- Who does the Woman in Revelation 12:1 represent?
- Mary, the mother of Jesus.
- Many people have thought that the Woman was Mary because the child born is obviously Jesus. But the Bible is subtler than that. We are told clearly that the Woman is a sign, and not an individual person. The Woman is symbolic for something, but what? The fact that she is female tells us that she is of humanity, that is, she is not from the angels. The image of a man tells us that whatever it is is from heaven, but the female tells us that it is from the earth. Notice that the child that is born is a male child, this tells us that he is from heaven. Now notice carefully that the Woman is present when Jesus is born, and she is still present during the Day of the Lord. Now the Day of the Lord, or what is commonly called the great tribulation has not yet transpired, so we can see that the literal woman that gave birth to Jesus is not that same as the Woman who is protected for three and a half years during the great tribulation.
- The Bride of Christ.
- The Woman cannot be the Bride of Christ. The Bride does not give birth to her husband. The husband, that is, Jesus brings the Church into existence, not the other way around.
The
faithful of Israel.
- What or who exactly the Woman is is a subtle thing. She is a female sign, so we know that she is made up from humanity and not from heaven. She gives birth to Jesus, but she cannot simply be humanity because in Revelation 12:17 a distinction is made between her and the others that believe in Jesus Christ. She is clearly not those believers that must endure Satan's persecution for three and a half years, and even more clearly she is not those that do not believe in Jesus at all.
-
Revelation 12:17
Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring -- those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. (NIV) - Notice very carefully what this is saying. We see that the Woman gave birth to Jesus Christ, but she also gave birth to these others. Of these it says that they are, "those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus." The Woman gave birth to Jesus and to these other believers. But note carefully that the Woman is not her own offspring--right?
- To understand exactly who the Woman is we must also understand exactly who the rest of her offspring are. The rest of her offspring are clearly believers, but so then is she. So what is the difference? The difference is a matter of degree. The Woman makes up those believers that are fully committed to Jesus, and the rest of her offspring are those that truly have faith for salvation, but for whatever reasons have not fully purged the world from their lives. This second group has need of the purging effects of the great tribulation, but the Woman is already fully purged.
- Speaking of the time of Wrath Daniel said this concerning "the rest of her offspring."
-
Daniel 11:33-35
"Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. 35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time. (NIV) - But of the Woman the Scriptures say this:
-
Revelation 14:3-5
No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless. (NIV)
- The nation of Israel.
- As discussed above we see that it is not the whole nation of Israel that is supernaturally protected from Satan during the time of wrath. "The rest of her offspring", (Revelation 12:17), speaks mostly of the nation of Israel, but the Woman consists of those in Israel that have no need of being purged.
- Mary, the mother of Jesus.
- Who is the child born to the Woman in Revelation
12:5?
- Jesus.
- Yes, it is Jesus Christ that was born of the Woman. Notice that in verse Revelation 12:5 it says, "She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. (NIV)
- And look at the next prophecy which clearly is talking about the coming Messiah.
-
Psalm 2:7-9
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery." (NIV) - Notice the reference to the iron scepter in verse nine.
- The Child born to the Woman is clearly Jesus.
- The Church.
- The Woman does not give birth to the Church. The Church is not born, or brought into existence, and then snatched up to God's throne, waiting to come back and rule with an iron scepter. The Church exists inside of the One that was born of the Woman, that is, inside of Jesus Christ.
- Moses.
- How could the child be Moses? If the child were Moses, then who is the Woman? Also, like the Church above, Moses is not the person of Psalm two, (note the iron scepter.) The person born of the Woman is declared to be the Son, and he will rule the nations as the King ordained by God, and that is Jesus Christ the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
- Peter.
- Peter cannot be the King that shall inherit and rule the nations with an iron scepter for the same reasons that Moses couldn't.
- What is represented by the crown of twelve
stars on the Woman's head?
- The twelve Apostles.
- The twelve stars do not represent the twelve apostles. Did the apostles give birth to Jesus? Did the church give birth to Jesus?
- The twelve tribes of Israel.
- This one is close to the truth. The Woman is made up of people from all twelve tribes of Israel, but the stars do not reveal this fact. The fact that there are twelve stars tells us that the Woman is made up from people from all twelve tribes, but that doesn't mean that the stars represent people.
