Revelation 12, The Woman

A Bible Prophecy

 Dan Baxley

www.yahshuaservant.com

First Things First

There is a principle ignored by many when looking into the prophetic statements recorded in the Holy Bible and we need to have this understanding first, before we can properly understand the first thing about this “account” recorded in Revelation 12 concerning the Woman and her “offspring”.  So, please be patient with me as I lay the ground work for a better understanding enabling us to come to a fuller understanding of this important record. 

Most new comers to the Word tend to do this, ignoring the Historical setting of Prophecy past, eventually becoming confused and disorientated.  This confusion leads some to give up while others end up following someone claiming to have the “key” to understanding and with charts and books all proclaiming we are the “end generation” but in truth they only see in part.  This super knowledge, some claim to possess is, of course, they either say or lead you to believe, coming from God.  Paul dealt with this and few quote him when it comes to their prophetic words –

 (1Co 13:9-10)  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

(1Co 13:11-12)  When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

 We only see part of the picture but when we come face to face with the reality of the prophetic words then we will see clearly.  Read again what Paul is saying, what he was inspired to tell the Church then and now.  Anyone that tells you they know it all, that the God of gods is speaking to them then take care.  It always makes me nervous when I hear a preacher say, “I receive a word from the lord today”, and so should you. 

(Jer 14:14)  Then the LORD (YHWH) said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke to them: they prophesy to you a false vision and divination, and a thing good for nothing, and the deceit of their heart.

(Jer 23:25-27)  I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.  How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? Yes, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;  Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbor, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.

 (Note:  The name and term, Baal, has the same meaning as the term “Lord”, just as we see in modern translations, the name of our Creator, YHWH, is exchanged for Baal, or, the LORD.  What an irony, the translators substitute, knowingly, the title “LORD” for His Name and this substitute just happens to be the definition of the ancient name and title,  “BAAL”. In other words, His Name, the Name above every name has been substituted for the name “Baal” as seen in the English, “LORD” – how many different ways can it be said?  His Name has been replaced by another!) 

(Isa 52:5)  Now therefore, what have I here, says Yahweh, that my people is taken away for nothing? They that rule over them make them to howl, says Yahweh; and my Name continually every day is blasphemed (scorned – H5006).

(Isa 52:6)  Therefore my people shall know my Name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.

(Isa 52:7)  How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace; that brings good tidings of good, that publishes salvation; that say unto Zion, Your God reigns. (Name Restored)

A time is coming when His Name will no longer be “scorned” as it is today by many calling themselves Christians.  It is understandable the world would treat His Name with disrespect and toss it aside, treating His sacred Identity as nothing and with “scorn” but for those claiming the Holy Scriptures as theirs, the Jews and Christians alike to do this is scandalous.  The Christians say it does not matter and reject those trying to present the truth of this while the Jews say they are giving His Name the highest honor by not using it, by hiding it, by using other alternative, substitute titles and names, as opposed to using His true Identity.  Too holy to use, some say, and this is such a denial and excuse as to make His Name of little or no use.  In their own self-righteousness they, like the rest of the world, toss His name aside, hiding it when they should be preaching in His Name, publishing in His Name, declaring His Name to the world.  No, they all had rather use the name of “another” –

(John 5:4244)  But I know you, that you have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father's Name, and you receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can you believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that comes from God only?

Read it again, see what He is saying – the emphasis is on accepting any name above His and pointing our how they, these teachers and preachers, are only too willing to give honor to one another among themselves but not to the Name of our Creator, our Savior, who came in His Father’s Name.  It is only by the restoring of His Name and the Name of our Heavenly Father that the prophetic word can be understood in more detail.  We see only partly, like through a shadow, and that is when we do not deny His Name, so imagine how much more in the dark are those who reject this truth?

Prophecy Fully Understood?

For the most part the purity of the Prophetic Word can only be realized and fully appreciated after the fact.  Many prophetic revelations can only be understood after they happen.  Put another way, many prophetic statements and revelations will only be understood after they happen -- then the perfection of the prophecy will be plainly seen – at least to those firm in His Word.

Some prophecies are not meant to be understood until they occur then proving the surety of His words as recorded by His prophets and certainly much of the prophetic word is not to be fully understood until the  "end days" of man's rule. 

