Revelation Chapter 12
- CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD
- Sep 18
- 8 min read
Updated: Sep 22
First Lesson on Revelation Chapter 12
In Revelation chapter 12 we will learn about the devious plot which the dragon has engineered against God’s people. In it we shall observe the fulfillment of prophecy, the advancement of falsehood, identify false religious beliefs and use this knowledge to prepare ourselves for the onslaught from the devil. As believers in Christ, we must be aware that the spiritual battle is intensifying as we approach the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The Scriptures are our guide and through these words of God we can gain knowledge and become equipped to be victorious through Christ Jesus.
It is important that we study the Scriptures and understand that we are not in combat with a weak force but with one that is crafty and has years of expertise. However, if we trust God we are to be undaunted by the devil’s tactics because we have a Commander who is always victorious. 2nd Corinthians 10:4 tells us, For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
When God created this world, He gave us a pure Faith but today it is tainted by falsehood. Apostasy has gained traction as mankind exalt themselves above God and His Truth. Many have either placed themselves in the position of God or they have renounced God or godliness. This is due to the influence of evil. It is sad that humans rather serve the creature than the Creator. They rather to be vessels of dishonour than vessels of honour.
Today there are uncountable tenets of doctrines which man have adopted and which have driven them farther and farther away from our Loving Father. Often those who seek to walk in righteousness are labelled fanatics or may be ridiculed as ‘thinking within a box.’ They are often intimidated by persons who ridicule their stance for truth and often they become discouraged and adopt the worldly forward thinking unrighteous attitude. This was how the Devil and his agents got a foothold in the Church centuries ago. His strategies remain the same only that his targets are frequently renewed because humans die and others replace them.
Festivals and celebrations are two ways in which Christendom engage in ungodly worship practices and many persons are unknowingly involved in these celebrations. They are caught in the web of deceit because of the teachings given by those who have the responsibility of spiritual guidance. There are many such practices but a few popular ones are: Easter (Lent, Good Friday crucifixion, Sunday morning resurrection, early morning Easter services are all hinged to pagan rituals), Christmas, New Year and Trinity.
On December 25 persons can be heard saying Christ is the reason for the season or that we should put Christ back into Christmas. Using the Scriptures one cannot prove December 25 as the birthday of Jesus but using historical data it can be proven that around that time in Ancient Rome there were midwinter pagan celebrations and when Rome is said to have become a Christian nation the leaders tried to replace the pagan rituals with a Christian celebration which is not biblically authorized. The Bible does not give a specific date for the birth of Christ but using the Scriptures you will discover that the birth of Christ occurred weeks before December 25. Everything about Christmas is unbiblical.
Amos 3:3 asks us, ‘Can two walk together except they be agreed? Jesus said, you cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24) Christmas was instituted by the Roman Church as they try to include their ancient pagan practices into Christianity. The Apostles or the Apostolic Church did not celebrate it. It became a national celebrated event in Ancient Rome around 336A.D and on June 28, 1870 President Ulysses S. Grant passed a bill that recognized Christmas and New Year’s Day as federal holidays in the United States of America. Christmas cards became popular around 1843. There are many other facts about these holidays which will reveal the contrariness of their celebration.
The word deci which is a Roman word means ten. December is the tenth month of the year. January is a wintry month; would God begin a year in the midst of a time of slow or non-growth? Isn’t a new year a new beginning? January is named after Janus the Roman god of new beginnings. An additional error is the teaching that a day begins at twelve midnight. How can a day begin at midnight? The word of God tells us that a night is divided into four watches, a watch lasts for three hours. Watches are – 6-9, 9-12, 12-3, 3-6.
Christ was never and will never be in Christmas celebrations or January first as the beginning of a new year because the celebrations are not centred on gospel truth. God gave the time for the New Year. Exodus 12:1-2, And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,
2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
Exodus 13:4 - This day came ye out in the month Abib.
Deuteronomy 16:1 - Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover unto the Lord thy God: for in the month of Abib the Lord thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.
When is Abib? this month falls between the Roman months March and April. It is around the time of Spring starting with the new moon nearest to the vernal equinox; it is the time when things come to life. Also, it is important to know that according to Holy Writ a month always begin with a new moon. Isaiah 66:23 -And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the Lord. Psalm 81:3 - Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. In the Old Testament era it was God's command that the new month be welcomed with set sacrifices and celebrations.
Pertaining to day and night Genesis chapter 1 clearly tells us that night comes before daylight. A day inclusive of night and day begins at sunset. Rome has led us in the opposite thought by using the sun to calculate time, starting a day at twelve midnight and putting the night after daylight. We are in a confused state because of the Beast power which used its influence to change times and laws.
It is also very important to know that when the New Year is calculated based on Scriptures there is no one settled date for the beginning of the Bible New Year. January 1 is not the beginning of the God given year and midnight is not the beginning of His day. We need to desist from engaging in pagan practices regardless of how enjoyable or profitable they are to us. It is sad that we give more honour to the creature than to our Almighty God. Truly God shall hold religious leaders accountable for leading souls away from His path.
This confusion about time is a result of changes made by Roman decrees as Daniel 7:24-25 tells us- 24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
25 And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
This is not a controversial text because history tells us about the rise of the Roman kingdom and how they and their allies subdued and wiped out the Arians. According to history the ten kingdoms were:
Anglo-Saxons: Settled in England.
Franks: Established modern France.
Alemanni: Settled in Germany.
Visigoths: Ruled parts of France and Spain.
Burgundians: Established a kingdom in the area of modern Switzerland.
Lombards: Dominated Italy after the fall of the Ostrogoths.
Suevi: Settled in Portugal.
Heruli: Conquered Rome in 476 AD and were later defeated.
Vandals: Established a kingdom in North Africa and were later destroyed by the Pope's influence around 493 AD.
Ostrogoths: Ruled Italy and were later overthrown by the Byzantine Empire in 538 AD.
The Arians were named after Doctor Arius, a man of God who would not agree with the apostasy that was creeping in through the door opened by the Roman Church. Therefore, Rome in conjunction with its allies conspired and overthrew the Heruli, Vandals and Ostrogoths which comprised the Arian kingdom. The destruction of these three kingdoms was vital to the rise of the Papacy to political power after the collapse of the Roman Empire. Their destruction paved the way for Catholicism to become the dominant religious and political power.
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Even though God is capable of taking care, every true shepherd worries about the spiritual welfare of the sheep. Especially in these turbulent times, there are many causes for concern? 2Timothy 3:1,12,13 -This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Apostles Paul and Peter were also worried and repeatedly warned the Believers to be prayerful and watchful. We are warned in 2nd Timothy 2:15-16, 19, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Many persecutions have passed but another most intense period of persecution is coming. A tree without strong and deep roots cannot withstand the hurricane.
How deep is your root? Many persons are rejecting the Truth and are standing on another foundation. The only foundation which can withstand the onslaught is that which is laid in Christ; every other foundation is built from inferior material.
In this religious crisis, sin is accepted as good and those who seek to walk godly are often ridiculed and denounced. Are you willing to stand on the Sure Foundation? If you are, stay hopeful and courageous because our Leader is always victorious. Soon all this religious chaos will end but not before the Saints suffer intense persecution.
2nd Timothy 3:12 remind us that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Luke 6: 22-23 records Jesus saying, Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Writer - A. E. Fisher
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