The Prophetic Record -Part 2

      Revelation 12 shows us the moment when the woman [Israel, the natural branch of Rom. 11], is restored back into the Vine. It is the moment prophesied by Micah 5:3-5. God gave up the nation of Israel when they rejected the Messiah. We know from the New Testament that they were given up for two great Days, what Jesus called Today and Tomorrow. It is also known as the Church age.
       But since the calling of God is irrevocable, He gave them up only for the appointed time. How would we know when that time ended? Micah said it would last until the “time that she who is in labor has given birth” (v.3). This is what John is showing us in the vision. Note what Micah says next. “Then the remnant of His brethren shall return to the children of Israel.” This confirms that Jesus’ natural brethren, the Jewish people, shall finally acknowledge Him as God’s Anointed One.  
       Micah declares that Jesus “shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God; and they shall abide, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth; and this shall be peace” (vs. 4-5).
        But before this true and lasting peace can come, the 3½-year war for Jerusalem must be fought. John records what happens next in the pivotal chapter 12. It is the ruling court’s first ruling concerning Israel. “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven [the heavenlies above the earth] any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels [see Eph. 6:12] were cast out with him” (Rev. 12:7-9). In short, the Antichrist’s initial invasion turns into all-out war, both physically and spiritually. Of course we know who prevails.
        End-Time Lesson: The next thing John hears is a loud voice in Heaven declaring, “Now salvation, and strength and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death” (vs. 10-11).
        This overcoming power of the blood of the Lamb enables the Church to be caught up to Heaven as His Body and joint-heirs as this Day dawns. Now that same overcoming power of the Savior has come to the revived Jewish remnant who have finally accepted Jesus as the Messiah. This is confirmed both by Daniel (Ch. 7) and John (Rev. 13:10). From now on in the Revelation, the Jewish remnant are called saints, for they are set apart to God and our Lord Jesus Christ. They are the offspring of the Woman (Israel) who now “keep the commandments of God [Old Covenant] and have the testimony of Jesus Christ [New Covenant].
        Everything is in place for the defeat of the Antichrist. (1) Salvation is available to the whole world, to whomever chooses. (2) Strength has come. The Greek word used here is the dunamis power of the Holy Spirit¾the latter rain outpouring. (3) Power has come. The Greek word used here is exousia, which is the authority of heavenly court of Christ and His Church as one, seated at the right hand of the Father in all authority in both heaven and earth. This is how the mystery of God shall be finished (Rev. 10:7).