- The
twelve angels over the twelve tribes of Israel.
- Yes, in the Bible the Sun frequently is symbolic of God the Father. The Moon is frequently symbolic of the Jesus Christ the Son of God, that is, he is the same size as God as seen from the earth, he does not radiate his own light, but rather reflects the light of the Sun. The stars are a symbolic representation of the heavenly host of angels. Now I am talking about when these are used in symbols. Every reference to these things is not symbolic.
- In chapters two and three we see that there was an angel over each of the seven churches. Revelation 2:1 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:" Revelation 2:12 "To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:" etc.
- God has placed the angel Michael over the nation of Israel. Daniel 12:1 "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise." (NIV) This is the same Michael that we see in Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. (NIV)
- Anyway, the fact that the image is a woman tells us that she represents something that is of humanity. The Son and Moon are the Lord God Almighty and Jesus Christ. And the stars represent the twelve angels that watch over Israel.
- The power of the King.
- No this is not correct. The image of a crown usually does refer to a king, but in this case the crown is for the Spiritual rulers of the nation of Israel. This is way the stars are there.
- The twelve Apostles.
- What is represented by the Sun and Moon with
respect to the Woman in Revelation 12?
- Light and truth.
- Light and truth is in a small way correct, but there is a better answer. The Sun and Moon stand for something more concrete that light and truth.
- The
Lord God Almighty and Jesus Christ his Son.
- Yes, the Sun is representative of God the Father. He is the source of all light, and is the biggest person in the heavens. The Moon is symbolic of Jesus Christ. We here on earth are living in the night, we are waiting for the Day to dawn. While we live in the darkness we see by the light of the Moon. The Moon does not radiate its own light, but rather it reflects the light of the Sun.
- I expand upon this topic in my paper titled, "The Sun, Moon, and Stars." if you want more information concerning this topic you might want to read that article.
- Power and majesty.
- Like (a.) above this is somewhat correct, but there is a better answer.
- Israel and the Church.
- The Sun and Moon in this symbol do not mean Israel and the Church. The Woman gave birth to Jesus and Jesus made possible the Church, so it is wrong to think that the Church somehow supported her before Jesus was born.
- Light and truth.
- What does the enormous red dragon represent
in Revelation 12:3?
- Satan.
- Yes the dragon represents Satan. We are told this directly.
-
Revelation 12:7-9
And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down -- that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. (NIV) - It is important to note that this same image represents the fourth kingdom to rule over Jerusalem. In the "kingdom" images it is called a beast with seven heads and ten horn, but it is really the same. This tells us that Satan is the power behind this fourth kingdom, and that the fourth kingdom looks more like Satan that the previous three.
- The forth kingdom to rule over Israel.
- In this context this is not the best answer. When the fourth kingdom is meant the animal is never called a dragon, but rather a beast, or terrible beast. The beast, that is, the fourth kingdom symbol looks exactly like the dragon. It has seven heads and ten horns also. This is because Satan is really the power behind the fourth beast. Actually Satan is the power behind all of the earthly kingdoms.
-
Luke 4:5-8
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours."
8 Jesus answered, "It is written: "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" (NIV)
- The Antichrist.
-
Revelation 13:1-4
And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.
And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. 4 Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?" (NIV) - Notice that the dragon, (Satan), is not the beast, but is the power behind the beast. The Antichrist is the seventh head of the beast, and is seen here as having had a fatal would, but then is healed. The Antichrist and Satan are closely connected, but the dragon in Revelation 12 is not the Antichrist. And the Antichrist is not the beast, but rather he is the seventh head of the seven headed beast, which is symbolic of the fourth kingdom to rule over Jerusalem. The various kingdoms to rule over Jerusalem can be seen in Daniel's chapters two, seven, eight, and ten through twelve.
-
- Caesar Nero.
- The dragon is not Caesar Nero. I only put this answer in because people have told me that Nero is the dragon, or the Antichrist, or the beast, but in truth is was none of these. He may have been one of the other heads of the seven headed beast of the fourth kingdom, but is definitely not the last head, or the beast, nor is he Satan.
- What do the seven heads represent on the red
dragon of Revelation 12:3?
