12:1 – “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.”

The “and” here, does not signify that what follows is a continuation of the events thus far recorded and described, as being identified with the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet! It means that there is still more to be said anent the Gospel age: but this involves a “cut-back” to its very beginning, when there appeared this great wonder in the ecclesiastical heaven – a woman clothed with the sun, having the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars upon her head.

“… the ‘woman’ symbolizing the early church is represented as clothed with the sun, that is, resplendent in the full, clear light of the unclouded Gospel. The moon under her feet represents that the Law which supports her is nevertheless not the source of her light. The twelve stars about her head as a crown represent her divinely appointed and inspired teachers – the twelve apostles.” (D591)

12:2 – “And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.”

“Zion” Travailing!

There is a sense in which the “woman” in Rev. 12:1, 2, 5, is the same “Zion” as of which Isaiah speaks (Isa. 66:7, 8) and which latter Bro. Russell designates “the Gospel church … which term throughout the Gospel age included the entire body of professed Christians, all of whom are on probation for full membership in the Church triumphant, the true Zion of the future, and the true Zion of the present age, the elect ‘little flock’ to whom it is the Father’s good pleasure to give the kingdom.” (R1648:6)

There is, however, a difference between the male child delivered out of “Zion,” before her travail (Isa. 66:7; see R1649:1), and that born of the “woman” in premature travail. (Rev. 12:1, 2, 5; see R306:4) In the case of the former, the man child is the true Church; whereas in the case of the latter, it is the counterfeit church – the “Man of Sin.” One is the result of the operation of the holy Spirit; whereas the other is the result of the working of the “mystery of iniquity!” (2 Thes. 2:7)

The Church in all of its seven stages of development, is made up of two elements – the nominal and the true! This is reflected in the seven candlesticks (of Rev. 1:12) which Bro. Russell said: “… symbolize the Lord’s nominal people of this Gospel age, including his ‘members’.” (R3569:4)

This fact needs more than ever to be kept in mind, if we are to understand this 12th chapter of Revelation, wherein the “woman” clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, with a crown of twelve stars upon her head (the early church), and whom the Apostle Paul espoused as a chaste virgin unto the heavenly bridegroom (2 Cor. 11:2), is found to be “with child” before her marriage!

This “woman” has been “humbled” (“raped,” as it were) by the “mystery of iniquity,” already working in the Church in the Apostle Paul’s day. (2 Thes. 2:7) The Adversary, ever ready to corrupt what is good, holy and pure, by way of the natural propensities of the fallen nature (which propensities ought to be mortified – slain, killed, in those who profess to be new creatures in Christ Jesus – Rom. 8:13,14, caused some to want to lord it over God’s heritage. Note particularly, the reference to the Nicolaitanes, in the Lord’s message to the Church at Ephesus! (Rev. 2:6)

12:3-5 – “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. 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.”

The “Great Red Dragon” and The Beast of Daniel 7

Dan 7:19-23 – “Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, whose teeth were iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet. And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. And I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. Thus he said, the fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon the earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.”

The Great Red Dragon

“The great red dragon represents the Pagan Roman Empire. The seven heads representing Rome’s successive and distinct forms of government, and the ten horns, the divisions of power – these being mentioned to identify it (Rome) as the same beast, or government described by Daniel and elsewhere in Revelation.” (R306:2)

Papacy – the Same Beast – Yet Also AnoTher!

“In some respects, Papacy was a new government (‘beast’) distinct from the old Roman empire; and in others, it was a horn or power among others out of that empire, which for a time held superior control over the other horns or powers. It is presented in symbol from both these standpoints so as most thoroughly to locate and designate it.” (B305)

The period of human gestation is about nine (9) months – actually 267 days. If, as in the prophetic Scriptures, we take each of these days to be a year, the “woman’s” delivery ought to have taken place about two hundred and sixty-seven years after A.D. 53 – that is in A.D. 320. St. Paul’s second Epistle to the Thessalonians was written about A.D. 53, and it was in this that he spoke of the “mystery of iniquity” being already at work. However, her child was premature, it was born in A.D. 314!

