Revelation Chapter 12:1
- CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD
- Sep 19
- 9 min read
Updated: Sep 22
Revelation Chapter 12
Second Lesson on Revelation Chapter 12
Revelation 12 spans Genesis1:1 to the end of the present world. This chapter informs us of Satan’s plot against Jesus and His followers. It also assists us in understanding the journey of the Church throughout the ages.
Revelation 12:1 - And there appear 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.
The woman in this chapter points to the Body of Christ, the people of God. The prophetic meaning for woman can be found in Jeremiah 6:2 and 2nd Corinthians 11:2. Jeremiah 6:2 - I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman. 2nd Corinthians 11:2 reads, ‘For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy; for I have espoused you to one Husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.’
The Bible points us to two churches. Revelation 17 tells us about the church which has a foundation of falsehood. Revelation 12 tells us about the True Church of God. We should always be able to differentiate between both churches. The Church of God is a group of persons who have repented of their sins and live in obedience to God’s Laws and are not involved in acts of physical or spiritual fornication. The Church is committed to ONE MASTER and has no pleasure in carnality.
The Church of God began when God called Abraham out of the Ur of Chaldees. Abraham’s descendants are now called the Israelites/Jews. The Church of God includes Abraham’s descendants and gentile nations; every member is redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:3,7- 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
7 In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;
Acts 4:12- Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
I Corinthians 3:11 says, ‘For no other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:20 tells us that the CHURCH OF GOD is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Corner Stone. These Scriptures are reminding us that Christ laid a spiritual foundation and the prophets and apostles laboured on that same foundation. They did not attempt to lay another therefore, we ought not to lay another foundation.
The woman had twelve stars on the crown on her head. What is the significance of the twelve stars in the Old and New Testaments? Genesis 35:22b tells us the sons of Jacob were twelve. Jacob’s twelve sons were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin.
After a spiritual encounter God changed Jacob’s name to Israel. His twelve sons are the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew chapter 10:1 informs us that Jesus selected twelve disciples. The Disciples/Apostles of Christ were the foundation stones of His Church. In Revelation 21:14 we are told that the twelve foundations of the wall of the New Jerusalem will have in them the names of the twelve Disciples/Apostles. It is evident, therefore, that our Lord attaches great importance to these men. Simon Peter, Andrew, James the son of Zebedee, John ,Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus, Simon the Canaanite, and Matthias who replaced the traitor, Judas Iscariot.
Genesis 37: 7-11 records two dreams which Joseph the son of Jacob had. In each dream he saw himself reigning over his siblings. His brothers were very unhappy about this especially as they were aware that he seemed to be his father’s favourite child.
In jealousy Joseph’s brothers sold him as a slave and the slavers took him to Egypt and sold him there. The deceit of the brothers was cruel because they told their aged father that wild animal had eaten Joseph. It was a very heartrending situation for Jacob. (Genesis 37) While in Egypt, Joseph was falsely accused and thrown into prison (Genesis 39) but God did not allow him to remain in prison. Soon God allowed Joseph, the slave, to become Joseph, the governor. While living in Egypt God used Joseph whom his brothers had sold as a slave to save the life of his Israelite family. He also took his family to Egypt and they lived in a place name Goshen. (Genesis 41-45)
Joseph had two sons; Ephraim and Manasseh. It is customary for the fathers to bless their descendants so Jacob took Joseph’s children to bless them. While blessing them God allowed Jacob’s hands to be crossed so that the greatest blessing was passed to the younger. This is very significant as it also shows how God has transferred His ministry from Israel the Elder into the hands of the younger Gentile Church. This is not to say that God has cast away Israel. He has not because at the end of the Gentile Dispensation Israel will again be fully reinstated. Romans 11:25- For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Joseph had a strong spiritual bond with God and his life is a story of obedience to both God and man. Joseph’s life was similar to Jesus Christ. His father, Jacob loved him but his brethren hated him. Jesus’s father loves Him but His brethren the Jews hated Him and sold Him for thirty pieces of silver. Joseph was married to an Egyptian. Christ was a willing sacrifice for every wayward individual regardless of race or gender. Through Christ Gentiles have been given the wonderful gift of salvation. We were once idol worshippers but now we can come into God’ presence as His children. Ephesians 2:8-13 reminds us that we are saved through faith and not of works.