- Seven hills of Rome.
- There is some truth in this answer, but this is not the greatest, or best answer.
- Satan and the fourth kingdom are tied closely together. The image of the dragon having seven heads and ten horn is the same as that of the fourth kingdom. We are told in Revelation 17 that the seven heads represent seven kings or heads of state.
-
Revelation 17:9-11
"This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. (NIV) - The seven hills tells us the home base, or source of the fourth kingdom, and that is Rome, the city of seven hills. But the more complete answer concerning the seven heads is that they are seven kings that will rule over this fourth kingdom.
- Seven
distinct rulers of the fourth kingdom.
- Yes, this is the best answer. Please read 6-a above for the reason why. Notice that at the time that John was given the Revelation that five of the kings had already reigned and fallen, and that the sixth head was currently ruling. Notice also that later the seventh head would come, but only for a little while. The seventh head is the man frequently called the Antichrist, and he will receive power for only a few years, possibly for a little longer than three and a half years. He will rule for at least three and a half years, but we are not told exactly how much longer that that.
- The seven mentioned churches from Revelation chapters two and three.
- The seven heads of the dragon most definitely do not represent the seven churches in Revelation two and three. The Church whether or not it is messed up is not part of the fourth kingdom, nor is it a part of Satan. The only connection is the number seven.
- The seven things that the Lord hates from Proverbs 6:16.
- This is an interesting answer, but not the correct answer. In the Bible's imagery hills and mountains represent ideas and ideologies that rise up against God. God's kingdom is also shown to be a mountain that grows to fill the whole earth. While the seven things that the Lord hates in Proverbs 6:16 do rise up in opposition to God's ways they do not correctly explain the seven heads being seven hills.
- Seven hills of Rome.
- What is the significance of the crowns on
the seven heads of the dragon of Revelation 12:3?
- They represent power.
- They do represent power, but there is a better answer.
- They
show that each of the seven heads will rule as a king, or president etc.
- Yes, this is the most correct explanation of the crowns. The heads each have a crown and this shows us that they will each reign as a king. This is in agreement with Revelation 17:9-10.
- They represent spiritual forces from the spiritual realm.
- No, we are told that the crown on the seven heads represent seven kings that will rule over the fourth kingdom. We are told in Revelation 17:9-10 that five head were, and that one is, and that one will come. Only people come and go. The angels do not come and go. They live in eternity.
- They represent the wealth of the dragon.
- The dragon will have a certain amount of wealth, but this is not the meaning of the crowns. It is interesting to look at all of the images of this beast with seven heads and ten horns and note in each case where the crowns are. At times that are on the heads, but at other times they are on the ten horns. This interesting fact can tell us what time period we are looking at. First the crowns are on each of the seven heads, but at the time of the Antichrist the ten horns, who represent ten kings will be in power at the same time. The seven heads each were in power one after the other, but the ten horns will be in power all at the same time.
- They represent power.
- The ten horns represent what?
- Ten kings that will rule in succession.
- No, this one is not correct. The ten kings, or horns, will all rule at the same time.
-
Revelation 17:12-13
The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. (NIV) -
Daniel 2:44
"In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. (NIV) - In this example the ten toes of he statue are shown to be the same ten kings. They all rule at the time that the Lord will come and crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end.
- The military might of the One World Kingdom.
- Horns are symbolic of power, but this is not the best answer.
- The ten northern tribes of Israel.
- The only thing that the ten northern tribes of Israel have in common with the ten horns is the number ten. The is not at all a correct answer. The ten tribes are not part of Satan's fourth kingdom. The fourth kingdom is made up of Gentiles, that is, the Roman Empire. The fact that the ten horns are part of the seven headed beast tells us that they will physically descend from the fourth kingdom, that is, from Europe.
- Ten
kings that will rule the fourth kingdom at the time of the Antichrist.
- Yes, this is the right answer. See 8-a above for the reason.
- Ten kings that will rule in succession.
- What do the stars that are swept from the
sky represent?
- Demons sent to torment the earth's inhabitants.
- No, this is not correct. The stars that are swept from the sky down to the earth are the same angels that are cast out of heaven in Revelation 12:9
-
Revelation 12:9
The great dragon was hurled down -- that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. (NIV) - Again, we see that the angels are represented by stars.
