The book of Revelation begins with Jesus meeting with the Apostle John who was exiled to the Isle of Patmos. Jesus first gave John a message for the churches of Asia Minor, now present day Turkey. Basically, the message is to return to their first love when they first decided to make Jesus their Savior and Lord of their life. This is a message for all believers as we need to continually reflect on what Jesus has done for us and the amazing gift of salvation that God has given to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The beginning of chapter 12 speaks of Lucifer (great red dragon), heaven’s most beautiful angel, being cast out of heaven with a third of the angels, demons (third part of the stars of heaven). Rev. 12:3-4 The dragon is shown ready to devour the Child (Jesus our Savior) from the woman (Israel) in these verses. The devil thought he succeeded at the cross only to find out that the cross paid for mankind’s sin and Jesus was resurrected by the power of God.

The first two verses of chapter twelve take us to the time of the birth of Jesus in which God, Himself, comes to this earth in the body of Jesus. The woman is the Jewish people and the twelve stars are the twelve tribes of Israel. Verse five of chapter twelve recaps that Jesus is to rule and reign forever and ever. Jesus is caught up to heaven and sits on a throne. The fifth verse mirrors the life of Jesus while on earth from approximately 4BC to 30AD.

Jesus begins to give John a vision of the future that will involve all mankind in chapter four of Revelation. Chronologically, the future was given to John in pieces that overlap to help us receive a fuller idea of the meanings of the vision. John is told to prophesy again concerning “Jacob’s trouble” or “The Great Tribulation Period”.

John was given a little book that was sweet to the taste but bitter in his stomach. At the end of the previous chapter mankind was unwilling to repent and this book is the book of sins to show us that sin is sweet at first but ultimately brings death. Rev. 10:8-11

            God often re-tells events to give mankind another perspective to see His truth in a fuller real way. The book of Revelation is no different. God wants you to understand the book of Revelation and be ready for His return.