Simple Keys to Understanding the Book of Revelation — Part 15
Chapter 12 is a Key to the Whole Book
Understanding Revelation chapter 12 is a key that unlocks the entire book. Once you have an understanding of the events of chapter 12, you have a foundation of understanding that will allow the meaning of the entire book to unfold for you.
As we gain understanding of the events described in chapter 12, we understand that Christians will go through the Great Tribulation. This should not be a surprise since Christians have experienced tribulation since the earliest days of the Church. Tribulation is promised to us by Jesus:
*“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”—John 16:33 (ESV) *
In the time of Great Tribulation there will be three distinct groups of believers: The Sun-Clothed Woman, the Man Child, and the Remnant.
We have seen that the Man Child escapes to be caught up to God’s throne but returns to nourish the Sun-Clothed Woman, who will be protected and fed in the wilderness. The Remnant will face the wrath of the Dragon. Those believers who make up this Remnant will most likely be slaughtered by the thousands with little hope of surviving to the end.
These three groups also correspond to the three phases of the harvest found throughout Scripture. Jesus gave us a valuable clue when He told us that “the harvest is the end of the age” (Matthew 13:39 NKJV). Following the pattern of the harvest, the Firstfruits come to maturity early and are taken directly to the Temple of God. Then the Main Harvest is reaped and taken to the threshing floor before being gathered into the barn. The Gleanings are left in the field to be given over to the poor and strangers in the Earth.
It is sobering to read of the fate of these Gleanings after the Main Harvest (the Sun-Clothed Woman) is taken to the threshing floor. The Gleanings are left in the field!
“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the edges of your field, nor gather the gleaning of your harvest; you are to leave them for the poor and for the stranger. I am the Lord your God.”—Leviticus 23:22 (AMP)
My former pastor does an excellent job of explaining the pattern and purpose of the harvest in detail in this free book.
These three groups are also illustrated in the three parts of Moses’ Tabernacle in the Wilderness.
The Outer Court believers never moved much past salvation. They got to the brazen altar, but really had no desire to press in further. That was the condition of the vast majority of the Israelites in Moses’ time, and it is the condition of the vast majority of believers today. This is the Remnant that will be so disconnected from God that they have little hope of surviving the Great Tribulation.
The second group of believers pressed on to enter into the Holy Place. This is symbolized by those who became priests to the Lord in Moses’ time. It was a much smaller number than the general congregation of believers, possibly 10%, or a tithe of the overall Church. They cleansed themselves at the laver and pressed in to partake of the Table of Shewbread, representing the Word of God. They also ministered to God under the illumination of the seven-pronged lampstand, which symbolized the Spirit of God. And they ministered to God at the altar of incense, which represents prayer and worship to God. This is the Sun-Clothed Woman of Revelation 12. They have communication with God, but they never press in to dwell in His intimate abiding presence. They fall short of abiding in Him and allowing His Word to abide in them (John 15). They lack the abiding intimate relationships with the Lord that are enjoyed by those who press in to the Holy of Holies. These are the foolish virgins of Matt 25.
The wise virgins are seen in the Man-Child company. This is the smallest group of all—the tithe of the tithe. When the tithe was brought to the priests, they were instructed to give 10% of that tithe to the Lord as the tithe of the tithe. This group is birthed when they come to full maturity in the fullness of time.
“A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.”—John 16:21 (KJV)
These are the adopted sons of Romans 8:23 and Galatians 4 who are granted the authority of Jesus to rule and reign with Him and do business on His behalf. They overcome Satan “by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not cling to their lives even in the face of death” (Revelation 12:11 ISV). This is the group symbolized by those who could not be satisfied by the Outer Court or the Holy Place. They are satisfied by nothing less than the intimate, abiding presence of God. These are the ones for whom Moses set up his own tent of meeting outside the camp. These are like Joshua who stayed in the tent, abiding in the presence of God where God spoke to people face to face in intimate relationships (Exodus 33). These are the ones that Jesus calls His friends because everything that God tells Him, he passes along to them (John 15:15). These are the ones who go before, like Joseph, and prepare shelter and provision for the rest of the brothers. These are the ones who come to maturity early. They have cooperated with God’s dealings, like Joseph, and are the Firstfruits Harvest that ripens before the Main Harvest.