- Now, I have been told that demons are fallen angels, but I have never seen proof of this in Scripture. Also, we know that demons were on earth during the ministry of Christ, but his event of the stars, (angels), being hurled to the earth does not occur until three and a half years before Satan is locked in the Abyss as seen in Revelation 20.
- A vast and devastating meteor shower that will inundate the earth.
- We are told that they are angels in Revelation 12:9 so it is symbolic and not literal. There may be vast meteor showers during the Day of the Lord, but that does not change the fact that we are told that these 'stars' represent angels.
- Whole world nuclear war.
- No, for the same reason as (b.) above.
- The
fallen angels being cast out of heaven.
- Yes. We are told that a third of the stars are swept from the sky down to the earth, and we are told that Satan, who is the dragon that swept the stars is hurled down to the earth with his angels. From this we can conclude that a third of the angels rebelled against God, and because of there rebellion they will be cast out of heaven, to eventually find themselves in the Lake of Fire.
- Demons sent to torment the earth's inhabitants.
- What does it mean that the dragon stood in
front of the Woman who was about to give birth so that he might devour
her child?
- King
Herod's murder of all the baby boys in Bethlehem.
- Yes. Like God Satan must use people to carry out his plan in the earth. Satan knew that Jesus was coming so he incited King Herod to kill all of the baby boys in and around Bethlehem that were two years old and younger in an attempt to kill the Christ child. This event is very similar to Pharaoh's edict to throw all of the Hebrew boy children into the Nile at the time of Moses. But like Jesus, Moses survived Satan's attempt to kill him and went on to fulfill that which God had called him to.
- The Roman army's persecution of Mary and her people.
- No. This is not about Mary and her people, but about an attempt to kill Jesus.
- The Nazi's genocide of the Jews.
- No. This is wrong for the same reason as 10-b above.
- The expulsion of the Jews from Israel by the Roman army in 70 AD.
- No. This is wrong for the same reason as 10-b above.
- What is the significance of the IRON scepter
in Revelation 12:5?
- The Woman's child will rule with great power.
- It is true that the Woman's child, (Jesus Christ), will rule with great power, but that is not the significant thing concerning the iron scepter.
-
Psalm 2:9
You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery." (NIV) - The iron scepter must be considered with what he will do with it. Yes the Lord will rule with great power, but with the scepter he will dash the nations to pieces.
- The
Woman's child will lay waist the nations with the power of the fourth
kingdom, that is the kingdom represented by iron.
- Yes, this is the correct answer. In Daniel two we see that the fourth kingdom is represented with the metal iron.
-
Daniel 2:40
Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron -- for iron breaks and smashes everything -- and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. (NIV) - This passage gives the impression that the fourth kingdom breaks things to pieces of its own accord, but with the image of the Lord Jesus Christ holding the iron scepter and smashing the nations, we can understand that he is using this fourth kingdom to his own ends. This is always the case. Everything that has ever happened in the world and everything that ever will happen, did so in accordance with God's will and plan. This can be a difficult thing to see and understand. God wants us to learn what the result of rebellion is, so he uses the product of rebellion to make hell on earth. We having witnessed its effect can reasonably determine that we don't want to go that way.
- Satan's kingdom lacks nobility, but is strong.
- This is a true statement, but it has no bearing on the meaning of the Lord holding an IRON scepter.
- The Lord will reign during the iron age.
- This is also a true statement, sort of, but this is not the meaning of the Lord reigning with an IRON scepter.
- The Woman's child will rule with great power.
- What is the significance of the iron SCEPTER in
Revelation 12:5?
- Jesus
will be reigning as King.
- Yes, the scepter tells us that when he is dashing the nations to pieces that he will be reigning as King. The scepter is a symbol of the King's power and authority.
- Satan will be reigning as king.
- No, Satan will be made a footstool for the Lord before he comes back from heaven to reign.
- It is a rod that will strike the earth.
- No, the scepter is a rod, but the fact that it is a scepter and not a common rod is important. The fact that it is a scepter tells us that Jesus is then reigning as King.
- The Church will rule the earth with great power.
- This is not the best answer.
