THE CHURCH AGE BEGINS
Revelation 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 woman originates in Heaven and is a picture of God's kingdom. She is clothed with Light - Jesus' righteousness. The moon under her feet is the Law of Moses which is the Temple with all the sacrifices. "Under her feet" shows total subjection, conquering or rejection. Jesus came to complete the Law. The 12 stars represent God's full kingdom of his people.
1 Corinthians 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
Genesis 49:28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.
Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
Revelation 12:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
The Woman, God's kingdom prepares to bring forth the Messiah, Jesus.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Revelation 12:3 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.
In Heaven
The Great Red Dragon also originates in Heaven and is a picture of Satan and his kingdom. He and his rebel angels were allowed to come and go within Heaven until the Cross.
Job 1:6-7 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Great Red Dragon
Great
This is the only time that Satan is referred to as the Great Red Dragon. It is Satan and everything he represents. Satan was at his greatest peak while he was still allowed in Heaven before he was kicked out at the Cross. As well as constantly accusing God's people in front of God as in the example of Job.
Isaiah 14:6 He (Satan) who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger...
Red
The color red signifies confliction or war. He was allowed full reign on the earth until the Cross. His full reign was cut off during the Church Age (6th head with a deadly wound) but then was allowed to continue once again during the 2300 Days.
Revelation 6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
Dragon
The word Dragon is a name given to Satan.
Revelation 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years
Seven heads and ten horns
These 7 heads are Satan's 7 kingdoms as described in Daniel 7. We also see them on the Beast in Revelation 13 and the Beast to which the Great Whore is riding in Revelation 17. These 7 kingdoms are the Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, and Roman empires then the 6th kingdom during the Church Age, "was, yet was not", and finally the Church empire. We also see the ten horns which are on the last head.
Revelation 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Revelation 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Seven crowns
Now here is something we don't see on any of the other Beasts. These 7 crowns are on the 7 heads of the Great Red Dragon. Each kingdom needs a king which is Satan. When we look at the Great Whore's Beast in Revelation 17, it does'nt mention the 7 crowns but it does mention the 7 kings.
Revelation 17:10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
Revelation 12:4 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.
Revelation 12:5 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.
Revelation 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.
Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Revelation 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Revelation 12:9 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.
Revelation 12:10 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.
Revelation 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Revelation 12:12 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 that he hath but a short time.
Revelation 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
Revelation 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.
Revelation 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.
Revelation 12:16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
Revelation 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.
