Revelation 12 v 1 - 5 describes the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the saviour of Israel. It also describes the persecution of� Israel by the Romans.

Verses1/2

Verses 1 and 2 speak of a woman clothed with the sun, having the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars. Sun/moon/12 stars are used to symbolise Israel (Genesis 37 v 9), as is a woman e.g. Jeremiah 3. It will be suggested in the notes on Revelation 17 that the woman of Revelation chapter 12 is the same as the one which is spoken about there. Later in the notes on this chapter it will be proposed that the woman equates to Jerusalem and its inhabitants, and symbolises� Israel's attitude towards its God.

Verses 3/4

The dragon with 7 heads and 10 horns symbolises the 4 empires which occupied the land of Israel (Daniel 7 v 3 - 8, as the total number of heads and horns on the four beasts are 7 and 10).

Verses 1/4

Both signs/wonders (vs 1 and 3) are "in heaven", which is where God dwells (1 Kings 8 v 29,30). God dwelt among Israel (Exodus 29 v 45), dwells within the ekklesia (2 Corinthians 6 v 16) and dwells in Zion (Psalm 9 v 11). However, heaven is also used to describe the rulers in Israel and the earth their subjects. An example of this is Isaiah 1 v 2, which says �Hear O heavens, and give ear, O earth�. This is explained in verse 10 of the chapter when it says, �Hear ... ye rulers; give ear ... ye people�. It is suggested that heaven in Revelation chapter 12 describes the rulers over the land, which is where God ought to dwell, and changes from the habitation of the woman, to that of the dragon, and finally to that of Christ.

Verse 4

The stars which are cast down (v 4) are those in the woman's crown (v1) and their casting down symbolises the persecution of Israel. This act of the dragon equates to that of the "little" horn of Daniel 8 v 9,10, which represents the Roman Empire (as it grows out of one of the four divisions of the Greek Empire - Daniel 8 v 8, 21). The AV is confusing in that in both Daniel 7 v 8 and Daniel 8 v 9 it refers to a "little horn", however the words translated "little" in these cases are different. In Daniel 7 v 8 the AV translates the hebrew zehir as little, which may possibly refer to a short space of time. In Daniel 8 v 9 it translates the hebrew mitsirah as little, which usually describes a small size.

It will be proposed later that the beast in Revelation 13 and 17 is the "small time" horn of Daniel 7 (hence Revelation 17 v 10 - "he must continue a short space"). The "little" sized horn of Daniel 8 represents the fledgling Roman Empire, which is part of the dragon seen in Revelation 12.

Verse 5

Verse 5 speaks of the woman bringing forth a man child who is to rule the nations with a rod of iron (v 5), and could be understood to refer to Christ (19 v 15) or disciples (2 v 27). It is likely that the former is meant, because of the emphasis on it being a man child. Although Christ and his disciples are one body, Christ is portrayed as the bridegroom and the ekklesia as the bride.

The woman is clothed in the sun (v 1), which seems to signify the manifestation of Christ to Israel (sun - a symbol of Christ e.g. Malachi 4 v 2). She also has� the moon under her feet which symbolises the overcoming of the effects of the law. (Observance of the law was associated with doing certain things on set days of the month. The hebrew word for month is chodesh, which is derived from the word for renewing, i.e. the start of months are related to new moons). It is concluded that at the time described by the first part of Revelation chapter 12, the woman is associated with the new covenant and salvation in Christ (which unlike the law does not need continuous renewing).

Verse 5 quotes from Isaiah 66 v 7 "brought forth ... man child". In Isaiah 66 it is Zion (v 8) and Jerusalem (v 10) that brings forth, providing a further clue to the identity of the woman in Revelation 12. Isaiah 66 v 7 says that "before she travailed she brought forth", indicating that she still had to suffer after bringing forth, and this suffering is described in other parts of the Book of Revelation.

In what sense is Jesus Christ brought forth of Jerusalem? In view of the emphasis in the Book of Revelation on Jesus being the "first" and the "beginning" (see notes on chapter 1), it seems reasonable to understand this bringing forth in terms of Jesus being the first born from the dead (Colossians 1 v 18 ; first born = gk prototokos, tokos is related to the verb tikto, which is translated "to bring forth" in Revelation 12 v 5), as he was crucified at Jerusalem and arose from the dead there.

