An Important Preface
Good morning everyone. I have been viewing videos on YouTube discussing The Sign mentioned at Revelation Chapter 12. Some of the Creators of these presentations have attempted to connect the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017.
It is NOT that "The Bible" says at Revelation Chapter 12 a certain thing. The Bible does not say anything with reference to Revelation Chapter 12. Why do I say that? Because out of all of the books within this compilation called "The Bible," the one called "The Book of Revelation is unique from the others. Why? Because if one reads from Revelation 1:1-2 we see who the author is. It reads:
The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Notice that what is called The Book of Revelation really should be called, "The Revelation FROM Jesus Christ Which God Gave Him." This tells us that this entire document is a Revelation by Jesus Christ that GOD GAVE HIM! Therefore, The Most High God is the originator of this message and He gave it to His Son who, in turn, made it known to The Apostle John through his angel.
Thus, we know who the author of "The Revelation From Jesus Christ Which God Gave Him" is. It is The Most Hogh God! The Author is not The Apostle John (he just wrote it down like a Secretary taking dictation); the author is not Jesus Christ, as he is simply God's Spokesman (Word of God); the author is The Most High God Himself.
No other book within the compilation of this book called "The Bible" can claim this.
So it is a mistake for anyone to say with reference to "The Revelation From Jesus Christ Which God Gave Him, that "The Bible" says this or the "The Bible" says that. We must identify specifically who is speaking. And, with reference to "The Revelation From Jesus Christ Which God Gave Him," it is The Most High God speaking through His Son, not "The Bible,"
Again, it is a mistake to attribute to a book title, what God Himself has spoken through His Son.
For the sake of brevity, I will refer to "The Revelation From Jesus Christ Which God Gave Him," in this article as "The Book of Revelation."
What Is The Sign of Revelation Chapter 12?
To identify this sign, it is important to understand that The Most High God through His Son refers to a single event seen in heaven - a sign.
One must listen very carefully to the individuals and religious organizations when they discuss this. Why? Because many of them will use sleight of hand (sleight of speech) and use the expression "signs" (plural) interchangeably with "sign" in their discussions. Yet, we are looking at a single event here seen in heaven. Understanding what that single event is, is key to understanding what we are looking at with reference to Revelation Chapter 12.
If one were to turn to Matthew 24:1-3, they would read about a discussion Jesus was having with his disciples. They asked him three very probing questions. Those questions - and the answer Jesus gives them - is key to understanding what we are looking at with reference to Revelation Chapter 12. Notice what they ask him ...
Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
They wanted to know three things:
- When will the temple (Solomons Temple) be destroyed?
- What would be "the sign" of his return? (The beginning of a new age)
- When will be the end of the age? (Notice that this is linked to question number 2)
Jesus' disciples rightly asked him for "a sign" of his return and the end of the age because they knew that once he would leave them and re-take his place in the heavenly realm next to his Father, they would never see him again. So, they wanted to know what to look for that would be a signal to them that he has returned and that the end of the age has occurred.
Now one must think very carefully. His disciples have been dead for nearly two-thousand years. So, how would they be able to see a sign or anything else? Answer: They were not expecting to. The reason why they were interested was that they understood that at Christ's coming, they would be resurrected from the dead into a new age, the very same one they wanted to know would end. (The current age - world of mankind - long gone).
Don't miss this! Christ's disciples - and billions of others who have lived and died since there has been a world of mankind - will be resurrected into a new world on the earth. (John 5:28-29)
Jesus' disciples wanted to know what would be the sign of their Master's return because that would mean that they would receive the promised resurrection into his one-thousand-year Kingdom on the earth and be in it until it ends and Satan is released from his Abyssing. (Revelation 20:6-8)
So the end of the age mentioned at Matthew 24:3 is not the end of the current world we live in, but the end of a future one-thousand-year Kingdom by Christ that will end. As you read on, you will see this become glaringly clear. So please bear with me.
So, Jesus' disciples ask him - and I paraphrase - "What single event will occur that will signal your return (the beginning of a new age) and when will that age end."
Jesus answers their question. The answer is not what we see mentioned about there being great deception, the coming of false Messiahs, wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, famines, and earthquakes. These are "multiple" events. Besides Jesus tells his disciples that these things will happen BUT are all "The beginning of birth pains." Interesting! Who or what is about to give birth? I'll back to that because it ties into the sign at Revelation Chapter 12. But first, let's look at the answer Jesus gives his disciples to question they asked at Matthew 24:3 about "the sign."
At Matthew 24:30, Jesus answers his disciples' question about "the sign" and "end of the age." Understanding this answer will assist in identifying who this pregnant Woman is at Revelation Chapter 12. Jesus answers ...
Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.