“If we locate it aright, the woman is seen in this vision about A.D. 308, and has been in the ‘Smyrna’ stage as described in Rev. 2:8-10. It has just been passing through a long series of persecutions from the ‘dragon’ (Roman Empire).” (R306:5)

This “red dragon” that stood by, ready to devour the “woman’s” seed, and which dragon had seven heads (seven successive and distinct forms of government), and ten horns (ten divisions of power – ten kingdoms of the earth), is the selfsame “beast” which Daniel described as “dreadful and terrible,” “strong exceedingly,” and having “great iron teeth,” – a beast that would “devour and brake in pieces, and stamp the residue with the feet of it,” and “diverse from all beasts that were before it,” and having ten horns. (Dan 7:7) Surely, a perfect symbolism for the great, pagan Roman Empire – the fourth universal empire, which –

“… when viewed in the light of its bloody persecutions, certainly has been the most devilish of all governments.” (A258)

It was a persecutor from the very beginning of the Church’s history; but particularly in the period between the reigns of Nero and Diocletian. Of the persecutions, there was probably none more severe than that which was instituted by Diocletian, which raged from A.D. 303 to A.D. 313 – ten years, until Diocletian’s successor, Galerius, mitigated the plight of the Christians. These ten years of Diocletian’s persecution are specifically referred to in our Lord’s message to the Smyrna Church, as the “tribulation ten days.” (Rev. 2:10)

The ancient, i.e., the pagan Roman Empire, had ere this often deified its emperors:

“The city of Rome and the Imperium Romanum were always regarded as sacrosanct, even under the republic. The argumentation of Augustine, in his memorable treatise De Civitate Dei, revolves mainly upon the pagan allegation of the intimate dependence of Rome on the guidance of her gods. Under the empire, the city was fervently adored as diva Roma, urbs divina, and the sacred fire was kept ever-burning in her honor. Such a perpetual fire was maintained in the imperial palace. Julius Caesar was Pontifex Maximus,¹ holding the holiest of offices at the time of his assassination, and had been chief of the religion many years previously. On his murder, he was deified and became Divus Julius. On the death of Lepidus, Augustus united the office of Pontifex Maximus to his other titles. He, too, was deified. Subsequent emperors retained the pontificate, and many were worshipped as Divi while still alive.” (McClintock & Strong’s Encyclopedia, Vol. IX, p.93)

The Exaltation of the Papacy

“From the time of Constantine, the bishops of Rome had held a most prominent position before the world, and they began ere long to claim an authority over all others – in the church as well as in the world – demanding that some one person should be recognized as an authority or head in the church, and that the bishop of Rome should be that one. They claimed that Peter as well as Paul had lived in Rome, and that Rome was thus constituted the seat of apostolic authority, and also that, by reason of its long having been the seat of the Caesars and the seat of civil government, it held a place of authority in the minds of the people.

“These pleas for supremacy were not readily conceded, however. The spirit of rivalry was abroad, and other bishops in other large cities claimed supremacy also, some upon one and some upon another ground. It was not until A.D. 533 that the bishop of Rome was thus recognized by the emperor, Justinian I.

1 Re: The Title “Pontifex Maximus” of the ancient Roman Emperors – “The Roman Empire had not only conquered the world and given it politics and laws, but recognizing religious superstitions to be the strongest claims by which to hold and control a people, it had developed a scheme which had its origin in Babylon, in the time of her greatness as ruler of the world. That plan was, that the emperor should be esteemed the director and ruler in religious as well as in civil affairs. In support of this, it was claimed that the emperor was a demi-god, in some sense descended from their heathen deities. As such he was worshipped and his statues adored; and as such he was styled Pontifex Maximus – i.e., Chief Priest or Greatest Religious Ruler. And this is the very title claimed by and given to pontiffs or popes of the Roman Hierarchy since this Antichrist obtained ‘the power and seat and great authority’ of the former ruler of Rome. (Rev. 13:2)” (See B288; 290)

This was in connection with a warm religious discussion in which the emperor took sides with the bishop of Rome, recognizing the Virgin Mary’s worthiness of adoration, and disputing with the Eutychians and Nestorians regarding distinctions and blendings of natures in our Lord Jesus. The emperor feared that the discussion might divide the church, and thus divide the empire which he was desirous of more firmly uniting; for even at that early day the nominal church and the empire were one and the same – ‘Christendom.’ And desiring to have some authority as a standard to settle the dispute, and to tell the people what to believe and what to disbelieve, and finding the bishop of Rome already the most popular of the claimants to primacy (popedom or headship), as well as the one most ‘orthodox’ – the one most nearly in harmony with the emperor’s views on the questions – Justinian, by documents, not only condemned the doctrines of the Eutychians and Nestorians, but, addressing the bishop of Rome as the Head of all the holy churches, and of all the holy priests of God, thus acknowledged him, and desired to assist the Pope in putting down the heresy and in establishing the unity of the church.

