My Sheep Hear My Voice-Rev. 12:4

My Sheep Hear My Voice-Rev. 12:4

Before Jesus was crucified He told the disciples to watch and pray, something so simple, but they let their physical bodies take over and they fell back asleep. In these last hours of time you need to hear His voice. When He tells you something, it is very important, but most ignore my voice or just discuss it and go on with what they were doing. You will see many things start to happen shortly and if you do not hear and obey His voice,... it will mean death for some of you....Jesus has only your best interest in mind. Christ knows you heart, and if you are truly His you will hear His voice. He awakes many of you at 3am on the dot, but most will roll over and go back to sleep. There are a few who will get up and pray. Your day is filled with so many things and Jesus is the last thing many of you give your time to. But Christ needs to talk to you,... to fellowship with you and only when you are still and quite (3am) can you hear Him,... the rest of your day is so busy you do not have time for Him,... but you need to make time, for time is short and the Lord has instructions for you.

Revelation Chapter 12

The Dragon, War in Heaven, and the Remnant

The Dragon

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. Rev 12:4

third part of... Symbolic of the third of God’s angels that rebelled with Lucifer and showing how many will be with him in the future war in heaven under the 7th trumpet (Rev. 12:4, 12:7-12). Satan’s original rebellion (compare Isa. 14:12; Ezek. 28:11), resulted in one-third of the angelic host joining his insurrection and becoming demons. When John tells us that the devils' tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to earth, he is describing the original demonic uprising against God.

Satan somehow managed to convince a third of all God's angels to join him in his rebellion; these beings we now call "demons" or "fallen angels." They serve Satan and play an important role in the judgments of the Tribulation.

stood before the... This is the dragon’s first purpose—to destroy the man-child as soon as it is born. He fails in this because God takes the man-child to heaven (Rev. 12:5). We see here also, the woman about to birth, and this is the birth of the remnant of God's chosen people.

The casting down of a third of the stars out of the sky seemed to imply satanic power which extended to the heavens and the earth. Satan was seen here to extend his power over those who opposed him spiritually or politically. The dragon’s attempt to devour the newborn Child (Rev. 12:4) seemed to point to Satan’s attempts to destroy the remnant. Satanic opposition to Israel and especially to the messianic line is clear in both Testaments.

The word “dragon” is used thirteen times and only in Revelation. It is a symbol of Satan, the chief adversary of God, Rev. 12:9. This is the first time he is mentioned in Revelation. We must distinguish between the symbol and the thing symbolized, as in all other symbols. The “great red dragon” is a fitting symbol of Satan in his role as the relentless persecutor and murderer of multitudes of unfortunate people, Jhn. 8:44. In Job 41 and Isa. 27:1 he is portrayed as “leviathan, the piercing serpent . . . That crooked serpent . . . the dragon that is in the sea.”

My Sheep Hear My Voice-Rev. 12:3

My Sheep Hear My Voice-Rev. 12:3

Before Jesus was crucified He told the disciples to watch and pray, something so simple, but they let their physical bodies take over and they fell back asleep. In these last hours of time you need to hear His voice. When He tells you something, it is very important, but most ignore my voice or just discuss it and go on with what they were doing. You will see many things start to happen shortly and if you do not hear and obey His voice,... it will mean death for some of you....Jesus has only your best interest in mind. Christ knows you heart, and if you are truly His you will hear His voice. He awakes many of you at 3am on the dot, but most will roll over and go back to sleep. There are a few who will get up and pray. Your day is filled with so many things and Jesus is the last thing many of you give your time to. But Christ needs to talk to you,... to fellowship with you and only when you are still and quite (3am) can you hear Him,... the rest of your day is so busy you do not have time for Him,... but you need to make time, for time is short and the Lord has instructions for you.

Revelation Chapter 12

The Dragon, War in Heaven, and the Remnant

The Dragon

"And there appeared another wonder (sign) in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.” (Rev. 12:3).

great red dragon... Used 13 times in Revelation as a symbol of Satan (Rev. 12:3-17; 13:2-4, 13:11; Job 41:1-34). The woman’s mortal enemy is Satan, who appears as a dragon 13 times in this book (compare verses 9; 20:2). Red speaks of bloodshed (compare John 8:44).

We see here this "red dragon". This is the devil, and he is shown red all over to show his murderous and destructive personality. This is the only place in the New Testament that dragon is used. Here it is not a literal "dragon", but a figure of Satan.

having seven heads... Symbols of the 7 world empires that precede the kingdom of Antichrist, which is the 8th.

ten horns, and... His 10 horns are not crowned, while those on the beast are (Rev. 13:1), symbolizing his power over the 10 kingdoms will be given to the beast. His 7 heads are crowned (Rev. 12:3), symbolizing his rule over the 7 kingdoms preceding the Antichrist kingdom. The 7 heads on the beast are not crowned (Rev. 13:1), meaning that the Antichrist has not ruled the 7 kingdoms preceding his, the 8th kingdom (Rev. 17:8-11). We see here "ten horns" which symbolize world power. Here too, we can assume these world powers oppose the Christians and Jesus' believers. Figurative language depicting Satan’s domination of 7 past worldly kingdoms and 10 future kingdoms (compare Dan. 7:7, 20, 24; see 13:1; 17:9-10). Satan has and will rule the world until the seventh trumpet blows (11:15). He has inflicted relentless pain on Israel (Dan. 8:24), desiring to kill the woman before she could bring forth the child that would destroy him (see Esther 3:6-15).