An attempt to make certain prophecy (remaining to be fulfilled) fit a certain idea or preconceived notion, or some pet theory, a teacher twist the Scriptures to fit, or to fill in between the lines in attempts to make a new truth to fit with their theory, making a guess or a lie a truth.  This is a mistake many "prophesy teachers" engage in.  For example, many of today’s Evangelical prophecy teachers are making the assumption we are the last "generation" that we are living in the beginning of the "end days" -- this is a desire not a fact, but in most circles it is taught as a fact.  The problem with this is many have already gone to the grave and many more have a foot in the grave but still hang on to this teaching that we are the “last generation” which flies in the face of the real truth of the Prophetic Word.  There is much more to happen before were enter the last generation, much more.  We are only at the first steps of His coming Wrath and finally the “Day of the Lord”. 

Also, before these modern day teachers there were others doing the same thing, in generations past, but their time has come and gone, generation after generation of “last generation” preachers have come and gone.  Just as we can witness today, the major players in the “prophecy game” today are all in their twilight years and technically we do not appear any closer to the final end and a “rapture” of all the babies and Christians of the world than any other time, like, say, World War 1 and World War II. 

Nearly every generation since the Messiah walked this Earth has taught this idea of living in the end age, the “end of days”, and all have been wrong in the sense of their understanding.  Certainly one could say we have been living in the “end days” since our Lord was crucified.   Even the Apostles thought they were going to see the return of YaHshua, teaching the brethren to prepare for whatwas to come, as you can read in the following verses – Heb 1:2, Heb 9:26, Acts 2:17, 1 Cor 10:11, 1 Jn 2:18. 

 As time moved forward, you begin to see writings in the letters to the Churches begin to change as it became apparent the time of His return would be further down the road with John being the last witness to this truth and being the Apostle used to write the last book, the Book of Revelation.  A great deal of prophecy concerning the future and events leading directly to the return of our Savior, YaHshua, will not be understood until it is witnessed, literally seen and experienced by faithful followers of His Word.  Peter, seeing the end of his life coming and what appeared to many as a “delay”, he encourages the body of believers to hold fast to the word and be ready to endure to the end of our lives and that it is our responsibility to grow in “knowledge or our Savior, YaHshua”

(2Pe 3:9)  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

(2Pe 3:17-18)  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Now read Daniel 9 and you will see the book he was inspired to write is closed and not to be understood until the time is come for humanity to enter what is called the end-days.  Keep this in mind as you read any commentary on biblical prophecy concerning the "end days" and the coming of our Lord Yahshua.

Diverse Opinions and Confusion – The Same JESUS

There are many diverse opinions as to what constitutes an individuals religion and or faith.  There are some 450 differing religious organizations within the Christian community, maybe more, all having variations on teachings of doctrine that set them apart one from another.  Some of these so-called followers of the Christ point bony fingers at others. Looking at fellow professors of the same Jesus they preach and teach, these accusers passing judgment on others attempting to walk in the Messiah's foot steps.  They whisper -- cult, sects, or worse. The odd thing is, in all of this diversity and forced separation, nearly all use a common book to teach from, professing their loyalty and love for a JESUS they all confess as their savior. 

While differing on doctrine and arguing over which laws to keep, or not, they all claim "Jesus" as their savior and the Holy Bible as their book. I am in no way questioning the sincerity of most believers, especially those that actively study the Holy Book -- the message is there, the mystery revealed -- there is only one way, through one person, with one Name, by which we must be saved -- many teach the message but deny the author of that message, the very author of the salvation taught. YaHshua is His Name, not Jesus.  Still, the accusers of the Mormons, as an example, and other splinters groups, the Seventh Day Adventist and others like the Jehovah's Witnesses, all called "cults" and “heretics”, but look, the accusers also teach this JESUS, they too, preach Jesus as Savior.  These self-righteous Churches, pointing the bony finger at others, hissing, “Cult, sect, deceivers”, are deceivers themselves, blinded by their own preaching of “JESUS as Messiah”.  These accusers within the Christian Faith teach and confess the same false Messiah and honor the same pagan festivals – they are all the same.  They too confess this Jesus so what is their point, why are they against like minded brothers and sister confessing the same messiah?  They all certainly have unity in declaring their Messiah under the same name – JESUS. 