“In conjunction with this edict, the emperor thus addressed Pope John, Patriarch of Rome: –

“‘The victorious Justinian, the devout, the fortunate, the renowned, the triumphant, the ever August, to John, the most holy archbishop of the fostering city of Rome, and patriarch. Rendering honor to the Apostolic See and to your Holiness (as always was and is our desire), and reverencing your Blessedness, as befits a father, we have hastened to bring to the notice of your Holiness everything which concerns the condition of the churches, since it has always been our great desire to guard the unity of your Apostolic See, and the standing of the holy churches of God, which still maintains itself and endures unshaken, with nothing to prevail against it. And so we have hastened to make subject to the See of your Holiness, and to unite with it, all the priests of the whole Eastern district. At present, then, we have held it necessary that there come to the notice of our Holiness the matters which are in commotion, however plain and certain they are, and however firmly they have always been guarded and declared by all the priests according to the doctrine of your Apostolic See. For we do not permit that any question be raised as to anything which concerns the state of the churches, however plain and certain it be, that be not also made known to your Holiness, who is the Head of all the holy churches. For in all points (as has been said) we are eager to add to the honor and authority of your See.’

“The epistle next refers to certain views, styled heretical, which were causing the commotion, and gives the emperor’s faith as in harmony with that of the Church of Rome …

“Pope John replied to the above, under date of March 24th, A.D. 534.

“Upon the same occasion the emperor wrote to the patriarch of Constantinople. The first paragraph of his letter we quote, as follows: –

“‘Epiphanius, the most holy and most blessed Archbishop of this royal city, and Ecumenical Patriarch: – Wishing your Holiness to know all matters which relate to the condition of the church, we have held it necessary to make use of these ecclesiastical compends, and through these to make manifest what movements are already started, although we are persuaded that you also know of these. And since we had ascertained that certain ones, aliens from the Holy See and Apostolic Church, had followed the heresy of the impious Nestorius and Eutyches, we promulgated an ecclesiastical edict (as your Holiness also knows) in which we censured the madness of the heretics. In no manner whatever have we changed, or shall we change, or have we (as your Holiness also knows) passed beyond that position of the church which, by the favor of God, has as yet been preserved; but in all respects the unity of the most holy churches with his SUPREME HOLINESS, THE POPE OF ANCIENT ROME (to whom we have written in like manner), has been maintained. For we do not suffer that any of those matters which relate to the state of the church be not also referred to HIS BLESSEDNESS, since he is the head of all the most holy churches of God; even especially for this reason, that as often as heretics have sprung up in those parts, they have been repressed (literally, pruned off, as the sprouts of a tree) by the wisdom and righteous decisions of that venerable See.’

“This, the first official recognition of Papacy’s claims, was afterward confessed more and more pointedly by Phocus and succeeding emperors.

“But even after being recognized as a ruler, a sacerdotal emperor, for the time it was of no special advantage to Papacy, beyond the empty name; for Justinian was far from Rome, with his capital at Constantinople. Rome, and Italy in general, was under the sway of another kingdom – the Ostrogoths – who did not recognize the bishop of Rome as supreme pontiff; for they were mainly Arians in faith. Papacy, therefore, was exalted and advantaged in name only, by the emperor’s recognition, until the fall of the Ostrogothic Monarchy, when its exaltation became an actual fact. Indeed, as if by preconcerted arrangement, the emperor at once (A.D. 534) sent Belisarius and an army into Italy, and in six years after the pope’s recognition by the emperor, the Ostrogothic power was vanquished, and  their king Vitiges and the flower of his army were taken with other trophies to Justinian’s feet. This was in A.D. 539, which is therefore the point of time from which we should reckon the ‘Desolating Abomination set up.’ Papacy there had its small beginning. There the little, peculiar ‘horn,’ noted in Daniel’s prophecy (Dan. 7:8, 11, 20-22, 25), just began to form or take root two centuries before, and in two centuries after its small appearance its ‘look was more stout than its fellows’ – the other horns, authorities or powers, in the territory of the old empire – and its eyes, and its mouth speaking great swelling words, began to develop; and it lorded it over the other horns, claiming divine right to do so.” (C70-75)