These seven are heads of evil governments. This world power, through these earthly kingdoms, comes from Satan himself. The seven crowned heads mean universal rule, and the ten horns mean world power to the utmost.
Five emperors had come and gone by the Apostle John's time; one ruled during his time; and the eighth represents the Antichrist to come. We will get into more on this in a later chapter about the 6 empires that have come, which is most interesting.
His ten horns show Satan's connection with the fourth beast of (Daniel 7:7, 24), and with the Beast from the sea (in Rev. chapter 13).

The Second Personage: The Red Dragon With The 7 Heads And 10 Horns (Rev. 12:3-4)
The second wonder (semeion, “sign”; cf. Rev. 12:1) appeared in heaven, though it actually related to scenes on earth. It was a great red dragon, having 7 heads and 10 horns, and 7 crowns on his heads. From similar descriptions in Dan. 7:7-8, 7:24 and Rev. 13:1, this beast represented Satan’s control over world empires in the Great Tribulation. Rev. 12:9 identifies the dragon as Satan. The color red might indicate the bloodshed related to this period. The 10 horns presented symbolically the 10 kings (see Dan. 7:24) who reigned simultaneously with the coming world ruler and who were mentioned both in Dan. 7:7 and Rev. 13:1.

My Sheep Hear My Voice-Rev. 12:6, 13-16

My Sheep Hear My Voice-Rev. 12:6, 13-16

Before Jesus was crucified He told the disciples to watch and pray, something so simple, but they let their physical bodies take over and they fell back asleep. In these last hours of time you need to hear His voice. When He tells you something, it is very important, but most ignore my voice or just discuss it and go on with what they were doing. You will see many things start to happen shortly and if you do not hear and obey His voice,... it will mean death for some of you....Jesus has only your best interest in mind. Christ knows you heart, and if you are truly His you will hear His voice. He awakes many of you at 3am on the dot, but most will roll over and go back to sleep. There are a few who will get up and pray. Your day is filled with so many things and Jesus is the last thing many of you give your time to. But Christ needs to talk to you,... to fellowship with you and only when you are still and quite (3am) can you hear Him,... the rest of your day is so busy you do not have time for Him,... but you need to make time, for time is short and the Lord has instructions for you.

Revelation Chapter 12
The Persecution, Flight and Protection of the Woman

In these passages a complete revelation of the woman, as to her identification, motherhood, persecution, flight and protection, is given. These subjects in conjunction with other scriptures will now be taken up in their logical order.

"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” (Rev. 12:6).

And the woman... The woman here is Israel. The wilderness represents Edom, Moab, and Ammon out side of Israel.

into the wilderness... The persecution, flight, and protection of the woman in the wilderness prove her to be Israel. God will protect Israel from Satan by hiding her in the wilderness, perhaps in the region of Moab, Ammon and Edom, east of Israel.

prepared of God... Edom, Moab, and Ammon escape the Antichrist and make the place of refuge for Israel in the tribulation. Interestingly, those countries will be specifically spared from the Antichrist’s attack against the Holy Land (compare Dan. 11:41).

they should feed... The Arabs of modern Jordan and Arabia. During the last half of the Great Tribulation period, Israel will take refuge among the Gentile nations, where God will care for her (perhaps through the Gentile believers).

a thousand two... This is the number of days the woman flees into the wilderness and the man-child, or the 144,000, are in heaven before the second coming of Christ (Rev. 11:1-3; 12:6, 12:14; 13:5; Dan. 7:25; 12:7). At the midpoint of the Tribulation, the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel, puts a stop to temple worship, sets up the abomination of desolation (Dan. 9:27; Matt. 24:15), and devastates Jerusalem (11:2). At that time, many Jews flee for their lives (Matt. 24:16ff). God will preserve them during the last 1260 days (42 months; 3-1/2 years), constituting the Great Tribulation (see 3:10; 6:1, 9) God will frustrate Satan's attempt to destroy Israel during the Tribulation and will hide His people just as Jesus stated (in Matthew chapter 24:15-21).

The world government, and even part of the church world, is leaning more and more to elevating ourselves to the point of making us god. You see, secular humanism and the New Age Movement both elevate mankind to Godhood. These are two very dangerous things to do. This is the very reason Lucifer was tossed out of heaven.

The deliverance itself took place when the woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, and she was preserved for 1,260 days, which was three and one-half years or 42 months of 30 days each. Matthew (Mat. 24:16) referred to the flight of Israel at the beginning of the Great Tribulation (cf. Mar. 13:14). References to both desert and mountains are not a contradiction as both were wilderness areas. In her desert hideout Israel was cared for perhaps as miraculously as Israel was in her wilderness journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.

The time period was 1,260 days, later described as “a time, times, and half a time” (cf. Rev. 12:14). This action (Rev. 12:5-6) followed what is described in Rev. 12:7 as a “war in heaven.”

“And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 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. 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. 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" (Rev. 13-16).

And when the... When the devil saw that he could not uphold his kingdom by paganism, nor further execute his malice by pagan emperors, but was wholly routed and overcome, as to that power. “He persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child” (see Rev. 12:5).

saw that he... When he sees that he has failed to destroy the 144,000 or the man-child, he will turn on the woman or Israel who has produced the man-child. The child is represented as safe; that is, the ultimate progress and extension of the believers was certain. But Satan was permitted still to wage a warfare against them, represented here by his wrath against the woman, and by her being constrained to flee into the wilderness.

The woman introduced in Rev. 12:1 became the special object of Satan’s persecution. She was given supernatural help symbolized by the two wings of a great eagle which enabled her to fly to the place prepared for her in the desert.