-
Revelation 2:26-27
To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations -- 27 "He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery' -- just as I have received authority from my Father. (NIV) - This is a promise to those in the Church that overcome, that is, remain in Jesus Christ and are not deceived into believing in false teachings. The Church will be caught-up to be with the Lord forever at his Coming, and will do all that the Lord will do, but the best answer is that the scepter in the Lord's hand means that he will be reigning as King.
- What is the meaning of the Woman's child
being snatched up to God and to his throne?
- King David's power and authority will be kept in heaven until the
end.
- This is about the Son of the Woman and not about King David.
- After the angel Gabriel's announcement of the birth of Jesus he was
taken to heaven.
- This is about the Son of the Woman and not about Gabriel.
- Jesus
was taken to heaven for the duration of the Church Age.
- Yes, Jesus Christ after having received all power and authority went up to heaven until the Church would fully trust in him.
- Satan's authority to rule was taken at the resurrection.
- This is true, but even though Jesus now had the authority to rule he did not at that time choose to rule. Jesus, and/or God the Father, choose to let the Church live by faith in the resurrected Lord, and resist Satan's promptings. When the Church has learned to resist Satan and depend upon its faith in Jesus Christ, even in the face of death, then Satan will be thrown down and the Lord will come.
- King David's power and authority will be kept in heaven until the
end.
- What is the meaning of the Woman in Revelation
12:6 fleeing into the desert to a place prepared for her for 1260 days?
- Mary and Joseph spent 1260 days, or three and a half years, in Egypt
hiding from Herod.
- No, this fleeing from Satan into the desert will happen after Satan is thrown down, that is, at the time that the Lord returns from heaven to reign as King, so this cannot have anything to do with Mary and Joseph.
- Jesus ministered for three and a half years under God's protection.
- While this statement is true, it has nothing to do with the Woman being protected by God for three and a half years.
- Peter, Paul, and the apostles hid in Antioch during the 1260 days
of persecution of Caesar Nero.
- As far as I know Peter, Paul and the apostles never hid from Caesar Nero.
- The
faithful in Israel will be supernaturally hidden from Satan during the
great tribulation.
- This is the correct answer. The faithful in Israel, that is the 144,000 Israelites in Revelation will be protected from the attacks of the beast for the duration of the Day of the Lord, that is, for three and a half years, 1260 days, 42 months, a time, times and half a time.
- Mary and Joseph spent 1260 days, or three and a half years, in Egypt
hiding from Herod.
- In Revelation 12:7 who is Michael?
- He is the leader of the armies of the nation of Israel at the time
of the great tribulation.
- Michael is an angel of God. He is not a leader of Israel's army. As far as I can see Israel will not even have an army during the Day of the Lord.
- He was the political leader of Israel at the time of the expulsion
of the Jews in 70 AD.
- No, he is not earthly leader. He is an angel.
- Michael
is the angel of God who watches over the nation of Israel.
- This is true. It has not truly been revealed in Scripture exactly what the angels are doing with regard to God's plan on the earth. It is evident that they do play a part. It is evident that each person of the covenant has a personal angel, each local congregation of the Church seems to have one. Each tribe of Israel also seems to have an overseeing angel. Michael is the angel that oversees the nation of Israel.
- Michael was the greatest leader of the Church and God will bring him
back from heaven to fight against the forces of darkness during the great
tribulation.
- Michael is not a leader in the Church. He is not a man. He is an angel.
- He is the leader of the armies of the nation of Israel at the time
of the great tribulation.
- The angels that are cast out of heaven
in Revelation 12:7-9 then go where?
- To Hell.
- When they are cast out of heaven that go down to the earth. Eventually they will end up in the Lake of fire, but not immediately.
- To the Lake of Fire.
- This is wrong. See (a.) above.
- Down
to the earth.
- Yes, the are cast down to the earth.
-
Revelation 12:9
The great dragon was hurled down -- that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. (NIV)
- To the second heaven.
- No. The second heaven would be outer space. See (c.) above.
- To Hell.
- When does the war in heaven take place
and Satan and his angels get cast out of heaven?
- At
the very start of the three and a half year great tribulation called
the Day of the Lord.
- Yes, this is true.
