Disclaimer: I am consolidating selected works of others for your study and decision.
Revelation 12 Sign
Genesis 1:14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for "signs" and "seasons", and for days and years.
The above verse in most all translations have translated Mo'ed as 'season'. Of interest here is the same word is translated elsewhere as God's appointed times and feasts.
Mow'ed: Strong's Number: 04150: appointed time, sacred season, set feast, appointed season
During the birth of Jesus (Yeshua, meaning salvation) we are familiar with the star of Bethlehem being a 'sign' in the Heavens of which the wise men knowing the prophecy of His arrival given in Zechariah 9:9 had watched for and properly discerned its meaning. Likewise Rev 12 provides another Heavenly sign describing a rapture (Harpazo) which will occur at the end of a feast when Israel expects the dead will be raised. The Heavenly sign describing both the rapture where we are caught up to Heaven and occurring on the appropriate Jewish feast of resurrection and joy strongly indicates the birth of the Body of Christ, the church.
Revelation 12:1-2 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
The great sign mentioned in Revelation 12 occurs on Sept 23 2017. Given other end time prophecies are coming to fruition we know we are nearing the tribulation period also known as Daniels Seventh Week, the Day of the Lord and Jacob's Trouble where this Heavenly sign of Revelation 12 is to be expected and no other sign has been found by scoffers. I find many have looked.
Revelation 12:5 'And her Child was caught up to God and His throne' is also a rapture verse using the Greek Harpazo. While in the past we have seen people who have claimed in error a date for the biblical end times or the rapture based on their own interpretation of dates or events I share the following submission of various consolidated biblical studies to illustrate the Revelation 12 sign in the Heavens comes from our Father not man and has the merit of His scriptures.
In Isaiah 66 and Revelation 12 a birth is being mentioned twice in each. In Rev 12 One mention refers to the birth a 'male child' while the other mention is the labor pains. Isa 66 clarifies the birth of the 'male child' occurs before labor, and another birth of her children during labor. Both prophecies together give us a clearer picture.
Isa 66:7 Before she was in labor, she gave birth; Before her pain came, She delivered a "male child".
Rev 12:5 She bore a "male Child" who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
Isa 66:8 For as soon as Zion was "in labor", She gave birth to her children.
Rev 12:2 Then being with child, she cried out "in labor" and in pain to give birth.
Noting these are two births, one is before labor pains and the other during.
In Rev 12:5 the male child was 'caught up' [harpazo] making this a rapture verse. Tied to Isa 66:7 the male child was caught up before labor which many interpret as a rapture of those in Christ occurring before the tribulation period (labor pains) and another birth of children while 'in labor' is interpreted as the tribulation saints who will turn to our Father during the tribulation as also suggested by two churches described in Rev 3.
Rev 3:10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world
Rev 3:16-17 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’
It is also noted in Rev 2 Jesus gives the rod of iron mentioned in the Rev 12 sign to the church representing the male child. In other scriptures we find Jesus is the head of the church and we are the body of Christ. The church commonly called the body of Christ is defined as singular and being those having received His Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body
Romans 12:5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
To clarify receiving His Spirit is seen in our motives and intent.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
It is also noted that Jesus's ascension never uses the word harpazo [caught up, rapture].
Feasts and Prophetic Fulfillments
There are seven appointed Jewish feasts given by our Father found in Leviticus which are being fulfilled in order.
Passover
Egypt: The last plague on Egypt for which Israel was finally freed was a plague of death which passed over all of Egypt killing the firstborn of both man and animal. Israel was instructed to sacrifice a lamb and place its blood on their doorposts so that the plague would passover and not harm them.
Christ: Jesus is called the lamb of God who was then sacrificed on the feast of Passover for our sins.
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Of note is sin sacrifice was never commanded by God but permitted by request. Even then, Israel's sacrifice was never accepted where our Father in His own mercy fulfilled their oath for them through Jesus as the only pure and acceptable sacrifice for sins.
Matthew 9:13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Matthew 12:7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned [sacrificed] the guiltless.
Unleavened Bread
Egypt: The day Egypt was burying their first born Israel was freed and left in haste without leaven (yeast) in their bread. Leaven is associated with sin as it puffs up the bread. Bread without leaven is considered pure and often prepared having stripes and pierced.