This hiding place was not clearly identified. Some suggest that it might be Petra, fortress capital of the Nabateans in Edom, south of the Dead Sea. This city has a narrow access which could easily be blocked but which opens up into a large canyon capable of caring for many thousands of people. Though Scripture is not specific, some believe the 144,000 of Rev. 7:1-17 are to be preserved here. The Scriptures themselves speak of God’s seal of protection on them.

wings of a... Not actual birds’ wings, but a graphic depiction of God’s providential protection of Israel (compare Exodus 19:4). Wings often speak of protection (compare Deut. 32:9-12; Psalm 91:4; Isa. 40:31). Eagles, probably vulture like griffins, were the largest birds known in Israel. The wings represent swift escape from persecution. The eagle in many instances in the Bible is symbolic of God. I believe, it means that God will protect us in the midst of the problems. This I believe is what the (sealing of the believers), is all about. The word “might” indicates that those in Israel who care to flee may do so, but not that all will flee into the wilderness from Judea, for a remnant will be left, Rev. 12:17. “Her purpose will be to flee from the face of the serpent.” There is to be such a place of security and she will know of it. Who but God could preserve a place for her and lead her to it under such conditions?

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."
To me this just shows again that God will protect the true believers.
That phrase comes (from Dan. 12:11). This refers to the second half of the Tribulation which begins by the abomination of desolation. In Matthew, we read:
Matt. 24:15 "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand)."
During this time, God protects Israel from the Satan who may know where the Jews are hiding, but will be unable to get at them because of God's divine protection.
“A time, and times, and half a time”: Three and one half years; the second half of the Tribulation (compare verses 6; 11:2-3; 13:5).

The two wings probably do not refer to modern airplanes but rather to God’s delivering power, and are a figure of speech taken from such Old Testament passages as Exo. 19:4 and Deut. 32:11-12. The flight of Israel to a place of safety was also indicated in Mat. 24:16; Mar. 13:14; and Luke 21:21.

Though Rev. 12:6, 12:14 referred to the refuge as a desert and the Synoptic passages referred to mountains, this is no contradiction as both desert and mountains are in a wilderness area. The length of time of her preservation was said to be a time, times, and half a time. This refers to the three and one-half years of the Great Tribulation with “a time” equaling one year, “times” equaling two years, and “half a time” indicating 6 months (cf. Dan. 7:25; 12:7 with the 42 months referred to in Rev. 11:2; 13:5). References to these specific time periods show that the Great Tribulation is not the entire present Age but the three and one-half years preceding the second coming of Christ.

And the serpent... The devil, the old serpent, mentioned (in Revelation 12:9), being able no longer to execute his malice as a dragon, by the civil power of the heathen emperors, tearing Christians in pieces, but discerning the believers secured by the special providence of God, went to work another way.

flood after the... Symbolizes the armies of the Antichrist pursuing defeated Israel (Dan. 9:26-27; 11:21-26; Jer. 46:7-8).

Water is symbolic of the Word of God. This is strange because this water comes from the serpent's mouth. I believe this is a flood of false doctrine coming from Satan himself. Some of the new translations of the Bible are very dangerous as well. If Satan can't destroy us outside the church, then the final assault would be inside the church with false doctrine that is so close to truth that we would not even notice the difference, unless we were grounded and rooted in the truth.
This imagery symbolizes trouble in general. Satan's forces will sweep towards the Jew's hiding place like a great flood so as to be drown, killed or consumed by them.

Pursuing the woman, the devil as the serpent originated a flood to sweep her away with the torrent, but the earth swallowed up the water. Some have taken this as a literal flood, but since Israel could flee in every direction the contour of the Holy Land does not lend itself to such a flood. Probably the flood represents Satan’s effort to exterminate Israel. This is thwarted by the rough terrain which provides hiding places. In some way God assists the Israelites so that they are not completely destroyed, though Zec. 13:8 indicates that “two-thirds will be struck down and perish.”

swallowed up the... The earth will open its mouth and swallow the armies of the Antichrist, like it did Korah and his company (Num. 16:29-35).

And the earth... By opening itself, and taking in what the serpent cast out, so that it could not reach the woman, and annoy her. Yet they served, in a great measure, to swallow up that flood of heresies which the devil threw out of his mouth by these heretics.

cast out of... A great army will come against Israel like a flood (verse 15; compare Jer. 46:8; 47:2), only to be swallowed up.

Though only one-third of Israel in the land is thus preserved (of which the 144,000 of Rev. 7:1-17 are a portion), Satan the dragon continues to war against the rest.

My Sheep Hear My Voice

My Sheep Hear My Voice

Before Jesus was crucified He told the disciples to watch and pray, something so simple, but they let their physical bodies take over and they fell back asleep. In these last hours of time you need to hear His voice. When He tells you something, it is very important, but most ignore my voice or just discuss it and go on with what they were doing. You will see many things start to happen shortly and if you do not hear and obey His voice,... it will mean death for some of you....Jesus has only your best interest in mind. Christ knows you heart, and if you are truly His you will hear His voice. He awakes many of you at 3am on the dot, but most will roll over and go back to sleep. There are a few who will get up and pray. Your day is filled with so many things and Jesus is the last thing many of you give your time to. But Christ needs to talk to you,... to fellowship with you and only when you are still and quite (3am) can you hear Him,... the rest of your day is so busy you do not have time for Him,... but you need to make time, for time is short and the Lord has instructions for you.

The Travail of the Woman

You will notice that we will be studying vs. 12:2 and 5a here to be in chronological order.

"And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. . . . And she brought forth a man child” (Rev. 12:2, 5a).

