Revelation 12:1-6 (KJV)
1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
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.
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.
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.
Some people have proposed that the sign in heaven of the "woman, sun, moon and stars" is a future constellation alignment that occurs on Jewish holy feast days in September of this year.
Check out this YouTube video titled"September 23rd 2017 in 3 minutes! The Revelation 12 sign what you need to know 9 23 2017" - ( https://youtu.be/0jYgoX4NL7g ) -
After watching the video, if you look at the 1st wonder in heaven as a constellation event, then shouldn't the 2nd wonder concerning the great red dragon also be another constellation event? And isn't the context about something or someone being born? Many feel that this might be a rapture situation due to the translation of the child being caught up-(Harpazo). But if this is the case, wouldn't it go against the narrative that "no man knows the day or the hour"?
If this event does represent the rapture, wouldn't that imply that the man child destined to rule all nations with a rod of iron would be the church? Or is it simply a historical view, where we see that the woman is Israel, the great red dragon is Satan and his original rebellion including drawing a third of the stars or Angels of heaven? The man child to rule the nations with a rod of iron and is caught up unto God is of course Jesus Christ and his ascension. (Psalm 2:7-9)
Revelation 12:7-9 (KJV)
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
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, and his angels were cast out with him.
Could this event also be referenced in Daniel 12:1 where Michael -"the great prince which stands for the children of my people" stands up? This verse in Daniel also describes "a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time", possibly referencing the tribulation period. However Daniel indicates Michael making his stand is in the beginning of the chapter. If this is the same event, does this mean that the war in heaven will also occur in the beginning of the tribulation period?
Daniel 12:1-4 (KJV)
12 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
And if this is the case, would this "sign in the heavens" on Sept. 23 be a sign of the war in heaven occurring and the manifestation of the seal judgements on earth as Michael, the Great Prince is dispatched to heaven to do battle against the Dragon and his angels thereby leaving Israel unprotected and subject to the "wars and rumors" of wars and possible Magog invasion into the land of Israel, or Psalm 83 war?
Let's back up for a minute... If this isn't historical, then the question remains who or what is being born? Maybe it represents the birth of the tribulation, birth or introduction of the beast, or the sealing of the 144,000 Jews/Christians, or even the 6th seal as some have suggested? Or maybe we're looking at this all wrong. Instead of looking at a person or event being born, perhaps we should be looking at it in regard to "birth pangs" that precede a "birth".
1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 (KJV)
5 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Matthew 24:42-44 (KJV)
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
2 Peter 3:10 (KJV)
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Here we have the "day of the Lord" as a "thief in the night", though some have attributed the "thief in the night" to a rapture situation. However, in 2 Peter 3:10, we get a bigger picture where we find the "thief in the night" associated with the "day of the Lord" even unto the heavens and earth passing away. We also have birth pains associated with calls for peace and safety quickly leading to destruction. So the question to ask is this: Are we now currently hearing calls for peace and safety occurring in the news daily?
While pursuing the idea of "birth pangs" or "woman in travail", we also find some interesting and perhaps relevant scriptures in the Old Testament...
Isaiah 26:16-21 (KJV)
16 Lord, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.
17 Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O Lord.
18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
21 For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
In this chapter, it describes a woman with child nearing delivery. She's crying out in pain. This chapter also describes what could be considered a resurrection and a call for the Lord's people to hide themselves in their chambers until the indignation be past (could this be a rapture reference of perhaps even more accurately reflect the woman fleeing into the wilderness later described in Revelation 12)?
In the book of Micah, we have the following where we find reference to the Lord redeeming and delivering Israel (daughter of Zion), and "many nations gathering against thee". The entire chapter is quite interesting and we find in verse 1 the words "But in the last days it shall come to pass..." Giving a possible time frame pointing to the end times or last days which we believe that we are currently in or will soon be.
Micah 4:9-13 (KJV)
9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.
10 Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.
11 Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.
12 But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.
13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.
In the book of Jeremiah, in chapter 49 we see that it describes a judgement against Esau, where Edom becomes a desolation and is overthrown like Sodom and Gomorrah with no man abiding there. We also see a woman in travail with birth pangs and the city of Damascus waxing feeble with anguish and sorrow. Could this also pertain to the "Burden of Damascus" in Isaiah ch. 17 where it is described as being a ruinous heap. Can we not see the events unfolding today that are connected and may reflect these scriptures soon being fulfilled?
Jeremiah 49:22-27 (KJV)
22 Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.
23 Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.
24 Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.
25 How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!
26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the Lord of hosts.
27 And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.
Later in this chapter also describes judgement upon Elam (Iran), breaking it's bow, scattering them towards the four winds, bringing evil, fierce anger, dismay, a sword, and captivity. We are also reminded of another coming judgement scripture on Iran (Persia) that occurs in Ezekiel 38, known as the Magog invasion. This chapter here in Jeremiah also concludes with the time frame of the "later days".
Jeremiah 49:35-39 (KJV)
35 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might.
36 And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.
37 For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the Lord; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them:
38 And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the Lord.
39 But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the Lord.
Sodom and Gomorrah
Below, also in Jeremiah, we have yet another scripture depicting birth pangs of a woman in travail. This passage is indicating the destruction of Babylon. However, it's destruction is described as God overthrowing Sodom and Gomorrah with no man abiding there, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. Though ancient Babylon was destroyed by the Persians in 539 BC, it was never destroyed in the manner described by this passage. Leading us to believe that this is the future event of Revelation 17 and 18.
Jeremiah 50:39-46 (KJV)
39 Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.
40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the Lord; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.
41 Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.
42 They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.
43 The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail.
44 Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?
45 Therefore hear ye the counsel of the Lord, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them.
46 At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.
Will this "sign in heaven" represent the rapture as many speculate? (Incidentally, if you love the Lord thy God with all your heart, mind, soul and all that is within you, then it should not matter if the rapture occurs on the 1st watch, the 2nd watch or even the 3rd watch).
Who or what is about to give birth in relation to this sign? Could it be that this sign may represent the beginning of "the day of the Lord"? Perhaps indicating that the war in heaven has begun or even a physical manifestation of the "beginning of sorrows" (wars and rumors as pertaining to Israel), or the result of opening of the seals preceded by some sort of peace agreement? It apparently WILL represent birth pangs to some degree, increasing in frequency and intensity. Do events currently unfolding in the Middle East reflect these pangs as described in these scriptures? Are these the true birth pangs, or is it false labor that precedes where the doctor tells the expected mother not yet? However, the effects may still be felt regardless, and may be significant. We are called to be diligent.
Luke 21:25-28 (KJV)
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Are we ready for this? Are we looking up? Watching? Waiting? Expecting? Are we truly redeemed? Born again? Have we asked our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to rule and reign in our hearts and lives?
Romans 10:9 (KJV)
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Regardless of what may or may not happen on this day, isn't it time that we call upon the name of the Lord, humble ourselves, repent and receive His plan of salvation for our lives?