Verse 5

The child is caught up (greek harpazo) to God. This is a reference to the resurrection of� Christ (a similar use of harpazo occurs in 1Thessalonians 4 v 17 - caught up = harpazo).

Revelation 12 v 6 desribes what happens to the woman shortly before the return of Jesus Christ. As such, there is a large time period between the end of verse 5 and the beginning of verse 6.

Verse 6

The woman flees into the wilderness and is fed for 1260 days. This period of time ties in with Revelation 11 v 2, 3 (the 6th trumpet), which is a time when the Gentiles (the dragon) tread the holy city under foot and the 2 witnesses prophesy.

The greek word translated "feed" in verse 6 is the same as that rendered "nourish" in verse 14 (greek trepho).

What is the wilderness and how is the woman fed? The hebrew word translated "wilderness" in the Old Testament is midbar, which is derived from dabar (word). The relationship between the word of God and the wilderness is shown by Ezekiel 20 v 10, 11, "I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgements, which if a man do, he shall even live in them". It is concluded that the woman in the wilderness indicates a time when Israel is brought into contact with the word of God. The reference to feeding shows what God is doing at this stage. In Deuteronomy 8 v 15, 16 God says to Israel that he led them "through� that ... wilderness ... who fed thee in the wilderness ... that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee". The food that the woman is given is the word, and God is proving her with it to see if she will conform to it. A similar analogy is used in 1 Timothy 4 v 6, where Paul speaks of Timothy as a "good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine" (see also Deuteronomy 8 v 3).

During the 1260 days, the Book of Revelation indicates that the two witnesses (Revelation 11 v 3) speak the word and provide this food. This is why verse 6 says that �they should feed her�.

There is justification for understanding the 1260 days as encompassing the period in which the ten horns of Revelation 17 v 16 make the whore/woman "desolate and naked, and .. eat her flesh, and burn her with fire".� The reason for this is that the greek word translated "desolate" is eremoo, which is related to the greek word translated wilderness in Revelation 12 v 6, 14 (eremos). It is suggested that the desolation of Jerusalem in Revelation 17 v 16 and 18 v 17, 19 describes the last stages of the wilderness or desolate state referred to in Revelation chapter 12, after the testimony of the two witnesses has been rejected.
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[Note that the city's desolation comes upon her in one hour (Revelation 18 v 19), which is the time during which the ten horns receive their power - (Revelation 17 v 12).]
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Revelation 12 v 7 - 13 considers what happens at the time of the return of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of the faithful. It describes the consequences that this has for the dragon.

Verses 7/9

These verses speak of war in heaven. The mention of Michael (an archangel - Jude 9 ; also 1 Thessalonians 4 v 16) points to Daniel 12 v 1,� with the context of resurrection (12 v 2), an invader coming into the glorious land (11 v 41) and being overcome (11 v 45).

Verse 8

In Revelation 12 v 8 it says that "their place" was not "found any more in heaven", picking up the language of Daniel 2 v 35 and the destruction of the image of the kingdoms of men. (The toes of the image (Daniel 2 v 42) could equate to the ten kings who receive power with the beast [Revelation 17 v 12] and which are overcome by Christ - the lamb [v14]).

Verse 9

This verse says that the devil is cast out of heaven, which poses the question of what is meant by heaven in this instance. It was seen earlier on in the notes on chapters 4 and 5 that Heaven can have several related meanings. It is suggested that �heaven� in this instance describes the government of the land of Israel, the same as its meaning in Revelation 12 v 1, 3. This view is based on a consideration of Daniel 11 v 44 - 12 v 2 (see below), which has been seen to have a number of similarities to Revelation chapter 12.

Revelation 12 v 9 says that the dragon was cast out,� just like the king of Babylon was (Isaiah 14 v 12). He desired to inhabit Jerusalem (compare Isaiah 14 v 13 "sides of the north" with Psalm 48 v 2) and similarly,� it will be concluded in these notes that the dragon of Revelation chapter 12 invades� Jerusalem after being cast from Heaven and prior to being overcome by Christ. It is suggested that the casting out of the dragon from Heaven describes his displacement as the leading power in Israel due to the return of Christ and the resurrection of the faithful. These notes will now explore Daniel 11 v 44 - 12 v 1 in� more detail, which forms the basis for this view.

