Don't miss the pictures of the zoo days. The Lord willing, Creation Creature Features soon.

Review: See the previous sermon notes on the Web -

Every warning, struggle, temptation, promise, strategy, and victory 
in the Revelation can also play out in your life, your family, and your church!  
The choice is yours ................

The Text ("Blue Letter Bible"):  Revelation 12
(Strong's numbers, Hebrew-Greek lexicons, cross references, etc., can be accessed from the above link)

Review: Outline of The Revelation:  Key verses = Rev 1:8 & 19

I.  Character of Christ  for His Father's Glory (Who Was) (Things You've Seen) Chapter 1
What about your character, & your family's character, & that of your church?
Can other people see Jesus' goodness, unselfishness, & humility through each one?
  A.  Introduction (1:1-8) Of Jesus to His servants (1:4 Church)  (see also 6:1 Israel)
  B.  Post-Incarnate, glorified Jesus (1:9-18)

II.  Counsel of Christ for the Church (Who Is)  (Things Which Are)  Chapters 2-3
This counsel also applies to you personally, your family, your local church, & all of "Christianity".
  A.  Command to Prophesy (1:19)
  B.  Seven Churches Counseled (1:20) ESP-TS-PL  (Praise before correction!)
  C.  Ephesus (2:1-7)                Loveless
  D.  Smyrna (2:8-11)               Persecuted
  E.  Pergamos (2:12-17)          Compromising
  F.  Thyatira (2:18-29)            Corrupt
  G.  Sardis (3:1-6)                    Dying
  H.  Philadelphia (3:7-13)       Revived
   I.  Laodicea (3:14-22)           Lukewarm (no praise)

III.  Consequences of Christ for the Church, Israel & the World  Chapters 4-22
         (Who is to come again!) (Things which will happen soon!)
Are you ready for your future?  The judgment seat of Christ?
  A. Church In Heaven

1.  The Rapture  (Jesus Rescues His Bride) up to Heaven (4:1)
2.  The King & His Bride prepare for the future. (4:1-5:14) (see also Ch 19)

  B. Tribulation of Israel (Jacob's) Trouble on Earth (6:1-18:24) (Daniel's 70th Week)

1.  Seals (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 6:1-8:2), includes chapter 7's message of encouragement
                ** Ch. 7 Who Can Stand?  Those God Has Chosen, & Who Choose Him
        2.  Trumpets (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 8-9)
                a.  The Little Book  (Rev 10)
            b.  The Two Witnesses (Rev 11)
            3.  Players (Seven) on the Tribulation Stage of His-story (Rev 12-14)
                  * These three chapters are an interlude, zooming in for a personal look at the people.
                        4.  Bowls (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 15-16)
                                5.  Babylon's Final Fall (Rev 17-18)

  C.  Christ's Wedding & War (19:1-21)
  D.  Millennial Kingdom (20:1-6)
  E.  Final Futile Rebellion (20:7-10)
  F.  Great White Throne & Second Death (20:11-15)
  G.  New Heaven & Earth Coming (21-22:15)
  H.  Jesus' Promise & Warning for YOU, your family, & your church (22:16-21)

III. B. 3. Seven Players 
on the Final Stage of His-story

Revelation 12-14
   

Rev 12:1  Is possibly the most important interpretive verse in all of the Revelation.   

 "Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars."

When symbols are used in Scripture, like this "woman", the text itself makes it clear that the imagery is a symbol, a "sign".  Some post and amillennial interpreters believe the "sign" (symbol) of the "woman" in v. 1 represents the Church.  But all premillennial interpreters recognize that this "woman" cannot be the Church, for a number of simple, straightforward reasons.

*  This "woman" brings forth the Messianic child, just as Israel was prophesied to do.  In a figurative sense, Israel was the mother of Messiah.

Isaiah 9:6-7  "6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called  Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."

*  The Church, in contrast, is the bride of Christ, not His mother.  The Church was brought into being by Jesus, not the other way around.  So this "sign" or symbol of the woman, must be Israel, not the Church.
*  Therefore the Revelation tells us that national Israel has a significant part to play on the final stage of God's Story about His sovereign mercy and grace.  The Church has not replaced Israel.

The following is an attempt to give you a concise overview of this part of the interlude, Chapters 12-14, in the Revelation.  Remember that Chapters 10-14 fit a pattern where John interjects a breather for the reader between the sixth and seventh of the seals, trumpets, and bowls.

Life is World War:  Not Disney World

"Woman"        -  Israel
"Child"            -  Jesus before He was glorified.  The Way of submissive faith (John 14:6).
"Michael"        -  Archangel over Israel (Dan 10).  Loyal & powerful - Meek & MALE.

Know Your Enemies:  The Anti-Trinity

"Dragon"        -  Satan, the original antisubmissive rebel (2 Cor 10-11).  FATHER of Lies.
"Sea Beast"    -  Antichrist, the human counterfeit of Jesus.  SON of Satan.
"Earth Beast" -  False Prophet who glorifies the son of Satan.  UNHOLY Spiritual Deceiver (Spirit of Untruth).

