Does Revelation 12 ALSO Show Events of Christ's 2nd Advent?

Dear Friends of the Truth,

Peace to you.

First I was sent the document below.  I did not know if it was something already published.  Many of my own thoughts were contained in it so I decided to post a commentary based on this hypothesis. This is a brief hypothetical view of another, separate fulfillment of Revelation 12 beyond what Pastor Russell already correctly taught regarding the Man of Sin - the Papacy. The thoughts in the center column below are under development and I welcome your comments.

 Original Document sent to me as follows: :

REVELATION

Chapter 12

[ BRACKETS ARE USED TO GIVE MEANING AND IT IS TO THE DISCRETION OF THE

BIBLE STUDENTS OF THE TRUTH ]

1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven [ RELIGIOUS SECULAR

SYSTEMS AMONG TRUE CHRISTIANITY ] a woman [ THE TRUE CHURCH ] clothed

with the sun [ SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS-JESUS CHRIST ] and the moon [ THE

LAW COVENANT OR OLD TESTAMENT IS IT'S FIRM FOUNDATION ] under her feet,

and upon her head a crown of twelve stars [ THE TRUE TEACHINGS OF TWELVE

APOSTLES ]

 2

And she being with child [ A CHILD REPRESENTS CHURCH OF THE FIRST

BORN-LITTLE FLOCK ] cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be

delivered.

 3

And there appeared another wonder in heaven [ RELIGIOUS SECULAR SYSTEMS

] and behold a great red dragon, [ PAGAN ROMAN EMPIRE WITH PAPACY

SYSTEMS ] having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his

heads.

 4

And his tail [ VERILY UNJUST AND MAD/INSANE & RUTHLESS DOMINION]

drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the

earth [ CAUSED MOST TERRIBLE PERSECUTION OF SAINTS TO THEIR TRAGIC

DEATHS ] and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be

delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

 5

And she brought forth a man child, [ EXACTLY REPRESENTS LITTLE FLOCK -

OF PEOPLE OF THE SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH ] who was to rule all nations

with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up [ IMMEDIATELY FROM 1874

TO 1881 !] unto God, and to his throne.

 6

And the woman [ THE TRUE BIBLE STUDENTS OF THE REST OF THE ELECT ] fled

into the wilderness, [ CONDITIONS ] where she hath a place prepared of

God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and

threescore days."

from Roshan

 Does Revelation 12 ALSO Show Events of Christ's 2nd Advent?