Teaching the "message" but denying the author of our "salvation" is missing the mark.  Teaching the "message" of our Savior and upholding the Holy Bible as the Words of our God is wonderful and has brought many to a change in their lives, but, the natural progression of study and prayer should bring one to the true "identity" of the one Messiah and this does not seem to be happening.  My problem is not with the new children coming into the Faith "once delivered", no, but with the teachers and preachers that keep their students in the dark -- that refuse to preach in the name that all will have to profess one day, and that name will not be "Jesus". 

Many church-goers are just too busy to study the Book in an effort to get to know their God, let alone read it on a regular basis -- they have heard the message, had a change of heart, but this busy life leaves them right where they started -- these busy converts of the "message" let the preachers tell them what it says.  This is not how it should be but in reality is and this allows some with twisted views to enter in and with every imagined and fictional teaching possible. 

(Php 2:12)  Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, NIV

(2Pe 2:2-3)  Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. NIV  (Made up stories is another way of saying they write “fiction”.  “Left Behind” series of books and movies come to mind?  As well as many other)

So, what is wrong with this picture?  The Christian Community, by its very nature is divided (Luke 11:17, Matt 12:25).  I have always had a problem with one group of "Jesus" worshipers calling another group of "Jesus" worshipers a cult or a sect.   Their unity is in the name JESUS but they accuse and point fingers at others confessing this name, why?  Aren’t they all of the  "Jesus" cult?  Two groups come to mind, that the general population of Christian teachers teach and accuse of being heretics and cults -- the Mormons and the Jehovah's Witnesses.  Two Christian orders that could not be more different, yet both profess, correctly, the Holy Bible as inspired scripture and hold the modern day "Jesus" as the Son from God.  They preach the same "Jesus" that the accusers preach -- they all preach in the same name.  If the Name is not important, as some claim, then why do they all baptize in that name, a name that never existed until 400 years ago? 

When you look at the various ChristianChurches and organizations it does appear as though any organization that encourages deep Bible study gets singled out as a cult.  The Seventh Day Adventist, the Witnesses and other smaller groups -- even though these groups profess the same Jesus, and teach from the same book, the Holy Bible, they get labeled, as something evil or worse --  a "cult".  

What is it that makes one group a cult and another somehow more righteous and entitled to the exclusive title of Christian?  Can it be that those actually teaching its followers to study the Bible in depth, to make Bible study a part of their personal lives, are a threat to the "feel good" preachers?  Of course, they are threatened by anyone gaining and growing in "knowledge of the Father and the Son", and why do you suppose that is?  Because their authority is challenged when you have students, lay members, growing in knowledge, knowledge that may question what is being taught.  Many a wolf in sheep’s clothing would be uncovered.  There are those, however, of the laity that want to hear stories of fantasy and fiction, hearing only what is pleasing to the hear (2 Tim 4:3-4).  There is that element of paying to be told only what you want to hear, I hope that is not you but you instead grow in “knowledge”, settling in for the long haul, after all, we have the whole of eternity ahead of us.  Peter saw that the return of our Savior YaHshua was not going to happen in their time and left the small flock with this instruction:

(2Pe 3:18)  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior YaHshua the Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

All profess JESUS as the Savior, the accusers and the accused cults -- denying the birth name of our Savior, YaHshua, worship this fake image they call JESUS.  Doctrinal differences mean nothing in light of this.  Can you see the nonsense of this; can you see the great division in the ChristianChurches?

 I tell you the "body of the Living Christ" is not divided and never has been.  It may not be as visible as some, and it may not have the appearance as men would see it -- in fact -- the visible, united, Body of the Messiah on this Earth is visible only to our Heavenly Father and our Messiah. Certainly there are a few here and a few there that may be in physical contact, but you will not find the unity of the Body in any one Church organization. 

