MUHAMMED (S) IN REVELATION 12 (2017)

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   Your are just reading into this verse and all the other Muslim commentators what your imagination twists for you.

What is this verse sayng ? �The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:� (Rev. 1:1)

Notice it says servants � plural. With an �S�. nothing to signify Mohamad there !

You see that? It shows how you and Muslim commentators twist the scriptures to fit Mohamad. 

The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon 

A. The woman. 

1. (Rev 12:1) The woman is described in celestial images. 

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. 

a. Now a great sign appeared: This is the first of seven signs that John relates, and is described as a great sign (mega semeion). In Revelation chapters 12, 13, and 14 the main figures of the Great Tribulation are described, and this great sign introduces the first of the seven: 

- The woman, representing Israel - The dragon, representing Satan - The man-child, referring to Jesus - The angel Michael, head of the angelic host - The offspring of the woman, representing Gentiles who come to faith in the Tribulation - The beast out of the sea, representing the antichrist - The beast out of the earth, representing the false prophet who promotes the antichrist 

b. A woman clothed with the sun: Because John plainly says this is a sign, we don't expect this woman to appear literally on the earth. God will use this sign to communicate something to John and to us. Women often represent religious systems in Revelation. 

- Jezebel is associated with a religious system of false teaching (Revelation 2:20) - The Great Harlot is associated with false religion (Revelation 17:2) - The Bride is associated with the church (Revelation 19:7-8) 

c. The woman clothed with the sun in this passage has been associated with many different religious ideas. Roman Catholics claim this woman is Mary, pictured as the "Queen of Heaven." Mary Baker Eddy said she was this woman. 

i. It is common in Roman Catholic art to represent Mary as standing on a crescent moon with twelve stars around her head. 

d. Scripturally, this woman clothed with the sun should be identified with Israel, according to Joseph's dream (Genesis 37:9-11). In that dream, the sun represents Jacob, the moon represents Joseph's mother Rachel, and the eleven stars are the sons of Israel which bow down to Joseph. In this sign with twelve stars, Joseph is now "among" the other tribes of Israel. 

i. In other Old Testament passages, Israel (or Zion or Jerusalem) is often represented as a woman (Isaiah 54:1-6, Jeremiah 3:20, Ezekiel 16:8-14, and Hosea 2:19-20). 

2. (Rev 12:2) The woman gives birth. 

Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. 

a. Being with child: Later in the chapter, it is clear that this child born of Israel is Jesus (She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, Revelation 12:5). 

b. She cried out in labor and in pain to give birth: The pain described refers to the travail of Israel at the time of Jesus' birth (under Roman occupation and oppression). 

B. The dragon. 

1. (Rev 12:3) A fearful, powerful dragon appears. 

And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 

a. Another sign appeared in heaven: Again, we are reminded that this is a sign. The creature here is not literally a great, fiery red dragon, but the dragon represents his nature and character. 

i. His description "symbolically suggests his fierce power and murderous nature � a picture of the fullness of evil in all its hideous strength." (Johnson) 

b. Seven diadems on his heads: This dragon has great power (seven heads and ten horns) and claims royal authority (seven diadems). The crowns represent his presumptive claims of royal authority against the true King. He wants to be considered a king. 

i. "From the similar description given in 13:1 and the parallel references in Daniel 7:7-8, 2, it is clear that the revived Roman Empire is in view � The seven heads and ten horns refer to the original ten kingdoms of which three were subdued by the little horn of Daniel 7:8, who is to be identified with the world ruler of the great tribulation who reigns over the revived Roman Empire." (Walvoord) 

2. (Rev 12:4) The dragon looks to the earth. 

His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 

a. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven: Many believe this describes one-third of the angelic host in league with Satan (his angels of Revelation 12:9). This army of angelic beings in league with Satan makes up the world of demonic spirits. 

i. "God never made an evil being; but He made angels, principalities, and powers capacitated for mighty joys and distinctions in His glorious domain, yet with free will, implied in the very creation of moral beings, which they could exercise for their everlasting weal or woe. Many have remained steadfast, to wit, 'Michael and his angels.' But some abode not in the truth, but revolted against the rule of Heaven, and became unchanging enemies of God and His Kingdom." (Seiss) 

b. To devour her Child as soon as it was born: The attempt to devour her Child was initially fulfilled by Herod's attempts to kill Jesus as a child (Matthew 2:16-18). It was also fulfilled throughout Jesus' life as Satan attacked Him (John 8:58 and Mark 4:35-41). 

