Revelation 12-14

Jesus Christ is The Firstborn of Salvation, the first of the firstfruits (listen to the Sermon Pentecost: The People of God from our Sermons page). The true Church of God (see What Is The Church?) is sometimes referred to as a woman because it is from the Church that the Children Of God will be born (see Spiritual Conception and Born Again, How and When?).

The two "women" described in this chapter are Mary, the physical mother of Jesus, the Christ being the "first of the firstfruits" ("^12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne") and also the Church as a whole, everywhere on earth, of which Mary the mother of Jesus is included because she was a normal human, no different than any other ("^12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ").

"^12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven [see Heavens Below, Heavens Above]; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: ^12:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth [see Travail], and pained to be delivered.

^12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon [see Dragons], having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. ^12:4 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. ^12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne [see What Is Jesus Christ Doing Right Now?]. ^12:6 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.

^12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, ^12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. ^12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth [see The Fall Of The Light Bringer; also Satan's Throne], and his angels were cast out with him.

^12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. ^12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb [see Why Blood?], and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. ^12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

^12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth [see Who Still Rules The World Today?], he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. ^12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle [see Eagles], 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. ^12:15 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. ^12:16 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. ^12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God [see Do You Know Him?], and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Revelation 12:1-17 KJV)

Revelation Chapter 13

The relationship described in Revelation chapter 13, that of a powerful military dictator and a powerful religious fraud, has already existed for centuries (see Emperors and Popes). The only difference is the great Satanic miraculous power that they will have in the end time, "miracles" that will deceive most of the world into hating true Christians and trying to fight Christ at His return (see War With The Lamb). The two men who will occupy the role of "beast" and the "great false prophet" will be incinerated by Christ: "^19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. ^19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone" (Revelation 19:19-20 KJV).

The last great military Emperor will be the "beast" (keeping in mind that the Papacy will be "at one" with, and as, the "beast" - again see Emperors and Popes):

"^13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. ^13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. ^13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. ^13:4 And they worshipped the dragon [see Satan's Throne] which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

^13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. ^13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. ^13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints [see What Is A Saint?], and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. ^13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

^13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear. ^13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints." (Revelation 13:1-10 KJV)

The papacy (see The Little Big Horn):

"^13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. ^13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed [see Ancient Empires - Rome]. ^13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, ^13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. ^13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. ^13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: ^13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

^13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six [see The Mysterious 666]." (Revelation 13:11-18 KJV)

Revelation Chapter 14

Salvation is freely available to all of humanity, as plainly stated, along with the 144,000 "^7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands" (Revelation 7:9 KJV); that is what true Zionism means. The 144,000 are merely a part of those firstfruits of salvation, those who will come from the tribes of Israel (the tribe of Dan will not be included, yet); as Israelites, the 144,000 and will serve The Lord at Jerusalem.

"^14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion [see Zionism], and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. ^14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: ^14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. ^14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. ^14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God [see also The City To Come]" (Revelation 14:1-5 KJV)

The fall of Babylon (the military, political and religious systems of confusion - Babylon literally means confusion) will then come:

"^14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, ^14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment [see When Will You Be Judged?] is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

^14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. ^14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, ^14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: ^14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. ^14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

^14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." (Revelation 14:6-13 KJV)

The Return Of Jesus Christ will also be the time of the first resurrection (see To Meet The Lord In The Air).

"^14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man [see Behold, He Cometh With Clouds], having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle [see The Sword and Sickle]. ^14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. ^14:16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

^14:17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. ^14:18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. ^14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. ^14:20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs." (Revelation 14:14-20 KJV)

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