diadems (crowns). His tail swept a third of the stars out of heaven and hurled them to earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth to devour her son.
The Third Character.
In verses 5-6, but she gave birth to a son who will shepherd the nations with an iron scepter, and her son will be caught up to God and His throne. The woman escaped to the wilderness where God protected her for 1,260 days (3-1/2 years, or 42 months).
Note: The 1,260 days is a reference to the flight of Israel at the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
The Fourth Character.
In verses 7-12, war broke out in heaven: Michael against the dragon and his angels (demons). The dragon, the ancient serpent, known as Satan or the Devil, who deceives the world and was thrown out of heaven to earth.
Note: The archangel Michael is assigned to protect Israel (Deuteronomy 12:1). This war between Michael and Satan occurs in the middle of the Tribulation period.
A hymn of praise from heaven declared salvation, power, and the kingdom of God, and the authority of the Messiah have now come because the accuser (Satan) has been thrown out (of heaven). He was conquered by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony (martyrs). Rejoice in heaven but woe to the earth and the sea where Satan will dwell with great fury for a short time (1,260 days).
The Fifth Character.
In verses 13-17, when the dragon was thrown to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. The woman was given wings of an eagle so she could escape to the wilderness for a time, times, and half a time (3-1/2 years, 1,260 days, or 42 months).
The serpent tried to sweep her away, but the earth protected her. The dragon was furious and left her to wage war against her children, those who keep God’s commands and have the testimony of Jesus.
Note: Only a third of the people of Israel are preserved (Zechariah 13:8), of which the 144,000 (Revelation 7), are a portion.
Note: Revelation 12 introduces six people/groups that will be alive in the end times: Israel, Satan, Christ, Michael, the remnant of Israel, and Gentile believers.
Revelation 13
The Sixth Character.
In verses 1-10, a beast came up out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were seven diadems (crowns), and on his heads were blasphemous names.
Note: The beast depicts a revived Roman Empire (Daniel 7:7-8). Coming out of the sea means the beast is a Gentile (Revelation 17:5). The ten horns are ten kings/nations (Daniel 7:24).
The beast was like a leopard, his feet like a bear’s, and his mouth like a lion’s.
Note: From Daniel 7, the leopard is Greece, the bear is Medo-Persia, and the lion is Babylon.
The power of the beast comes from Satan. One of the beast’s heads appeared to be fatally wounded, but the wound was healed. The whole earth was amazed by the beast and worshiped it.
A mouth was given to him to utter blasphemies and speak boasts. He was given authority for 42 months (1,260 days, 3-1/2 years, 42 months, or times, time, and half a time). He spoke blasphemies against God, His name, His dwelling, and those who live there. He was permitted to wage war against the saints and conquer them. He was given authority over every people, tribe, nation, and language. All those who live on the earth will worship him except for those whose names are written in the book of life.
Anyone who has an ear should listen: if anyone is destined for captivity into captivity, he will go. If anyone is destined to be killed by the sword, he will be killed. This demands the perseverance and faith of the saints.
Note: Believers in the end times will either be made captives or killed as martyrs for their faith in Christ. Perseverance and faith are needed to endure the persecution.
The Seventh Character.
In verses 11-18, another beast came up out of the earth. This beast had two horns like a lamb but sounded like a dragon (like Satan). He had all the authority of the first beast and forced all those who live on the earth to worship the first beast whose fatal wound was healed.
- He performs great signs, causing fire to come down out of heaven to earth in front of the people.
- He deceives those who live on the earth through his signs, telling them to make an image of the beast who had the sword wound and lived.
- He was permitted to give a spirit to the image so the image could both speak and require whoever would not worship him to be killed.
- He requires everyone in the world to be given a sign on his right hand or forehead so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, the beast’s name, or the number of his name.
- The number of the beast’s name is the number of man: 666.
Note: Revelation 13 indicates there will be a one-world government and a one-world religion during the last half of the Tribulation period. It is Satan’s last attempt to force the world to reject God and worship him.
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Tomorrow: Revelation 14-16