Christ: Jesus who claimed to be the bread of life in John 6:35 and like those in Egypt being the first born of our Father was buried on the feast of unleavened bread. Isaiah in the Old Testament prophecies about this..
Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
First Fruits
Egypt: A memorial of when Israel was saved by God having crossed through the parted waters of the Red Sea.
Christ: Jesus rose from the grave having conquered death for all on the feast of first fruits.
1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
1 Corinthians 15:55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
Pentecost
Mount Sinai: A memorial of when God descended, the law was received and Israel was consecrated as God's people.
Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit sent by Jesus [John 15:26] descended on the feast of pentecost and the church was conceived.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Galatians 3:2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Trumpets
The feast of trumpets is the next feast to be fulfilled.
The Jewish feast of trumpets on which the sign occurs in 2017 is also known as the hidden feast and the feast which no one knows the day or hour as it is the only feast which occurs on the first day of the month which requires a sighting of the new moon by two witnesses. At the end of the feast of trumpets we find the last trump called the Tekiah Gedolah being the 100th blowing to end of the Jewish day at sundown, at twilight, also known as the twinkling of an eye in Jewish idiom.
1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Also the Feast of Trumpets taught by Israel's Rabbi's and Priests long ago will be the time when the dead are resurrected, the king is crowned and judgement begins as I describe later.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
It should be noted in the above verse that the real last trump is being sounded from heaven. Some Jewish customs will sometimes blow a 101st blast so to alarm the devil.
- No one knows the day or hour -> Feast of Trumpets
- At the last trump -> Feast of Trumpets
- In the twinkling of an eye -> Feast of Trumpets
- The dead will be raised -> Feast of Trumpets
- Judgement (tribulation) begins -> Feast of Trumpets
- Next prophetic feast to be fulfilled -> Feast of Trumpets
- Rev 12 sign -> Feast of Trumpets Sept 23 2017
Note: A Sabbath is a day which we are to rest. The Feast of Trumpets is recognized as a special Sabbath where our Father provides rest for those found in the book of life.
Atonement
Judgement then continues during the Days of Awe which represents a time of repentance and ends at the next feast to be fulfilled which is the Day of Atonement; when the books are closed. Most all recognize this to represent the tribulation period where the tribulation saints will finally put their faith and trust in our Father.
Levitical laws concerning the birth of a male child state a woman will then be unclean for 7 days after which she must make atonement Lev 12:2. This closely resembles the birth of a male child in Rev 12 followed by the prophesied 7 year tribulation ending on the day of atonement.
Our Father substituting days for years is seen in Ezekiel 4:6 “After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the people of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year.
I also find the following verses to be "interesting" in possibly suggesting instructions for the tribulation saints who endure the tribulation after the rapture.
Luke 12:35-39 Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will "return from the wedding", that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. And if he should come in the "second watch, or come in the third watch", and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and "not allowed" his house to be broken into. (past tense)
Tabernacles
The feast of tabernacles is a commemoration of the coming reign of Messiah after his return. This is also referred to as the millennial reign which lasts for one thousand years ending in the great white throne judgement when the wicked will be released and thrown into the fire.
Summary
These studies are only scratching the surface to which I provide selected references below who do a better job than I. I personally am very hopeful of a rapture and escaping a great evil and persecution which is coming. Seems the ones who are busy tearing apart the scriptures to verify the great sign of Revelation 12 are described below.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on "them" suddenly, as "labor pains on a pregnant woman", and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.
Note: In a Jubilee year which many Jewish scholars believe we are currently in the Jewish new year Rosh Hashanah is moved from the Feast of Trumpets to the Day of Atonement and there is another trumpet blown. There are ongoing studies if this may also be considered a last trump. The jury is still out on that one IMO. Of note is when the last trump being mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:52 that the book of Revelations mentioning a 7th and final trum had likely not yet been written and the church of Corinth reading Paul's letter written to them would naturally associate the expression 'last trump' to the one blown on the feast of Trumpets. The last of the 7 trumpets blown in the book of Revelation is referred to as the great trump, not last trump. If it was said 'last trump' Israelis would naturally think of the feast, if 'great trump' they would think of the coming of the Messiah at the end of the tribulation. There should be no confusing the two.
The following are word studies in an effort to clarify the 'male child' in Rev 12 refers to the body of Christ and not Jesus.