Holy Scripture Revelation 12 Rotherham Version	rcb comments: This mere outline is just a collection of thoughts compiled today, 8/12/22. These are my opinions and do not purport to supplant the comments on the right.	Pastor Russell Expanded Comments
1 And, a great sign, appeared in heaven: a woman arrayed with the sun, and, the moon, beneath her feet, and, upon her head, a crown of twelve stars;	That the woman is the Church, most agree to.  "The twelve Apostles as the teachers of the entire Church are symbolized by the twelve stars crowning the woman who symbolizes the Church (Rev. 12: 1).:" PSLJ E2 152 Rev. 11:18 is accepted as a direct reference to the Great War of 1914 as the preface for what happens next in Rev. 12. This table is an open study as we explore this view using a table to see if it works out or no. We may add another column for an evangelical view but it would not be agreed upon as to which view they hold currently.  So we say Rev. 12 is what happens next at the time of the Great War, or at least right about at that time.... The "great sign" is the now clearly understood Divine Plan of the Ages, published and made known. "heaven" is the ecclesiastical world, that having to do with the Christian religions, especially their leadership. "a woman" is the Sarah covenant. see CTR comments on Isa 54  further notes: E12 read from 498 She is ready to give birth to the spiritual reign of Christ on Earth, right at 1914. "arrayed with the sun" = The full light of the Gospel Truth. The Sarah features of the Abrahamic Covenant are fully pointed out to the world at this time as offering the Kingdom on Earth to all nations. "the moon beneath her feet" = the now completely fulfilled Jewish Law Covenant as the foundation underpinning, shedding light on the role of the natural seed of Abraham in God's plan. "Upon her head a crown of 12 stars" is the authority of the 12 Apostles, also the precession of the zodiac which tells the true story of the Gospel when properly interpreted.	And there appeared – As chapters 12, 13 and 17 contain repeated descriptions of the false kingdom--anti-Christ--so chapters 20 to 22 contain eight portraits of the true Kingdom. R330:2 The picture begins prior to Papacy's development. R306:2 The woman was seen about 308 AD, in the "Smyrna" stage, as described in Rev. 2:8-10. R306:3 In heaven – Place of control or rulership in spiritual control. R306:2; A318; D591[D590] A woman – The early Church. D591 The Gospel Church. R55:2, 306:2; OV410:1 Clothed with – Resplendent in the full, clear light of the unclouded Gospel. D591 The Gospel Church covered with the precious promises of God and the glorious light of truth. R306:2, 55:2 The sun – The light of this Gospel age. R2833:6; D544 The Gospel. OV410:2; R499:4; SM670:2 The Church of Christ has a special enlightenment in the Gospel. HG418:2 Symbol of Christ's Kingdom. R5191:3, 2270:6, 1289:3 The moon – The Jewish system, the Mosaic Law. HG418:3; OV410:2; SM670:2 The moon signifies the typically reflected light of the Gospel in the Law and the prophets of the previous dispensation. R2833:6, 306:2, 55:2; D544 It was light, but not the real; only reflected light. R55:2 As the sun is a symbol of Christ's Kingdom, so the moon symbolized Israel as a nation. The 12, and sometimes 13, lunations symbolize the tribes of that nation. R5191:3, 2270:6, 1289:3 As the moon symbolized "the Law," so the sun symbolizes the Gospel light. The former was but a shadow or reflection of the latter. R499:4 The moon symbolized the Law Covenant as the sun symbolizes the Gospel or New Covenant. R2124:2, 5002:6 Under her feet – The Law which supports her is nevertheless not the source of her light. D591; OV410:2 Not under the Law (moon) but under Grace (sunlight); yet she was supported by the teachings of the Law and rested on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. R306:2, 55:2 A crown – Appointed by God to be the circle, the crown, of the Church. CR125:2 Twelve stars – The twelve apostles as special lights of the Church. R3570:2, 306:2, 55:2; D544, D591; OV396:1 Her divinely appointed and inspired teachers. OV410:1; SM670:1 The twelve apostles, the twelve stars to guide the Church, and the twelve foundation stones of the New Jerusalem. (Rev. 21:14) R5742:1; CR78:2 Teachers, especially the apostles. R1757:6 One being chosen in place of one of the original, Judas, who was lost, so that the twelve might be maintained. NS657:5; R5741:6; OV410:1 The twelve apostles have no successors. There are but "twelve apostles of the Lamb," "twelve stars," "twelve foundations" of the Church glorified, the New Jerusalem. (John 6:70; Rev. 21:14) E207; R5002:6; NS657:5; OV159:4, 410:3; SM670:2 If God ordained only twelve stars as lights for his Church, it is a great mistake for popes and bishops to regard themselves as successors of the apostles--stars also. D594; OV247:4