The word “travailing” is from the Greek odino which is used here and in Gal. 4:19, 27; Mt. 24:8; Mk. 13:8 and means “to experience the pains of the parturition,” whether literally or figuratively. Here it is used in a figurative sense, for the woman is a symbol, and therefore, cannot travail literally. The Greek word for “pained” means “tormented” and is so translated in Rev. 9:5; 11:10; 14:10; 20:10. This helps us to understand that the travail and pain of Israel in the whole Seventieth Week is caused by the same sort of punishment she has always undergone under Gentile rule.

The travails of Israel have been numerous in her past history, as is clearly revealed in her bondage's and deliverance's, which began with Israel in Egypt and in the period of the judges and kings. They have continued, more or less, and will finally culminate in the worst period of travail she has ever known, Dan. 12:1; Mt. 24:15-26. There is to be a future continued travail of Israel in the tribulation Week with a two fold result:

1. The deliverance of the manchild in the middle of the Week, Rev. 12:2-5; Jer. 30:6-9; Dan. 12:1; Isa. 66:7-8. This will be the result of the terrible anguish and sorrow of Israel in the middle of the Week, because the Antichrist, with whom she has made a seven-year covenant as a guarantee of her protection from the great whore and the ten kings of the Revised Rome, will have broken this covenant and determined to completely destroy her. At this time of travail the manchild is to be delivered, because that company (the 144,000 sealed Jews) is not deserving of the great tribulation, which will follow immediately. Antichrist will be defeated in his purpose of destroying Israel at this time by the “tidings out of the north and east” Dan. 11:44-45; i.e., the northern and eastern European and Asiatic nations will league together against Antichrist to put a stop to his superhuman successes in his conquests. This will keep him occupied during the last three and one-half years of the Week, after he has gained the whole ten kingdoms, and thus cause him to let Israel alone for the time being or until he conquers his new enemies. Then, all nations which he has conquered in both parts of the Week, as well as other cooperative nations in the rest of the world (Rev. 16:13-16), will be gathered against Israel to destroy them as he attended to do in the middle of the Week, then Christ suddenly comes to save Israel, Zech. 14. The result of the travail of Israel at this time will be that God will undertake the catching up of the manchild (144,000 sealed Jews). After that He will supernaturally protect the woman in the wilderness and the remnant in Israel by occupying the attention of the Antichrist through the threatenings of the northern and eastern nations as mentioned above.
2. The deliverance of the woman herself at the end of the Week when the Antichrist with many nations tries to destroy Israel, Isa. 66:7-8; Mic. 5:3; Zech. 12:10-14:21; Joel 3:1-21. The result of this travail will be the conversion of Israel and the defeat of the Antichrist by the return of Christ to the earth with the saints and angels to exalt Israel and set up His own Kingdom, Rom. 11:26-27; Rev. 19:11-20:6; 2 Thes. 1:7-10.

My Sheep Hear My Voice

My Sheep Hear My Voice

Before Jesus was crucified He told the disciples to watch and pray, something so simple, but they let their physical bodies take over and they fell back asleep. In these last hours of time you need to hear His voice. When He tells you something, it is very important, but most ignore my voice or just discuss it and go on with what they were doing. You will see many things start to happen shortly and if you do not hear and obey His voice,... it will mean death for some of you....Jesus has only your best interest in mind. Christ knows you heart, and if you are truly His you will hear His voice. He awakes many of you at 3am on the dot, but most will roll over and go back to sleep. There are a few who will get up and pray. Your day is filled with so many things and Jesus is the last thing many of you give your time to. But Christ needs to talk to you,... to fellowship with you and only when you are still and quite (3am) can you hear Him,... the rest of your day is so busy you do not have time for Him,... but you need to make time, for time is short and the Lord has instructions for you.

Revelation Chapter 12

The Sun-Clothed Woman

Rev. 12:1, 2, 5a, 6, 13-16

In these passages a complete revelation of the woman, as to her identification, motherhood, persecution, flight and protection, is given. These subjects in conjunction with other scriptures will now be taken up in their logical order.

The Woman and the Dragon

And 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: Rev. 12:1

The word “appeared” would be better translated “was seen,” for the Greek word horao, meaning “to perceive with the eyes,” is used of bodily sight, and with special reference to the object looked at.

a great wonder... Greek: semeion, sign ( John 2:11). The word “wonder” is from the Greek semeion, which means “a sign,” and should be translated in every passage where it is used. It has regard to the significance of the work wrought, whether in itself, or in the reason, object, design and teaching intended to be conveyed by it. Wonder should never be used. “There was seen a great sign in heaven” is the idea conveyed. The symbol was seen in heaven by John but what was symbolized by the woman is in the earth.

in heaven;... Symbol seen in heaven, but the thing symbolized is on earth (Rev. 12:6, 12:13, 12:15-16).

a woman clothed...The Sun-Clothed Woman

1. Israel is often spoken of as a woman married to God under the terms of the old covenant (Isa. 54:1-6; Jer. 3:1-14; Hos. 2:14-23).

2. The church is more often referred to in masculine language, as the body of Christ. Furthermore, the church is already raptured at this point (Rev. 4:1). Therefore, the church could not be the sun-clothed woman of Rev. 12:1-17.

3. The false church is spoken of as a woman, a great whore (Rev. 17:1-18), but this could not be the sun-clothed woman.

4. The Bible mentions only 3 classes of people today: the church, the Jews, and the Gentiles (1Cor. 10:32). At the middle of Daniel’s 70th week when the woman travails and brings forth the man-child, the church has been gone from the earth for at least 3 1/2 years (Rev. 4:1). This leaves only 2 classes after the rapture: Jews and Gentiles. The woman could not symbolize the Gentiles, because they are the ones persecuting her. Therefore, the woman must symbolize national Israel. By the term "Israel" we mean national Israel, or Israel as a nation, not as scattered among the nations. Israel now has been a nation since 1948. Many Jews will continue in all lands until they are completely gathered at the second coming (Mat. 24:29-31; Isa. 11:11-12; Eze. 37:1-28).

