Revelation 12 - A Great Sign in Heaven?

Remember the Revelation 12, September 23rd sign?  That seems like ages ago. In truth, I was quite excited for a rapture on that date, though I always hesitate to set dates. I realize that we humans are extremely limited in our understanding of the things of God. Yes, He can and often does reveal great mysteries to those of us filled with His Spirit and desperate to know more of Him. But still, do any of us really know the exact timing of all of these end time events?

Even so, I was reading back over that Scripture in Revelation 12 the other day. Now, mind you, I firmly believe the sign it speaks of appeared in the sky on September 22-23rd, 2017. I verified that for myself using astronomy software. It definitely appeared, but what did it mean?

And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.  Rev 12:1-2

Clearly this is the Sign we witnessed. Click HERE if you want to read my post on it. 

But then, as I was reading, I saw that there is something that distinctly happens in between the time that the sign appears and the time when the church is raptured.

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. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.  V. 3-4

We know from Scripture that the dragon is Satan. the 7 heads and 10 horns represent the final AntiChrist Kingdom he is to rule. What's interesting about this verse is that it shows that Satan and his earthly kingdom are doing everything they can to destroy the church before it gets snatched away to heaven. As I was reading this, it occurred to me that is exactly what has been happening in the past year and a half!  Christians and Christianity have been severely attacked.

Worldwide

According to Opendoorsusa.org
Every MONTH
255 Christians are killed
104 are abducted
180 Christian women are raped, sexually harassed or forced into marriage
 66 churches are attacked
160 Christians are detained without trial and imprisoned

 In the USA

While we Americans are not yet being killed for our faith, the persecution has definitely started, and most of it hails from the LBGTQ community. They are starting with bakers and wedding planners and moving to churches, forcing people to host same sex weddings, etc.
Check out this recent article in The Christian Post. Well worth reading

Churches

Church attendance is declining and many churches are closing
The devil has introduced very subtle and false doctrines into our churches that are keeping people from true salvation and from truly knowing the Lord. (I've covered this many times in previous posts)
Denominations are embracing same sex marriages and even gay pastors

In fact, many Christians have fallen away. Many fell away after the Sept 23rd sign didn't pan out as they thought, while many others have given up waiting and gone back to the world. True Christians have found their lives and faith attacked on all fronts, from government, to friends, family, and even other so-called Christians.

Personal Lives

I'm sure you will attest to this as I do. Our enemy is out to destroy us.. our faith, our families, our health, our lives. I have personally been attacked with doubts that I never battled before, with situations in my family that I never expected, and with other issues I won't go into. I'm sure you are all experiencing the same thing in various degrees.  Satan can even get us off track by trying to distract us with being too busy, with problems, etc.. so we don't have time to spend with the Lord.



Here resumes the story in the following verse which describes both the birth of Jesus and the rapture. (You can see of proof of this in my aforementioned article)

 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.  v5

The "child" underlined above and in the prior verse are not the same as the "man child" in this passage. This is the church.. the sons and daughters of God, and the "caught up" is the same word used for rapture.  Again, if you haven't yet, please read my entire article on this sign.

My point? We are in a period of intense attacks by our enemy. He is attempting to "devour" us as  as we are about to be raptured. I feel it. You feel it. The world feels it.  But after he fails to devour those of us who are true believers, we will be snatched up into the arms of our Savior.

How much longer?  Not much! At the very least, it could happen today, at the most, 2 years. Tune in next week to find out why.  In the meantime, remember who you are!  You are sons and daughters of the Most High God, and you do not have to cower before a defeated foe. He cannot touch you or your family unless you or God allows.

• Stand firm in the faith
• Check everything against the Word of God
• Stay in prayer and fasting
• Read the Bible daily
• Keep yourself in the will of God (If you step outside the light, you are easy prey)

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 

Luke 10:19