C. The child. 

1. (Rev 12:5) Jesus' ministry is described by its earthly beginning and end. 

She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 

a. A male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: Clearly, this refers to Jesus Christ, the Messiah. He rules the world with a rod of iron (Psalm 2 and Revelation 19:15). 

b. She bore a male Child refers to Jesus' birth. Rule all nations with a rod of iron refers to the triumphant return of Jesus. By stating the "bookends" of Jesus' earthly work, John alludes to all that stands in between. 

i. "After a conflict with the Prince of this world, who came and tried Him, but found nothing in Him, the Son of the woman was taken up to heaven and sat on the right hand of God. Words can hardly be plainer than these." (Alford) 

c. This male Child is obviously Jesus. This means that the woman of Revelation 12:1 cannot be the church, because Jesus "gives birth" to the church, not the other way around. The woman must therefore either be Mary or Israel, the only two "women" who could have "given birth" to Jesus. The rest of Revelation 12 will demonstrate that this woman is Israel, not Mary. 

2. (Rev 12:6) The woman in the wilderness. 

Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. 

a. Then the woman fled into the wilderness: Persecuted by the dragon, the woman is protected by God in a prepared place for one thousand two hundred and sixty days 

i. This helps us to understand with certainty that the woman is Israel and not Mary. How could Mary possibly flee into the wilderness in this way? 

b. One thousand two hundred and sixty days: This reference to a three and one-half year period connects these events with the final seven years of the Daniel 9 prophecy. Since Revelation 12:5 describes the ascension of Jesus, and Revelation 12:6 describes yet-to-occur events in the 70th week of Daniel, between these two verses lies hundreds of years (our current period). This obvious "near-far" break in time is typical of prophecy. Daniel's seventy week prophecy has such a break (Daniel 9:24-27). 

c. Into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God: Some believe this place in the wilderness is the rock city of Petra, south of the Dead Sea. Reportedly, Christian businessmen have stocked the place with food and evangelistic tracts written in Hebrew. 

d. Prepared in the wilderness: Prepared uses the same ancient Greek word Jesus used in I go to prepare a place for you (John 14:2-3). This demonstrates that God's careful planning works on earth as well as in heaven. 

D. Conflict in heaven. 

1. (Rev 12:7-8) War between Michael and the dragon. 

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 

a. War broke out in heaven: At the mid-point of the great tribulation, God will turn the tide against Satan - first in heaven, then on earth. A battle will take place that will deny Satan access to heaven. 

b. Michael and his angels: Some individuals and groups (such as the Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses) insist on saying that Michael is actually Jesus. This is wrong on every count. 

i. Some say Michael must be Jesus, because he has his angels. But if Satan - a fallen angelic being - has his angels (Revelation 12:7), which can't Michael - an unfallen angelic being - have his angels? 

ii. Some say Michael must be Jesus, because his name means One like God. But if this were a title of Jesus, it could argue against His deity, not for it - because it would say that Jesus is like God, but not God. "There is also an unquestionable Godlikeness in all holy beings, which must be very exalted in those preeminent among the ministers of the throne." (Seiss) 

iii. Some say Michael must be Jesus, because he is called the archangel (Jude 9), which means leader or prince among the angels, and they say that only Jesus is the leader of the angels. But we know from Daniel 10:13, 10:20 and 10:21 that Michael is one angelic prince among others. Also, Paul refers to an archangel in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 in a way that presupposes other archangels. 

iv. Some say that Michael must be Jesus, because Paul says that at the rapture, the Lord will call His people with the voice of an archangel (1 Thessalonians 4:16). But Jesus can use an angel to call out for His people without being that angel, just as much as God can use a trumpet to sound out a call without being the trumpet. 

v. Jude 9 says that Michael would not rebuke or accuse Satan on His own authority, but only say "The Lord rebuke you." This shows that Michael isn't Jesus, because Jesus often rebuked Satan and demons in His own authority (Matthew 17:18, Mark 1:25, 9:25, Luke 4:8, 4:35). 

vi. "Michael is not to be identified with Christ, any more than any other of the great angels in this Book. Such identification here would confuse hopelessly the actors in this heavenly scene." (Alford)

Edited by 2Acts - 17 June 2017 at 11:19pm