These words from the Master are loaded with clues that identify what that sign is. First, notice where this sign is seen! It is seen in heaven! This is where many get stumbled (and the Devil has taken advantage of this to mislead many). Is Jesus saying here that people on earth will look up and see this sign? No! He is telling us that this sign will be seen "in heaven," that is, only by those who reside in heaven. (This is not about astrological signs and this is where Satan has misled so many).
No one on earth will see this event (the sign) because it will only be witnessed by those who reside in the heavenly realm. Who resides there? Angels, and that includes Satan. You will see why in the next few paragraphs why only those who reside in heaven can be the only possible ones to see or witness this sign.
The next clue is that we see that this sign is the sign of "The Son of Man in heaven." This tells us that Christ had indeed ascended and is in heaven and that this sign is related only to him.
The third clue is in the manner in which The Son of Man comes or returns. He comes on the clouds of heaven (not clouds of the earth) and with power and great glory.
That Christ comes on the clouds of heaven mean that he will never be seen with the physical eye again. No one on earth can see the clouds of heaven other than those who reside there. Additionally, clouds in the Bible are almost always associated with invisibility. If something is in a cloud, it is cloaked. You cannot see it.
More On Clouds
The Most High God, whom no man can see and yet live, symbolizes his presence by a cloud. At Mount Sinai, at the time of giving the Law to Israel, a dark cloud covered the mountain; out of the cloud came lightnings and thunder, the blare of a trumpet, and a loud voice. ((Exod 19:16-19; 24:15; Heb 12:18, 19)
The Most High God sent an angel in a cloud as “his own personal messenger” to lead Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness. (Isa 63:9)
When Jesus ascended into heaven, according to the record, “a cloud caught him up from their vision.” (Acts 1:9) The disciples did not see Jesus riding away on a cloud, but rather, the cloud obscured their vision of him. This helps us to understand Jesus’ words concerning his return: "And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory,” and Revelation’s statement: “He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him.” (Luke 21:27; Matt 24:30; Rev 1:7)
The "seeing" here is a seeing with ones mental “eyes.” It is a realization that Christ has invisibly returned. It would not make sense for his disciples to ask for "a sign" if they knew they would see him again.
A fourth and most revealing clue at Matthew 24:30 that zeros in on what "the sign" or single event that occurs in heaven is, is that The Son of Man comes "invisibly" with "power and great" glory.
At present, The Christ sits at his Father's right side - waiting - until his Father subdues Christ's enemies and makes them a "footstool" for his feet. Then Christ is made a King over the earth. This has not occurred yet. (1 Peter 3:22 and Psalms 110:1)
Note: A solar eclipse is a visible event seen FROM EARTH and those who live on earth, so it has nothing to do with "the sign" Jesus gives, Additionally, ALL on the earth are not mourning over that event or associating it with Christ's return, are they?That The Son of Man comes on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory means that he returns as a King! So, what is "the sign?"
The sign is Christ's coronation as King in heaven. It will be a glorious event and all of the angels - to include Satan - will be in attendance. The Most High God will give Christ his crown and Kingdom over the earth. This event will not be witnessed or seen by anyone on earth.
Now, it is time to look at Revelation Chapter 12.
The Sign Mentioned Again At Revelation Chapter 12
At the outset, we are told at Revelation Chapter 12 that a great sign "was seen in heaven." This is the exact same thing we read at Matthew 24:30.
Revelation 12:1 speaks of a pregnant woman (in heaven) arrayed with the sun, with the moon breathe her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
Notice at Matthew 24:8, Jesus mentions the physical events on earth such as wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, false Messiahs, and such is the "beginning of birth pains."
Now, at Revelation 12:1-2 we see this pregnant woman about to give birth to something. No one is going to be looking up in the sky and seeing a literal pregnant woman or celestial bodies representing such. There is much more here. Read on.
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.
Revelation 12:3-4 speaks of another sign seen in heaven. Another sign is seen in heaven? Again, no one on earth is going to be looking up and seeing a literal red dragon. Notice where Satan is. He is not on earth, but in heaven. There is much more here. Read on.
Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth , so that it might devour her child the moment he was born.
Revelation 12:5 says that the woman will give birth to a Son, a male, and he will rule all of the nations of people (not countries because they will be gone) with an iron scepter. Who carries a scepter? A King! A scepter is a symbol of sovereignty.
She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.”And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.
Let's tie Revelation 12:1-5 together and I will explain what all of this is. This pregnant woman in heaven who is about to give birth to a Son is God's Kingdom in Heaven. It is the very same Kingdom Jesus' taught his disciples to pray for to come down to the earth at Matthew 6:10.
God's Kingdom (represented by the woman) is about to give birth to a Son, a male child. The male Son is Christ's Kingdom! This is the Kingdom God promised to give his Son over the earth. That Kingdom over the earth is most necessary in order for Christ to finish the work of his Father, to finish the seventh day. (Notice in the Genesis account each day was completed except the seventh day. The completion of that day involves the restoration of all mankind to their Creator, the destruction of Satan, and the end of death. I digress).