Child -> [Gaster]: Never used for Jesus or Church
Rev 12:2 And she being with child [Gaster] cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
1 Thes 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child [Gaster]; and they shall not escape.
- Gaster best describes the tribulation saints which endure the tribulation.
Child -> [Teknon]: Used for Church, never for Jesus
Teknon: commonly referring to an infant or adolescent
Rev 12:4 ..and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child [Teknon] as soon as it was born.
2 Timothy 2:1 Thou therefore, my son [Teknon], be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
- NT writers always used Huios below to refer to Jesus except once in quoting Mary who called Jesus her son [Teknon]
Child -> [Huios]: Used for Jesus and Church
Huios: referring to a mature child
Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a male child [Huios, mature], who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child [Huios] was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
1 Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the children [Huios] of light, and the children [Huios] of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
A mature child at birth best describes the rapture of the church, not the birth of Jesus.
Male -> [Arrhen] Used for Church, never Jesus
Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a male [Arrhen] child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron
Male is never used for Jesus. Commentary suggests male applies to both man and animal, both having animal behavior never associated with Jesus.
Jude 1:10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.
- KJV translates male [Arrhen] to 'man' child, NKJV corrects it
- Given the word male was never used Jesus, male was likely selected in Rev 12 to show it was not referring to Jesus being caught up.
Rev 12 rapture [Harpazo] is not Jesus or His Ascension
Jesus ascension after His death is never referred to as a rapture [Harpazo]. Harpazo means to snatch, kidnap, take by force, pulled to safety.
John 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take [Harpazo] him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain alone.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up [Harpazo] together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
- In summary Jesus is never referred to as an infant child [Teknon] or a male [Arrhen] or being raptured [Harpazo] which are all used in Rev 12. These are all used to describe the church adding a mature child [Huios] being raptured.
Male Child
The words male child or man child together is not found elsewhere in the New Testament. They are found together in Isaiah describing the same prophetic event of Rev 12.
_Isaiah 66:7-6 “Before she was in labor, she gave birth; Before her pain came, She delivered a male child [Zakar]. _
Unlike the New Testament which was written in Greek, the Old Testament is written in Hebrew or Aramaic:
Zakar: male, of human (or animal). Root: to remember, recall, call to mind (a remembered one)
Recommended References
I agree some are putting out junk both pro and con regarding Rev 12; there are also those doing great biblical work which some I've tried to summarize. Here is an enjoyable work by Scottie Clark which is full of biblical studies including more interesting insights I haven't listed.
Two short videos on the Days of Awe.
In my study these represent those not yet recorded in the book of life or the book of death, a grace period between feast of trumpets and day of atonement allowing repentance and a hope to be included in the book of life. Which describes the tribulation period.
Feast of Trumpets
Joy, Rapture, Alarm, Judgement
No one knows the Day or the Hour except the Father.
Unfortunately I have not found a presentation which I find satisfying while there are various counters listed for your consideration and study.
- A number of parables regarding the foolish and wise describe the foolish are those not knowing. The wise are not caught off guard.
- Matthew 24:25-26 which is often quoted out of context clearly states it is speaking of no one knows when the earth will pass away. The reference is not about the tribulation or rapture. The following 30min video also discuss verses indicating we should know.
- Some suggest Jesus did not know the day or hour when He said it. After He ascended and took His place having authority over all things our Father revealed the day and hour which He then shared with John who wrote the book of Revelation (Rev 1:1) and Paul (2 Corinthians 12:4).
Why Jesus was given authority over all.
https://steemit.com/christianity/@revealing/our-father-s-one-will-in-three
If you wish to study this further.
I may have a different opinion in a few places but recommend these resources for their heart and focus on scripture more than commentary. Enjoy.
Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/user/eternalrhythmflow/playlists
https://rev12daily.blogspot.com/
Text:
http://www.unsealed.org/2017/01/the-revelation-12-sign-compendium.html
http://mydigitalseminary.com/pre-tribulational-rapture-interview-michael-svigel/
http://www.unsealed.org/
Tools
Concordance (enter book, chapter or verse then click on a word to see its original meaning
http://www.biblestudytools.com/interlinear-bible/Jewish Calendar
http://torahcalendar.com/
The last trump should be blown in Jerusulem on Sept 22 around 6:35pm
Time of Sunset in Israel
https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/israel/jerusalem?month=9Time and Location Converter
https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/meetingtime.html?iso=20170924&p1=110&p2=179&p3=224
