Please turn in your Bibles this evening to Revelation chapter 12 as we continue our study through the Word of God. If you remember from our last study, Revelation chapter 11 records for us the sounding of the seventh trumpet judgment or the third woe, but we will not see the effects of this judgment until we get to chapters 15 through 18. You see, in Revelation 11:15 we are told, and this is from The Amplified Bible, “The seventh angel then blew [his] trumpet, and there were mighty voices in heaven, shouting, The dominion (kingdom, sovereignty, rule) of the world has now come into the possession and become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ (the Messiah), and He shall reign forever and ever (for the eternities of the eternities)!” Thus, this seventh trumpet judgment leads us into the bowl judgments and the establishment of God’s kingdom on this earth!
But before we get to the chronological narrative being resumed, we once again are in a parenthetical section of this book that covers chapters 12 through 14. And in this section we see some very interesting characters revealed to us. There is THE WOMAN, THE DRAGON, THE MAN-CHILD, THE ANGEL MICHAEL, THE BEAST OUT OF THE SEA, and THE BEAST OUT OF THE EARTH. Now the problem that people seem to encounter in this section is they misinterpret who these people are and then it becomes very confusing or they justify their unbiblical doctrine.
Folks, I don’t think it is very difficult as some make this out to be. You see, when you let Scripture interpret Scripture, it really is not that difficult to understand. Do you know the best commentary on the Bible? It is the Bible itself! So with that said, let’s begin reading in Revelation chapter 12, starting in verse 1 and see what the Lord has for us this evening as we look at some of the things taking place during this period of time besides the judgments of God being poured out!
VERSE 1
John speaks of a “great sign” appearing in heaven or MEGA SEMEION in the Greek. And here the reference is towards God’s plans being set in motion and this is illustrated for us by this woman clothed with the sun, the moon and a garland of twelve stars on her head. Now, to have a correct understanding of what God’s plans are, you have to understand who this woman is.
The Roman Catholic Church claims this is the Virgin Mary, also known as the “Queen of Heaven.” Do a search in the Scriptures and see what God has to say about the Queen of Heaven, and it is not good. Any way, you will even see this in their artwork with Mary standing upon a crescent moon and she has twelve stars around her head. But, as we will see, this woman is not the Virgin Mary.
We also see Mary Baker Eddy, who was the founder of Christian Science, which is neither Christian nor science! They deny the deity of Jesus! But she felt that she was this woman and the child is the religious system of Christian Science. This too, as we shall see is wrong!
There are still others who feel this woman is the Church, but they have not thought this through. You see, if this is the Church, and the Church is the virgin bride of Christ, as we are going to see, she is pregnant and gives birth to a child! So, obviously this woman is not the Church!
According to Biblical Hermeneutics, which is interpreting the Bible according to the grammatical-historical method, when God uses a symbol to speak forth a truth, the first time it is used in the Scriptures, (the law of first mention), that sets the standard for how it is used throughout the Scriptures. Thus, to understand who this woman is, we have to go back to the book of Genesis.
Remember the story of Jacob and his son Joseph who had two dreams in Genesis chapter 37. In his first dream he dreamed they were binding sheaves in the field and his sheaf stood tall and the others bowed before this one. In other words, the brothers of Joseph would bow before him, and how do you think they felt about this? We don’t have to guess because we are told in Genesis 37:8, “And his brothers said to him, ‘Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?’ So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.”
Then Joseph had another dream and he didn’t learn from the first one and once again he told his brothers, and in Genesis 37:9 we are told, “Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, ‘Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.’” Who is Joseph speaking of? Folks, we don’t have to guess because in Genesis 37:10-11 we are told, “So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, ‘What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?’ And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.” So Jacob tells us that the sun and moon represented him and his wife and the eleven stars represented Joseph’s brothers, Joseph being the twelfth.
How does that apply to what we have read here in Revelation chapter 12 so far? Let me ask you this? What came from Jacob and his 12 sons? I will give you a hint; God changed his name to Israel! You see, out of Jacob and his sons the nation of Israel was born and thus, this woman here in Revelation chapter 12 is speaking of the nation of Israel!