5. Israel is the one primarily dealt with in Rev. 4-19, not the church.

6. The sun, moon, and 12 stars symbolize Israel, as proved in Gen. 37:9-11.

7. The Jews are the only people in Scripture spoken of as going through travail in the last days (Rev. 12:2-5; Mat. 24:8; Mar. 13:8; Isa. 66:7-8; Jer. 30:6-9; Mic. 5:3; Zec. 12:10-13:1).

8. Israel is identified as the woman by the wars against her and her seed. The same predictions of this woman are found in connection with Israel in the Old Testament so they must be the same (Dan. 7:21; 8:9-14, 8:24-25; 9:27; 11:40-45; 12:1, 12:7; Joel 3:1-21; Zec. 12:1-9; 13:8-9; 14:1-21).

9. The whole 70th week of Dan. 9:27 concerns Israel and Jerusalem, as did the first 69 weeks (Dan. 9:24-27). The church did not once mention in connection with these last day events.

10. The persecution, flight, and protection of the woman in the wilderness prove her to be Israel (Rev. 12:6, 12:13-16).

(1) Isaiah (Isa. 16:1-5) predicts the flight of Israel into Moab and Edom, and mentions Sela, the ancient capital of Edom as their headquarters during tribulation. The church is not the subject of any Old Testament prophecy.

(2) Isaiah (Isa. 26:20-21) predicts the protection of Israel until the indignation (tribulation) be past.

(3) Isaiah (Isa. 63:1-5) pictures Christ in His second coming as descending from the direction of Edom where the Israelites are to be protected (cp. Mat. 24:27).

(4) Isaiah (Isa. 42:11-13) speaking of the Lord coming to earth to prevail over His enemies predicts that the Jews in the wilderness and the rock will sing of Him.

(5) Psalms (Psm. 60:6-12; 108:8-13) predict that God will reserve Edom from the Antichrist and refer to the leading of Israel into the strong city.

(6) Ezekiel (Eze. 20:33-44) speaks of Israel being gathered back from the nations in the last days and of her going into the wilderness where God will plead with her as He did when she came out of Egypt. The two witnesses of Rev. 11:1-19 will be the "Moses and Aaron" of those days coming out of Egypt.

(7) Daniel (Dan. 11:36) reveals the conquest of many countries, including Israel, but predicts that Edom, Moab, and Ammon will escape him (the Antichrist). This is the place reserved of God for Israel to be protected in the wilderness the last 3 1/2 years (Rev. 12:6, 12:14).

(8) Hosea (Hos. 2:14-23) speaks of the wilderness where Israel will flee from the Antichrist.

(9) Matthew (Mat. 24:15-22) predicts the Antichrist breaking his 7-year covenant with Israel (Dan. 9:27), the setting up of the abomination of desolation in the temple at Jerusalem, and the flight of Israel from Judea into the mountains or wilderness during the great tribulation.

(10) Revelation (Rev. 12:6, 12:13-16) makes the final prediction of Israel going into the wilderness to be protected 3 1/2 years from the Antichrist.

a great wonder... A symbol pointing to something else. This is the first of 7 signs in the last half of the Great Revelation (compare verses 3; 13:13-14; 15:1; 16:14; 19:20).

a woman clothed... Not an actual woman, but a symbolic representation of Israel, pictured in the Old Testament as the wife of God (Isa. 54:5-6; Jer. 3:6-8; 31:32; Ezek. 16:32; Hosea 2:16).

Three other symbolic women appear in Revelation:

(1) Jezebel, who represents paganism (2:20);
(2) The scarlet woman (17:3-6), symbolizing the apostate church; and
(3) The wife of the Lamb (19:7), symbolizing the true church.
The woman represents Israel, and her child is the Remnant (144,000 sealed Jews).
clothed with the... sun … moon under her feet … twelve stars (compare Gen. 37:9-11). Being clothed with the sun speaks of the glory, dignity, and exalted status of Israel, the people of promise who will be saved and given a kingdom. The picture of the moon under her feet possibly describes God’s covenant relationship with Israel, since new moons were associated with worship (1 Chron. 23:31; 2 Chron. 2:4; 8:13; Ezra 3:5; Psalm 81:3). The 12 stars represent the 12 tribes of Israel.
The sun reflects redeemed Israel's unique glory, brilliance and dignity because of her exulted status and shows her as God's chosen nation.
The moon under her feet alludes to God's promise of dominion, and the crown of twelve stars’ pictures royalty and relates to the 12 tribes of Israel. Go to (Genesis 37:9-11), and read about the dream Joseph had about the sun, moon and 11 stars which were bowing down to Joseph (who was the 12th).
Though this scene opens in heaven, it will quickly move to the earth.

I. The seven great personages of the end times (chaps. 12-15)

Though the seventh trumpet was recorded in Rev. 11:15 as sounding, the details of what will come out of the seventh trumpet are not revealed until Rev. 16:1-21. Accordingly chapters 12-15 view the prophecies of the end time from another perspective and introduce the great personages who are involved in the second half of the seven-year period.