One group points to another group claiming they or the other is teaching a different "Jesus" than that taught by true Christians.  I will not bother at this point comparing the different "Jesus" being taught, making one a "cult member" as opposed to a true member because I personally see them all the same -- they all teach under the same false name, being brothers united in the same deception.  From the accusers point of view there are many false Jesus' being taught and it is the majority that is deciding which "Jesus" is the correct "Jesus".  They are all wrong and all are professing a wrong Savior.  They teach and preach in a name that did not every exist in the days our Savior walked this Earth in the flesh. The name they (Jesus cults) preach in, teach in, baptize in is not the name the Apostles of our YaHshua taught in, and it is certainly not the name any of the "first fruits" were baptized into. This is the great deception of the Christian religion -- they are all cults -- they are all of the "Jesus" cult -- poking each other in the eye with their deceived and diseased doctrines. 

The many differing ChristianChurches like to claim things that do not belong to them.  This is natural, of course, as one group feels, and teaches, in many cases, that they are the one true followers of the Messiah -- the one true church.  It has been a favorite teaching of many that the Church is Israel, and some teach that the Woman of Revelation 12 is speaking, symbolically of the Christian Church.  So, here is a prophecy, a prophetic writing about a woman that at the very least gives birth to our Savior, and produces and "offspring" Satan seeks to destroy.  It is my humble opinion the Woman of Revelation 12 is Israel, not the Christian Church. 

The Woman of Revelation 12

Revelation 12 gives a vision described by John that has confused and mislead many, many great minds and not so great.  The understanding of this chapter really is not that difficult, but it seems to be totally misunderstood by so many, you have to wonder just who are they listening to?  You do not have to be a Bible scholar to figure out who the woman of Revelation 12 is, but you can become confused if you have any preconceived ideas about who or whom you want the Church to be.   Approaching this chapter with preconceived ideas, one could see how this chapter can be a problem and the reason for its mishandling.  We will use the King James Version, but I encourage you to look this chapter up in other versions as well.  No I am not a advocate of the KJV Only error.

 Revelation 12:1  6And 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: 2  And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3  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. 4  And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5  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. 6  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. 7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9  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. 10  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. 11  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. KJV

The literal image is that of Mary mother of our Messiah giving birth to a child whom the Red Dragon, Satan, wants to destroy.  From the bible stories nearly everyone is familiar with the efforts of King Herod to destroy the Messiah at birth giving the command to destroy all children two years and under -- a fitting picture of Satan standing before the woman to destroy the child.  This woman in the vision has even greater meaning -- she is not the Christian Church as many would like to believe or teach, but is, on a national scale, Israel.  Read it carefully, the twelve stars encompassing her head are the stars, or angels of each of the tribes of Israel and she stands on the moon.  The moon has always been the base upon which Israel of the Old Testament established its days and times, its calendar, if you will -- unlike the pagan world that used the sun. Speaking of the sun we read, "clothed with the sun".  As a nation Israel was to bring light into the world they were to deliver the truths of the Holy Word of the Living God to a dark world -- shining the light of truth in the world.  They failed in this to some degree, but it is undeniable that they have been the guardians of the written WORD and their story is not over, when the Restoration takes place (read all of Ezekiel 36 & 37), after the Messiah's return, they, as a nation, will be a light to all other nations, not for their sake, however, but for His Holy Names sake (verses 22-23).  This visionary woman giving birth to the Messiah is the nation of Israel, whom He sprang from.  

Snatched Up

Reading on there is no mistaking that the Child, being snatched, or caught up is the Messiah, not some selective body of Christians.  This truth being made plain from the word itself cannot be denied.  Knowing this, how is it possible to suppose the woman is the Christian Church when it is clearly understood by all that the Christian Church is supposed to be founded upon the Messiah not the other way around.  Do you see?  Those that would have you believe this woman is a symbol for the Christian Church are making a huge error, and this error leads off into other errors and a twisting of the Word.  In this case the woman produced the Messiah so she cannot be the Christians that flee into the wilderness, as is taught by so many.  The woman, that is to say, Israel, takes flight into the wilderness.  This, of course, does not fit in with the time lines drawn up by the teachers pushing the Christian Church as being Israel.  Yes, some teach that the Church has replaced Israel, and so, they say, when Israel is mentioned it is really referring to the Christians, what nonsense.  Many evangelicals engage in this false teaching with a desire to show that the woman, the Church, is given special protection, while others like to teach that the child caught up is the Church in rapture, those snatched up.  It is clearly the Messiah that is caught up as is made plain by the expression, "who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron", previous to mentioning, caught up. The context must be twisted out of shape to make it say anything else.  The Messiah is caught up to the Father and His Throne.  Also, notice, the Woman gives birth to a "male child" -- try spiritualizing that away -- the Woman is Israel out of whom our Savior sprang, the "male child".