Know Your Commander in Chief

"Lamb"        -  Jesus ascended & ruling in power as the guaranteed victor (Philip 2).
                        Perfect model of submissive faith under the Father's authority.
"144,000"    -  Sovereignly sealed, safe, and secure, just like us!
                        Human examples of faithful servants, with pure hearts relative to other humans.
                        Note the importance of sexual purity in serving God.  (2 Tim 2:1-4)

Cooperate With His Military Strategy:  3 Angels with Mercy, Grace, Truth

"Eternal Gospel"    -  Sola fide (submissive faith, James 2:19)
"Babylon Fallen"   -  From Eden to Babel to the End, this is the capital heart of rebellion.
                                  Jerusalem is the capital heart of God's earthly, visible kingdom.
"If anyone"            -  Warning of wrath to all who worship anything less than God. 

Motivate Yourself for Action & Do It

"Angels with Sickles"    -  Sin has grown like Creation's cancer & proven its true nature and fruit.
"Winepress of Wrath"  -  It's time for radical surgery to cut out and destroy the cancer of creation.

Why must such drastic action be taken?

So that the New Heaven & New Earth will be pure, without any trace of sinful rebellion and its rotten fruit of separation from God's who is life, competition, pain, fear, bitterness, depression, and death.

Matthew 5:27-29  "You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’  
"But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  
"If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell."

Remember, every warning, struggle, temptation, promise, strategy, and victory in the Revelation can also play out in your life, your family, and your church!  
The choice is yours ................
What do you need to change?

(The final question to ask God, whenever you study God's Word)
Lord, how am I doing on your conflict meter, for your glory?
Giving Up < < < < Standing Firm > > > > Blowing Up

Remember there are only two modes for a believer:
* Marching forward with the gospel.
* Standing firm when conflict arises!

Return to related articles from "The Bible:  One Bite at a Time" -

Biblical Prophecy:  A Jigsaw Puzzle with Pieces Throughout the Bible
How to Interpret Prophetic Passages: Four Different Views with Important Consequences
Why "Normal" Interpretation is the Key to Prophetic & Apocalyptic Passages
Daniel's 70 Weeks: The Heart of God's Prophetic Puzzle 
      (Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, Mat 24, 2 Th 2)
Introduction & Outline of The Revelation
 . . . . . . . 

For further study of prophecy:

Prophecy Today - http://www.gospelcom.net/shofar/pp/htm/report.shtml
Soulcare's Recommended Materials on Prophecy (books, audios, videos, etc.)
http://www.soulcare.org/Resources_Biblical_Authority.htm#Prophecy
Booklet:  The Rapture, by Thomas Ice & Timothy Demy
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1565073924/qid%3D980349983/104-6768955-3395119
John MacArthur, D.D., The Second Coming of Jesus: Signs of Christ's Return & the End of the Age.
     - Book: This text is an excellent overview, placing the puzzle pieces together until the picture is clear.
   *- Audio Set (9 tapes): This tape set is the best I've heard yet. Nothing beats the spoken word for clarity.
J. Vernon McGee, B.D., M.Th., Th.D.,, Thru the Bible Commentary Series, Revelation.  Dr. McGee's commentaries are probably the simplest, most practical, yet thorough and biblical that are available on the Bible.
_______, Reveling Through Revelation.
Chuck Missler, Revelation Commentary in MP3 on CD.  Chuck's commentaries on Daniel, The Revelation, etc., on CD not only contain extensive study notes, but also many hours of audio teaching.
Henry Morris, Ph. D. (Physical Science doctorate), The Revelation Record.  A theologically and scientifically sound commentary on the book of The Revelation.  Dr. Morris explains the amazingly accurate scientific parallels described in the Revelation that were unknown to the culture of the first century.  Only God's direct revelation to John can explain such accuracy.  For example, the "flaming mountain" crashing into the sea during the second trumpet judgment.  How would John have known of even the possibility of massive asteroids that would ignite in our atmosphere as a result of the friction and tremendous speed?
Dwight Pentecost, Ph.D., Things to Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology. This is a 600 pp encyclopedic reference to all of the major passages, topics, and issues involved.
_________ Thy Kingdom Come:  Tracing God's Kingdom Program & Covenant Promises Throughout History.  1995.
Randall Price, Ph.D. Jerusalem in Prophecy (Th.M. graduate of   Dallas Theological Seminary and holds a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of  Texas at Austin. He has done graduate study at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and  conducted archeological excavation in Israel with the University of  Texas in conjunction with the   teaching of courses in biblical archaeology and the history and culture of modern Israel.)
Renald Showers, Th.D., Maranatha, Our Lord, Come! A Definitive Study of the Rapture of the Church.  [Dr. Showers, a graduate of Grace Theological Seminary, serves with Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, as well as the Institute of Biblical Studies.]
John F. Walvoord, Every Prophecy of the Bible.  This reference commentary is over 600 pages long and is an invaluable tool for those studying prophecy regardless of their perspective.  When studying eschatology, nothing is more important that having a comprehensive awareness of all that the Bible says on the subject.  This new work is more than comprehensive.  It is exhaustive.  Dr. Walvoord was on the faculty of Dallas Theological Seminary for 50 years, and is recognized even by those who do not hold to a premillennial perspective as being one of the most knowledgeable scholars in the area of prophecy and eschatology.

Audio Message: "The Rapture: The Great Escape", John Ankerberg
http://www.khouse.org/media/conferences/steeling/stmankerberg98.html
Article:  "The Great Snatch", by Chuck Missler
http://www.khouse.org/articles/prophetic/19950101-35.html
Article:  Byzantine Text Discovery & the Rapture
http://www.khouse.org/articles/biblestudy/19950601-39.html