Wednesday Sermon by Rev, DR. Willy Mutiso

WONDERS IN HEAVEN

SERIES: THE SCHOOL OF PROPHECY.

TEXT: REVELATION 12:1-6.

 

Today we are moving to the second half of the book of Revelation. This second portion “opens with the amazing vision of some great wonders in the heavens.

Remember Revelation 4-9 takes us all the way through the great tribulation period.

Chapter 10-11 are parenthesis in action, behind the scenes activities of God. Chapter 11 took us to the very edge of eternity. Jesus Christ is claiming the ownership of the earth and its kingdoms.

Chapter 12-1`9 takes us back through the great tribulation once again. Chapter 4-9 is the timeline of the plan of the great tribulation. Chapter 12-19 deals with the characters or the tribulation. We are introduced to some of the individuals who will feature greatly during that period of time.

Chapter 12 is key to understanding of what is going to be said in the vest of the book. Let us look into the six important verses today and see the truths that are revealed here. The main characters of this passage are a woman and a red dragon. This are great wonders in heaven. Let us see:-

THE PERSONALITY OF THIS WOMAN-Rev. 12:1-2.

  • The identity of this woman has brought a lot of controversy and false doctrines for centuries.
  1. Roman Catholics have said that this woman is Mary.
    • Now Mary never ascended in heaven. Mary gave birth on earth and not in heaven.
    • Mary does not fit into-Vs. 6.
  2. Some believe that the woman is the church. However it was Christ the man-child that gave birth to the church and not the other way round.
  3. A woman by name of Mary Baker Patterson Glover Eddy claimed that she was that woman.
  • The religion she gave birth to in 1879 is Christian Science, was the man-child.
  • From the context of Revelation 12, this woman can never fit;

So then who is this woman? The clues given in the text tells us all we need to know about her identity.

Her description-Vs. 11.

  • The woman is “clothed with the sun.” this speaks of heavenly glory.
  • The “moon” is “under her feet.” This speaks of dominion and power.
  • She is wearing “a crown.” This speaks of royalty.
  • The “twelve stars” speak of the twelve tribes of Israel.
  • This woman is therefore the nation of Israel.
  • You remember the dream the Joseph had in Genesis 37:9-11.
  • It is obvious from the reactions of Jacob to Joseph’s dream that the sun and the moon and the stars represent the nation of Israel.
  • The second passage that support this truth is Genesis 15:5.
  • Here the seed of Abraham is compared to the stars.
  • God is not finished with Israel and all displacement theologies are false.
  • Israel is again going to be clothed with glory and have dominion over the earth.
  1. Her destiny-The woman here is in the throes of childbirth.
  • She is in great travail as she tries to bring her child into the world.
  • In verse 5-her son is to be the ruler of the world.
  • This is a reference to the Messiah, to the Lord Jesus Christ.
  • The picture of Israel in child birth reminds us that it was nation of Israel God used to bring His Savior into the world.
  • Jesus Christ is Jewish-Matt. 1:11. He is called the “son of David,” and “son of Abraham.”
  • In Genesis 3:15 God said “And I will put enemity between thee and the woman and between your seed and her seed. It shall bruise thy head and thou shall bruise his heel.”
  • The woman is Israel and the seed of the woman is the Lord Jesus Christ-Romans 9:4-5.
  • It was the nation of Israel that God chose to be the womb through which He sent His son into the world.
  • Please, notice that this woman is in travail.
  • She is in labor and she bring her son into the world with a lot of trouble and pain.
  • These reminds us the suffering, persecution and trouble Israel has gone through in the hands of satan.
  • When Christ was born, Israel was under the brutal iron heel of the Roman Empire.
  • So this expectant woman is Israel who brought the Messiah into the world.
  • She paid a heavy price for the privilege that was her destiny!!

THE PERSECUTOR OF THIS WOMAN-Vs. 3-4.

The personality of the dragon.

  • The next vision is of the “great red dragon.”
  • This great red dragon has “seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his head.”
  • Let us break this dragon to pieces and see-

Red-The color of war and bloodshed.