To be sure, there are those that correctly teach this woman is Israel but a misapplication occurs when we see references made concening her offspring, those that Satan seeks to destroy.  In his frustration at not being able to completely annihilate the people of Israel he moves to destroy the “offspring”, those having come out of the first Church composed almost entirely of Jews.  History shows plainly that the people of Israel, though they are dispersed out into the wilderness of the earth, along with the offspring, the followers of YaHshua and Satan has been pursuing her at every opportunity – kill the woman (Israel), kill the offspring (the body of YaHshua, the Church). 

Satan and His Angels

We have seen from the scriptures that Satan sought to devour the child after His birth.  He, Satan, had influence over the ruling forces of that period.  We see the Satan pictured as a serpent, a Red Dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns on his heads.  This is a picture of a powerful spiritual being able to direct the affairs of earthly governments past and present.  Most biblical students in bible prophecy see the implications of this imagery as connected with Revelation 13 and recognize as having, at least in part, something to do with the Roman Empire of the past and the future.   Seeing the historical efforts of Herod, a Roman appointed ruler, to kill all the boys two years and younger (Matthew 2:16) at Bethlehem we should be able to see this as evidence of Satan using a man, a leader of a government, to do his bidding in an attempt to devour the "male child".   We see, later, an even greater attempt at destroying the child by the use of the religious authority and the military authority of Rome in the crucifixion of our Savior.  At one point it would appear as if Satan had won, our Savior dies but no, wait, He is raised back to life and snatched up to heaven, having defeated the only real power Satan possessed, the power of death.  HalleluYah!

Next we see Satan and his demon angels cast out of Heaven and thrown to the earth.  This is additional information giving the reader, the time of events.  Notice, Satan is our accuser before being tossed out of heaven, but no more, not since the Messiah, for he is cast down to Earth and our Father now hears the words of our Mediator, YaHshua, and not the words of our accuser.  See also that Satan has deceived the whole earth not just some spot but the whole earth.  We have the timing for this war in Heaven from a pretty good source.

  Luke 10:18  And he (YaHshua) said to them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from  heaven. KJV

These are the words of the Messiah.  He literally witnessed the fall of Satan to this Earth, no longer having access to come before the Heavenly throne.  Because of our Messiah, our Savior and brother in Heaven, Satan cannot accuse us (by that I mean the body of believers from the beginnings) any more.  When you come boldly before the throne in prayer, please know the accuser is no longer there, only the Father and the Messiah to lend support for your petitions. HalleluYaH.

Close to when the Messiah began His ministry on earth Satan's access to heaven was sealed, he and his demon-angel followers were cast, or imprisoned on this earth.  From that moment Satan began to work on destroying the Messiah and this he accomplished only doing more harm to himself.  Once the Messiah had ascended into Heaven the final seal of admission had been taken from Satan and his followers.  Notice in verse 8, "...and they lost their place in heaven".

So, we see that Satan and his angelic followers lost their place in Heaven and that he is now busy deceiving the whole world, and that the Saints, then and now are busy resisting him and overcoming him by the blood of the Messiah, and, as history shows, their own blood.  Some of our brethren have given up their fleshly lives willingly in order to maintain their fellowship with the Messiah and to remain children of the Most High - they loved not their lives (of the flesh) unto death (Revelations 12:11).   The ultimate victory is by and through the blood of the Messiah.  It is by His sacrifice for us alone that has made it possible for us to follow Him into eternal life.  There is no other way, no other system, no other religion, no other god, no other path, this is the only way and there is no other.  All must come to the Messiah, accepting His sacrifice for us, and He is willing to grant forgiveness of our sins and without merit from us, to pardon us from the death penalty, giving us life.  In this state we will all eventually see true peace and love on earth and in the whole of the universe. 