VERSE 2
As you look at the nation of Israel, their history, the persecution they have endured since their birth, you can understand why this woman is traveling in pain. In fact, this child who was to be born is none other than Jesus Christ, the Messiah and the time frame of his birth was when Israel was under Roman authority, Roman occupation, Roman oppression! And as you look at Jesus, His genealogy, you will clearly see He was born from the nation of Israel, specifically from the tribe of Judah! (See Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38). It is as Paul said in Hebrews 7:14a, “For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah . . .”
VERSES 3-4
Keep in mind that signs are put in place to point us to something. And here we see another sign, a “fiery red dragon” that opposes the plan of God, is in rebellion against God. I believe it is very obvious who this dragon is, it is the Devil, but if you have any doubt, look at Revelation 12:9 because I think this clears it up. We are told, “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” This dragon, this slanderer, this adversary, seeks to kill, to destroy people’s lives with his lies. In fact, that is his natural language, lies!
The seven heads, I believe, represent the seven world empires that Satan has or will use to defy God. So far we have seen Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persian, Grecian, and the Roman empires. And there is the seventh that is future, a federation of 10 nations out of the old Roman Empire. And I believe this last empire will see this world divided up into 10 kingdoms and I believe this last empire is in the formation stages right now!
Now what does it mean when John says that this dragon, “His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth . . .” I believe these are the angels that rebelled with Satan, fallen angels and their numbers are millions upon millions! But, keep in mind 1/3 are demonic in nature but 2/3 are holy and servants of God! Thus, these fallen angels are the demonic forces we read of in the Scriptures! It is as Seiss said, “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.”
Now, the last part of verse 4 speaks of this dragon preparing to destroy this Child when He is born. Do we see that played out in history? You bet we do! Herod was a paranoid little king even murdering his own sons because he thought they were trying to take over his title as king. And thus, when the wise men came to Jerusalem looking for the king of the Jews, he wanted that child dead! In Matthew 2:16 we see his evil plan, “Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.”
But before he could kill the baby Jesus, Joseph his stepfather was warned by God in a dream and told to flee to Egypt until Herod was dead, and that is exactly what they did! Now, I thought it was Satan who was trying to destroy Jesus? He is and he will use human instruments many times to carry out his evil deeds and man is more than willing to obey, thinking they are the ones in control, but they are just having their strings pulled. Don’t fall prey to his evil plans, obey the Lord!
VERSE 5
I am sure when Jesus gave up His spirit on the cross of Calvary that there was joy in the demonic realm. But that joy was short lived, for as Peter said in Acts 2:22-33, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know — Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the LORD always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence. Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.” Yes, the head of the Messiah was bruised, but a deathblow is coming for Satan!
Now, why is there still such hatred against the Jewish people, why do people want them destroyed? Because, I believe it will be the Jews who petition the Lord’s return. In Hosea 5:15-16:2 we are told, “‘I will return again to My place Till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.’ Come, and let us return to the LORD; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight.”
God became flesh and dwelt among us, paid in full the penalty for our sins, but the Jewish people, as a nation rejected Him. Thus, He returned to heaven till “they acknowledge their offense.” It has been almost 2,000 years since their rejection of Jesus, their offense against God and that third day is the millennial reign of Christ, I believe. You see, He is coming back and the Jews will call upon Him! Jesus said in Matthew 23:39 as He spoke to the nation of Israel, “for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’” Thus, to prevent this, Satan, the Antichrist and his forces will try to wipe out the Jews. But make no mistake about it He is coming back! In Revelation 1:7 we are told, “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” And in Matthew 24:30 we are told, “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” We long for that day!
VERSE 6
According to Matthew chapter 24, Jesus tells us that when the Jews see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, they are to flee into the mountains. That means the temple is rebuilt, we are at the 3½-year mark of the 7-year Tribulation Period, and as this takes place many Jews will flee for their lives as they refuse to worship the Antichrist. And for 1,260 days or 3½-years, that last half of the Tribulation Period, God will protect them, but where?
