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Revelation 12 - The Hottest Trending
Topic on Google
"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. 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. 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 and the Great Sign is trending as one of the top 5 bible
prophecy searches on Google in 2017. What is the reason for this and why has a
bible passage that has been existent in the scriptures from the time of John's
revelation on the isle of Patmos all of a sudden become a global obsession with
many astronomical and bible prophecy researchers?
(The image above
is a result of a google images search on the keyword "September 23 2017
revelation 12")
For past centuries this chapter in the book of
Revelation has been highly symbolic of past, present and future. The depiction
of the pregnant woman has at large been agreed to represent either the Virgin
Mary or Israel with the man child being brought forth representing Jesus Christ.
However other views have emerged during Church history, notably that either the
woman represented the church or that the man-child represented the church. The
arguments and differing points of view have facilitated the trending of this
topic.
However whatever ones view is, the consensus
is that this scripture has future prophetical implications because of the
location of this passage in the book of Revelation which many see as a
sequential and time dependant series of events following each other.
The Trigger - The Star of
Bethlehem
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In 2007 a man by the name of
Frederick Larson released a documentary called The Star of Bethlehem that would quickly become an international
phenomenon. With the help of The
Passion of the Christ and Braveheart co-producer Stephen McEveety, the message
spread far and wide and soon Larson was doing speaking tours on the subject in
Europe and elsewhere.
Building on prior scholarship
from Craig Chester and Ernest Martin, Larson discovered that anyone with access
to astronomy software like Starry
Night, Stellarium, or Celestia could actually find and witness the biblical
Star of Bethlehem and even the possible dates for Christ's conception, birth,
greeting by the magi, and
crucifixion.
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The credibility of Larson's research led to a
significant number of positive reviews from both Secular and Christian
institutions.
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After a mammoth project the
conclusion from Larson and his research team was that the stars can carry
messages from God on high. They state "If that is true, then behind any other
message, the fundamental meaning of these events is that God is there. The stars
were part of his communication to those living in the Magi’s day. Through our
understanding of what happened in the sky, he continues to speak to us
today."
Following
its release, amateur Christian astronomers worldwide began probing the skies
with Stellarium and similar software looking for more possible signs in the
heavens.
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Discoveries that once would
have taken men like Johannes Kepler or Edwin Hubble a lifetime of research,
could now be made in a matter of weeks and even days.
An astonishing discovery
has now been made: on September 23rd, 2017, an unprecedented astronomical
alignment will appear in the sky over Israel that some researchers believe will
fulfill a literal word-for-word reading of Revelation 12:1-2 and Revelation
12:5. The passage describes a heavenly sign where a pregnant woman appears
covered in the sun, with the moon at her feet, and crowned with 12 stars. The
woman gives birth to a male child who is "caught up" to God. For centuries many
had though this was a form of allegorical symbolism, but today some researchers
believe that it is more than just symbolism.
The Biggest Debate in
Prophecy
The astronomical alignment of September 23rd
2017 should have been hailed as one of the most monumental signs in the history
of Christianity but not all Christian researchers are in support. Why? Because
it raises the specter of the studying of the stars which has historically and
traditionally been associated with astrology.
Historically astrology surfaced around the
time of the great kingdom of Chaldea which was eventually absorbed and
assimilated into Babylonia and since then it has become a profound component of
secular society.
Astrology, as one would expect, is rejected
entirely by God's word. In fact the Bible considers consulting the heavens for
guidance as a form of sorcery (Leviticus 19:26 - 28, 31; 20:6). God warned
ancient Babylon about trusting in astrologers when he makes mockery of them by
saying,
"You are wearied
in the multitude of your counsels; Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, and
the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from what shall come upon
you." Isaiah 47:13)
God specifically condemns those who use the
heavens to predict the future,
"There shall not
be found among you [any one] . . . that useth divination, [or] an observer of
times, or an enchanter, or a witch . . . " Deuteronomy 18:10
In
fact a result of the idolatry of various occult practices including astrology,
the tribe of Judah was enslaved and dispersed as a nation. Israel's involvement
in astrology and the worship of heavenly bodies was described by many of the Old
Testament prophets, including Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Amos. All described how
this was displeasing to the Lord and that his judgment was the result of such
practices.
So how does this relate to the Great Sign of Revelation 12? Its because the theology
behind the Revelation 12 sign is based on what is called "the gospel of the
stars".
