Revelation 12:1-5 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.
2 Then being with child, she
cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.
3 And another sign appeared
in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns,
and seven diadems on his heads.
The first sign is of a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She is in labor to give birth. This sign of the woman is often interpreted historically as Jesus Christ being born of Mary. Some have regarded the woman to be Israel, but Jesus was born of a virgin and Israel was definitely not a virgin. The historical interpretation does have some validity but a prophetic-mystical interpretation has more value – the woman refers to the virgin Church who brings to birth a man child company who is caught up to the throne of authority to rule and reign with the Lord (Revelation 3:21).
We could easily give all the Scriptures showing that the elements of the signs – sun, moon crown of stars, etc. – all point to and give validity to the prophetic-mystical interpretation. However, I think everyone receiving this message will understand that, at least to some degree.
The second sign in heaven is of a red dragon that drew a third of the stars out of heaven to the earth. This also has a prophetic-mystical interpretation. In other words, it has a spiritual fulfillment in this day, as does the first sign. For this message, though, we are primarily interested in the tail of the dragon. In order to get the full import of the revelation we need, it will be necessary to lay a foundation.
First, let’s recognize that the dragon is set against the virgin-church to destroy her child when it comes to birth. You will remember that Satan has always tried to destroy the righteous in their infancy and childhood. Pharaoh gave orders to the midwives to kill all the males at birth (Exodus 1:15-16). Again, Herod gave orders for all the male children two years old and under in and around Bethlehem to be killed when he heard of the birth of Christ (Matthew 2:16). It has been seen all through Christianity that Satan has tried to kill the immature while in their vulnerable state. And so we see here in this twelfth chapter of Revelation, that the dragon is set to destroy the man child at his birth. He does not want Christians to become mature sons of God, for they will be the ones who crush Satan under their feet (Romans 16:20).
Understand that the virgin-church is a small part of Christianity; it is a remnant. All Christians have been forgiven, but purity requires more than forgiveness. A virgin has had no input from man, and the majority of the church-world is a product of man. The message “The House on the Estate” in the book Preparation for a Higher Realm explains that more fully, if you would like to refer to it.
It is the virgin-church in which Satan is most interested. It is his strong desire to hinder it from bringing to birth that great man-child company, the weapon in God’s hand to destroy the Wicked One. Satan strives to deceive as many of God’s elect as he can, and the fact is, he is too successful. From our text of Revelation chapter twelve we learn that he draws a third of the stars out of heaven and casts them to the ground.
Jesus had much to say about Satan’s assault against His people and the success he would have. For many will come in My name (literal, “on My name”; that is, claiming to be Christians), saying, I am Christ, and will deceive many. Matthew 24:5. Paul spoke of this same thing to the Corinthian church. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. II Corinthians 11:13-15. Again, Jesus said, Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many (Matthew 24:11). For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:24.
Now let’s look at a warning from Paul. I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Acts 20:27-30. Notice that some of these false ministries will come out of the church. Also notice the similarity in Paul’s phraseology to that of John’s in our text. Paul said that false ministries will speak perverse things “to draw away disciples” and John said that the dragon would “draw a third of the stars” from the heavenly realm.
It is the dragon’s tail that draws the disciples of the Lord out of the heavenly realm; while walking in the Spirit they are deceived. Isaiah explains what the tail represents and how it works.
Isaiah 9:14-15 Therefore the
Lord will cut off head and tail from Israel, Palm branch and bulrush in one
day. The elder and honorable, he is the head; the prophet who teaches lies, he
is the tail.
The dragon’s tail is made up of the prophets who teach lies. In Revelation 12:9 John says that the dragon is the serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan. Jesus had said in John 8:44 that the Devil is the lie. So when the Scripture speaks of “the prophet who teaches lies,” it is speaking of a teaching that carries the satanic nature of the Devil.
It is necessary at this point to understand what is scripturally termed “lies.” John 14:6 says that Jesus is the truth, and John 8:44 says that the Devil is the lie. It does not say that Jesus is a correct fact and Satan is an incorrect fact. The truth is Jesus; that is, His nature. The lie is the Devil; that is, his nature. You may think you can easily detect a lie, but the Devil is not a lie; he is the lie. You cannot detect the lie by determining whether the facts are true or false. Anything the Devil says is the lie because it carries his nature. He cannot speak truth because Jesus Christ is not in him. However, he can speak correct facts and doctrines, and when he does they carry his nature. That is where the great deception is.
The dragon’s tail is working in the church in this day. Many “stars” have been cast down out of heaven already. The “tail-prophets” speaking lies will receive their just due.
Copyright © 2006 by Henry DuBose