The portion of the Revelation which begins at chapter 12 and runs through chapter 14 is extremely important. It forms a parenthesis in the book--a revelation within the revelation--being entirely independent, separate from what precedes and what follows, though intimately related to it all. It is a series of explanatory visions, a sort of side-light on all the "future" portion (chapters 4-11 and 15-19 inclusive) of the Apocalypse. Here we have the stage-setting of the great drama of the Seals, the Trumpets, and the Bowls, the conditions and circumstances under which these judgments are sent forth from God. Here we see some of the agents and forces at work during that time, and get a view of the general situation in those days. This "parenthesis" is the background of the whole period from chapter 4:1 down to the destruction of the last hostile force by the Lord of lords and King of kings in chapter 19.

      It is of the highest importance to a proper understanding of the book that the parenthetical character of this portion of the Revelation should be recognized. Any attempt to bring these visions of chapters 12, 13, and 14 into direct connection and sequence with the rest violates the structure of the book and must cause confusion. The relation of these visions to what precedes and follows will be pointed out in the progress of our study.

      The first figure in chapter 12 is the Woman. That this vision is symbolic is not only self-evident but it is plainly declared; for we are told that this is a sign--"a great sign." Moreover, the sign is seen in heaven--in the spiritual sphere therefore. (That the real dwelling-place of God is not meant is evident from verse 5.) The woman is seen symbolically clothed with the sun; the moon was under her feet; and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. The interest centers upon the fact that the woman is with child, and is crying in pain and travail, at the point of being delivered.

      But another sign, a sign of sinister import, was also seen in heaven: a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns and upon his heads seven diadems. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon's one purpose is to destroy the woman's child as soon as it is born. [31]

      Follows the birth of the child:--"A son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron." But the dragon who lay in wait to destroy it is foiled of his desire: the child is caught up to God and to His throne.

      Thus briefly is a tremendous situation sketched before our eyes. What does it all mean? Who is the woman? Who the dragon? Who the child?

      As to the dragon, we are told outright in verse 9 that he is "the great dragon . . . the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world." That settles that. Let those whose exegetical troubles require it, try to make something else out of it: for us God's own explanation is good enough.

      Neither does the identity of that child give us much difficulty. There has never been but One to whom it was divinely allotted to rule the nations with a rod of iron. (Psalms 2:7-9.) But the promise made to Christ is by Himself extended to His faithful church (Revelation 2:26, 27)--which is His body. This mystic man-child is not simply the Child that was born at Bethlehem; but the Christ as including both Himself, the Head, and the Church His spiritual Body, which is one with Him. "For you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-29; 1 Corinthians 12:12, 27.) That Satan made every effort to destroy the child Jesus, personally, and that our Lord ascended to God and to His throne we know. We also know of Satan's continual attempt to destroy and corrupt the church of Christ, and the church's destiny to be "caught up" is also revealed. (1 Thessalonians 4:16f.)

      But the Woman? I will not take up good time and space reviewing all the guesses and surmises that have been offered. Only two "women" of scripture-symbology can come into consideration: Israel, Jehovah's wife, often so referred to in the Prophets (Jeremiah 3:14), and the church, the betrothed virgin-bride of Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2.) The choice lies between these two, and it is not difficult to decide which of the two is meant. It was not the Church that brought forth the man-child, of course; but of Israel, both ideally and literally, sprang Christ, as well as the church which is His body, which, in union with Him will rule the nations with the rod of iron. Israel brought forth the Christ and the church. Even the Gentile contingent sprang out of Israel's covenant-promise and stands till yet upon the root and fatness of her olive tree. (Ephesians 2:12; Romans 11:17, 18.)

      It must be noted that the Woman, who in verse 1 is ideally represented as seen in heaven, appears in verse 6 in humiliation, on the earth. But between verses 5 and 6 belongs the episode of the "war in heaven" (verses 7-13). Verse 14, then, resumes with the event of verse 6.