Many have pointed out that seven personages appear in chapters 12-13: (1) a woman clothed with the sun, representing Israel (Rev. 12:1-2); (2) the red dragon with seven heads and 10 horns, representing Satan (Rev. 12:3-4); (3) the male Child, representing the Remnant (144,000 sealed Jews); (4) the archangel Michael, casting Satan out of heaven (Rev. 12:7-12); (5) the offspring of the woman, persecuted by the dragon (Rev. 12:13-17); (6) the beast out of the sea, the future world dictator (Rev. 13:2-10); (7) the beast out of the earth, the false prophet (Rev. 13:11-18). These chapters do not advance the narrative chronologically, but present events and situations that are concurrent with the soundings of the trumpets. Chronological progress of events resumes in Rev. 16:1-21.

1. The First Personage: A Woman Clothed With The Sun (Rev. 12:1-2)

The first great personage to appear was a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars on her head. She was called a great and wondrous sign (sēmeion mega, lit., “a great sign”; cf. Rev. 13:13). Undoubtedly the sign provoked wonder, as indicated in the KJV and NIV, but the translation “a great sign” (NASB) is more accurate, since John did not use the Greek word for wonder (teras). This was the first of a series of events called “signs” or “miracles” (Rev. 12:3; 13:13-14; 15:1; 16:14; 19:20). As signs they were symbols of something that God was about to reveal and usually contained an element of prophetic warning. Though this sign was seen in heaven, the events which followed obviously occurred on earth.

The woman symbolized Israel, as indicated by Gen_37:9-11, where the sun and the moon referred to Jacob and Rachel, Joseph’s parents. The stars in the woman’s crown clearly related to the 12 sons of Jacob and identified the woman as Israel fulfilling the Abrahamic Covenant.

Hosea Chapter 1

The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. Hos. 1:1

word of the... "The word of the Lord" is used three times (Hos. 1:1, 1:2; 4:1).

came unto Hosea... Hosea, salvation. The only man whose name is spelled this way (Hos. 1:1-2). He is called Osee in Rom. 9:25.

son of Beeri... Jewish tradition identifies Beeri with Beerah of Reuben (1Ch. 5:6). Christian tradition makes Hosea of the tribe of Issachar.

in the days... Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.

Hosea was a prophet to the 10-tribe kingdom, but he had warnings for Judah also. He prophesied in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam, king of Israel. The period must have been at least 72 years, for if he prophesied during the last 2 years of Jeroboam, there would be 38 years in the rest of the time of Uzziah’s reign to be counted, besides 16 years of Jotham’s reign and 16 years of Ahaz’s reign (making a total of 72 years); this would not include any time of his prophesying in the reign of Hezekiah (Hos. 1:1). The book of Hosea points to the imminent destruction of the 10 tribes and the fall of Samaria (predicted in Hos. 13:16), which took place in the 6th year of Hezekiah. The book is quoted in the N.T. in Mat. 2:15; 9:13; 12:7; Rom. 9:25-26; 1Cor. 15:55; 1Pet. 2:5, 2:10.

Hosea's Wife and Children

The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD. Hos. 1:2

said to Hosea... Hosea claimed that God spoke by him.

Go, take unto... Twenty-six Commands in Hosea

1. Go, take a wife of whoredoms (Hos. 1:2).

2. Call his name Jezreel (Hos. 1:4).

3. Call her name Lo-ruhamah (Hos. 1:6).

4. Call his name Lo-ammi (Hos. 1:9).

5. Say to your brethren, Ammi; and to your sisters, Ru-hamah (Hos. 2:1).

6. Plead with your mother (Hos. 2:2).

7. Let her put away her whoredoms.

8. Go yet, love a woman beloved by her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of God for Israel (Hos. 3:1).

9. Hear the word of the Lord (Hos. 4:1).

10. Let not Judah offend (Hos. 4:15).

11. Come not to Gilgal.

12. Do not go up to Beth-aven.

13. Do not swear, the Lord liveth.

14. Let him alone (Hos. 4:17).

15. Hear this, O priests (Hos. 5:1).

16. Hearken, you house of Israel.

17. Give ear, O house of the King.

18. Blow the trumpet in Gibeah (Hos. 5:8).

19. Blow the trumpet in Ramah.

20. Cry aloud at Beth-aven.

21. Let us return to the Lord (Hos. 6:1).

22. Set the trumpet to the mouth (Hos. 8:1).

23. Rejoice not, O Israel (Hos. 9:1).

24. Sow to yourselves in righteousness.

25. Return to the Lord, O Israel (Hos. 14:1).

26. Take with you words and turn to the Lord: say to Him, Take away all iniquity (Hos. 14:2).

The prophet’s wife was a woman of the northern kingdom and was therefore regarded as an idolatress, being the child of people in a nation which had gone deep into idolatry. She became unfaithful to her husband, Hosea, as she was unfaithful to Jehovah (Hos. 2:1-13).

committed great whoredom... Whoredom referred to here not only meant backsliding from Jehovah, but included literal sex orgies and perversions in connection with idols, as we have seen through the historical books of the O.T.

So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son. Hos. 1:3

So he went... Three things the prophet did:

1. He went—he did not argue with God as Moses did (Exo. 4:18).

2. He took Gomer for his wife (Hos. 1:3).

3. He became a father, Gomer having borne him a son.

and took Gomer... Gomer means completion; that is, filling up the measure of idolatry.

In the course of prophesying he made mention of this person, who was a notorious common strumpet; and suggested hereby that they were just like her; or these were fictitious names he used to represent their case by Gomer signifies both "consummation" and "consumption".

The meanings of the people’s names are very important in this. The name "Gomer" means completion. This means then, that God has sent them final warning. They have gone too far, with their unfaithfulness to God. "Diblaim" means two cakes. If we put the names together, we would see that the woman was a pleasure, but not a true wife as she was full of sin. Thank goodness the son here is Hosea's son.