The Gospel of the stars is based on the
premise that God uses his creation, notably the heavens, to convey the message
of the gospel. The understanding is that there was a period in time before Moses
when there was no written word and so God used the stars (along with oral
tradition) as the means by which to communicate fundamental truths to the likes
of Abraham, Job, Enoch, Seth and other Patriarchs of old.
Most people today have grown up with the names
of the 12 signs of the zodiac as their only education on the naming of stars and
constellations. In reality, the names remain the same today as ancient cultures
called them before the flood. In fact each name carries a meaning that when put
together in the constellation, tells a story. See Job 38:31,
"Can you bind
the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Can you bring
forth Mazzaroth in his season? or can you guide Arcturus with his sons? Do you
know the ordinances of heaven? can you set the dominion thereof in the
earth?"
Notice the words "Orion", "Pleiades" and "Arcturus". These are all names of
clusters of stars found in the zodiac.
What about the word Mazzaroth. Mazzaroth is actually the
Hebrew name for zodiac. Hebrew
history shows that the Mazzaroth has nothing to do with astrology or any attempt
to tell our futures based on the stars. Rather, the Mazzaroth was a Hebrew mode
of communication that used the stars to tell the story of redemption.
So here is the dilemma. On one hand we have
the Bible forbidding us against astrology yet on the other hand the Bible tells
us we need to be watchful of the signs and observe the signs in the heavens for
confirmation of the coming of Christ. This is a paradox which has puzzled
researchers for a long time.
The Chances of
The Great Sign Happening
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Professor Emeritus of Science
at Westmont College, Peter Stoner, has calculated the probability of one man
fulfilling the major prophecies made concerning the Messiah. The estimates were
worked out by twelve different classes representing some 600 university
students.
The students carefully
weighed all the factors, discussed each prophecy at length, and examined the
various circumstances which might indicate that men had conspired together to
fulfill a particular prophecy.
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The final result was that there was a one
chance in 1017 (one,
followed by 17 zeros) of a single person fulfilling them all meaning there
simply was no way that there was any fabrication with Jesus fulfilling all the
old testament prophecies which were made before his arrival on earth.
This same logic applies to the Great Sign and the set of alignments which will be
taking place. There just seems something to close for this to be called a
coincidence given the fact that these alignments are visible only from
Israel.
On the Hebrew day of Tishri 1 which falls from
sunset on 22nd September until sunset on 23rd September 2017 the sun will be in
the zodiac constellation Virgo—“a woman clothed with the sun”. The moon will be
at the feet of Virgo—“with the moon under her feet”. The ‘nine’ stars of the
zodiac constellation Leo, plus three planets (Mercury, Venus, and Mars), will be
at the head of Virgo—“on her head a crown of twelve stars”.
The planet Jupiter will be in the center of
Virgo, and as the weeks pass after September 23 Jupiter will exit Virgo (after
being within this vicinity for 9 months) to the east, past her feet, so to
speak—“She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give
birth”. Jupiter is the largest of the planets, the “king” of the planets, so to
speak—“She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations
with an iron rod”. Must this not be a sign of something
momentous?.
The Great Sign Examined
The Great Sign is a four part report created by Kade
Hawkins, Director of Prophecy News
Watch. Kade is one of the most prolific providers of critical bible prophecy
news and as such has developed a reputation in the bible prophecy community that
is trusted and credible He has been involved in the production of some the
biggest bible prophecy documentaries such as the "The Coming Convergence"
and "Decoding The Future."
The Great
Sign is a major official publication on the
subject which provides a full
critique and examination of the the Great Sign prophecy, exploring both sides of the argument and
will provide significant input to the growing debate and discussion on this
controversial subject.
See below for key insights.
| 1. THE GREAT SIGN: THE PROPHECY
TRAIL |
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Long ago, God issued a challenge. He said, "Who else
can tell the beginning from the end" (Isaiah 41:21-24)? God proclaims He alone
can do so. Only God can reveal what is going to happen before it happens (Isaiah
46:10). The hundreds and hundreds of specific and detailed prophecies found in
the Bible prove its divine authority. Bible prophecy confirms that God is who He
says He is and gives us confidence that He has a purpose and plan for this
world. Part of that plan includes the return of Christ in accordance with God's
divine calendar. Jesus tells us to "watch" so that we will not be found sleeping
or unaware when He returns. But what signs are we to be watching for? And why is
one sign in particular referred to as "a great sign?"
