“A War on Israel”
Revelation 12:13-17
“Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.” [Rev 12:13]
Noted in our Revelation text from two weeks ago [Rev 12:1-6], the “woman” referred to in Rev 12 is Israel. John describes her as “a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.” [Rev 12:1]
The vision is so similar to the dream that Joseph had of his brothers in Gen 37, it is difficult to separate the two. “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” [Gen 37:9].
The interpretation of Joseph’s dream is given by his father Jacob in Gen 37:10. If we can connect this to John’s vision in Rev 12, it becomes clear that the “woman” is a reference to Jacob’s sons [Israel], and specifically within the context of Rev 12, to a faithful remnant of Israel in the latter days.
Why is this important? It shows that God is not finished with Israel, and this supports a thread that runs throughout the Bible. A remnant of Israel will be preserved [“sealed”] during the seven year tribulation and live on into the Millennium. This will fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant [ref. Gen 15] dealing with the fullness of possessing the Land, and the completion of the New Covenant in Christ of the law written on the hearts and minds of Israel [ref. Jer 31:31-34].
When the dragon [Satan] is cast out of heaven and confined to this earth, no longer being the “accuser of our brethren,” his objective will be to thwart God’s promises in these unconditional covenants, with the common denominator being Israel. Taking out Israel thwarts God’s plan and God’s word.
And so “the dragon...persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.” [Rev 12:13]
We will see, however, through several cross-references in the Bible, how God will preserve and protect a remnant of Israel during the latter days, and thus fulfill these unconditional covenants regarding Israel.
In short, God is not finished with Israel. We must, therefore, keep our eyes on Israel during this time, which I believe is just prior to the latter days.