Christ's Kingdom comes out of God's Kingdom in heaven. It gives birth to his Kingdom. Christ's Kingdom will be a "definite" Kingdom "over the earth" lasting only for one-thousand years.
Satan knows the impact that Christ's Kingdom will have over the earth if it is allowed to have rulership over it. He knows that it will eventually mean his destruction for all time. He also knows that Christ's Kingdom will usher in an even greater Kingdom, God's everlasting and indefinite Kingdom.
This Great Dragon (The Serpent) - the one called Devil and Satan - does not want God's Kingdom to produce Christ's Kingdom over the earth and that is why we see him standing before God's Kingdom - yes, he is right there - waiting for Christ's Kingdom to be produced so that he can destroy it.
Keep in mind that all of this will be occurring in heaven out of the eyesight and earshot of humans on the earth. The Dragon's - who is a very powerful and influential angel in heaven - intends to destroy "The Child" by inciting the other angels to rebel against its establishment. (We see a war later occurring in heaven about this, do we not?
At Revelation 12:6 we see God's Kingdom "The Woman," "fleeing" to the wilderness. What does this mean? Does it mean that God's Kingdom runs away out of fear for the Great Dragon? No, it is telling us that God's Kingdom (The Woman) stands back or stands afar and allows her child (who is King) to go to battle with the Great Dragon. God's Kingdom (The Woman) will not intervene in this battle because her child has been empowered and is fully capable of going to battle against the Great Dragon. The reference to the Woman being "taken care of" means that her Son will defend her. That is, Christ as King will defend the establishment of God's Kingdom on the earth. Christ will have been given all authority to do so.
In fact, God's Kingdom will stand out of the way and not interfere or intervene in the affairs of the newly installed King for 1260 years. (You will see this referenced as one-thousand years in The Book of Revelation)
The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.
This what we next see occurring. A war. A war not on earth, but in heaven.
Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
I will go into the rest of the Revelation Chapter 12 in later posts I will cover the entire book of revelation in great detail. I guarantee you that no one is speaking of this book in the manner that I am. No one! I am NOT saying that I have it all figured out (but most of it) and I believe that I am more on target than anyone I have heard speak or write on the topic. I see an entirely different future scenario emerging than what has been traditionally explained about The Book of Revelation. It makes sense and falls in line with what Christ taught about why he was dispatched into the world of mankind in the first place. I believe that The Book of Revelation should be a standalone book completely detached from the Bible itself. Why? Because it is the only book within the compilation that tells us at the outset who the author is. There is no guessing, "The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place."God is the author. It is His revelation. He gave it to His Son. (Revelation 1:1)
A Commentary on a Video On YouTube from the Mark Correll Ministries discussing "The Sign of Revelation 12"
This video can be found on YouTube. Mr. Correll attempts to give an explanation of the sign found at Revelation Chapter 12 and it is riddled with gross inaccuracies and he utilizes astrological signs and Greek and Roman mythology to explain it.
Mr. Correll says that the Woman is the literal nation of Israel today. Then he says the moon is Israel. I can tell you before Christ takes Kingdom power over the earth there will be no countries on the earth, they will be gone. Christ will not share his Kingdom with the Kingdoms of men. (Dan 2:44)
Mr. Correll says something big is going to happen on September 23, 2017 (even hinting that Christ might return on that date or the so-called rapture but play it safe). Well, September 23 came and went without event. There are many persons claiming to follow Christ have fallen for these false prophecies.
Mr. Correll is coming up with these dates using a modern calendar (Gregorian) to an ancient time when no such calendar existed. Sleight of hand.
Mr. Correll states that there are three Archangels - Michael, Beelzebub, and Gabriel - this is not true. There can only be one Chief or Archangel - as the word implies - and it is Michael. Nowhere do we read of Gabriel or any other angel being an archangel. He is in error. EVERY reference in Scripture concerning Archangel is with Michael. I challenge anyone to show where Gabriel and Beelzebub are mentioned as Archangels.
Mr. Correll says that the 12 stars are literal heavenly bodies. No! The stars are angels. We see this at Revelation 1:20.
The issue I have with many of these so-called proclaimers of being Christ's followers: "Why are you trying to pinpoint a time, day, and/or year of Christs return? You cannot possibly be that arrogant or godlike to think that you can figure out or know something that Christ (the one you claim to follow) himself says you cannot possibly know? He said that even he does not know when he is going to return and neither do the angels. Only the Father in heaven knows this. So, why would you arrogate yourself to think yourselves so intelligent or wise to know these things? Why have you not listened to the Master at Matthew 24:36, Matthew 24:42 and Acts 1:7?
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