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What was
the dilemma facing many of the old
testament prophets who God had used as his mouthpiece to voice his future plan
for the restoration and salvation of Israel? How could one be a prophet but only
have a partial understanding of what they were prophesying? (Part 1: Page
14)
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What is one
of the most amazing proofs of the
accuracy of Daniels prophecies
which was recorded by the secular Jewish historian Josephus?(Part 1: Page 30)
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One of the
questions that often comes up when looking at many prophecies is just how literal are we to take
them? Clearly some prophecies use
allegory and images that are not meant to be taken literally but symbolic. Other
prophecies use very specific language that when looked at upon in detail reveal
they could not have been more literal! (Part 1: Page
38)
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How is it
possible that both the first and second Jewish temples would be destroyed on the very same day (the
Ninth of Av) on the Jewish Calendar, 656 years apart? (Part 1: Page
46)
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2. THE GREAT
SIGN: THE FEASTS AND THE
SIGN |
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Jesus Christ did not come at any time at His first
advent. He came at the appointed time according to the Word of God and in
alignment with the Feasts of Israel. He died, was buried and resurrected all on
the Feasts of Passover, Feasts of Unleavened Bread and the Feasts of First
Fruits. Furthermore, He sent the Holy Spirit at an appointed time, and that was
the Feast of Pentecost. Is this a coincidence? There are only 7 feasts, and they
are literally God’s “appointed times.” The final 3 feasts (Trumpets, Day of
Atonement and Tabernacles) will be fulfilled in the events of Christ’s second
coming and this clearly reveals shows that they do not deviate from the Lord’s
already established “appointed
times.”
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Why is
an understanding of the
differences between the western
Gregorian calendar and the Jewish Calendar a major requirement in order to
properly understand how the Jewish feasts fit into the future bible prophecy
timeline? (Part 2:
Page 7)
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The feasts
of Israel parallel what has been called the "rhythm of God" that was established
during the week of creation. Find
out the precise evidencefor how this rhythm has continued throughout history
with absolute precision!(Part 2: Page
16)
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There is an
argument by some researchers that the Feasts of Israel are relevant only to Israel and have no application to the Church.
Is this correct? (Part
2: Page 24) |
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September
21-22, 2017 is the Feast of Trumpets or Jewish New Year. It is also the 70 year
anniversary of the UN resolution allowing for Israel to be recognized as a
state. It is the 50th anniversary or year of Jubilee for Jerusalem and the 70th
anniversary of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Is this all coincidence? (Part 2: Page
29)
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3. THE GREAT SIGN: THE GREAT DEBATE |
How are we supposed to react when we
see Christians researchers espousing a belief that the heavens paint star
patterns that we are supposed to observe? One could argue that there are two
responses 1) The belief that seeking scriptural support for star gazing is an
attempt to bridge Christianity with Astrology and is form of deception and
infiltration by the occult 2) Or could it be the fact that we are missing the
fact that Satan has corrupted something which originally was a tool for the
prophets of the antediluvian
age.
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Which
respected researcher believes that the ancient knowledge learned by the third
male child of Adam and Eve, Seth, was preserved in what many believe to be the Great Pyramids? (Part 3: Page
13)
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What is
the Abraham Factor and how does
this relate to the debate about whether we are supposed to observe the stars for
prophetic fulfillment? (Part 3: Page 17)
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Did you know
that the 3 kings who came to see Jesus in the stable were actually Zoroastrian priests? Learn more about
the true backgrounds behind the men who identified the Bethlehem Star. (Part 3: Page
30)
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Separated by
thousands of miles of land and ocean how could the 3 pyramids of Egypt, China and Mexico all match the star alignment in Orion’s
Belt, known as the ‘Orion’s Mystery’? (Part 3: Page
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4. THE GREAT SIGN: THE REVELATION
SIGN |
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For nearly two millennia biblical scholars have
speculated on what this pivotal chapter in Revelation 12 describes, but it may
be that our generation is privy to seeing for ourselves. The sign of Revelation
12 stands out from other biblical signs because the text actually calls it "a
Great Sign" - contrasting it with perhaps "lesser" signs. Does it hold up under
the weight of scrutiny and what should our response be when some use it to make
bold claims about specific prophetical events to take place on specific
dates?
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The 3 major
interpretations of the woman in Revelation 12 is that she either represents
the Virgin Many, Israel or the
Church. How has one respected major researcher attempted to reconcile all 3
views? (Part 4: Page
7)
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What is
the incredible coincidence of the Jewish new year, Tishri 1? (Part 4: Page
18)
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What is the "Third View" and why does this alternative provide a
balance between the opposing camps of the Great Sign debate? (Part 4: Page
23)
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What are the 6 developments involving Israel that could be set in motion by the
literal fulfillment of the Great
Sign? (Part 4: Page
49) |
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