      The "war in heaven" breaks loose after the catching up of the Child to God's throne. "Michael and his angels" threw the dragon out of the sphere of heaven and down upon the earth, where, in great wrath, realizing that his time is short, he proceeds to do his worst. This marks the beginning of "the Great Tribulation"--a time of trouble unequalled in all the history of mankind--an inconceivably terrible statement.

      At this point the Revelation coincides with Daniel's prophecy: "At that time Michael the great prince who protects your people, will arise" (Daniel 12:1). What Michael does--Daniel does not tell us, except that he arises on behalf of Israel. Nor are we told in Daniel against whom he stands up--Revelation tells us all that. But in Daniel we learn what are the first consequences on the earth of Michael's heavenly warfare: "There will be a time of distress, such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time," and the further result: "and at that time your people [Israel] everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued" (Daniel 12:1).

      Now when Satan is cast out of heaven a great voice is heard in heaven announcing a great thing: "NOW the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ HAVE COME, [compare 11:17]. for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. [Compare Zechariah 3.] And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death."

      That is the hour of Israel's turning in spiritual victory; upon which Michael, their great angel, arises for them and thrusts Satan out of his high place of government which he held only so long as Israel was in national rejection. With Israel, now under the Blood, and faithfully, fearlessly holding forth the testimony, Christ the King of Israel begins to assume His authority and power for the rule of the earth; and in rage Satan prepares his final resistance to the King of kings and Lord of lords, who is about to come to claim His rights. "Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time." This is the cause of the "Great Tribulation."

      Let us now turn to see what Satan will do on the earth. His fury is first of all directed against the woman who had brought forth the Man-child--that is, against the nation of Israel. But though he can afflict, yet he finds himself unable to destroy the faithful nation. Now he resolves upon new tactics. This is his final, his supreme effort, his utmost stake, into which he throws all his resources--the master-stroke of Satan's cunning and power, the climax of all evil. [32]

      He takes his position on the sand of the sea, and, lo!--as if conjured forth by Satan's occult power--there arises out of the sea a beast, hideous and terrible of aspect.

      The Bible reader is not unfamiliar with the symbol of a beast. In Daniel's prophecy (Daniel 7) the inspired seer beholds four beasts rising in succession out of the troubled sea: the first like a lion; the second like a bear; the third like a leopard; the fourth, a beast "dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; . . . and it had ten horns." These four beasts are defined as "four kings who will arise from the earth," and also as "kingdoms" (for the kings stand representatively, and thus sometimes interchangeably, for their kingdoms).

      The fourth of these four beasts holds sway and dominion over all the earth (Daniel 7:23) and turns in fury upon the saints (Israel), the people of God. He makes war against them and defeats them, and the saints are handed over to him "for a time, and times, and half a time"--that is the period we have already met with, and which is defined in the book of Revelation as equivalent to forty-two months, 1260 days; that is to say, 3½ years.

      This fourth Beast continues his cruel sway and persecution of the saints until the ancient of Days comes (Daniel 7:22) and assumes power, and "one like a Son of Man" takes the universal kingdom. Then sudden judgment from on High is visited upon the Beast. After the Beast is destroyed the saints of the Most High will possess the kingdom--the kingdom up to this time held by the beast. "The sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven." Thus far Daniel.¹

      Now the great beast of Revelation 13, is like the fourth beast of Daniel 7, a universal world-power, headed up in an individual who is its king. "The dragon"--the Devil, Revelation 12:9--gave the beast "his power and his throne and great authority"--"authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him." (Verses 2, 7.) Like the fourth beast of Daniel he has ten horns and on his horns ten crowns--symbols of rule and authority. The ten horns are ten kings federated for a brief while under the overrule of the Beast. (Revelation 17:12.) All this is definitely told us. The beast has seven heads--but, as he explains later, the seven heads are not contemporaneous: the great Beast has never but one head at one time. (Revelation 17:12.)