How Can I Become an Overcomer?
In which of these three groups will you find yourself? It is your choice. You make that choice every day, as Jesus described in the parable of the sower.
In this parable, Jesus first describes unbelievers:
“The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.”*—*Mark 4:14-15 (NKJV)
Then Jesus begins to describes the three groups of believers that we see in Revelation 12, starting with the Remnant:
“The seeds that fell on rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it right away. But they don’t have any roots, and they don’t last very long. As soon as life gets hard or the message gets them in trouble, they give up.”*—*Mark 4:16-17 (CEV)
Then Jesus describes the group of believers symbolized by the Sun-Clothed Woman:
“Others are like the seed planted among the thorny weeds. They hear the teaching, but their lives become full of other things: the worries of this life, the love of money, and everything else they want. This keeps the teaching from growing, and it does not produce a crop in their lives.”*—*Mark 4:18-19 (ERV)
Finally, Jesus describes the mature Overcomers that we see in the Man Child of Revelation 12:
“The seed scattered on good soil are those who hear the word and embrace it. They bear fruit, in one case a yield of thirty to one, in another case sixty to one, and in another case one hundred to one.”*—*Mark 4:20 (CEB)
What do you need to do to qualify to be included in the Overcomers group?
We would all do well to heed the counsel of Paul in Philippians 2:12-13:
“So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]. For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.” (AMP)
There were enemies and obstacles that the children of Israel had to overcome before they could fully enter into all that God had prepared for them in the Promised Land. What issues stand between you and all that God has for you? What issues need to be overcome in your life?
“Now in a large house there are not only vessels and objects of gold and silver, but also vessels and objects of wood and of earthenware, and some are for honorable (noble, good) use and some for dishonorable (ignoble, common). Therefore,*** if anyone cleanses himself from these things [which are dishonorable—disobedient, sinful], he will be a vessel for honor,**** sanctified [set apart for a special purpose and], useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”—2 Timothy 2:20-21 (AMP)*
Peter counsels us on how to make sure that we are not only called, but *chosen *as well:
*“Grace and peace [that special sense of spiritual well-being] be multiplied to you in the [true, intimate] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. *
“For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has bestowed on us His precious and magnificent promises [of inexpressible value], so that by them you may escape from the immoral freedom that is in the world because of disreputable desire, and become sharers of the divine nature.*** ***
“For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to, develop moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding),*** and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, steadfastness, and in your steadfastness, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly affection, and in your brotherly affection, [develop Christian] love [that is, learn to unselfishly seek the best for others and to do things for their benefit]. For as these qualities are yours and are increasing [in you as you grow toward spiritual maturity], they will keep you from being useless and unproductive in regard to the true knowledge and greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is blind—shortsighted [closing his spiritual eyes to the truth], having become oblivious to the fact that he was cleansed from his old sins. ***
“Therefore, believers, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you [be sure that your behavior reflects and confirms your relationship with God]; for by doing these things [actively developing these virtues], you will never stumble [in your spiritual growth and will live a life that leads others away from sin]; for in this way entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly provided to you.”—2 Peter 1:2-11 (AMP)
As the passing of time brings us closer and closer to the events described in Revelation chapter 12, the warnings of Jesus in Luke 21 become more and more critical:
“Constantly be on your guard so that your hearts will not be loaded down with self-indulgence, drunkenness, and the worries of this life, or that day will take you by surprise like a trap, because it will come on everyone who lives on the face of the earth.”—Luke 21:34-35 (ISV)
“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”—Luke 21:36 (NKJV)
For a more detailed explanation of the events in the book of Revelation, I highly recommend this free book about the end-time harvest (PDF download), as well as this free book about the Daniel’s prophecy (PDF download), and this free book about Revelation prophecies (PDF download). These were all written by my friend and former pastor.