-
Revelation 12:13-14
When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach. (NIV) - Satan and his angels are cast down for a time, times and half a time, that is, 1260 days, or 3 1/2 years. After which Satan is locked in the Abyss for a thousand years. We are not told what happens to Satan's angels, but it is reasonable to believe that they too are locked up, because the earth will be changed during the Millennial Kingdom age. The earth will be filled with the knowledge of God.
- Before the beginning of time.
- No. See (a.) above.
- There is no war in heaven, this is only symbolic of the fall of Satan.
- There is a war in heaven. We are told of this war directly.
-
Revelation 12:7
And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. (NIV)
- At the beginning of the seven year time of testing mentioned in Daniel
9:27.
- This is not true. The beginning of the seven years is marked by the Antichrist signing a seven year treaty with the many of Israel and the start of the ministry of the two witnesses. Satan cannot be cast down at the start of the seven year period for the reason laid out in (a.) above.
- What does Revelation 12:10, "Now
have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the
authority of his Christ." mean?
- It means that Jesus received all authority and power when he was resurrected.
- Jesus did indeed receive all authority and power at his resurrection, but he did not choose to exercise his authority at that time, that is, he did not assume his right to reign as king. He will not assume his right and authority to rule as king until Satan is brought down from heaven by the obedience of he Church. When the seventh trumpet is sounded Jesus then comes from heaven and takes his place on earth as the reigning King of kings. He shall hold the iron scepter in his hand with which he will dash the nations to pieces.
- It means that the keys to heaven were given to the Church and the
gates of hell will not prevail against it.
- Like (a.) above this is a true statement, but is not the answer to the question asked.
- It
means that Satan and his kingdom has been cast down and now the King
of kings as come from heaven to rule the nations of the earth.
- Yes. At the present time Satan is ruling over the earth in the Scriptural realms. Please consider the following passages.
-
Luke 4:5-8
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours."
8 Jesus answered, "It is written: "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" (NIV) - In this passage Satan offered to give Jesus all of the kingdoms of the world, so we can conclude that they were his to give. If they were not his to give then Jesus would have known that and then there wouldn't have been any temptation, but as it was they were Satan's to give.
-
2 Corinthians 4:4
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (NIV) - Here Satan is called the "god of this age." Jesus received all power and authority to reign as the King of kings, and the Lord of lords at his resurrection, but by God's plan he did not assume his power and authority. Satan was allowed to continue his reign, but the true Church was given authority over the earth.
- It means that because Jesus defeated Satan through the cross that
the Church is a kingdom of kings and priests unto God.
- This is a true statement, but is not the answer to the question asked. Yes, the church was given authority, but Jesus is still in heaven waiting for the day in which his enemies are made his footstool, that is, Satan and his angels are cast down out of heaven to the earth.
- It means that Jesus received all authority and power when he was resurrected.
- Who are the "they" referred
to in Revelation 12:11?
- The
Church.
- Yes, it is the Church that finally resists Satan even in the face of death that brings about the fall of Satan. One of the themes that I see in the Bible is that Satan is trying to prove to God, and to the heavenly hosts, that those that remain loyal to God do so only because God protects them. But God is saying that his children love him and obey out of this love and respect. Satan will aggressively persecute the Jews and the Church in an attempt to make them hate God, but when even in the face of death they prove their love for God, by remaining true to the truth, Satan is then proved wrong and is then cast out of heaven. This is the meaning of the following passage.
-
Revelation 12:10-11
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (NIV)
- The faithful in Israel.
- No. Up until the Church is taken at the Coming of the Lord, that is, in what is called the "rapture", the faithful Jews do not accept that Jesus is the Christ. If they had then they would have become Christians and would have been taken with the Gentile believers. But the 144,000 faithful believers in the God of Israel will all be assembled in Jerusalem at the time that the two witnesses of Revelation 11 are killed and are then caught-up into heaven at the Coming of the Lord. This event serves as a catalyst for the Jews and they immediately become believers in Jesus Christ. But this mass conversion happens AFTER Satan is cast down, so the believers that the question refers to are the Gentile Christian believers.
- The nation of Israel.
- No, (see answer (b.) above.
- Michael and his angels.
- This is not the correct answer, because Michael and his angel's lives are not in jeopardy. It is man that must love God more than his or her own life.
