Revelation Chapter 12:3
- CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD
- Sep 20
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 22
This is our third lesson
Our study will be centred on Revelation 12:3. It reads, “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.
This sight was a wonder to Apostle John which in normal life would have created a deep fear in him but because he was in the spiritual he only saw it as a wonder. He saw a red dragon. Red as a colour which signifies danger and the dragon typifies the devil. So, this in itself is a warning that something dramatic is about to happen.
The dragon has seven heads. Geologically heads mean mountains or hills, politically mountains signify major powers, governments and rulers. Revelation 17:9 - And here is the mind which hath wisdom, the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. Prophetically woman means church and there are two women or two churches the apostate church of Revelation 17 and the Church of God of Revelation 12.
To have an understanding of Revelation 12:3 we must examine Revelation 17 and Daniel chapter 7 and we must also include history and geography. The woman who sits on the mountain is the papal church. The papal church is situated in Rome and the mountains of Rome are: Esquiline, Aventine, Caelus, Palatine, Viminal, Capitoline and Quirinal. Esquiline was the largest of the Seven Hills of Rome. The Pope who is the head of this church sits as both a religious and a political leader. Politically the seven heads refer to the seven political rulers or seven powers. These are: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome and the Future Revived Roman Empire.
All these political powers are mountain in the spiritual sense who laud themselves above God. In Jeremiah 51:24-25 God expressed His displeasure against Babylon. It reads, And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight saith the Lord. Behold I am against thee o destroying mountain saith the Lord which destroyest all the earth and I will stretch out Mine hand upon thee and roll thee down from the rocks and will make thee a burnt mountain. When Ancient Babylon was world power they behaved as if they were the ultimate power. They were idolaters who deny the existence of the True and Living God and showed no mercy to God’s people. Therefore, God had to visit them in His wrath. In this same manner God will be visiting this present apostate Babylon church and her daughters.
Ancient Babylon is similar to our present apostate worship. When Pagan Rome claimed to have taken on Christianity it took with it many of its Ancient Pagan Babylonish practices. It took heathenish practices not only from Babylon but also from Egypt, Assyria, Medo Persia and Greece and combined all with its own paganism. Thus, there came forward a type of idolatry which cannot be described. God gave Daniel a vision of the kingdoms and this was how he described the fourth kingdom. Daniel 7:7- After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
In Revelation 13 it is displayed as the amalgamated beast. Revelation 13:1-2 - And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
All biblical and historical data point to one religious system -the Christian Rome of today is the same pagan Rome of yesterday. Leopards do not change their spots unless God gives them a new skin.
Regrettably the doctrine of error which Rome promotes is sent out with such deviousness that many are convinced that it is God’s will for mankind. Is it any wonder that the Book of Revelation is centred on how God will reward them for their evil practices? Yes, in the final day God will pour out His wrath on all the adherers to its falsehood.
On each of the political heads on the dragon is a crown. A crown shows sovereignty. In this way the Devil is demonstrating that he is the god of this world. 2nd Corinthians 4:3-4 remind us, “For if our gospel be hid. It is hid from to them who are lost. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them. This Scripture teaches us that God often acts democratically therefore He has given us the opportunity to choose either Him or the devil. The devil does not want any of us to inherit everlasting life therefore he erects blockages so that an individual will not accept God’s truth. One of his most effective strategy is false doctrines
The dragon also has ten horns. To understanding the prophetic meaning of horns, we search the Scriptures. According to Daniel 7:24 - And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise. Revelation17:12 - And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings.
Who are these ten kings to whom reference is made? The ten kings are rulers who will rule concurrently as recorded in history. Historical data teaches us that in the past there were ten kings who ruled the world before Rome’s downfall. These kings and kingdoms were: Visigoths [Spain], Suevi [Portugal], Alemanni [Germany], Anglo-Saxons [Britain], Burgundians [Switzerland], Lombards [Italy] Franks [France], Vandals, Heruli, Ostrogoths. The Vandals, Heruli, and Ostrogoths were conquered and wiped out by Rome and its allies.
This is a prophecy given in Daniel 7:8 - I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
Daniel 7 tells us about the plucking up of these horns by the little horn. The little horn has the eyes of a man and a mouth which speaks great things. This little horn is also ruthless because it made war or persecuted the people of God. This little horn is the papal system which came out of the horns on the head of the fourth beast. Rome did not begin as a papal system but as outlined in the Scriptures and history it became a papal system which ruthlessly destroyed God’s people who kept the Ten Commandments and follow the Testimony of Jesus Christ. It inculcated its Ancient Babylonish practices in Christianity and ruthlessly effected the changes. These changes are with us until today and will remain until Christ returns.
The papal system was a great political move to centralise power. The Roman church claim Apostle Peter as their first pope. This would be very ironic because in 64A.D. Simon Peter was crucified in Rome upside down on a cross. Simon Peter had nothing in common with the practices of the Roman church and it is unlikely for the leader not to have left any influence on the people he was leading. What about Apostle Paul where was he beheaded, wasn’t it in Rome? It is ironic that the people who claim to be founded on the apostolic precept are the very ones guilty of persecuting the believers of truth and withholding the Scriptures from the massive. Have we paid keen attention to Simon the sorcerer otherwise called Simon Magus who was baptised in the Apostolic Church not because he was converted but because he wanted power. When he realised that the Church of God would not accommodate him, Simon left the Church of God and started his own ministry. Historical records tell that Apostle Peter and Simon Magus were in Rome at the same time. Simon had a fall which led to his death. It is recorded that the The Roman church of Santa Francesca Romana in Rome is believed to have been built on the very spot where Simon fell.
In the future when Rome is fully revived the ten kingdoms will be revived. The kingdoms will not be given the same names but will follow the same agenda as ordered by the Beast. Presently the purpose of the European Union is to put reform and unite countries. Their action will be in line with Bible prophecies and must be fulfilled before the coming of our Saviour. The European Union building can be likened to the Tower of Babel and slogans associated with its unification. These two slogans - Many Tongues One Voice and United in Diversity all speak to the past intent for the construction of Babel. Presently everything is only a refurbishing of the old agenda.
We need to be analytical and observant while resting our hope in the Lord. Do not become entangled with the minor things of this life; keep away from apostasy. The most important thing for you is the saving of your soul. Regardless of your situation and the obstacles in your way I remind you today that our Lord is greater than your challenges. Seek Him and allow Him to take the snags out of your life. He is a loving and a faithful High Priest. Let Him have the best of your life.
Writer - A. E. Fisher
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