Papal Exaltation and Persecution of the True Church

“In the first flush of papal exaltation, the people as a whole were nominally members of the church or else pagans; and all who professed Christ were expected to conform to the usages and regulations of the gradually self-exalting hierarchy. Error always more popular than truth, when exalted to influence and power, hunted down, proscribed and made disreputable the truth, and all who held it. This was the time when, as pictured in Revelation the true Church (woman) fled into the wilderness – into solitude (Rev. 12:6) – an outcast because of her fidelity to the truth, and to the true Lord and Head of the Church. In this time, when apostates were being exalted as princes, the true, humble saints were experiencing what the Lord had warned them, and all who will live godly … to expect, viz., persecution.” (B329)

“St. Bernard affirms that ‘none except God is like the pope, either in heaven or on earth.’ ‘The Emperor Constantine,’ says Pope Nicholas I, ‘conferred the appellation of God on the pope; who, therefore, being God, cannot be judged by man.’ Said Pope Innocent III – ‘The pope holds the place of the true God’; and the canon law, in the gloss, denominates the pope – ‘our Lord God.’ Innocent and Jacobatius state that ‘the pope can do nearly all that God can do,’ while Decius rejects the word nearly, as unnecessary. Jacobatius and Durand assert that ‘none dare say to him any more than to God – Lord, what doest Thou?’” (B311)

And so it was that the religion of Jesus Christ became a challenge to the Roman Empire; for did not Christians believe that the “seed” of a certain woman was to become the ruler over all of the earth? It is no wonder, then, that the Roman Empire is here portrayed as a “red dragon” standing by, to devour the “woman’s” offspring! But, in an endeavor to deceive the “very elect” Satan was now about to establish his great counterfeit.

Some of the persecutions of pagan Rome, had, of course, caused –

“… some to relax their vigilance for the truth, and a spirit or desire to please and get into favor with the persecuting ‘dragon’ (came) over some of the bright ones in the church. So we read, the tail of the dragon drew the one third of the stars; they became his followers or servants which, of course, tended to degrade them. The long desired favor of Rome came at last by the conversion of Constantine, A.D. 313, and there, we believe, the labor pangs of tribulation ceased and Papacy was born; i.e., there the blending of church and state commenced. It was not yet the ‘Man of Sin,’ in the same sense that a child is not a man; but it was the beginning, of what resulted in Papacy – ‘The Man of Sin’ the man-child was born.

“Persecuted and reviled, she was pained to be delivered and longed for the completion of the promised ‘Seed of the woman, which should bruise the serpent’s head.’ Her anxiety and desire in this direction produced a pre-mature birth – ‘The Man of Sin’ (the Papal hierarchy) being the offspring. This ‘male child,’ at first a weak one (A.D. 314), was gradually ‘caught up unto God and to his throne,’ or exalted to the position and titles, homage and praise of the true ‘seed,’ so that ‘he as God sat in the temple (church) of God, showing himself that he is God.’ And within three hundred years he did ‘Rule the nations with a rod of iron’.” (R306:3, 4)

12:6 – “And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.”

We now speak of the true church (the one which has no head save Christ) as being driven into the “wilderness” (separated, from that which has a head in the “Man of Sin”). But, we must not overlook the fact that the protesting church, has still associated with it, the nominal element. However, the “wilderness place” had been prepared by God, for the true church, whom he intends to care for, and feed, throughout the whole period of 1260 “days” A.D. 539 to A.D. 1799. (See R1841:6)

The Church now enters the Pergamos period (A.D. 325 to A.D. 1160) – the period of “earthly elevation” for the “Man of Sin” (Rev. 2:5), during which new persecutions arise for the true Church, not from the “red dragon” – the pagan Roman Empire; but from another “beast” as it were, to be known as Papal Rome, which by its persecutions caused the death of many of God’s true witnesses – the “Antipas” of Rev. 12:5!

The True Church … The Wilderness

“The Papacy did not go into the wilderness, however; but Protestantism stepped out of the wilderness condition, to be more particularly recognized by the people and by the government.” (R5628:6)

12:7 – “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.”

Jesus = Michael!