2 and she was with child, and crieth out, being in pangs and in anguish to bring forth?	"She" My initial thought was "Sarah features of the Abrahamic Covenant". After study I'll stick with that. "was with child" The Seed of Christ is the Church due to be born at this time..." Genesis 21:12  Romans 9:7-9 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. "crieth out in anguish to bring forth"=Romans 8:22 "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, to wit , the redemption of our body."	Travailing in birth – The favor of Rome came by the conversion of Constantine, AD 313. There the labor pangs of tribulation ceased, and Papacy was born. R306:3 Pained to be delivered – Persecuted and reviled. R306:4, 55:2
3 And there appeared another sign in heaven; and lo! a great red dragon,-having seven heads and ten horns, and, upon his heads, seven diadems;	"and there appeared" could be consecutive or contemporaneous. "another sign in heaven" meaning apparent to the Christian world, or rather within the Christian world is where the sign appeared.  "and lo!" look "a great red dragon" dragon = same papal dragon using civil power "seven heads" are the succcessive empires it has already ruled, "ten horns" are the nation states of Europe, "upon his heads" = "his" meaning the Papacy, "heads" of governments of Euruope, "seven diadems" or jewels or likely family emblems? checking 'diadems' named in other verses i.e. rubies etc.	Another wonder – Continued persecutions 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. R306:3 In heaven – Symbolizing the place of control or rulership. Both woman and dragon are said to be in heaven--the woman, or church, in spiritual control--the dragon, or empire, in political control. R306:2 Great red dragon – The Pagan Roman Empire. R306:2, 44:3 In chapter 12 its characteristics as a purely civil power; in chapter 13 as a compound of "church and state" and in chapter 17 as a dual power with church and state, "woman" and "beast" kept distinct. HG20:4 The same as the "beast" in Rev. 17:3 and the "dragon" in Rev. 20:1. HG76:3 Seven heads – Rome's successive and distinct forms of government. R306:2, 55:2 First, Consular, BC 30; Second, Imperial, BC 27; Third, Gothic, AD 476; Fourth, Papacy, AD 538; Fifth, Republic, AD 1798; Sixth, Restored Papacy, AD 1870; Seventh, Victor Emanuel. HG20:3 Ten horns – Divisions of power. Mentioned to identify Rome as the same beast, or government, described by Daniel and elsewhere in Revelation. R306:2, 55:2
4 and, his tail, draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth. And, the dragon, stood before the woman who was about to bring forth, that, as soon as she should bring forth, he might devour, her child.	We have already seen that the Papacy, by dividing the people into classes of laity and clergy have denied the people any spiritual life in Christ, and denied God his heritage by diverting them from being priests themselves to being a lower class "to the earth." In Pastor Russell's time however, the Antichrist was growing an insidious tail containing earthly elements and bringing them in among the Lord's people. This would eventually develop into miniature Babylons, that is, the Jehovah's Witnesses when Judge Rutherford "cast them to earth" aby changing the doctrines and diverted many of the Lord's faithful who were in the running for spiritual inheritance to earthly work as "Jonadabs" with only Restitution or earthly resurrection hopes .  Thusly the "JW's" are a "mini Babylon" - as wells as other groups to be named later in the discussion. "and the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bring forth" = the Great War was set up to preempt the Kingdom. "as soon as she was about to bring forth he might devour her child" =   The sealing of the Saints in the forehead occurs in September of 1916. Before that can happen, here comes 1914 when the Great War preempts the Kingdom. [Note: if the red dragon is Communism, "The Commune" began in 1871 three years prior to Christ's 2nd Advent and 7 years prior to the raising of the sleeping saints in 1878.	Drew the third part – The continued persecutions created a desire to get into favor with the persecuting dragon and some of the "bright ones" in the church became his followers, or servants. R306:3, 55:2 In hopes of having favor with the empire and escaping persecution. R55:2 Stars of heaven – The bright ones, or ministers and teachers in the church. R55:2 Cast them to the earth – Degraded by becoming followers of the dragon. R306:3 As a result, they lose their position as stars in the true Church. R55:2
5 And she brought forth a son, a manchild, who was about to shepherd all the nations with a sceptre of iron; and her child was caught away unto God and unto his throne.	"manchild" this time is the Christ, head and body, yet still partially embryonic. "about to shepherd all the nations" referring to the time of Christ's inauguration in 1914.  There would still be saints on this side of the vale.  But just prior to Christ taking His reign in 1914 the war began. "The nations were angry" Rev. 11:18 "her child was caught away unto God and unto his throne"1878 marked the unseen rapture of the sleeping saints to the Divine nature.  