I believe it will be Petra, which is in modern day Jordan. According to Daniel 11:40-41 the area of Edom, Moab and Ammon will be spared from the attacks of the Antichrist, why? I believe because God’s people are there and they are allowing them to be there! In Isaiah 16:1-4 we are told, “Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, From Sela to the wilderness, To the mount of the daughter of Zion. For it shall be as a wandering bird thrown out of the nest; So shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon. Take counsel, execute judgment; Make your shadow like the night in the middle of the day; Hide the outcasts, Do not betray him who escapes. Let My outcasts dwell with you, O Moab; Be a shelter to them from the face of the spoiler. For the extortioner is at an end, Devastation ceases, The oppressors are consumed out of the land.” Sela is another name for Petra!
This area known as Petra is about 120 miles southeast of Jerusalem and it was at one time, during the time of Solomon, a huge commercial center. This city was built on the sandstone cliffs with a narrow opening some 10 to12 feet wide and it zigzags back and forth making it very difficult to attack. If you saw Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, they show this now ghost town and they show the narrow opening from which you enter and leave this city. And folks, this is not a small area, it can hold some 1.5 million people! Gladstone took some 7,000 copies of the New Testament and his book “When Jesus Returns” and placed them in protective cases throughout the area for those Jews who will take residence there in the Tribulation Period. Are they still there, we don’t know, but one day the Jews will flee there for safety!
One last point here and that is when Jesus first comes back, when He returns, many think He first goes to Jerusalem, but that is not correct. In Isaiah 63:1-6 we are told, “Who is this who comes from Edom, With dyed garments from Bozrah, This One who is glorious in His apparel, Traveling in the greatness of His strength? — ‘I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.’ Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like one who treads in the winepress? ‘I have trodden the winepress alone, And from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, And trampled them in My fury; Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, And I have stained all My robes. For the day of vengeance is in My heart, And the year of My redeemed has come. I looked, but there was no one to help, And I wondered That there was no one to uphold; Therefore My own arm brought salvation for Me; And My own fury, it sustained Me. I have trodden down the peoples in My anger, Made them drunk in My fury, And brought down their strength to the earth.’” The reason, I believe that He comes to Bozrah or Petra first is that is where the Jewish people are hiding out and the place from which they call upon the Messiah, Jesus Christ to return!
VERSE 7
This war that breaks out in heaven is not God against Satan. Please hear me out on this. Satan is a created being; God is eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing and-so-on. Thus, if God were dealing with Satan, it would be over before it began. Don’t give Satan more attention than he deserves, that is what he wants!
This war is between Michael and the angel’s of God and they are fighting against Satan and the fallen angels, or between good and evil you might say! These two angels and their forces are warring in heaven, but why? I believe God is going to cleanse heaven because Satan still has access to God and heaven! (Job 1:6-12). But after this war is over he will no longer have access to heaven and what God is going to do in heaven He is going to do on this earth, cleanse it! Now I believe this war takes place in the middle of the 7-year Tribulation Period. In Daniel 12:1 we are told, “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.” Thus, the Great Tribulation now begins or the last 3½ years before the Lord returns!
VERSES 8-9
This great dragon, this serpent of old, the Devil and Satan, was cast out of heaven to the earth with his followers! And what does he do? He “deceives the whole world.” That word “deceive” in the Greek is PLANAO, (plan-ah’-o) and it speaks of “the misleading of another, causing someone to wander or err from the truth.” In John 8:44 we see Jesus rebuking the Jewish religious leaders of His day for not listening to Him and He tells them, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
Now you may not like what I am going to tell you, you may not even agree with it, but I am here to tell you, there are only two options out there. You see, most people would say they would never worship or listen to the Devil. But, if you reject the Word of God, if you are not listening to what Jesus is saying to you, then the only other option is Satan! Now does he speak the truth? Of course he does, but he mixes it with just enough lies to destroy you! Thus, don’t listen to him but listen to the voice of God who speaks to us through His Word by His Spirit and He will never lie to you. You see, His Word is truth!