And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel. Hos. 1:4

And the LORD... The 1st prophecy in Hosea (Hos. 1:4, fulfilled). Next, Hos. 1:6.

Three Predictions—Fulfilled:

1. In a little while I will avenge the blood of Jezreel (Hos. 1:4; 2Ki. 9:16, 2Ki. 9:25, 9:33; 10:11, 10:14-30).

2. I will cause the kingdom of Israel to cease (the ten tribes, Hos. 1:4; 2Ki. 17:1-41).

3. I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel (Hos. 1:5; 2Ki. 18:11).

Call his name... Jezreel, God will scatter or sow. The name of Hosea’s first son. The meaning was that God would scatter Israel and sow them in all lands; and when His purpose for this was complete He would again sow them in their own land (Hos. 2:22-23).

I will avenge... It was at the city of Jezreel where Jehu slaughtered the house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:7 – 10:28).

house of Jehu... Jehu had carried out God’s judgment on the house of Ahab; then he went into the same sins for which he had judged Ahab (2Ki. 10:31-36). This total destruction of the house of Ahab is called "the day of Jezreel" (Hos. 1:11). It was an appropriate picture of the terrible destruction in the day of the Lord and Armageddon.

He is to be a reminder that God will judge the house of Jehu for the bloodshed in Jezreel, when the kingdom was wrested from Ahab and Jezebel and God’s judgment was poured out against them (2 Kings Chapter 9) as above.

cause to cease... Looks forward to the exile of Israel to Assyria in 722 B.C., from which she never returned.
House of Israel... Israel means prince with God, or he will rule as God. "Jehu" means Jehovah is He. The blood of Jezreel that was to be avenged probably had to do with Ahab and Jezebel, who were severely punished for their evil deeds. This is saying that God will remove the house of Israel from their kingdom.
In Isaiah, God named Isaiah's children for what was going on in the country at the time. This is true here as well. God named these children to reveal an extra message to the people.

And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel. Hos. 1:5

break the bow... The bow was a common euphemism denoting military strength, the principal instrument of warfare in Israel. Fulfillment came in 722 B.C. when Assyria invaded.

valley of Jezreel... Jezreel, called Esdraelon, extends 10 miles in breadth from the Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea, near Carmel; it was the great battlefield (see Rev. 16:14-16), adjoining the Valley of Megiddo, which will become an avenue of blessing (verse 11), when Christ returns in triumph.
The bloodshed of Jezreel would “reoccur” in the house of Jehu, and his dynasty would come to a violent end, just as Ahab’s did. This happened (in 752 B.C.; 2 Kings 15:10).
This valley of Jezreel has been the location of many battles. This is the very same place, where Gideon defeated the Midianites as above. We see in this Scripture above, that this is to be the location of Israel's defeat as well. "The breaking of the bow" shows their helplessness in battle.

God told Hosea that the demise of Jehu’s dynasty was to be accompanied by the downfall of the Northern Kingdom. In a display of poetic justice the Lord would break Israel’s bow in the Valley of Jezreel, the site of Jehu’s sin. Breaking the bow refers to the destruction of the nation’s military might (cf. 1Sa. 2:4; Psm. 46:9; Jer. 49:35).

The general fulfillment of this prophecy came in 734-722 b.c. when the Assyrians overran Israel and reduced it to a province within their empire (2Ki. 15:29; 17:3-5). The Jezreel plain in particular was probably conquered in 733 b.c. by Tiglath-Pileser III. This valley, which had been the scene of a great military victory under Gideon (Jdg. 6:33; 7:1-25), again became a symbol of national disgrace and defeat, as it had been after Saul’s death (1Sa. 29:1, 29:11; 31:1-13).

And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away. Hos. 1:6

And she conceived... The 2nd prophecy in Hosea (Hos. 1:6-7, fulfilled). Next, Hos. 1:9.

Five Predictions—Fulfilled:

1. I will have mercy on the house of Israel no more (Hos. 1:6).

2. I will utterly take them away (Hos. 1:6; 2Ki. 17:1-41).

3. I will have mercy on the house of Judah (Hos. 1:7).

4. I will save the house of Judah.

5. I will not save them by carnal means.

Call her name... Lo-ruhamah, I will have mercy no more, or I will not have compassion (Hos. 1:6; cp. Rom. 9:25; 1Pet. 2:10).

no more have... This was literally fulfilled. The ten-tribe kingdom was never restored and never will be, as such, again. God did utterly take them away and only those who clung to Judah and all the kingdom of David were restored with them as a nation; the rest were completely destroyed. God did have mercy on the house of Judah and they were restored (Hos. 1:7).

Lo-ruhamah... Literally “not pitied,” this daughter is named to symbolize God bringing judgment on Israel, no longer extending His favor towards them.

The "she", in the verse above, is speaking of Hosea's wife. Perhaps the reason this child is a female, is to show that not only the males in Israel are guilty of spiritual adultery and deserve to be punished, but the females as well. The name "Lo-ruhamah" means not pitied. This name tells us that God will not pity these evil people, (Israel). He will let them go into captivity to punish them for their spiritual adultery (worship of false gods).

But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen. Hos. 1:7

I will have... God chose to intervene on behalf of Hezekiah when Jerusalem was besieged at the hands of the Assyrians (in 701 B.C.; 2 Kings Chapter 19; Isaiah Chapter 37).