I Cor 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. "sceptre of iron" is the Iron Rule of the Kingdom. See B141	She brought forth – Her anxiety and desire produced a pre-mature birth–"The Man of Sin." R306:4[R306:4], 55:2[55:2] A man child – 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." R306:3[R306:3] AD 314 – at first a weak child. R306:4[R306:4], 55:2[55:2] Rule all nations – Some so rejoiced at the favors of Rome that they fancied that in this way God would give them the kingdom of the world promised. R306:4[R306:4] Millions were brought into the church from Paganism. But the change was mostly in name, for the pagan priests became Christian priests, and pagan holidays came to be called by Christian names. R306:3[R306:3] Accomplished within 300 years. R306:4[R306:4], 55:3[55:3] When the Lord is reigning with his saints. R1149:4*[R1149:4*] Caught up unto God – 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." (2 Thes. 2:4) R306:4[R306:4], 55:2[55:2]
6 And, the woman, fled into the desert, where she hath a place prepared of God, that, there, they should nourish her a thousand, two hundred, and sixty days.	"fled into the desert" meant the message of the little flock movement continues to be the minority, as the war gains popularity.  When did the U.S. enter the war? 1919... [rcb notes: While I generally avoid speculation on things that likely can't be proven exactly I just wonder out loud here if the reference couldn't be measured between the time trench warfare set in in 1915 adding 1260 days brings us to the time when Rutherford had a warrant issued for his arrest on seditious charges... theoretically this means the Truth was free to preach during the war until mr. big opened a can of worms with the unauthorized 7th volume and the errors it contained both in doctrine and in it's unpatriotic spirit.]	The woman – The true Church. B329; R5741:6 Into the wilderness – In the case of the third Elijah, the Church in the flesh, the woman Jezebel is mentioned by name (Rev. 2:20); and her pernicious work, the flight of the Church into the wilderness, and her return from the wilderness condition since the Reformation times are all known. R3326:6; B256 The true Church is the Church in the wilderness, separate from the world, and under the divine protection and guidance. R1841:6 See comments on verse 14. Days – A day representing a year. HG49:3
7 And there came to be war in heaven: Michael and his messengers going forth to war with the dragon; and, the dragon, fought, and his messengers;	In this case Michael refers to Jesus and his messengers are the church both in the spiritual dimension and on earth - the war is literal in that it refers to 1914 and it's a spiritual war in that it is a battle of information as the Lord's people spoke out in favor of the king and the Kingdom while the clergy class were in solid full lengths in favor of the war Bible students have been conscientious objecting noncombatants . This battle both literal and spiritual occurred in that time around when Pastor Russell had financial advice and spiritual advice for all those around him and many of those in the evil camp we're paying close attention and have worked at every avenue to cut off the Kingdom from becoming a reality especially using the civil power the dragon and this war of 1914 to convince the nations that they needed to defend themselves against each other with tremendous war expenditure . Evil men like Rockefeller and JP Morgan who is the Jesuit developed plans and schemes that would be lasting over 100 years into the future to fight against all things good and holy and decent and natural that would come from the Bible especially from the pen of pastor Russell especially as regards the role of the kings of earth kings of clergy aristocracy and royalty and the end of there great counterfeit in favor of the blessing of all humanity in the Kingdom .	War in heaven – 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. R306:4, 55:3 Michael and his angels – Not the same Michael referred to in Dan. 12:1, which is a literal statement. It would be out of order to have a real Michael fight a symbolic dragon. R306:5, 55:3 The Papacy and its supporters. R306:5, 55:3 Meaning, "Who as God"; in close accord with Paul's description--"He as God sitteth in the temple of God." (2 Thes. 2:4) R306:5, 55:3 The dragon – Pagan rulers, etc. R306:5, 55:2; B288
8 and he prevailed not, neither was place found for them, any longer, in heaven.	These passages show how the World War had begun.  The society and the people of God had been through many trials and siftings.  This is 1914-1916. It is generally believed that the war of 1914 ended the divine right of kings the divine right of clergy and the divine right of aristocracy although those things do still continue in various forms to this day and the war continues on but no longer were they able to rule over the people as the place in heaven this also refers to the time of the closing of the door of opportunity for heaven certainly none in the evil camp would be in heaven but through the war the enemy unable to maintain his usual modus operandi of naked power and the remainder of the 20th century would see liberation and enlightenment as never before believed possible .