Now as you look at the Scriptures you will find four falls of Satan. The first is from his position in glory with God or a glorified position to a profane – Ezekiel 28:12-17. Then what we just read here in Revelation chapter 12, from having access to heaven to being restricted to the earth. Then from the earth he will be placed in bondage in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years. And lastly, from the pit to the Lake of Fire for eternity! That is his end and now he knows his time is short and he will try to bring down as many people as he can, he will try to destroy as many lives as he can! He is going to fight for his life, but he also knows he can’t win!
VERSE 10
This person in heaven proclaiming this message must be a representative of the Church. The reason I say that is because he says that Satan is the “accuser of our brethren” and I believe that links him to the Church. You see, Satan continues to accuse us before the Father in heaven but as Paul said in Hebrews 7:25, “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Jesus is not going to lose any of us no matter what Satan says because we are cleansed by the blood of Christ! And thus, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1.
Let me expound on this a little more because I believe it is very important. Yes, Satan may accuse us before the Father but Jesus steps in and intercedes for us. Thus, Here we see the cleansing, in a sense, of heaven. Now the accuser of the brethren and his hosts will be removed from the presence of God. This idiom of an accuser was a well-known and well-hated figure during the first century. This figure was called the DELATOR, or the paid informer. This person made his living by accusing people before the authorities. They would go around and spy on what others were doing and then report their findings to the proper authorities. These informers were obviously hated by the people, and the reason is as Tacitus said, “He who has no foe was betrayed by his friend.” They would turn anyone in for a price!
Satan, in a sense, does the same thing as the DELATOR did. He accuses us before God. Think of Satan as the prosecuting attorney, who comes before the Father with all kinds of accusing facts about us. He is unrelenting in his case. He continues to spew out all of our failures, and we do have many. For instance, he might say something like this, “How can this man love you, look at what he did today. His failures, his weakness. And he says that he loves you, what a joke!” This kind of condemnation continues day and night, as he batters us with these things.
Listen to what Satan accused Job of doing in Job 1:9-11. We read “So Satan answered the LORD and said, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!’” Satan was telling God that Job’s love was conditional, based on what gifts or blessings he received from God. But the lesson Satan found was that his love for God was unconditional, and so should ours be.
And as Christians we are not left defenseless. We are represented by the best defense attorney around, Jesus Christ. In I John 2:1-2, we read, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”
The word that John uses for “sin” is the Greek word HAMARTE, which speaks of a single act. There is another word, HAMARTANEI, which speaks of a habitual sin. This habitual state of sin John spoke of in I John 3:6, 8-9 where he said, “Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him . . . He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.”
John is not encouraging us to sin but he also knows we are not perfect in these bodies of flesh, we will sin. We will have moments where we fail and when we do, we have a defense attorney who will represent us before the Father. The word that John uses for “advocate” is the Geek word PARAKLETOS, which describes anyone summoned to the assistance of another. It is the same word that is used of the Holy Spirit, the comforter. In a legal sense, it is a defense attorney pleading the case of the person on trial. And as I said, our defense attorney is not F. Lee Bailey or any other high priced lawyer, but Jesus Christ. I need no one else, nor would I want anyone else to defend me!
John tells us that Jesus is the Righteous One, and being righteous He just can't ignore sin. One writer put it this way. He said “Our Advocate does not plead that we are innocent, or adduce extenuating circumstances. He acknowledges our guilt and presents his vicarious work as the ground of our acquittal.”
Thus, the atoning work that Christ accomplished on the cross of Calvary, His blood being shed, covers all of our sins. Thus, when Satan accuses us before the Father regarding our failures, Christ does not say that we did not do them, for He is righteous, but He does say “Father, they are cleansed by My blood!” Positionally we are seen as perfect, but practically we still sin, and we have an advocate who will represent us, Jesus Christ! What a comfort that is to me and I hope to you and that is why I took the time to go over this, it is that important!