This is just saying that Judah will not be overrun by Assyria.
and will save...They will be spared from this, because they have not been as unfaithful to God as Israel (10 tribes), has been. They would be taken captive, but not by Assyria, and not until over 100 years later. They had a few godly leaders, and Israel did not. They will not be saved in battle; they will be saved from battle.
and will not... Judah will not have to depend on weapons to save them. God will save them. Perhaps this refers to the battle where Sennacherib, king of Assyria, lost 185,000 men in one night (2 Kings 19:35). The angel of the Lord killed them. God won the battle for Judah. This was during the reign of Hezekiah. This is the very same army that had overrun Israel (10 tribes), and defeated them.

The light of God’s grace shines through the gloom of impending judgment. Judah, the Southern Kingdom, in contrast with Israel, would experience the Lord’s love in the form of deliverance from the Assyrians. This would not be accomplished through human military might (symbolized by the bow, sword, etc.), but by the Lord’s intervention. This promise was fulfilled in 701 b.c. when God supernaturally annihilated 185,000 soldiers in the powerful Assyrian army in one night thereby ending its campaign against Judah (2Ki. 19:32-36).

Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son. Hos. 1:8

That is, when Gomer had weaned her daughter (Hosea 1:6).

she conceived, and... According to Kimchi, as the weaning of Lo-ruhamah points at the times of weakness, from Zachariah the son of Jeroboam to the times of Pekahiah, when the reigns were short and troublesome. So this son she conceived and bore represents the state of the nation in the times of Pekah; who reigned twenty years, and was too powerful for the kingdom of Judah, slew multitudes of them, and carried others captive, and assisted Rezin king of Syria against Ahaz king of Judah.
This period of time represented by the time she was weaning this baby is showing God waited for the punishment, to see if they would repent. Mothers generally nurse their babies about two years, so this was an interval of about two years. God did not want to punish His people, but He could not let them continue worshipping false gods.
The third child, a son, was named Lo-Ammi, which means not My people. In the ancient covenant formula God declared, “I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people” (Lev. 26:12; cf. Exo. 6:7; Deut. 26:17-18). But now that relationship was to be severed.

Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. Hos. 1:9

Call his name... Lo-ammi means “Not My People”, indicating to the Israel of his day that they were not the Lord’s people, and that the Lord was not their God. This should in no sense be understood as an annulment of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 12:1-3), an unconditional covenant depending solely upon God for its fulfillment.

I will not... Literally “I am no longer ‘I Am’ to you.” The phrase gives the breaking of the covenant, a kind of divorce formula, in contrast to the covenant or marriage formula “I AM WHO I AM” given in Exodus 3:14.
In this, God had divorced them. He no longer wanted them as His wife. They were unfaithful. The name "Lo-ammi" means not my people. Because of their unfaithfulness to be His, He will no longer be their God. He will not overrule their will and be their God. There is a lesson in this for us. We must, of our own free will, invite God to be our God.

The last clause of Hos. 1:9 (I am not your God) is literally, “and I [am] not I AM (’ehyeh) to you.” The statement probably alludes to God’s words to Moses, “I am (’ehyeh) who I am (’ehyeh). This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM (’ehyeh) has sent me to you” (Exo. 3:14). “I AM,” which is closely related to the divine name Yahweh, points to God as the covenant Lord of Israel who watches over and delivers His people (cf. Exo. 3:16-17). However, through Lo-Ammi the Lord announced that Israel would no longer experience His special saving presence.

Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. Hos. 1:10

Regardless of being cut off they would eventually multiply to be great in Christ when all Israel will be saved (Zech. 12:1-13:1; Rom. 11:25-29) and be gathered (Hos. 1:11; Isa. 11:10; Eze. 37:1-28) and would again be called the children of God. That time is yet future; the prediction will be fully fulfilled at the second coming of Christ (Mat. 24:31).

Yet the number... A reaffirmation of the Abrahamic Covenant, not to be fulfilled in this generation but in the future (Gen. 22:17).

Ye are not... (quoted by Paul in Romans 9:26).
This speaks of a time, when God will forgive them, and take them back as His wife. God is faithful to keep every promise He ever made.
shall be as... He had promised Abraham that his seed would be as the sand of the sea, and He will do it. The punishment that Israel suffers is to make them repent and return to God. In Jesus Christ, God makes a way of restoration for His people. To become sons of God, we must receive Jesus Christ as our Savior.
John 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:"
Romans 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."

Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel. Hos. 1:11

Then shall the... Then—when Judah and Israel will become sons of the living God, they will be completely gathered (Hos. 1:10-11).

be gathered together... The fact that both kingdoms of Israel were to be gathered proves that both were to be scattered. At this time neither kingdom had been defeated or scattered. About 72 to 90 years after this the 10 tribes were scattered (2Ki. 17:1-41), and 133 years later Judah was scattered (2 Ki. 23-25). Both were gathered after the 70 years of Judah in Babylon (that is, Judah was gathered and those of the 10 tribes who desired to return with her) and both made a nation in the land in the days of Christ. Then in A.D. 70 they were scattered again (Luke 21:20-24). Now they are both being gathered in part and will continue in national restoration as a nation until the second coming of Christ who will gather them fully from all parts of the earth (Isa. 11:10-12; Eze. 37:1-28; Mat. 24:31).

themselves one head... This predicts the reunion of all the tribes of Israel again as one nation ruled by one king (Eze. 37:1-28). One head (refers to messiah; compare 3:5).

day of Jezreel... Here used positively in the sense of divine blessing (compare 2:22).
This is looking far into the future, until the time when Jesus is the head of both. The mention of Jezreel here, is speaking of the same place we call the valley of Armageddon. This will be the time when Jesus will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. This is also, the same thing spoken of as the two sticks that come together in Ezekiel chapter 37. The following Scriptures explain it very well.
Romans 11:25-27 "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:" "For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins."