God's Word, TribulationPeriod1.com, The Remnant of Israel

The Remnant of Israel, Past, Present and Future!

Part 4

[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.

The woman is Israel and the wilderness is the Negev of Israel. I will not spend any time elaborating on this verse. Prophecy Updates 5 through 11, found in our Prophecy Archives, contain more information on this verse than you could ever use in expositing on it.

[7] And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, [8] And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. Revelation 12:7-8.

Revelation 12:4 indicated that when Lucifer left Heaven he took about one-third of the angelic host with him. However, the book of Job clearly indicates that Satan still has access to God’s presence in heaven at God’s invitation.

[6] Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. [7] 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. Job 1:6-7.

While it is true that Satan’s appearances, in the Heaven where God the Father dwells, are rather rare, it is evident that he has never been completely cut off from access to Him. And here, in Revelation 12:7, we are advised that a great spiritual battle will occur in Heaven between Michael and his angels and Satan and his angels. In verse eight we are advised that Satan’s spiritual army loses. Furthermore, verse eight also tells us that Satan and his hoard will never again be allowed in the Heaven where God dwells. This great spiritual battle is still future, but will be occurring after Israel flees into the Negev wilderness. It will end with Satan being cast permanently out of heaven.

[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 12:9

This confining of Satan to the earth will mark the point in time that Satan enters the body of the man of sin (anti-Christ), and thereafter dwells on the earth as Satan incarnate for the rest of the Tribulation Period.

[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 12:10

At this point in time the rapture of the saved will be drawing near, and Revelation 12:11 informs us as to how those who are to be taken will be selected by God.

[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 12:11

Those taken at the rapture did not overcome the Devil by baptism, by works, tradition, or any other humanistic endeavor. They “overcame him by the blood of the Lamb.” It is our faith that His sacrifice of His body, and of His blood, for our sins was more than enough to save us from what we are by birth and by our inherited nature, sinners separated from God, who must have a savior. We are born-again by belief in His Word that the Overcomer, Jesus Christ, will make his abode in us to live His life in us.

[4] For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. [5] Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? [7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. [23] Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. [20] I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. I John 5:4-5 & John 3:7 & I Peter 1:23 & Galatians 2:20-21.

If you have been born again of God, you have overcome the world by His shed blood sacrifice for your sinful state. Faith allows you to have obtained the victory over the world by His power. It is your belief in the sacrificial offering of the sinless Son of man, Jesus Christ, the living Son of God, as the all-sufficient price for your complete salvation, that causes you to be identified as an “overcomer.”

[18] Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: [5] And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, [14] For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. I Peter 1:18-19 & Revelation 1:5 & Hebrews 10:14.