Revelation 12: A Challenge to Prewrathers and Posttribbers

In the landscape of interpretations in eschatology (which is a term to signify the study of the end times), Christians are very divided, as most of my readers probably know. When dealing with the highly symbolic language of the book of Revelation, there are some that feel it is meant more allegorical altogether. Some believe it to be more literal, but still do not think there is a literal millennium (a thousand years of peace while Jesus physically reigns on earth). Others take it quite literal, but have some contention on when the so called "rapture" is. This idea of a sudden "taking away" comes from how a lot of Christians read 1 Thessalonians 13-18. Some would argue that this rapture happens before the great tribulation (Pre-Trib, for short), mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 24:21, begins. This great tribulation is a period usually believed to endure 7 years. Others believe the rapture will happen at the middle of this tribulation (Mid-Trib). And some believe that the rapture happens at the end (Pos-Trib), coinciding with the actual moment Jesus will set His foot on the Mount of Olives, as described in Zechariah 14. In recent years however, a new interpretation has gained attraction; Pre-Wrath.

Pre-Wrath
Proponents of this interpretation would place the rapture somewhere after the middle of the tribulation. They believe Christians would have to endure the tribulation, but not the part where it involves God's wrath being poured out on His Bride, since 1 Thessalonians 5:9 and numerous other places state that we are not appointed to (His) wrath. While they address a lot of problems within the pretrib-camp, and present their case pretty well, there are some challenges that seem to have gone under the radar. Dealing with Revelation 12 is one of them.

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

Woman
In this chapter, we find a sign in heaven that is very reminiscent of a picture we are already very acquainted with; the birth of the Manchild Jesus. But is that really all there is to say about this? Let us be very thorough and establish the parameters of this prophecy very precisely. Because after all, we are dealing with a book that concerns future prophecies, and the birth of Jesus is a historic fact at this point. What is so revolutionary here that the apostle John needs to know of, and inform his readers about? Do they not know by now that Jesus was born in a little manger in Bethlehem? While I do indeed believe this sign is speaking of Christ, there is some information in the text that prewrathers and posttribbers in particular need to reassess. We will start by interpreting all the players in this prophecy, and a clearer picture will emerge by itself, if we let the Holy Spirit do His work. The Woman in this picture is generally agreed on by a lot of premillennialist scholars as being a picture of Israel, which is a logical conclusion if we let scripture interpret scripture. In Genesis 37, we see a similar image appear. A sign in the heavens, that involves a sun, moon and twelve stars, which Jacob in verse 10 interprets as speaking of him and his household. Some would say the woman represents the church, but if the Child here is Christ, ask yourself the question: did the Church bring forth Christ or did Christ bring forth the church? Let us explore further and look at another important player.

" 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." (Revelation 12:3-4, KJV)

Dragon
​When it comes to deciphering the identity the dragon, we usually find people divided in two or three camps; since this prophecy looks so much like the events around Jesus' birth, people would identify the dragon as being Herod, who appeared to be a real threat for the Manchild Jesus, as he tried to murder Him. Others would point to the real entity behind this evil scheme; Satan. Some amalgamate the two, which is not an illogical conclusion. The real problem however, is that hermeneutical problems arise when we consider other parameters given in this prophecy.

"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. 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 12:5-6, KJV)

Child
If we are to interpret this prophecy as being the birth of Jesus, how is being caught up to God and His throne a valid interpretation? Jesus was taken to Egypt in order to escape Herod, but that is a far cry from heaven, wouldn't you agree? And yes, eventually He did ascend to heaven, but that was about 33 years later, and there was no direct threat. When we consider the circumstances of His ascension in Acts 1, a very serene picture emerges. Satan was not to be feared; in fact He had just beaten him! So which event is this talking about? Jesus birth? Or His ascension? We cannot have it both ways. If we go with His birth, then why mentioning being caught up to heaven? If we go with the ascension, where is the threat? Therefore, we need to consider a third interpretation. It is a view that in my estimation does not do a lot of damage to the general interpretation, but gives more meaning to it, as it builds another layer upon the original picture we saw in Bethlehem. It is a view that has to be put in an eschatological vantage point, as the text clearly mentions the rapture (Greek: harpazo) of the manchild being followed by a period of 1260 days. What happened 1260 days after Jesus' ascension? I have no idea. Do you? I do however know that another period in the Bible containing 1260 days will be very significant for the Body of Christ, rather than Jesus as the Head. This prophecy is the moment that they will be taken up to heaven, and a period of at least 1260 days of tribulation will follow. While the woman (Israel) will be protected, some of her children (the tribulation saints; new converts after the rapture) will not, verse 17 tells us. It also makes mention of how this is a remnant of her seed. Where is the other part of her seed? In heaven, of course.

"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." (Revelation 12:17, KJV)

Conclusion
When we look into this passage more in-depth, we cannot escape the fact that there is more going on than Jesus being delivered in Bethlehem. We see a rapture, a deliverance from clear danger, followed by a tribulation that lasts at least 1260 days, for Israels other seed. Israel conceived the church, and soon it grew bigger, with gentiles joining and even becoming the bulk of the Body of Christ. After this first child was delivered, another child was conceived. The tribulation saints. And so this chapter forms another layer, built upon the story we are already so familiar with. It is talking about the deliverance of His body, after the Head had already ascended (Col. 1:18). The two of them, now finally conjoined. Jesus of course will be ruling with a rod of iron, but so will the church (Rev. 2:26-27), as co-regents. In this interpretation therefore, all the classic players are still in place, but defined more precise. While this may sound like a plea for a mid-trib position, it could also be seen as a plea for a pre-trib position, as there is debate on which part of the tribulation the 1260 days is talking about. It does mention the dragon having great wrath (verse 12), and therefore it would be interesting for posttribbers and even prewrathers to reconsider their beliefs on a rapture before the wrath of satan, followed of course by the wrath of the Lamb. Prewrathers specifically distance themselves from midtribbers, because they would argue the rapture happens somewhere within those last 1260 days, not before it. This chapter therefore, when rightly interpreted, absolutely destroys most of their arguments and leaves us with pre- or midtrib at least. But that is beyond the scope of this article. I hope this will bless you and challenge you to investigate, because in the end it is not about who is right or who is wrong, but what the truth of the Bible really is all about. It does not need our approval. It does not care what our opinion on the truth is. Are we able to put our ego's down and let truth reign? Is that not what we want? To learn the truth? Or would we rather believe a lie? We will not endure anything of the great tribulation. Neither God's wrath, nor Satan's wrath.