Michael = Who is like God? or as God. The “el” at the end of the name is a term applied to “mighty ones” – and because of this is applied to God (Jahweh) himself. In fact, in Gen. 2:7, the plural of “el” i.e., “elohim,” is used, and there it is as the Rabbis say, “the plural of majesty.” The term is also applied to Jesus, when referred to in Daniel’s prophecy:

Dan. 12:1 – “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the prince, which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”

And this will be the fulfillment of another prophecy, that of Isaiah:

Isa. 9:6 – “For unto us a child is born, and unto us a son is given: and the government [of God’s Kingdom – Matt. 6:10] shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God [‘el’], The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

And, is Jesus like God (Jahweh)? Here is what the Apostle Paul has to say:

“Who is the image of the invisible God.” (Col. 1:15) “For in him dwelleth the fullness of the Deity bodily.”

(Col. 2:9, Diaglott)

Heb. 1:1-3 – “God … hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath ap- pointed heir of all things, by whom he also made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.”

The “Michael” of Rev. 12:7

“B – But does it not seem a forced construction to suppose Michael to symbolize the ‘Man of Sin?’ Is not this the same Michael referred to in Dan. 12? If it is a symbol in one case, is it not in the other?

“A – No; the account in Dan. 12 is a literal statement. The resurrection and other matters there mentioned are literal, but not so Rev. 12. The woman, dragon, tail, stars, horns, etc., are all symbols, and it would be out of order to have a real Michael fight a symbolic dragon. However, it seemed puzzling at first to know why this name should be given to Antichrist, but on turning to a dictionary we find that the meaning of the word Michael is – ‘Who as God.’ It is quite remarkable that the meaning should be in such close accord with Paul’s description – ‘He as God sitteth in the temple of God.’ (2 Thes. 2:4) When the dragon was cast out of heaven (out of the ruling position) it left this one (‘Who as God’) in control, or in the heavens, and from him issues the ‘loud voice’ (great proclamation) of verses 10 to 12. That is, Papacy claimed that when it assumed control – ‘The kingdom of God and power of his anointed,’ had come to the world. They claimed that they had overcome by the blood of the Lamb, their lives and testimonies. They claim that their victory, was the result of the firm stand of the (‘Smyrna’) church, which just previously had suffered so much persecution. ‘Therefore, rejoice ye heavens.’ (Let Papacy and all connected therewith rejoice.) ‘Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, etc.’ As the church had once been persecuted when Paganism reigned, so now when she reigns she makes the Pagans and heretics suffer. This Papacy claims as the Millennial reign, during which it broke in pieces the kingdoms with the rod of iron.” (R306:4)

“Recognizing the breadth of the Greek word theos, it will be seen at once that the Apostle’s statement concerning Antichrist – that he will seat himself in the temple of God, showing himself to be a god – does not of necessity mean that Antichrist will attempt to exalt himself above Jehovah, nor even that he will attempt to take Jehovah’s place. It simply implies that this one will exhibit himself as a religious ruler, claiming and exercising authority over and above all other religious rulers, even to the extent of exalting himself in the Church, which is the true Temple of God, and there claiming and exercising lordly authority as its chief or authorized ruler.” (B274)

12:8, 9 – “And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

Let it be noted that both the “woman” (the early church), and the great “red dragon,” appeared in “heaven.” Heaven, here, has reference to the religious, the spiritual atmosphere or arena, in which both of these operated, so to speak. The “woman” – the early church, quite naturally is a spiritual or heavenly entity; and the “great red dragon” – the Pagan Roman Empire, was itself in a sense, a great religious entity by virtue of the fact that its emperors were its Pontifex Maximus – the chief religious teacher!

“‘And there was war in heaven’; there was a conflict or controversy between the two elements – the church and the empire – when this son of the church attempted to take the ruling position. This conflict and casting down of the dragon or civil power, continued for several hundred years, or until about

A.D. 752, when ‘In the pontificate of Zachary, the German court decided that no Metropolitan could enter upon his functions without the approval of the Pontiff.’ ‘In the same year, Pepin asked the sanction of the Pope to ascend the throne of France’.” (R306:4)

“‘Michael and his angels’ – the Papacy and its supporters – fought against the dragon – pagan rulers, etc. – and the great dragon was cast out of heaven. This conflict between Papal and Pagan power resulted… in the gradual overthrow of the latter.” (R306:5)

The name “Michael” means “who as God” and in Daniel 12:1 and Jude 9, is properly referred to Christ Jesus; but in Rev. 12:7 the holy Spirit ironically applies it to the great Counterfeit – the Antichrist!