9 And the great dragon was cast out,-the ancient serpent, he that is called Adversary and the Satan, that deceiveth the whole habitable world,-he was cast to the earth, and his messengers, with him, were cast.	At this time throughout the 20th century this growing awakening has revealed this great dragon as being the great papacy.  They discover it is of the same ancient religion as Isis Osiris worship, run by the Jesuit order who are running the Roman Catholic Church. Jesus and the little flock fought against Satan the adversary in both earthly and spiritual planes of life.  Satan has used these nations who now comprise one world order, the civil power, to deceive the whole world and during this time as it says he was cast to the earth. All of his powerful tools are now used upon society=earth, the social order of society led by him and his messengers, fallen angels, religious leaders, corporate and government leadership all. This would be the great whirlwind the time of the losing of the four winds the time when the fallen angels would have powers to possibly materialize as men. See Rev. 7:1	The great dragon – Pagan Roman Empire. R306:2, 5, 55:2, 44:3 The same as in Rev. 20:1. HG23:4 Cast out – The conflict between Papal and Pagan power resulted in the gradual overthrow of the latter. R306:5, 55:3 This casting down of the dragon or civil power, continued for several hundred years, until about AD 752 when Pepin asked the sanction of the Pope to ascend the throne of France. R306:4, 55:3 That old serpent – "In that day the Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish Leviathan, the piercing serpent, even Leviathan, that crooked serpent, and he shall slay the dragon that is in the midst of the sea." (Isa. 27:1) R171:6 Confirming the story of the fall. A61 The Devil – An appropriate name--for Rome, when viewed in the light of its bloody persecutions, certainly has been the most devilish of all earthly governments. A258 Not merely the person of the Adversary, but all the system of things of which he has stood as representative. Here, a great religious system. R4609:3 The Roman Empire. R44:3 Satan's invisible kingdom has acted largely through the visible city and government of Rome, and by the same law of correspondence the Roman empire, the beast with seven heads and ten horns, is called "the Devil and Satan." R56:5* Which deceiveth – He blinds the minds of unbelievers by hiding the light of the gospel of Christ in presenting his own version of the truth. R5849:2
10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying-Now, hath come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ; because the accuser of our brethren hath been cast out, who was accusing them before our God day and night;	Kingdom message from the volumes studies cover all of the above. It was "a loud voice" in the spiritual teaching realm that Satan himself was "cast out" by Jesus himself at his return - "now" in 1874 (limiting his operations to the earth (society), "hath come the salvation" (Christ in his invisible reign to save all mankind) "and the power"=divine nature and authority, "and the kingdom of our God"=the message of the work announcing what Jesus had taught us would happen and to pray for. Matt. 6:10 "and the authority of his Christ" = The authority given him by the Heavenly Father, the Divine Nature and Founded on The Word of God".	A loud voice – A great proclamation. R306:5, 55:4 The kingdom of our God – Papacy claimed that when it assumed control that "the kingdom of God and the power of his anointed" had come to the world. R306:5, 55:4
11 And, they, overcame him by reason of the blood of the Lamb, and by reason of their witnessing word, and they loved not their life, even unto death.	"They" are the Great Company - this describes the class who had to make their robes white.  It could refer to the Church who through their life in the high calling did successfully walk the narrow way and did overcome, even all the way to martyrdom in many cases from a life of witnessing for Christ. However the Church were not all their life accused day and night in my view, this describes those "double minded" ones, the Great Multitude class...	Him – Satan the accuser. R1293:2* Their lives – Greek, psuche; souls, beings. E338
	rcb comments continued... note: Please keep in mind these are just my thoughts and are a "free-write" of ideas under development.  They do not replace the proven interpretation in the CTR comments. IF these thoughts have merit, they would constitute merely a parallel fulfillment.
