[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 12:4

Continuing with the exposition of the twelfth chapter of the book of Revelation, we find that a bit of Satan’s past history is revealed.  We are informed that when Satan fell by sin about one-third of the angels (stars) chose to follow his leadership.  By the pulling power of his tail, much like some officials ride into public office on the political coattails of a stronger candidate, one-third of the angels exercised their free will and chose to follow Satan, rather than God.  They are forever sealed in their free will choice, just as my soul is sealed in its free will choice to trust in Jesus until my body is redeemed at the rapture.

[30] And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30

The prophet Isaiah graphically portrays the ancient fall of the beautiful angel Lucifer.

[12] How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! Isaiah 14:12

[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 12:5

The woman Israel is symbolized as the earthly wife of God.  So here is the picture presented in verse five – Satan’s greatest fear is realized – the symbolized wife of God gives birth to God’s Son through a direct descendant of Israel, the virgin Mary, who has all the correct genealogical credentials from Seth to Heli via Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, David, and Zerubbabel.  Beginning with Herod, Satan attempted to destroy the Son both spiritually and physically.  Finally, he thought he had destroyed him physically on the cross, but God completely turned the tables on Satan, and openly revealed the great mystery of all the ages to all the world – the great mystery of Christ crucified for all the sins of all who would believe he alone was the total price for completed salvation, and that he alone, with no additional requirements from the recipients, was the provider by His one time sacrifice for all sins. 

[18] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. [18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. [2] For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. [5] That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. I Corinthians 1:17-18 & 2:2-5

God shocked Satan!  He took Israel’s sinless “man child” of verse five, and “her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.”  God resurrected His child, Jesus Christ, and He is in heaven today as the eternal Son of God.  He was “caught up unto God, and to his throne” more than 2000 years ago in prophetic years of 360 days, and He is still there.  Very soon, the woman of chapter twelve is going to have to flee for her life during the Great Tribulation Period.  I believe this fleeing will occur within the next eight years, and if God had not provided a place of safety for her in the Negev wilderness, she would be utterly destroyed.  We will continue this exposition in Birth Pang Update 39 next week with Revelation 12:6, Lord willing.

[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 12:6