“To this fourth beast, representing Rome, Daniel gives no descriptive name.… John the Revelator, seeing the same symbolic beast (government), was also at a loss for a name by which to describe it, and finally gives it several. Among others, he calls it ‘the Devil.’ (Rev. 12:9) He certainly chose an appropriate name.” (A258)

“… it seems that the names ‘Devil’ and ‘Satan’ refer not merely to the person of the adversary, but to all that system of things of which he has stood as the representative or head or center; for instance in Rev. 12:7-9, a great religious system is apparently spoken of as the Devil.” (R4609:3)

12:10-12 – “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them, Woe to [the inhabiters of] the earth and [of] the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth he hath but a short time.”

“When the dragon was cast out of heaven (out of the ruling position) it left this one (Who as God’) in control, or in the heavens, and from him issues the ‘loud voice’ (great proclamation) of verses 10-12. That is, Papacy claimed that when it assumed control – ‘The kingdom of God, and the power of his anointed,’ had come to the world. They claimed that they had overcome by the blood of the Lamb, their lives and testimonies. They claim their victory was the result of the firm stand of the (‘Smyrna’) church, which just previously had suffered so much persecution. ‘Therefore, rejoice ye heavens.’ (Let Papacy and all connected therewith rejoice.) ‘Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, etc.’ As the church had once been persecuted when Paganism reigned, so now when she reigns she makes the Pagans and heretics suffer. This, Papacy claims as the Millennial reign, during which it broke in pieces the kingdoms with the rod of iron.” (R306:6)

The “heavens” which are here called upon to rejoice, were the Roman Catholic heavens, consisting of the popes, the bishops, and prelates; and the “Ye that dwell in them” undoubtedly has reference to the under-priesthood, brothers, nuns, and the so-called general membership of that church.

While in one sense of the word, the Papacy is another “beast” (government – likened unto a leopard in Rev. 13:2); yet, in another sense, it is the same “beast” only that another “head” was now in the place of control; yet, thinking itself to be the Vicar of Christ Jesus, it would look upon the pagan system as the Devil himself. It accordingly, would warn those concerned, “the earth” (the civil powers) and “the sea” (the ever-restless masses of the people), of the Devil’s probable vindictiveness over having been cast out of his erstwhile heaven by the “man-child” – the “woman’s” offspring.

12:13 – “And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the manchild.”

The “dragon” – and it was angry – instead of directing its hostility against the “man-child,” directed it once again against the “woman” (the Church) that gave birth to it! And, strange as it may seem, little by little the outcast Devil and the “man of sin” became allies in the persecution of the Church; in fact, the civil powers soon “took orders” from this “Michael” – the “man of sin.” And, stranger yet, the civil powers, and the ecclesiastical, became wedded to each other, and after A.D. 800, became known as “the Holy Roman Empire”! (Com- mencing at this date, the Papal Millennial lasted just 1,000 years!)

Pagan Rome becomes Papal Rome

“Remember, therefore, that hereafter the dragon represents the empire or military power under the control of its ecclesiastical head. This military power must be made use of by its new head, and its force was directed against the woman and against the remnant of her seed (who joined not the apostasy), which keep the commandments of God and have ‘the testimony of Jesus.’ (‘The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’) Among those of the church who did not join, were some whose descendants in after years were known as Waldenses, Huguenots, etc. These doubtless knew from the prophetic word, not only that the ‘same Jesus’ would come again ‘to be glorified in  his saints,’ but also that there would ‘first come a great falling away, and That Man of Sin be revealed – the son of perdition’ – before the day of the Lord. And they probably recognized Papacy in its true light as Antichrist.” (R306:6)

Pagan Rome becoming Papal Rome

“The Church of Rome consists of bishops and prelates who share the dignities of the hierarchy though differing in degree of honor – cardinals, bishops, etc.” (B303)

Rome’s Millennial Kingdom

“Roman Catholics hold that they set up the kingdom of God about the year 800 A.D.; first by dividing between clergy and laity, and exalting the clergy to a special class; then, the Roman Church having great power, and the kings of the earth being comparatively weak, Papacy established a spiritual rule over the kings and princes of earth in the name of Christ – the popes being recognized as Christ’s vicegerents, as reigning instead of Christ, as his substitutes.

