Revelation Chapter 12
Verse 17 “And the dragon was enraged with the woman and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, and he stood upon the sand of the sea”
NOTE: The first phrase of Chapter 13 verse 1 “And he stood upon the sand of the sea” (in its corrected translation), actually belongs in Chapter 12. (Chapter 13 then begins, “And I saw a beast…” The sand of the sea is a symbol for the great masses of humanity. The (dragon) civil powers yet dominate the masses until the Lord will overthrow their selfish ruler ships.
“Religious truth is always a threat. This final verse indicates that before the church is completed (the last member of the body of Christ makes their calling and election sure) the (dragon) civil power will yet “make war” with the remaining members of the true church (the “feet of him”).”
Since Verse 16 refers to the French Revolution, should it not be assumed that Verse 17 took place shortly thereafter?
No, not necessarily! Rather, it is as if the dragon were licking its wounds during an ensuing time interval. The dragon had wanted to overwhelm and drown the woman, but “the earth opened her mouth” and helped the woman, temporarily frustrating the dragons plan. Satan recognized that he had made a tactical error, so he retreated from the scene to contemplate another attack upon the woman in the future. All these thoughts are conveyed in this one short verse. The Adversary is regrouping his forces to attack the woman a second time and this future warfare will involve the catching up or rapture of the last members of the Church.
NOTE: This “rapture” should not be confused with the erroneous idea of the “rapture” as expressed by the professing church.
The use of the word “remnant” (of the woman’s seed) suggests an end-of-the-age setting.
As already stated, in the Book of Revelation the dragon represents purely civil power, and particularly the Roman power. France was one of the ten parts of the “city” (Rev 11:13). The city, in this instance, was the whole setup of the ten horns (called ten toes elsewhere), which represented Europe (Papacy, Babylon).
The rebellion or revolution (“a great earthquake”) arose in the French segment of this “city”, the Holy Roman Empire (of Europe). Thus the French Revolution is related to Rome, even though the scene of action took place in France. And France was the leading power at the time; in fact, at times it had been a stronger supporter of Papacy than Italy itself.
The various autocratic nations saw the tumult in France and the excesses and abuses of liberty that occurred. However, instead of tightening the reins of control in their own countries, as Satan had mistakenly anticipated, they established parliamentary or representative forms of government (republics). This development actually benefited the woman, who was supposed to be destroyed. Greatly angered, the Adversary now purposed “to make war with the remnant of her seed” (Verse 17), with those who “keep the commandments of God.” These words are to be coupled in thought with Verse 12: “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto YOU [the woman], having great wrath.”
These two parenthetical inserts (Verse 12 and the latter part of Verse 17) are intended, by the Holy Spirit, to set straight and to counteract the false rejoicing of Verse 10 through the beginning of Verse 12.
A clear distinction is drawn between (1) those who really “keep the commandments of God” and truthfully hold “the testimony of Jesus Christ,” and (2) the false Michael, “who as God” possesses a form of godliness but denies the power thereof. A second attack upon the true Church is to be anticipated.
The Elijah class this side of the veil must and will be vanquished (physically die), but the apparent defeat will only hasten the Kingdom glories.
As the Lord has spoken:
"I have said, Ye are gods [elohim, “mighty ones”]; and all of you are children of THE MOST HIGH [“el yon”, the highest God], but ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes [literal heads--Adam and Jesus are the two heads.].” Psa 82:6, 7
The world in general dies like Prince Adam, but the faithful with Prince Jesus, i.e. "one of the princes."
"Be thou faithful until death and I will give thee a crown of life." (Rev. 2:10)
“We will all die like men” (like all men die), but “we will not all sleep (in death, for the very moment of our deaths will be the moment of our resurrection change, that is to say immediately upon our death we will be translated in the “twinkling of an eye” to our new spirit bodies),” 1 Cor. 15:51, 52
Continued with next post.
Verse 17 “And the dragon was enraged with the woman and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, and he stood upon the sand of the sea”
NOTE: The first phrase of Chapter 13 verse 1 “And he stood upon the sand of the sea” (in its corrected translation), actually belongs in Chapter 12. (Chapter 13 then begins, “And I saw a beast…” The sand of the sea is a symbol for the great masses of humanity. The (dragon) civil powers yet dominate the masses until the Lord will overthrow their selfish ruler ships.
“Religious truth is always a threat. This final verse indicates that before the church is completed (the last member of the body of Christ makes their calling and election sure) the (dragon) civil power will yet “make war” with the remaining members of the true church (the “feet of him”).”
Since Verse 16 refers to the French Revolution, should it not be assumed that Verse 17 took place shortly thereafter?
No, not necessarily! Rather, it is as if the dragon were licking its wounds during an ensuing time interval. The dragon had wanted to overwhelm and drown the woman, but “the earth opened her mouth” and helped the woman, temporarily frustrating the dragons plan. Satan recognized that he had made a tactical error, so he retreated from the scene to contemplate another attack upon the woman in the future. All these thoughts are conveyed in this one short verse. The Adversary is regrouping his forces to attack the woman a second time and this future warfare will involve the catching up or rapture of the last members of the Church.
NOTE: This “rapture” should not be confused with the erroneous idea of the “rapture” as expressed by the professing church.
The use of the word “remnant” (of the woman’s seed) suggests an end-of-the-age setting.
As already stated, in the Book of Revelation the dragon represents purely civil power, and particularly the Roman power. France was one of the ten parts of the “city” (Rev 11:13). The city, in this instance, was the whole setup of the ten horns (called ten toes elsewhere), which represented Europe (Papacy, Babylon).
The rebellion or revolution (“a great earthquake”) arose in the French segment of this “city”, the Holy Roman Empire (of Europe). Thus the French Revolution is related to Rome, even though the scene of action took place in France. And France was the leading power at the time; in fact, at times it had been a stronger supporter of Papacy than Italy itself.
The various autocratic nations saw the tumult in France and the excesses and abuses of liberty that occurred. However, instead of tightening the reins of control in their own countries, as Satan had mistakenly anticipated, they established parliamentary or representative forms of government (republics). This development actually benefited the woman, who was supposed to be destroyed. Greatly angered, the Adversary now purposed “to make war with the remnant of her seed” (Verse 17), with those who “keep the commandments of God.” These words are to be coupled in thought with Verse 12: “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto YOU [the woman], having great wrath.”
These two parenthetical inserts (Verse 12 and the latter part of Verse 17) are intended, by the Holy Spirit, to set straight and to counteract the false rejoicing of Verse 10 through the beginning of Verse 12.
A clear distinction is drawn between (1) those who really “keep the commandments of God” and truthfully hold “the testimony of Jesus Christ,” and (2) the false Michael, “who as God” possesses a form of godliness but denies the power thereof. A second attack upon the true Church is to be anticipated.
The Elijah class this side of the veil must and will be vanquished (physically die), but the apparent defeat will only hasten the Kingdom glories.
As the Lord has spoken:
"I have said, Ye are gods [elohim, “mighty ones”]; and all of you are children of THE MOST HIGH [“el yon”, the highest God], but ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes [literal heads--Adam and Jesus are the two heads.].” Psa 82:6, 7
The world in general dies like Prince Adam, but the faithful with Prince Jesus, i.e. "one of the princes."
"Be thou faithful until death and I will give thee a crown of life." (Rev. 2:10)
“We will all die like men” (like all men die), but “we will not all sleep (in death, for the very moment of our deaths will be the moment of our resurrection change, that is to say immediately upon our death we will be translated in the “twinkling of an eye” to our new spirit bodies),” 1 Cor. 15:51, 52
Continued with next post.
