8-Into the WildernessDecoding the Apocalypse

Pastor Mike CookeRevelation 12

The Temple on earth is destroyed (Rev 11:1-2)The Temple in heaven is opened (Rev 11:19)

1. The Woman—The Early ChurchA. The Bride of the Lamb (Rev 19:7, 21:9) (1)

As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. (Isa 62:5)

B. As a Woman Giving Birth (2)“Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord. (Isa 54:1)

C. Crown of Twelve Stars—The Apostles

2. The Dragon—The Herodian DynastySeven “Herods” ruled Judea as client kings of Rome (37 BC-70 AD)1. Herod the Great tried to kill Jesus when he was born (Matt 2:16)2. Herod Archaleus is why Joseph moved to Galilee (Matt 2:22)3. Herod Antipas beheaded John the Baptist (Matt 14:1-12); and

conspired with Pilate in the trial of Jesus (Luke 23:6-12; Acts 4:27)4. Herod Philip is whose wife Antipas stole (Matt 14:3)5. Herod Agrippa I persecuted the church, had James killed, arrested

Peter, and died in Caesarea (12:1-23)6. Herod of Chalcis ruled in the North7. Herod Agrippa II and his sister Berenice conspired with Festus at the

trial of Paul, and later sent him to Rome (Acts 25-26)

3. The Spiritual War behind the Earthly WarA. Michael is the Angel who fights for God’s people (7)

At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. (Dan 12:1)

B. Satan is the “Adversary” who fights against God’s people (9)1) Grk (satanás) from Aramaic word for “opposing attorney”2) The greatest adversary of the early church were the Herodians

a) Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. (Mark 3:6)

b) I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. (Rev 2:9)

c) I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. (Rev 3:9)

4. The Flight of the Early Christians to PellaA. God often delivers his people into the wilderness

a. The great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. (Rev 11:8)

b. Sodom—“Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!” (Gen 19:17)

c. The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. “For otherwise,” they said, “we will all die!” (Exod 12:33)

B. Jesus warned his disciples to get out of the citya. “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its

desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.” (Luke 21:20-21)

b. The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days. (Rev 12:6)

c. The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach. (Rev 12:14)

C. Early historians record that they fled to Pella in the Decapolisa. “The people of the Church in Jerusalem were commanded by an oracle given

by revelation before the war to those in the city who were worthy of it to depart and dwell in one of the cities of Perea which they called Pella. To it those who believed on Christ traveled from Jerusalem, so that when holy men had altogether deserted the royal capital of the Jews and the whole land of Judaea.” (Eusebius, Church History 3.5.3, 325 AD)

b. “From there it took its beginning after the exodus from Jerusalem when all the disciples went to live in Pella because Christ had told them to leave Jerusalem and to go away since it would undergo a siege. Because of this advice they lived in Perea after having moved to that place, as I said.” (Epiphanius, Panarion 29.7.7-8, 374 AD)