  • This brings to mind the red horse of Revelation 6:4.
  • This dragon is a killer dragon. He brings death, war and bloodshed.

A dragon is a winged serpent.

  • Now, there is no such a thing in our natural world.
  • This is the picture of satan, the devil-Rev. 12:9.

Seven heads-speak of vast intelligence.

  • We are dealing with a brilliant and wise creature-Ezekiel 28:12, “Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.”

Ten horns-Horns are symbols of power.

  • Satan is not all powerful but his power is vast.
  • The number 10, may refer to a nation. Kingdom or a union of nations like the EU.

Seven crowns-Crowns are symbols of authority. Satan is still “the god of this world-2nd 4:4.

4. The pollution of the dragon.

  • The reference to the “stars of heave” being cast down to earth” by the tail of the dragon refers back to the fall of satan.
  • In the beginning satan was not bad and evil creature.
  • Satan ranked very high as an angel in heaven-Eze. 28:12-15.
  • Pride was found in Lucifer’s heart and he tried to take God’s throne-Isa. 14:12-14.
  • Lucifer sinned and became satan.
  • He was cast out of heaven-Isa. 14:15; Eze. 28:16-18.
  • When Lucifer fell, he drew one third of the angels of heaven into rebellion.
  • We call these fallen angels demons, they are now part of satan’s kingdom and they do his bidding-Eph. 6:12.

The plan of the dragon-Vs. 4.

  • Satan is pictured as standing before Israel waiting for the birth of her child.
  • His intention is to destroy the seed of the woman as soon as He is born.
  • Satan had worked hard from the very beginning to destroy the seed of the woman and to prevent the birth of the promised seed of the woman.
  • Satan cause Cain to kill Abel to prevent the birth of Christ, but God brought in Seth.
  • Satan tried to corrupt the live of Seth through intermarriage between the seed of Seth and the seed of Cain. But God had Noah and the Ark.
  • He wanted Esau to kill Jacob but God helped Jacob to escape.
  • He tried to kill all the Jews in Egypt through Pharaoh but God saved Moses.
  • He failed to stop the birth of Christ, Herod killed all the baby boys under age of 2 years, but God had His plan for a flight into Egypt-Matt. 2:16-18.

THE PROGENY OF THIS WOMAN-Vs. 5.

  • Progeny is the seed of the woman.

His description.

    • He is called a “man-child” The seed of the woman came into the world like any other child.
    • But the seed of the woman was born without man’s involvement-Matt. 1:20.
    • The seed of a woman is Jesus Christ-John 1:1; Isa. 7:14; Phil. 2:5-8.

His destiny-“To rule the nations of the earth with an iron rod.”

  • Jesus is coming again, this time to rule the earth-Rev. 19:15.
  • He is the rightful ruler-He created the universe-Col. 1:16-17..
  • He is to rule because He purchased the earth with His own blood-Rev. 5:9.

His deliverance.

  • This man child is caught up to God and to the throne of God.
  • This man child is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

THE PROTECTION OF THE WOMAN-Vs. 6.

Her distress.

  • The woman flees from the dragon to the wilderness to hide.
  • Satan hates the nation of Israel.
  • Satan has tried to destroy Israel many times in history.
  • No other nation on earth has suffered persecution and death like Israel.
  • The Jew will survive every persecution-Jer. 31:35-36.

Her deliverance.

  • Israel will find deliverance in the wilderness place.
  • Some people believe this place of hiding will be in Edom-city of Petra-very well protected.
  • They will be taken care of by the power of God.

CONCLUSION

  • Jews are waiting for the coming of the Messiah according to Talmud, every Jew is obligated to believe in the coming of the Messiah.
  • Every traditional Jew must recite this creed everyday “I believe with perfect faith in the advent of the Messiah and though he may tarry, I will await his arrival every day.”
  • What Jews don’t understand is that the Messiah already came and He is coming again, the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem-Psalm 124:6.
  • Are you ready every day for the coming of Jesus Christ?
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Rev, DR. Willy Mutiso

Rev, Dr. Willy Mutiso is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Athiriver. He is widely known for his practical and dynamic teaching style which helps people apply the timeless truths of Scripture to their everyday lives.

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