- After Satan is cast out of heaven how long
does he operate on the earth before being cast into the Abyss?
- For three and a half years.
- Yes, but three and a half prophetic years are also 1260 days long, and they are also 42 months, and the time is also said to be time, times, and half a time.
- For 1260 days.
- Yes, but 1260 days are also three and a half prophetic years, and they are also 42 months, and can also be said as time, times and half a time.
- For forty-two months.
- Yes, but 42 months are also three and a half prophetic years, and they are also 1260 days, and can also be said as time, times and half a time.
- All
of the above.
- Yes this is the correct answer. The time period is said in these various ways to hide the fact that they are a talking about the same time period. Actually, the time period consists of two three and a half year segments, making for a total time of seven years. This three and a half year segment, that is, the second half of the seven year period is also called on a number of occasions "one hour."
- For three and a half years.
- What is meant by the serpent spewing
water like a river to sweep the Woman away in Revelation 12:14-15?
- A large flood will wash over Israel.
- No. This is not a literal flood. This is a symbolic representation of an armies attempt to catch and kill the faithful gathered in Jerusalem.
- Separating symbolic images from literal can be sometimes difficult. As a general rule, I believe that if it sounds literal then it probably is, but if it cannot truly be literal then it is probably symbolic of something else In this example we see that the water that is chasing after the Woman is coming from the serpents mouth, so that sounds symbolic to me. Also the object of the water, that is, the Woman is symbolic, so the rest is probably symbolic
- Satan and his angels will attack Israel.
- No. Satan uses earthly forces to carry out his will on the earth. This is true most of the time for God as well. We see the army that has surrounded Jerusalem at this time in the following passage.
-
Daniel 11:31
"His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. (NIV) - Notice the reference to the abomination that causes desolation. This reference tells us that it is the same event. This "abomination that causes desolation" sign occurs only once.
- Satan will spread false teachings across the land.
- No. This is about a direct attempt to kill the Woman. This is not a propaganda campaign.
- The
beast will direct a large army to pursue and attack the faithful in Israel.
- Yes. See (b.) above for an explanation.
- A large flood will wash over Israel.
- What is meant by the earth helping the
Woman and opening its mouth and swallowing the river in Revelation 12:16?
- A
large earthquake will kill the pursuing army.
- Yes. A large army, lead by the Antichrist, will have surrounded Jerusalem with the 144,000 faithful Israelites inside. Also inside will be the two witnesses from Revelation 11:1-14, and other descendants of Israel. It will impossible for any to escape, but at that time the Lord will descend from heaven and catch-up his Church and then he will descend to the Mount of Olives and the ground will open up and provide an escape for the 144,000 at the same time that the army is destroyed.
- This can be seen in Zechariah 14:1-8
- The beasts of the earth will protect the Woman.
- No it is not the beasts, but he earth itself that swallows up the river, (army.)
- The angelic forces of God who operate in the earth will hide the faithful
in Israel.
- This question is not about the hiding of the Woman, but concerns the destruction of the pursuing army.
- The divinely protected army of Israel will successfully defend the
people of Israel.
- No. Israel will be protected by God alone, not by her own power.
-
- Who are the "rest of her offspring" mentioned
in Revelation 12:17?
- They are the surviving Christians.
- There will be no Christians left after the Body is caught-up at the Lord's return. Once the Church is taken, any who then come to believe that Jesus is the Christ will be believers, but not Christians. There are not "good" Christians and "not-so-good" Christians. If you have the Holy Spirit living inside you, then you will be taken at the Coming of the Lord--period.
- They are the "good" people.
- There are no 'good' people.
- They
are the people of God who have recently believed on Jesus Christ.
- Yes. They are the people that have just come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, with the exception of the 144,000. The 'rapture' will convince many people all around the world of the truthfulness of the Bible's message and many will become instant believers.
- They are the many of Israel.
- No. The term 'the many of Israel' is a dig against these people. They are the unfaithful in Israel.
-
Daniel 9:27
He will confirm a covenant with many for one "seven.' In the middle of the "seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." (NIV) - The 'he' here is the man called the Antichrist, and the 'many' are the people of Israel that make this agreement with the Antichrist
- They are the surviving Christians.