The Problem - 1260 days

The 1260 days mentioned in verse 6 equals 3 1/2 years as you count days.  More than a few apply these days to the tribulation period just before the return of the Messiah, but the context of this verse, within the frame work of the surrounding verses does not, or should not, launch you 2000 years into the future.  The prophetic word stops, then reignites 2000 + years later? 

The book of Revelation has a method of presentation that must be recognized.  The story flow, if you will, goes along and then stops and filler information is inserted then the narrative of the story flow will picked up again.  This occurs throughout the book and if you don't know this it is easy to misapply events - you must recognize this or the main line of the coming events can get lost in the details and the mixing of past details with those still future.  Here is a good example of this in chapter 12, verses 7 – 13, about Satan losing the battle in heaven and being cast (thrown) to Earth. The details of this happening is plainly seen, but misapplied by many, and does not occur in the future, as some suppose, it has already happened - he is here - he and his demon angels.  How do we know this for sure?  Again, returning to Luke's account, in the words of our Savior – this bears repeating --

Luke 10:18  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

He, YaHshua, personally witnessed the fall of Satan, the casting out of Satan being thrown to this Earth, his access to the Heavenly throne denied, no longer allowed to come in among the other angels presenting themselves to the Ancient of Days (Job 1).  When the angels of our Father are called to the throne they all come, all that is, but Satan and his demon angels, they have been cast out, bound to this Earth and our Savior witnessed this event and told us about it.  Think about what the Messiah said, what He declared He personally witnessed.  This was not a small event in the spiritual realm and what our Savior saw was dramatic. Like "lightning" Satan is plunged to this Earth along with his angelic followers.  The Messiah being snatched up is the final event to closing Satan and his demon angels access to Heaven.

Now let's read in the book of "revealing" how Satan responded to this insult.

Revelation 12:13  And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 14  And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15  And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16  And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

We are given more details now about the woman's flight into the wilderness, remember, when Israel lived in the wilderness after leaving Egypt she did not leave the earth nor she did she enter into the Kingdom either.  Many in attempts to make sense of this have even suggested that the wings of a great eagle could mean jet airliners flying the chosen to the place of safety, as a future event for the "end times", but I'm of the opinion that it means escaping into the world and that she is "nourished" means she is not lost, she maintains her identify as the people of the Creator God all the while not being a nation of the world for thousands of years.  The time, and times, and half times, brings us right back to the 1260 days, but notice, this is all within the same context of verse 6 and cannot be separated,  History proves this.  Keeping with the context what is the next thing to happen?  Satan, unable to completely destroy Israel, as she has been dispersed into the wilderness of the world, turns on her offspring and just who is that?  That is the first century church, that is the people of the Messiah, history, again, bears this out.  But still, the 1260 days, how can that be reconciled with the events as presented?

First you have to forget about what you have been taught about these days being tied to the last days tribulation period.  We have already seen how the woman has to be Israel, and that it is Israel that goes into hiding and we see that her offspring, those that have the testimony of YaHshua the Messiah ,become the object of Satan's wrath, It is seen that there is no time given in consideration of Satan's war against the saints.  The 1260 days belong to the woman, not her offspring.  From the time the Romans tore most of Jerusalem down in 70 AD, the Israelites have been pretty much dispersed through out the world.  But the complete destruction and final blow dealt to the people of  Israel occured between 135 AD and 140 AD.  You see some managed to find their way back and some having escaped the Roman enslavement attempted to establish themselves again in Jerusalem and began to plan a rebuilding program. 

You must understand, without the existence of the Temple and the sacrificial system the Jew, the Israelite, is cut off from God by sin.  They have no reconciliation from sin and are cut off from God.  Of course this problem would be solved if they would turn to the Messiah, but they have not and mostly will not.  Those that had found their way back to Jerusalem would have been anxious to get the Temple back up -- this the Romans would not tolerate. 

This time the Romans came in and virtually leveled all of Jerusalem, making it a city no more, at least for that time.  This was the death-blow to the once proud nation of Israel and was finished in 140 AD, Jerusalem being completely leveled.    Without the Temple the Jews are in continuous sin for, as stated earlier, without Temple worship they cannot make sacrifice for theirs sins as a people, nor as individuals.  Without their Temple their religion is but a hollow shell.  One of the great future events is to be the "Restoration" of Israel and their conversion to the one they have rejected.

