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UNDERSTANDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD
THE BOOK OF REVELATION - PART 17
By John S. Torell

March 24, 2002

CHAPTER ELEVEN
Verse 14: The woes were spoken of in Revelation 8:13. The first woe ended with Revelation 9:2; in this verse we are told that the second woe is finished, and now the third woe shall come shortly.

Verse 15-19: The seventh angel is now sounding his trumpet, and it is now proclaimed in heaven that Jesus Christ has taken dominion over all the nations on the earth. This is followed by a great proclamation of the 24 elders seated in the very throne room of God.

CHAPTER TWELVE
This chapter is an insert of prophecies and historical events, which has taken place or will take place in the future. Thus they must be separated and looked upon individually, if we are to understand this chapter.

Verses 1-2: The woman can be understood to be two different entities. First she can be referred to as the people of Israel, the twelve tribes, who were going to bring the Messiah to the world. Zion is referred to as a daughter in Jeremiah 4:30-31.

But we can also see this as a "double" interpretation. In Genesis 3:15 we are told that the seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the serpent, and in Isaiah 7:14-15 we are told that a virgin shall conceive and bring forth the Messiah, which is what we read in Luke 1:26-35.

Verses 3-4: These two verses refers to Lucifer and the holy angels, which he deceived and took with him in his rebellion against God. For a complete understanding of the beginning of Satan, or as he is also known the Devil, we must read Isaiah 14:12-19 and Ezekiel 28:11-19.

In these two verses we learn that one third of the holy angels believed Lucifer, and fell into sin and were cast out of heaven with Lucifer.

We are also told here that the Devil tried to kill the child as soon as it was born. The Devil used king Herod to try to kill the baby Jesus - Matthew 2:1-8; 12; 16-18.

Verse 5: This is a short summary of the life of Jesus, he was indeed born by Mary and after his resurrection, he did return to heaven. Acts 1:9-11.

Verse 6: Joseph and Mary had to flee to Egypt and stay there until Herod was dead.  Matthew 2:13-15; 19-23.

Verses 7-9: For the first time in the Bible, man is now given the information that there had been a war in heaven. Jesus tells us in Luke 10:18 that this has already taken place, and by reading the Old Testament it is clear that this took place before Adam and Eve were created.

Verse 10: When Satan and his fallen angels were removed from heaven and banished to the earth, peace returned to heaven and all its inhabitants.

Verse 11: This verse is not referring to heaven, but to the earth and the verse is standing all by itself. Compare this with Luke 14:26-35.

Verse 12: This verse is creating a question, that cannot be fully answered at this time. Who lives under the oceans? The antichrist is coming out of the ocean - Revelation 13:1, but the false prophet is coming up out from the earth. What is the difference? The Bible indicates that after the fall of Lucifer and the war in the heavens, God reversed the surface on the earth, the ocean floors became land and the land became ocean floors. Psalm 104:1-9.

Verse 13: The church of Jesus Christ is called "The Bride of Christ." Revelation 19:4-7.

The history of the Christian church is one of death and destruction, beginning with the crucifixion of Jesus.

Verses 14-17: WAR is the description that the church has been in and is in, until Jesus comes
back. Ephesians 6:10-18.