“The kings and princes of earth were informed that they might continue to rule the people if they would be obedient to the Papacy; that in that event they would be kingdoms of God; but if they should fail to be obedient to Papacy, the latter would inform the people that such kings were no longer to be recognized, but were disowned by God’s spiritual kingdom, and would appoint other kings and other princes in their stead. The rulers of Europe readily assented to this partnership, by which the people would recognize them as having divine authorization to rule.” (R5829:3)

12:14 – “And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.”

The “Two Wings”

“To the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness (literally the place deserted) into her place. The two wings are probably the ‘two witnesses’ – the Word, which now showed the true Church from which Papacy had sprung, her true condition – ON earth instead of, as at first, above the earth, with the moon under her feet.

“These two witnesses assist her, not only to mount upward again, but to return to ‘the place deserted,’ i.e., to a condition of harmony with God, not with the world. She was nourished in this wilderness 1260 years.” (R55:5)

“The Lord speaks directly to his church as thou or you; but of the world, as they or them. He came to his own, and in a sense delivered them out of Babylon; bearing tThem up on eagles’ wings (Rev. 12:14), and carrying tThem into tThe wilderness; ‘into Ther place, wThere sThe is nourisThed.’ … from the face of the serpent, Satan. To them – Babylon, he comes with the sword, and by the sword they are cut into two – The Roman and Greek churches.” (R359:6, W. I. Mann)

The “Wilderness” (Rev. 12:6, 14)

“A wilderness condition is one of separation from the blessings of civilization; it is a cut-off condition, a separation from the world. In the case of the church, we read that the Lord provided her with two wings, that she might go into the wilderness 1260 symbolic days or years. Apparently she went into the wilderness condition of her own accord, and became voluntarily an outcast from the privileges and advantages of the world’s society; she underwent a general ostracism or separation.

“… The Lord’s people can be in this wilderness condition even while surrounded by all the affairs of the world. We are separate from the world; we are in the world but not of it – isolated.…

“In figurative language the city represents honor, distinction and prominence in the world, while the wilderness signifies the reverse condition – that of being ignored, ostracized, etc. During the 1260 symbolic days the church was in the condition of ostracism. The governments paid no attention to her; but on the other hand, they gave a great deal of attention to the great system, which exalted itself and became ‘that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth’ – Mystic Babylon.” (R5628:3)

12:15 – “And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.”

However, as we near the end of the period, a significant change takes place. To this time, the Papacy and the civil power, were both like a single instrument in the hand of the Adversary, by way of which, he maintained control over the masses. Now, this wily foe of our God, senses that the power of his counterfeit “Lord” – the Papacy, is about to be broken. This, of course, would awaken the masses to the fact that it is after all, not a thing to be reverenced nor feared. Should this happen, his own control would be proportionately weakened. Recognizing that he could not prevent the breaking-up of Papacy’s power, he devised a scheme whereby he would destroy the “woman” whose influence was already being felt amongst some of the civil powers. He would create a “flood of waters” (of truth), to swallow up the “woman,” and at the same time bring to pass such a reign of lawless- ness and anarchy, as would make the civil powers fearful, and only too glad to have the Papacy re-established in power and authority. But the whole affair back-fired!!!

“The ‘flood’ in or during which these 1260 years of Papal power terminated … symbolized a condition of things during the French Revolution.… This … ‘flood’ mentioned in Rev. 12:15, 16 where it is shown … as coming out of the mouth of the serpent or dragon, and where its real object, from Satan’s standpoint, is explained to be to overwhelm the ‘woman’ (the protesting Church of God), as her three and a half times (1260 years) of wilderness-hiding were about closing, and she was coming forward into prominence ‘leaning on [the arm of] her beloved,’ The Word of God. (Cant. 8:5)

“In symbol, water generally represents truth; and the symbol preserves its meaning even though it be said to issue from the mouth of the dragon or serpent. The thought conveyed by this symbol is, that truth would issue forth through evil agencies, and with an evil intent. And just this we find: the strength of the French Revolution lay in the fact that it was instigated by many stern truths, regarding priest-craft and king-craft, and regarding the individual rights and liberties of all. ‘The Rights Of Man’1 was indeed the watchword of that revolt against civil and ecclesiastical oppression. Truths regarding human rights were seen and expressed there which cause us surprise when we consider the ignorance, superstition and servility of that day, under which the masses had so long rested. Many of the truths which then swept as a ‘flood’ over France, deluging it with blood, are now very generally accepted among all civilized peoples; but they were too strong, and too suddenly put, for that time.