Back to the 1260 years

I am not a scholar of history, I have no degrees and cannot say with absolute certainty that what I am about to propose is totally correct.  Maybe someone with more knowledge in numbers and calculations will see the point I am trying to make and can supply the correct arithmetic, dates, etc, to the following observation.

Using the principle of a day equaling a year we can see the 1260 days as 1260 years.  If you add the years 140AD, the time the Jews were finally outlawed from the area of the once proud Jerusalem and the city completely removed you then have 1400 AD.  If I'm not mistaken it is around this time a great many disruptions began to occur, leading into the inquisitions that included the wholesale persecution of the Jews throughout the known world.   Up to this time, it seems, the Jews were not hindered in their pursuit of living and let live.  While they were virtually denied access to the area they once called home, they seemed to flourish as though a protective covering were over them, but this was all about to change in the years approaching 1400 AD.  The in fighting and open rebellion of certain Christian groups and individuals like Wycliffe and Luther with the Mother Church of pagan Christianity led not only to a blood bath of Christians but also of the Jews.

The curtain of protection had been removed and since that time to now modern history has continued demonstrating its hatred for the people of Israel, for the Jew.  Europe attempted the complete destruction of these people of the Creator God.  Yes, Europe, the Germans could not have done what they did without all of Europe going along with it.  Who, besides the English and the Americans stepped up to put a stop to it?  It is my belief that the 1260 days spoken of in the context of the "Woman" is now a past event, but, in hedging my bets -- there could also be an end-times fulfillment of our Father rescuing a remnant of the Israel, but again, this 1260 days, at this time (this point in Revelation 12) cannot be applied to the Christians.

None of this has to do with the Rapture doctrine of "escapism".  Notice, even in the context of Revelation 12, the dragon turns on the offspring and no mention of any protection at all, none, zip, zero.  If Satan is barred from Heaven how could he make war with the saints if they are snatched up, or raptured up?  No, the saints are here on earth and Satan has been the great persecutor of those that hold the "Testimony of YaHshua", as well as  other people that bear His name, the Jews (YaHuda).  We read later in Revelation that there are certain groups with special protection, but only at and just before the Messiah's return.  You have the 144,000, a group of 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel.  We don't have to wonder if Israel is going to survive, they are, it has been determined that a definite number are to survive the "Wrath of God" and will witness the Tribulation period. (Revelation 7 and 14)

There is another people, besides the 144,000, and we read of them in Revelation 9:4, a people sealed with the mark of God on their foreheads, that is in their minds, I believe, but it could be an actual, visible marking.  It could literally be a mark on the forehead, but it has been recognized that personal intellect is in the forward part of the brain, or at least is understood to be your mind, but when we consider our intellect is internal we would have to question why and angel with a marker would be "placing" a mark that would not be visible and if it is determined it is something the believer intellectually accepts then there would be no need for the special marking.  At any rate, this is another event that will have to be witnessed before the full understanding is known.

When you read the surrounding verses you can see that the punishment or wrath of the Creator God on the people of the world is terrible. Yet He has protected this bunch and they are on this earth, not in heaven, not in the clouds, but on earth.

Revelation 9:2 6And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.  And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 3  And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4  And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

Yes, my friends, it is a battle of names.  There will be those that have taken the name or the mark of the name of the Beast, and there are those that have the mark of the Living God, the seal of God.  I believe the verses above demonstrate a number of individuals only the Creator has knowledge of, those that have the testimony of YaHshua the Messiah.  There are another people included in this marking, this sealing.

Revelation 7:2  And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3  Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 4  And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

This is pretty plain, the 144,000 are to be sealed, given special protection and these are not the Christians, least of all the pagan Christians.  The description of the 144,000 is given in a detailed listing each tribe of Israel by name and equal number.   This deliberate numbering demonstartes and exactness of intent.  Our Heavenly Father has determined a specific number. and when this takes place no one will be able to say it is a coincident.  Another proof to come that He is who He says He is.

Email:  servant@yahshuaservant.com