      This Beast, being the last and most perfect representative of the Gentile world-power, embodies (like the great Image in its final aspect, Daniel 2) all the characteristics of the preceding ones: he has the general appearance of the Leopard, and the feet of the Bear, and the mouth of the Lion--but he himself is the fourth beast. And not the fourth beast (Rome) as it was and passed; nor yet a new, a different, a fifth one (for there were not to be five, only four world-powers)--but the fourth one "In the latter period of their rule," revived and returned in Satanic power; which will raise itself up against the King of kings, and will meet its doom at His hands; after which the Lord and his saints will reign over all the world. So testifies Daniel and so John in the Revelation (Revelation 17:8, 11; 19:19-21).

      This Beast will set himself forth as God. (Compare 2 Thessalonians 2:4.) He is the object of the world's wonder and admiration, and then of its worship. This forces a clean separation: all will worship him, those only excepted whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

      This worship is enforced by a curious second beast, who acts as representative and publicity-agent to the great Beast. This second beast works miracles in the name of the first beast (compare 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10), and sets up an image to the Beast which upon pain of death all must worship. (Compare Daniel 3:1, 6; 12:11; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4.)

      Moreover, a brand to distinguish the devotees of the Beast--a mark on their right hand or upon their forehead, even the name of the beast or the number of his name, which is "666," must be borne by every one on penalty of universal boycott and ostracism. Many surmises, some plausible, some foolish, have been made as to the significance of this number. We will spend no time discussing them. When that day comes the persecuted people of God will know what the number spells, and whose name it represents. (Daniel 12:10.) ²

      The duration of the Beast's fierce, antichristian sway will be that period variously spoken of as "a time, and times, and half a time" (a year, [two] years, and half a year--equals 3½ years); equivalent to "a [33] thousand two hundred and sixty days" (Revelation 12:6, 14), or "forty-two months" (Revelation 13:5). It is the latter half of Daniel's seventieth week.³

      During the first half of this period, the two witnesses prophesied, Revelation 11:3, and the "Woman" found protection, Revelation 12:6, 14. This is not 1260 years--as some, endeavoring to make Revelation cover the long extent of past history, have tried to represent it. I believe that God used the various terms to make it perfectly clear that He meant just 1260 days, 42 prophetic months (of 30 days each) or 3½ years.

      The Fourteenth Chapter of Revelation consists of seven separate, disconnected visions, each complete in itself.

1. The Lamb with the redeemed remnant of Israel (surely the same company as that of Revelation 7:1-8) is seen, standing on Mount Zion. (Verses 1-5.)
2. An angel is seen in mid-heaven once more holding out to the dwellers on earth "Eternal good tidings" and calling them to repentance in view of the impending judgment of God. (Verses 6, 7.)
3. Another angel announces the fall of Babylon. (Verse 8.)
4. Yet another angel warns all men against worship of the Beast and his image or the receiving of his mark on their foreheads or their hands. (Verses 9-12.)
5. A voice from heaven comforts those who have to die in the fearful persecution. (Verse 13.)
6. The vision of the Harvest. (Verses 14-16.)
7. The vision of the Vintage. (Verses 17-20.)

      These visions are sidelights, illuminating the whole situation, and are set down here without regard to sequence of events.

      This whole section, chapters 12-14, is of this character. Were I to place them, I would say that chapter 12:1-5 precedes in point of time the vision beginning at 4:2; and 12:7 to 13:18 runs throughout the time of the trumpets and bowls. (Note, for instance, the Beast coming upon the scene between the 6th and 7th trumpets, 11:7; and under the 5th and 6th bowls. 16:10, 13.)

      Here then we have covered this highly important section of this important book. We can now understand something of the great judgment-hour in which the age must end.

      Above is God, and the Lord Jesus, having risen up to judgment--associated with Him, a class of saints already seated in His presence in glory.