12 For this cause, be joyful, O heavens, and ye who, therein, are tabernacling. Woe! unto the earth, and the sea, because the Adversary hath come down unto you, having great wrath-knowing that, but a little season, he hath.	The Bible students would continue "tabernacling" and carry the message forth, those faithful to the teachings of Parousia Truth and Epiphany Truth and their perspective Tabernacles... The earth is society and the sea is the unrestrained masses. the wrath is the war.  Great wrath is the great war.  The adversary knew from the teachings of the Truth people that he would have but "a little season" the short time of his release which begins and ends 2874 -2914 AD  What will occur is a desperate act of murder John 8:44 as he will attempt to stop the kingdom by any means possible, even to depopulate them...	Therefore rejoice – Let Papacy and all connected therewith rejoice. R306:6, 55:4 Woe to the inhabiters – 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. R306:6, 55:4 The devil is come down – This part of the Revelation is in the past. Q646:7 Because he knoweth – Therefore the foe is growing more subtle and more intangible, but not the less real. R479:3*
13 And, when the dragon saw that he was cast to the earth, he pursued the woman who had brought forth the manchild.	The civil power was now used against the Truth movement. See May 1918 when Rutherford has a warrant issued.  This is about exactly 40 years from when Russell left Barbour. Again "manchild" in this view is the Church completed, Head and body members as the Little Flock, yet in partial birth condition, after the waking of the sleeping saints in 1878 A.D. but before the last saint finishes their course. ...	When the dragon – The dragon has various heads. Here it has taken on its fifth head--Papacy. It was the same Rome under a new rulership, or head, and the same power which had previously persecuted the Church--the empire and its army. R306:6, 55:4 Hereafter the dragon represents the empire or military power under the control of its ecclesiastical head. R306:6, 55:4 Persecuted the woman – In contrast, it says of another woman, "the whore that sitteth upon many waters:" "And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus." (Rev. 17:1-6) R471:6
14 And there were given unto the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the desert, into her place,-where she is nourished, a season and seasons and half a season, from the face of the serpent.	The two wings of the great eagle in this case we will say are freedom of speech and freedom of religion, if the united states is being referenced here as the home country to the Truth movement - the brethren were still enjoying those freedoms that kept the message of the Truth safe to share even during the war. Might we also suggest the Bill of Rights and the Constitution as two wings to hide and propel the Truth? From trench warfare [using the date jan 1915] until three and a half years to the warrant/charges/arrest of Rutherford's group. the face of the serpent would be whatever Jesuit spokesperson was in charge... See Pope Benedict XV ?... Notes: See EnGoodz on Benedict XV assassination on the same day as... video on Jesuits around 1:40:00...	The woman – The true Church. B329; R5751:5, 5741:6 Two wings – The same as the two witnesses elsewhere mentioned: the Word of God, Old and New Testament Scriptures. R307:2, 55:5 Which now showed the true Church from which the Papacy had sprung her true condition--on earth instead of, as at first, above the earth, with the moon under her feet. R55:5 Fly into the wilderness – Literally, "the place deserted." R55:5 Into solitude, an outcast because of her fidelity to the truth. B329; R5628:2 Apparently she went into the wilderness condition of her own accord, voluntarily. R5628:2 The scapegoat went into the wilderness, but not voluntarily. R5628:2 A period of ostracism, separation, but not necessarily persecution. R5628:3 Separate from the world and from Babylon – "without the camp" (city). R307:1, 5628:2 A condition of harmony with God, not with the world. R55:5 The wilderness represents disrespect--an outcast condition, while city represents the reverse --popularity, honor, respect, dominion, kingdom. R307:1 In other words, she has been in disfavor, ignored and, to the worldly wise, unknown. HG411:6 Out of public view--through the long period of the Dark Ages no history of the true Church was written, just as no such history or record of her can be written today. SM123:2 The Lord's people can be in this condition even while surrounded by all the affairs of the world. R5628:2 One must get out of Babylon into a separate or wilderness condition to get a good view of the harlot or her daughters. (Rev. 17:3, 5) R307:3 Because of the power of Papacy, which, in Revelation, is likened to the woman Jezebel who persecuted Elijah. R3293:2 As Elijah fled from Jezebel and Ahab into the wilderness, to a place prepared of God, where he was nourished. R557:3 See comments on verse 6. Her place – The [nominal] church left the wilderness and wandered off toward the world's city, and joined with them, thus leaving "her place." R307:1 The Lord will take the Church out of the "wilderness" into the "city" condition--the New Jerusalem. (Rev. 21:2) R307:1 She is nourished – Miraculously sustained of the Lord. R5741:6, 5751:5 God knew all the strong ones and fed them, and they became so strong as to be willing to seal their faith with their blood. Millions were put to death by Papacy. R307:2 Time, and times, and half a time – Elsewhere styled forty-two months, or 1260 days. (Rev. 11:2, 3; 13:5) R5741:6, 5751:5, 4741:2, 3408:4, 389:2*; B91; C64; HG50:2; Q846:2 The 3-½ years of