EIGHT CHAPTERS
EXPLAINING THE SPIRITUAL BATTLES,
PEOPLE, AND EVENTS OF
THE GREAT TRIBULATION
TO THE RETURN OF KING
JESUS TO RULE THIS EARTH:
PART I – SATAN’S
ANGER TOWARDS THE PROPHESIED
CHRIST AND SATAN’S
EXPULSION
FROM HEAVEN
Revelation 12:1-17
As taught by Dave
Lindstrom
I. Revelation chapters 12 through 19
seem to form one unit of thought which gives details of the last 3 ½
years of Daniel’s 70th week (Great Tribulation) through
the return of Christ to rule and reign on this earth.
A. Revelation chapters 12-14 provides
the diligent reader with parenthetical information on Satan’s
wrath toward Christ and Christ’s people (chapter 12), the beast’s
(Antichrist’s) satanic empowerment and cruel reign (chapter 13),
and Yahweh’s triumph over the forces of Satan’s in the final
harvest of evil (chapter 14).
B. Revelation chapters 15, 16
chronologically moves history forward past the blowing of the
seventh trumpet (Rev. 11:15) to the final seven bowls of judgment.
These will finish Yahweh’s wrath on the earth and are specifically
designed to purge evil and those who persist in choosing Satan over
Yahweh from this earth.
C. Revelation chapters 17-19 provides
the diligent reader with parenthetical information on the fall of
the beast’s (Antichrist’s) capital city and therefore the final
fall of satanically influenced leaders forever. It also unveils for
us the marriage supper of the Lamb and the return of Christ with
His saints.
D. The events of the final harvest of
evil (Rev. 14:19, 20), the seventh bowl massive judgment (Rev.
16:17-21), and the return of Christ in judgment (Rev. 19:11-21) seem to occur
approximately at the same time. These things will prepare the way
for Christ’s prophesied millennial reign on this earth in
Revelation 20:1-6.
E. According to the pre-wrath rapture
view, the ending of the events in Revelation 14:19, 20; 16:17-21;
and 19:11-21 occurs sometime between 30 and 75 days after the ending of the
Great Tribulation (last 3 ½ years) (Daniel 12:11, 12).
II. To understand the events that are
going on during the Great Tribulation and beyond, we need to go
deeper than the surface of things and move into the spiritual realm
(Rev. 12:1-6).
A. John is going to tell us about two
great signs in Rev. 12:1 and 3 and then another sign in Rev. 15:1.
These three signs reveal to the diligent reader the spiritual
battle behind the physical chaos of the Great Tribulation and
beyond.
1. In verse 1, the word for sign
(samaon – Greek) means a wonder or miracle that is beyond the
usual course of nature. In this case, we need to look at the
spiritual significance as to what the sign is pointing to by looking
into God’s Scriptures for the answer.
2. The best place to start finding
the identity of the woman is in Gen. 37:9, 10. Joseph had a dream
given to him by Yahweh which had “the sun (Jacob), the moon
(Rachel), and eleven stars (his eleven brothers) bowing down to
him.” This passage would put into the Hebrew mind that the
nation of Israel or probably the remnant in the nation of Israel
who will believe (look at verses 6, 13-17) could be the woman who
is in child birth. Other passages that could be referenced are
Isaiah 26:17-18; 66:7-9; Jer. 4:31; Jer. 13:21; Micah 4:10; 5:3)
(verse 1, 2).
3. The great red dragon is probably
the plan of Satan through the seven countries of Egypt, Assyria,
Babylon, Media, Persia, Greece, and Rome to thwart the birth of
the future unique male child Jesus Christ throughout history
(verses 3, 4; Daniel chapters 2, 7). The reference to Christ is very
specific in verse 5 (Psalm 2:9; Rev. 2:27; 19:15).
a. The great dragon is identified as
Satan in verse 9 and the “third part of the stars” might
refer to his and other angels who departed from Yahweh’s rule
before humanity (Isaiah 14:11-14 possibly).
b. The child (Christ) ascended (“was
caught up”) to the Father’s throne (Acts 1:9; Col. 3:1).
B. During the Great Tribulation (1,260
days, the last 3 ½ years, according to a 30 day Jewish month, of
Daniel’s 70th week of 7 years), God has prepared a
special place of protection for the woman (Israel’s remnant of
future believers).
III. The reason why remnant Israel
needed Yahweh’s protection during the Great Tribulation is because
Satan was denied anymore access to Yahweh’s throne. He was thrown
out of heaven forever! (Rev. 11:7-17)
A. Michael is Israel’s specially
assigned protector angel (Dan. 12:1) and is an angel in charge of
other angels called an archangel (Jude 9). Up until the Great
Tribulation on earth, Satan and at least some of his angels have
access to Yahweh’s throne (I Kings 22:19-22; Job 1:6-12; Zech.
3:1). At the point of the Great Tribulation on earth, Satan and
his angels are thrown out of heaven permanently. This is good
news for heaven but bad news for earth because Satan is wrathful
and knows he has a short time (verses 7-12).
1. The Devel (Diabolos – Greek) and
Satan (Hebrew) both mean slanderer or accuser. He is the accuser
of the brethren and the deceiver of the whole earth! (verses 9,
10)
2. Believers throughout history
overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb, their testimony, and
being willing to die for their faith! (verse 11).
B. Satan pursues remnant Israel during
the Great Tribulation but Yahweh protects and feeds them like He
did with Israel leaving Egypt. In miraculous ways, Yahweh once
again delivers them on eagles wings (Deut. 32:10-14; Ex. 19:4). As
Satan realizes that he can’t harm this group of Israel’s remnant
(possibly the sealed 144,000), he goes after other believers on the
earth (verses 13-17).