      On the earth, Satan, cast out from his celestial sphere, raging in wrath, persecuting Israel, and reconstructing the universal Gentile world-power under a man in whom all sin finds its climax and perfect expression. With the Divine judgments falling on the world from above, plus the wrath of Satan and his agents below, these two things bring about that unparalleled tribulation--such as never has been, no, nor ever shall be. It is primarily "the time of Jacob's distress." "Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it" (Jeremiah 30:7). All the fury of Satan will be directed against Israel in that day, to destroy and exterminate her. However, Israel (the "remnant of Israel") shall come out of it as pure gold from the furnace. But it will be a day of unparalleled trouble to the world also--that great "hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth" (Revelation 3:10). [34]

      Truly, if those days had not been shortened no flesh would have been saved; but for the elect's sake (see the two companies in Revelation 7) those days are cut short. (Matthew 24:21, 22.) Immediately after those days comes the Lord with His saints, in glory. (Matthew 24:29, 30.)--Many spiritual applications may properly be made of the prophecy of this book, but our purpose is to get the direct teaching concerning that awful period of judgment and trial.

      If it were not for the judgments of the Trumpets and the Bowls of Wrath, the Tribulation period would be the "day of Jacob's trouble" only, and of those who refuse to worship the Beast. For under the Beast's management the "dwellers on the earth" will no doubt have the best time they have ever had--"eating and [34] drinking, buying and selling, etc." (Compare Daniel 8:24, 25.) The following suggestive words from the pen of a noted writer are submitted for the reader's consideration:

      "It is clear from this [i. e., from Revelation 13:14] that everything is combined in this man to make him not only acceptable to the world, but to call forth their wonder, admiration, and praise. He is not in any way a terror to men, but full of blandishments, attractions, allurements, and activities which will be all put forth in the interests of human greatness and happiness. It will be Satan's brief millennium, in which mankind will by every art and artifice be made happy. It will be a time of peace and progress for the whole world. Great secrets of nature will be discovered. . . . Great inventions and discoveries will be made and turned to the utmost possible account. Philanthropy will be the governing principle of the world and of the 'Church.' The great ethical revival is at our doors. Its arrival is announced by the foremost preachers of the day. All this is preparing the way for the man of sin, and the lawless one, who shall be a law unto himself and to the whole world. Men will delight in him and regard him as the greatest benefactor the world has ever known. Kings will gladly owe him suzerainty; and behind all will be Satan himself, swaying the hearts, tongues and energies of thousands of willing agents."

      There is something in this worthy of serious thought. The whole tendency of the world's movements is to seek peace and earthly prosperity apart from God. They will get for a while what they strive for.

      They overcame him--the Accuser--not by argument, not by denial of their failures, not by efforts at self-justification, but by "the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death" (Revelation 12:11). This is the way and this the secret victory of all that overcome. Recall the seven promises to the overcomer in Revelation 2 and 3. "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son." (21:7.) Revelation is the Overcomer's Manual.

      Do not in time of stress resort to defense of carnal weapons. "Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints" (13:10). "By your endurance you will gain your lives" (Luke 21:16-19).

      The Necessity of a Clean Choice. Here the ways separate. "He who is not with Me is against Me" Those who will not worship the image of the Beast shall be killed; and again, those who refuse to receive the mark of the Beast shall not be permitted to buy or sell (13:15-17)--which means deprivation of all the means of life. But God sends word that if any man worships the Beast and his image, and receives the mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God undiluted, from the cup of His anger, and go into eternal torment. (14:9-12.) Now make up your mind as to which you prefer. It is fear against fear--God fighting the terror of man by the terror of the Lord. "I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!" (Luke 12:4, 5.) This choice is in one form or another going on even now. What is your decision? Are you controlled by the fear of God or by the fear of man?

      Read again Revelation 3:10 in its connection. Also Luke 21:34-36. Is there a promise there to the watching and praying ones and to the faithful church that they shall escape the fearful time of the Great Tribulation? [35]

[TR4R 31-35]