Elijah's experiences while hiding in the wilderness from Queen Jezebel corresponded to the 1260 years of the true Church in the wilderness condition. R5857:4, 5751:3 The long period of time when the true Church was eclipsed by the success of Babylon marked the time of great spiritual drouth. R5741:6, 5751:3, 4741:2, 557:3; PD46/56 From 538 AD to 1798 AD. R4741:2; PD46/56 Some Bible scholars have applied this period as beginning in 539 AD and ending in 1798 AD, at the time when Napoleon Bonaparte took the Pope of Rome prisoner to Paris. R5751:3, 5742:1, 307:2, 55:5 May also apply from 325 AD with the formulation of the first great creed, the Nicene, to 1585 AD, when the Reformation began. R5742:1 The great drouth that prevailed throughout Christendom from the year 300 until the time of the Reformation. R3408:4 The drouth really began about 539 AD. R3408:3 Greek, kairos; signifying a fixed time. B78
15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth, after the woman, water as a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream.	Jesuit informational attack (water=information or truth on any topic) river meaning mainstream media? hoping to crush the truth movement...	The serpent – Satan. R360:1*; C65 The dragon--empire, under its Papal head. R307:2 Cast out – Truth would issue forth from evil agencies, and with an evil intent. C65 Water as a flood – Water represents truth, and the symbol preserves its meaning even though it is said to issue from the mouth of the dragon or serpent. C65 The French Revolution 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." C65 Marking both the end of Papal power and the beginning of the Lord's "Day of Preparation" or "Time of the End." C67 People--army. R307:2, 55:5 After the woman – Its real object, from Satan's standpoint, was to overwhelm the "woman" (the protesting Church of God). C65
16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth.	But the laws of society and the interest of the people kept the truth message from being drowned out.  The freedoms guaranteed by American law promoted similar freedoms all over parts of the world so that brethren were free to disperse Present Truth like any other information. As Pastor Russell's better comments to the right refer to the French Revolution, we point to the Great Antitype at the end of the age which that event resembled.  It is our view that this is what we see today, the same things happening today that happened during the French Revolution but this time on a grand scale...	The earth – The Roman earth. C67 Society, order-loving people. C66; R307:2 Helped – Spared the Church of God from being overwhelmed. D67 The French Revolution, during which the Catholic priests suffered terribly. This was a picture on a small scale of the approaching great cataclysm. R5750:2 As Elijah was fed by ravens and by the widow. (1 Kings 17:5, 9) R557:3; B256 Swallowed up the flood – The flood of truth which spread over France--arraigning Papacy and its priest-craft, and monarchy and its parasitic aristocracy was swallowed up, or absorbed, by the people of Europe generally. C66 When the rulers of Europe formed "The Holy Alliance" to suppress the liberties of the people and perpetuate their own thrones, it was too late to fetter the people. D67 The army formerly used in conquest was used in hunting down "dissenters." Had it not been that frequent troubles from other sources (earth) demanded attention, the army might have exterminated the true Church. R307:2, 55:5
17 And the dragon was angered against the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed-with them who were keeping the commandments of God, and holding the witness of Jesus;- and he stood upon the sand of the sea.	"And the dragon was angered against the woman"= thus begins the century of war, revolution and anarchy featuring the gradual degradation of all godly elements through communist invasion and infiltration. This ultimately closes out with scenes of revolution and anarchy. See other studies for that info. "and went away to make war with the rest of her seed"= further classes of the Lord's people were developing through this time between world wars, including the sifting of the truth movements and the persecution of the sanctuary class among the nominal Christians.  "and holding the witness of Jesus" They kept to the teachings of That Servant, symbolically speaking as the hand, eye and mouth of Jesus at his return.  "and he stood upon the sand of the sea." The evil Babylon system still rules over all organized society {"earth"} while dominating - ruling over "stood upon" the people who are as the sand of the sea in number. "Sand of the sea" may be the edge of the anarchy or a time just before it should break out in great waves... Forgive any mistakes in this mere outline study.  If there be any merit to these thoughts after further study, more may be forthcoming on the book of Revelation Chapter 12, and other chapters also. THANK YOU For reading and forgive us where we fell short in this brief study. Feel free to comment and share!	Remnant of her seed – Who joined not in the apostasy. R306:6, 55:4