REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 12.13

Gleanings from the Book of Revelation:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

The

REVELATION TO JOHN

(The Apocalypse)

                                                                           

Chapter Twelve

The Great Tribulation

(Parenthesis)

The Seven Trumpets

Trumpet Number 7: Woe Number 3

Tribulation Characters

 

 

Survey

MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN were the unknown words written on a banquet room wall by the fingers of a mysterious hand addressed to King Belshazzar of the Babylonian Empire. Simply stated, the cryptic words meant that Belshazzar’s days were numbered before the fall of his great empire (cf. Daniel 5).

 

Similarly, Satan’s days are numbered. To be exact, a sum of 1, 260 days remain until the end of the Great Tribulation and his demise. During this 3 ½ year period, Satan will make a last-ditch effort to abort the promised Kingdom to Israel and subvert the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ.

 

Throughout the ages, the nation of Israel suffered severely. And at this juncture, Jesus prophesied:

Matthew 24:21 - For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

 

 

(Verse 13)

 

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the Man Child.

 

Satan’s Wrath on Earth

Technically, verse 13 is a continuation of verse 6. In anticipation of the dragon’s final doom, the suffering and attacks are increased, and his war is centered on God’s children. The word for persecuted is diōkō, meaning to press toward and pursue someone into persecution, i.e., severe persecution for the woman (Israel) who brought forth the Man Child (Jesus Christ).

 

 

(Verse 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.

 

Protection for God’s People

God spares no miracles when dealing with His chosen ones. He supernaturally assists Israel’s escape from Satan’s assaults. The woman (Israel) effortlessly is seen traveling on the wings of a great eagle toward safety. Regardless of any symbolism, Israel will elude attacks, and they will be airlifted to some hitherto unknown location, a prepared hiding place in the wilderness that will provide natural protection for three and one-half years. God will also come to their aid to shelter and nourish them.

 

The Eagle

In contrast to the lion, branded being the king of the beasts, the eagle has been acknowledged as the king of the birds. The literature of ancient cultures and mythologies associates its notoriety with pagan deities.

 

Biblically, the eagle is emblematic of strength and majesty. Christian symbolism equates the eagle with the Ascension of Christ. However, in certain circumstances, it is also analogous to judgment (see Jeremiah 48:40; Ezekiel 17:3, 7).

 

As a bird of prey, they are equipped with remarkable eyesight and long talons. Preferring live prey, like a lightning bolt, it uses a sudden descent as an element of surprise. Being native to the Palestine area, the shepherds were especially watchful for the eagle due to its capability of carrying a baby lamb upon its wings.

 

Eagle’s Wings

Wings indicate a rapid flight.

Two wings represent two directions – Primarily east and west

 

The phrase Wings of an Eagle is figurative language used for the following:

1.   As a symbol of Israel

Eagle’s wings serve as a reminder to Israel, how God delivered the Israelites from Egypt and nourished them during the forty-year wilderness experience.

Exodus 19:4 - Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself.

 

2.  As a symbol of strength

For the faithful returning from Babylon, there is no weariness or failure, an assurance from the LORD they will be renewed.

Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

 

3. As a symbol of protection

During his prayer, all of David's dependence is upon the LORD.

Psalm 57:1b - Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in Thee: yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

 

That she might fly into the wilderness, into her place where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time [42 months, 3 ½ years or 1260 days], from the face of the serpent [dragon; Satan]

An actual place prepared by God for Israel is in the desert area or wilderness. Again, many believe this location is the rock-hewn city of Sela or Petra in southern Palestine, but other possibilities remain. Refer to the wilderness discussion in the Revelation 12:5 study notes.

 

Also, recall Jesus’ prediction:

Matthew 24:15-16 - When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation (Antichrist), spoken of by Daniel the prophet [cf. Daniel 12:11; 9:26-27], stand in the holy place [in the middle of the 7-year tribulation period], (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.

 

So, this refuge in the desert wilderness, hills, or mountains would bestow solitary miraculous protection. Nevertheless, the very idea may be reminiscent of the imagery found in Exodus.

 

 

(Verse 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.

 

Satan’s primary purpose is to wipe Israel from the face of the earth. Notice the imagery - The tide of persecution is depicted as a flood, a great river of water protruding from the serpent’s mouth. Wisdom of God’s Word articulates:

Psalm 32:6 - For this shall every one that is godly pray unto Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

 

Psalm 90:5 - Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.

 

In certain instances, a flood is represented by an army. Some allegorize this phrase to be analogous to a vast army of the sort, while others consider it to be taken, based upon the subsequent verse, i.e., the earth swallowed up the flood (see also Revelation 11:15 where the fire is seen proceeding from the mouths of the two witnesses). Importantly, in either case, the entire campaign is unsuccessful.

 

Now, contrast the perennial life-giving floodwaters flowing from the New Jerusalem, through Jesus Christ and the Throne of God and the Lamb:

Zechariah 14:8 - And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea [the eastern or Dead Sea], and half of them toward the hinder sea [the western or Mediterranean Sea]: in summer and winter shall it be.

 

John 4:14 - But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

 

Revelation 22:1 - And he (the angel) shewed me (John) a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

 

 

(Verse 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.

 

Verse 16 indicates the intervention of God as He miraculously sanctions an earthquake to swallow up the floodwaters. Even nature is on the side of a man who is faithful unto death. Under these circumstances though, it is Israel who is the recipient of God’s promise:

Isaiah 45:17a - But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation.

 

Once again: And there is nothing new under the sun [Ecclesiastes 1:9 (ESV)]. God previously opened the earth. The narrative is recorded in Numbers 16 where Korah, a Levite, and Abiram and Dathan, great-grandsons of Reuben challenged the leadership of Moses. As a result, along with their 250 followers, their households and houses were engulfed by an earthquake.

 

 

(Verse 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.

 

Continuing - The dragon (orgizō) is provoked and enraged with extreme antisemitism and having the desire to revengefully terminate the remnant of God’s chosen people. The elect of Israel faces the most savage persecution in the nation's history because of the Man-Child Jesus.

 

The word remnant means the rest. Consequently, a remnant of Israel’s seed may include:

A. The 144,000 witnesses who have been sealed (cf. Revelation 7:2-8; 14:1-5)

 

B. The sum of all the persecuted who have not abandoned the Lord, but kept God’s precepts and remained true to the testimony of Jesus Christ (cf. Revelation 2:3; 3:8b)

 

In Chapter 13, the earth is the scene and main battleground of Satan’s operations. The final two characters of Revelation will emerge (1) The Wild Beast of the Sea, and (2) The Wild Beast of the Earth. Both are the human apostate mastermind instruments God uses to orchestrate His programme during the Great Tribulation.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1.   What does the dragon do upon his expulsion from Heaven?

2.   Why does the dragon have extreme hatred toward Israel?

3.   How does God preserve His remnant?

4.   What do the eagle's wings represent?

5.   How long does the remnant receive God’s protection?

6.   What is emitted from the dragon’s mouth?

7.   What event deters the dragon’s attack?

 

 

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