http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/sep2017/lewisb925-2.htm
I have found out after many years of study some ''simple things'' about the book of Revelation.
Perhaps the Most Important thing is this.
A PERSON HAS TO UNDERSTAND THE SYMBOLS GIVEN IN THE FIRST PART OF THE BOOK IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE TIMING OF EVENTS IN THE OTHER, LATER PARTS.
Of critical importance is Revelation chapters 2 and 3. In those chapters clues are given as to what follows later........even in chapter 4.
Notice that in chapter 4 that 24 elders are:
1) Sitting on seats
2) Clothed in White linen
3)Wearing Crowns of gold
Back in Revelation 3:21 ''he that overcomes will I grant to Sit with me in my throne''
In Revelation 3:5 '' he that overcomes will be clothed in White rainment''.
In Revelation 2:10 ''be faithful unto death and I will give you a Crown of life''
So, when we read in Revelation 4 about 24 elders Sitting on seats/thrones, clothed with White linen, and wearing Crowns of Gold...........there is little doubt that these are the Church Overcomers.
(In Revelation 4:1 it says ''a Door was opened in heaven''. From reading other parts of the Bible, we know that an open door pictures the Rapture. See Matthew 25 where some enter the marriage feast and the ''Door'' was then Shut.)
Now, concerning Revelation 12 we have similar clues that reveal who is being referred to.
For instance, a ''woman'' in scripture often times refers to a church....either a true or false church. Not knowing that will start a person on the wrong path in this chapter 12.
In 12:5 it mentions a man-child who was ''to rule all nations with a rod of iron.'' The man-child is born from a Woman in great travail. (see below)
This, again, is mentioned in Revelation 2:26-27 which reads ''to him that overcomes will I give power over the nations and he ''shall rule them with a rod of iron''. Identification!
The above promise of rulership is given in the early part of the book....a promise to the church overcomers.
Jesus was not ''caught up'' to heaven. He ''ascended''. The church overcomers are caught up as it says in I Thes.4 and the same/similar root word is used here in Rev.12:5.
So, we can KNOW that Rev 12 is not, as some say ''mid-trib''. It is Pre-tribulation and is defined as being so by the same book of Revelation.
Why is this Pre-Tribulation Rapture mentioned all the way over in chapter 12?
Here is why.
If you read Chapter 11 of Revelation , toward the end, it Concludes with the Kingdom of God being established on the earth. All seven 7 trumpets .......are complete.....sounded.
Note please that at this time......at the end of Revelation 11, ALL SEVEN SEALS AND ALL 7 TRUMPETS ARE SOUNDED! The Kingdoms of this world have come an end.
The 7 vials mentioned later in Revelation are the SAME as the 7 trumpets. They are only different in intensity......showing the final result. This was a typical way of writing in those days. Simply compare the 7 trumpets with the 7 vials. Compare chapter 8 to chapter 16 to show this is true.
So, the reader needs to know something. What is it? It is that Revelation 12 STARTS THE STORY ALL OVER AGAIN. And it starts with the Rapture that is likewise mentioned in chapter 4!
Just as at the start of Revelation....ch 4.....the Rapture is mentioned.....so likewise at the start of the Revelation 12, the Rapture happens first. It is a re-telling of the same events but from a different perspective.
In Revelation 12 a woman is in great travail. Does that fit with the church of today? Paul said in Romans 8 we ''groan'', ie in travail waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God.
In II Cor 5:2 Paul said that '' meanwhile (while still in this body) we groan''.
This earthly system is hostile to the children of God. While in it we are attacked on every side.........we groan and ache for the translation into glorified bodies.
One teacher once said after the morning service ''ya'll come back tonight because we are going to 'wade off' into the book of Revelation. My thought was, ''yeah, your going to wade off alright and a bunch of folks are going to be drowned''.
A person should have read and studied and understood the other parts of the Bible before approaching Revelation. Many symbols are used and much of the language is based on even Old Testament symbols and terms having to do with the Temple and the offerings.
Remember, Jesus did now get ''caught up'' to heaven. He Ascended.
Paul , representing the church, was caught up to heaven in II Cor 12:12.
Also, a thought provoking statement is made by Paul in I Cor. 16:8-9....''But I will tarry at Ephesus UNTIL Pentecost.....for a Door is opened unto me''. Could that ''door'' be the Rapture door.......it would be opened until Pentecost.........then perhaps closed?
dp