“Indeed, the prophecy clearly shows that the serpent, Satan, did not intend what under God’s providence has resulted, but the reverse. In this he overreached himself, as he has done on other occasions. Satan will never send forth the waters of truth to bless and refresh and release from bondage: on the contrary his effort has all along been to blind and securely bind mankind under ignorance and superstition; and this sudden flood of waters (truth) was designed to act as an emetic, to lead to the casting out of the food of liberty already being received by the people from the Bible, as a result of the Reformation, and thus to force rulers and teachers to oppose the truth through fear of anarchy.” (C64)

12:16 – “And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened up her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.”

“Satan’s design in instigating the French Revolution was to create an alarm throughout Europe, especially among the influential class, unfavorable to liberty, and to illustrate in France the theory that were the superstitions of Rome to be overthrown and liberty to be given full sway, all law and order would speedily end. This was a master-stroke of policy, worthy of its author, and designed, as the prophet shows, to overwhelm the ‘woman’ (the reformed Church), and to drive all conservatives and peace-lovers – rulers and ruled, back to union and harmony with Papacy. The failure of the scheme was not due to lack of craftiness in its designer, but to the overruling power of God, whereby he is able to cause all things to work together for good.

“In this case God’s plan, for the protection of the ‘woman’ (Church) from Satan’s wiles and for causing the intended ill to work out good, may be clearly traced, in exact fulfillment of the prediction made seventeen hundred years before, viz: ‘And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened up her mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.’ The ‘earth,’ in symbol … represents society – order-loving people; and it is a fact of history that the flood of truth which spread over France – arraigning Papacy and its priest-craft, and monarchy and its parasitic aristocracy, as the responsible causes of much of the ignorance, poverty and superstition of the people – was swallowed up, or absorbed by the people of Europe generally (the Roman ‘earth’). To such an extent was this the case, that, though Papacy and royal aristocracy were thoroughly alarmed, they were also thoroughly separated, by the fall of Papal influence as well as by Napoleon’s armies. And when the ‘man of destiny’ was finally crushed, and the rulers of Europe formed what was called ‘The Holy Alliance,’ for the suppression of the liberties of the people and the perpetuation of their own thrones, it was too late to fetter the people; for having drunk up the flood of waters, they would not submit. It was too late to think of re-establishing Papacy, which had been so terribly humiliated and whose anathemas against liberty and the French had so reacted against itself; so the pope was not even invited to join the ‘Holy Alliance,’ of which before he would have been the recognized head. Thus the ‘woman,’ the reformed and progressing Church of God, was helped, spared from being overwhelmed, and liberty and truth stepped out to prominence before men; and from that time forward the spirit of liberty and God’s Word have led all who were willing to follow, into more and more light and truth.” (C66)

1 Re: Thomas Paine’s “Rights of Man” – “His famous Rights of Man, a reply to Burke’s Reflections on the French Revolution, appeared in England in 1791-2. It had an enormous circulation, but the government prosecuted Paine for sedition and he fled to France. Today it seems a very moderate work.” (The New American Encyclopedia) “His Rights of Man; being an answer to Mr. Burke’s attack on the French Revolution, is a complete statement of republican principles.” – The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia.

12:17 – “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

The term “seed” is here used in a rhetorical sense; for the “woman” – the true church, is herself “the seed” of the Sarah Covenant. (See Gal. 3:7-9, 29; 4:26) Remain- ing, as it were, a virgin, she has no “seed” until during the Millennium she becomes mother to the regenerated world of mankind.

In the meantime, Satan, whether it be by way of ecc- lesiastical systems, earthly institutions, organizations, civil governments, etc., or the world of mankind in general (since they lie in the wicked one – 1 John 5:19) will ever and always be seeking the destruction of that “seed” which God has declared is one day to be the “kings and priests, to restore and rule over, and bless mankind.” (T39) It is to this class that the Apostle Peter addresses himself, admonishing them to “be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Pet. 5:8)