The woman was clothed with the sun and the moon was under her feet. In Genesis 1:16 we learn that God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. In the absence of the sun, the moon is a reflection of the perfect light of the sun. However, when the sun rises the moon goes into obscurity. You know it is there but it is no longer needed. The moon typifies the Laws of the Ordinances otherwise named the Mosaic Laws which was a reflection of good things to come. The Sun typifies the Word or Light of God; Jesus is the Light of the World made flesh, He is also called the Sun of Righteousness in Malachi 4:2. Children of God are similar to the sun because they are set on fire by the Holy Spirit and they generate godly light.
The Church has risen to an extent above the Laws of the Ordinances but has not totally discarded them. The Laws of rituals, sacrifices and ceremonies are a part of the Old Covenant; today we are walking in a New Covenant which was made possible by the sacrifice of Christ.Therefore the moon had to be placed under the feet of the woman in Revelation 12. This is telling us that the time of sacrificial and ceremonial ordinances and rituals have passed. Praise the Lord.
In reference to Jesus and the Laws of the Ordinances, Ephesians 2:14-15 say, For He is our Peace who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us. Having abolished in His flesh the enmity even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances for to make of Himself of twain one new man so making peace.
Colossians 2: 14-17 - 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
These are controversial verses because they are often wrongly interpreted. We must understand that the Laws of the Ordinances are different from the Ten Commandments. While the Ten Commandments were written by God on tables of stone the Laws of the Ordinances were written by Moses in a book/scroll. God gave the directive that The Ten Commandments/ The Testimony be placed into the Ark of the Covenant. (Exodus 25:16) The Laws of the Ordinances otherwise called the Mosaic Laws were placed in the side of the Ark. (Deuteronomy. 31:9,26).
Colossians 2:16 tells us that one should not judge the eating and drinking patterns of others and also how others relate to holy days. This is not telling us that we should partake of unclean foods or ungodly beverages/liquor. Remember Paul was writing to a set of people who were coming out of idolatry and were accustomed to many unsavoury dieting practices and religious rituals. The Jews had also taken onto themselves eating practices which were ungodly. They went against God's directives and worshipped idols and ate sacrifices and burnt offerings offered to those idols.
The sacrifices and worship given to idols are not to be linked to those required by God under the Old Covenant. Under this Covenant the Israelites offered sacrifices to God and following God's directives they also partook of some of these sacrifices. Now that Jesus has accomplished the mission of salvation these sacrifices were no longer necessary. Hebrews 9:11-12 - 11 But Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood he entered in once into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
The Gentiles were being coerced by the Jews to engaged in the activities which Christ had put away. This event caused a discussion among the Apostles Paul and Peter.
Galatians 2:11-14 - But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
Read Genesis 32: 24-32 and learn why the Israelites do not eat a portion of the thigh of animals. Do you remember how the Disciples plucked the corn on the Sabbath and how the Jewish spiritual leaders responded? (Matthew 12:1-4) All these were used to judge the Gentiles but Paul encouraged them to focus on Christ.
The celebration of the new moon and holy days for example Feast of the Trumpets, Week of Unleavened Bread, Feast of the Tabernacles and other such festivals have sabbath days. (Leviticus 23) Paul was not telling the Colossians brethren not to obey God’s directive about the Seventh Day Sabbath which was a Sign between God and man but was instead referring to the sabbath days attached to the festivals. These sabbath days were made obsolete because these festivals were fulfilled in Christ but Gentile believers were being forced by the Jews into obedience to the Old Covenant. Therefore, Paul was admonishing them to stand boldly against such manipulations. Apostle Paul was not giving directives to eat unclean food or drink and not rest on the Seventh Day Sabbath. He did not have such authority.
Revelation 12:2 tells us that the woman went into labour pain and would soon deliver her child. Isaiah 9:6-7 tells us about the child - His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The might God, The Everlasting Father The Prince of Peace and His government shall never end moreover He shall reign in peace.
Matthew1:21- And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.
I will now summarise Revelation 12:1-2. Woman in prophecy refers to the Church which comprises a group of obedient followers. It also pointed to the nation of Israel because the twelve stars above the woman’s head point to the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve disciples. The moon under her feet points to the Laws of Ordinances which Jesus’ death had put away. Being clothed with the sun tells us about Jesus’ redemptive blood and the power of the Holy Spirit. No longer do we need to engage in animal sacrifices or ceremonial washings. All we need to do is to obey the Ten Commandments which God had written on the tables of stone and we must remember that the Ten Commandments written by God are different from the Laws of the Ordinance written by Moses.
Writer - A. E. Fisher
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