And as heaven is cleansed we now hear “ . . . ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come . . .’” And in a short time God will cleanse the earth as He sets up His kingdom here on the earth to rule and reign the nations from.
VERSE 11
Here is the key to a victorious Christian life, of living in victory over the Devil. What do we need to do? Simply, our victory only comes as we apply the BLOOD OF THE LAMB, Jesus Christ to our life – we are saved! Our victory over the enemy comes as we live out our faith – what has taken place on the inside of our lives overflow into our actions – THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY. And lastly, we are not to LOVE OUR LIVES TO THE DEATH – in other works seek first the kingdom of God and don’t try to build a kingdom for yourself on this earth! We will look at this closer on Sunday because I believe it is important for us, especially in the days we are living in! How to live that victorious Christian life!
VERSE 12
Picture what is taking place at this time, the 3½-year mark of the Tribulation Period. Satan is cast to the earth. The Antichrist enters the rebuilt temple and demands to be worshiped as God. The Jews, many of them flee to Petra from the wrath of the Antichrist. In other words, all Hell is breaking out on the earth! He knows his time is short and Satan will do whatever he can to destroy lives, like I have said!
Now why doesn’t Satan just give up? Here is another question? Why don’t we just give up and surrender to God’s will for our lives? Why does man rebel against God when he knows he can’t win? You see, you can’t fight against God and win and even if you could you still would lose because God has what is best for your life! Thus, surrender to Him!
VERSE 13
This woman is Israel, who gave birth to the Messiah and now the powers of darkness once again are coming after this nation to destroy her! It is as Walvoord said, “The persecution of Israel is part of the satanic program to thwart and hinder the work of God . . . Israel is hated by Satan not because of any of its own characteristics but because she is the chosen of God and essential to the overall purpose of God for time and eternity.”
VERSE 14
I Don’t believe God is speaking of transporting them by an airplane here but that He will bring them as he said in Exodus 19:4, “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.” God will carry them, watch over them, protect them as they flee for their lives. We also see this idea of carrying God’s people on eagles’ wings in Deuteronomy 32:9-12, “For the LORD's portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance. He found him in a desert land And in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye. As an eagle stirs up its nest, Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings, So the LORD alone led him, And there was no foreign god with him.”
VERSES 15-16
As the Jewish people are fleeing for their lives the Antichrist sends out his forces after them like a flood. Now please understand this is not a literal flood but as Isaiah 59:19-20 illustrates for us, “So shall they fear The name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him. ‘The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob, Says the LORD.’”
But with all of his forces he will not be able to overtake these Jews who are fleeing to Petra. It is as Psalm 124:1-8 tells us, “‘If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,’ Let Israel now say — ‘If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us, Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their wrath was kindled against us; Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul; Then the swollen waters Would have gone over our soul.’ Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.” If it were not for the Lord, they would not survive!
Now, just because he can’t destroy these Jewish people, don’t think it will stop him from going after those who could not get away. Look at verse 17.
VERSE 17
Thus, he is now going after Jewish believers and is going to try to destroy them and he will have some success. According to Zechariah 13:8-9 we are told, “‘And it shall come to pass in all the land,’ Says the LORD, ‘That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one-third shall be left in it: I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”
As I close this evening, listen to what John MacArthur has to say to help tie this all together. He said, “For the long-suffering people of Israel, the darkest hour lies ahead. But it will be followed by a glorious dawn. The elect remnant of Israel, having the most savage persecution in the nation’s long history, will be saved and enjoy the bliss of the millennial kingdom, ‘and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written’ (Rom 11:26).”
Now, in saying that I want you to keep in mind what this book is all about, the unveiling or the revelation of Jesus Christ in all of His glory! In other words, “The seventh angel then blew [his] trumpet, and there were mighty voices in heaven, shouting, The dominion (kingdom, sovereignty, rule) of the world has now come into the possession and become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ (the Messiah), and He shall reign forever and ever (for the eternities of the eternities)!” Revelation 11:15, The Amplified Bible. The Lord is coming back, He will reign on this earth, and those who believe will enter into the kingdom age with Him!