1. Signs in heaven. 12:1-6 V.1 a) Clothed woman - First sign in heaven. I. The woman is not Mary the mother of Jesus, for this woman will experience persecution on the earth during the great tribulation. v.13 II. The woman is not the Church for this woman is giving birth, the bridal Church is to be presented as a chaste virgin to Christ her Bridegroom; The Church didn’ t give birth to Christ. 2.Cor.11:2 III. The woman is Israel: A. Joseph’ s dream reveals it: Gen. 1:14-19; 37:9-11; Psalms 89:36-37 The sun speaks of Jacob, the moon of Rachel and the 12 stars of the 12 tribes of Israel. B. Isaiah’ s prophecy reveals it: The Child was born to Israel “ us” . Isaiah 9:6 C. Paul stated that Christ came from Israel. Rom.9:4-5 IV. There are four women in Revelation; two of them are spoken good about and two of them evil about: 1. Jezebel. Revelation 2:20 2. The Harlot. Rev. Ch. 17, 18 3. The woman in heaven. Rev. Ch.12 4. The Bride. Revelation 19:7; 21:2, 9 V.2 b) Childbirth - Mary gave birth to Christ, but since Abraham and throughout all generations until Christ was born, the Jews had been travailing in preparing for Christ coming through teaching, persecution and prayer. Isaiah 26:17; 66:7-8; Micah 4:10; 5:3 V.3 c) Crowned dragon - Second sign in heaven. I. The red dragon speaks of Satan and occurs 12 times in the New Testament, all of these in Revelation. 12:3, 4, 7, 9, 13, 16, 17; 13:2, 4, 11; 16:13; 20:2 II. The dragon had 7 heads and crowns, speaking of 7 empires: 17:7-11; Matt.4:9 1st empire - Egypt. 3000-1100 B.C. 2nd empire - Assyria. 750-612 B.C. 3rd empire - Babylon. 612-539 B.C. Dan.7:4; 8:4 4th empire - Medo-Persia. 539-331 B.C. Dan.7:5; 8:3 5th empire - Greece. 331-146 B.C. Dan.7:6 6th empire - Rome. 146 B.C. - Dan.7:7 7th empire - Revived Roman Empire. Dan.9:26-27 III. The red dragon had 10 horns, speaking of 10 kings of the Revived Roman Empire. 17:12-17 IV. The red dragon is similar to the beast from the sea 17:7, for he is the real ruler behind the beast and these 7 empires. V. The dragon is red because the Devil was a murderer from the beginning. John 8:44 V.4 d) Celestial Cast down VS Child Coming down - I. Satan perhaps caused 1/3 of all angels (stars) to rebel against the Lord; the result was a downfall of these celestial beings. II. It could also be that at Christ birth 1/3 of the fallen angels were released on the earth to help Satan in conquering the Christ. Heb.4:15 III. It could also refer to 1/3 of the Old Testament saints through the Jewish history, which are killed or falls in their travail in bringing forth the messiah. Dan.8:10 IV. Satan tried to kill Jesus by slaughtering the children from 2 years old and under. Matt.2:13-20 V.5 e) Child Caught up - I. His Authority - A. The Male Child is Christ, for only He alone has the promise that He will rule all the nations. Dan.7:13-14; 1.Cor.15:24-28; Matt.25:31-46 B. Christ will rule the nations with a rod of iron during the millennium. Psalms 2:8-12 II. His Ascension - Christ ascended and sat on His throne. 3:21; Acts 2:30 V.6 f) Care-place for the woman - I. The time clock concerning Israel stopped when they rejected Christ, about the time when the Church is raptured the time clock will begin again. II. There is a time gap between verse 5 and 6 from the Rejection of Christ to the Rapture of the Church. Dan.9:24-27 III. Christ Himself referred to this future event. Matt.24:15-21 VI. God will provide for Israel there 3½ years, like He provided for the Israelites during the exodus for 40 years. Deu.8:1-16 V. While a great part of Israel is in the wilderness during the great tribulation, Satan tramples down Jerusalem. 11:2