Revelation 12 v 12 quotes from Daniel 11 v 44, when it says that the devil comes down to the inhabiters of the earth �having great wrath�. Daniel 11 v 44 describes the King of the North going forth with great fury, however before that it says that �tidings out of the East and out of the North shall trouble him�. The mention of North and East (or literally rising (of the sun)) brings to mind Isaiah 41 v 25, which says

�I have raised one up from the North, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as morter, and as a potter treadeth clay�.

The notes on Revelation 16 v 12 will link this passage to the revelation of Christ and the saints. It is this manifestation of Christ which Revelation 12 v 7 seems to describe as �war in heaven�.

Daniel 11 v 45 - 12 v 1 then says:

�And he (the King of the North) shall plant the tabernacles� of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. And at that time shall Michael stand up ... (see Revelation 12 v 7)�.

Daniel 11 v 44, 45 suggests that the King of the North goes against the land of Israel and Jerusalem with wrath because of what is happening in the North and the East. The displacement of the dragon as the ruler over mankind or �war in heaven� causes the dragon to enter the land and persecute Jerusalem and the inhabitants of the land.

In Revelation 12 v 9 it says that the dragon was cast into the earth. Earth (greek ge) can stand for earth in a general sense or the land of Israel, and earlier in these notes it was suggested that the latter meaning should be adopted. It is suggested that the driving of the dragon from �Heaven� results in him persecuting the inhabitants of the land of Israel. See v 12 in this respect, where the devil "having great wrath" picks up on Daniel 11 v 44.

[Note: Revelation chapter 10 makes reference to Daniel chapter 12, as well as Revelation chapter 12 - see notes on that chapter.]

Verses 10/13

Statements in Revelation 12 v 10 equate to those of the 7th trumpet ("power" and "kingdom"� - see Revelation 11 v 17 "power" and "reign"). The 7th trumpet is described as the third woe (Revelation 11 v 14), a description� which is picked up in Revelation 12 v 12 ("woe").

Verse 13

Verse 13 says that "when the dragon saw he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child". The sequence of verses 10 - 12 suggests that salvation for the saints and the kingdom of God comes (v 10) prior to the final tribulation of the woman (v 13).

It is suggested that the chronological relationship between events in the Book of Revelation could be as follows:
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Verses 14 - 17 reiterate details in verse 6 and add further details.

Verses 14/17

Verse 14 picks up verse 6, with the emphasis shifting on to God's provision for Israel during their time of exile (1260 days can be equated to time, times and half a time, a suggested difference for the way the time period is represented is given in the section on chapter 11 vs 3/12).

Verse 15 speaks of a flood. From Isaiah 59 v 19 (note the context of the appearance of the redeemer - v 20) this can be equated to the invasion of an army. The manifestation of the serpent spoken about here is the beast, which is the dragon/serpent power which rules in the 1260/42 months/3 and a half times period - Revelation 13 v 5.

In verse 16 it says that the earth/land �opened her mouth and swallowed up the flood�. This statement draws on Numbers 16 v 32 when the earth �opened her mouth� and swallowed up the households of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, and indicates that the dragon�s forces are not permitted to persecute the woman as they would wish and that they suffer losses.
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In verse 17 the dragon makes war with the remnant of the woman's seed who have the testimony of Jesus. This verse helps identify the two witnesses of Revelation 11. In Revelation 11 v 7 the two witnesses give testimony, and the beast� makes war against them. It is concluded that the two witnesses are the remnant of the woman's seed who testify of Jesus. From earlier conclusions, it is seen that they testify to the woman.

In Revelation 11 v 17 the beast makes war against the witnesses and overcomes them. In Revelation 12 v 17 it is the dragon who makes war, and this is possibly a reference to the later clash that is recorded in Revelation 19 v 19, when Christ and his army makes war against the beast and his allies, and defeat them. If this is the case, then the swallowing up of the flood referred to in verses 15 - 16 may be a reference to losses suffered by the dragon during the vial period prior to its imprisonment at the start of the kingdom age - see notes on chapter 16

Verse 14

�Time, Times and half a time" (Revelation 12 v 14) picks up Daniel 7 v 25 which signifies when the dominion of the beast is taken away. Its mention here indicates that the events in verses 14 - 17 describe those immediately prior to the time when �the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High� (Daniel 7 v 27).

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