Page 109 - Heavenly Signs II by Mel Gable

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Revelation 12:14 “But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly
into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the
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presence of the serpent.”
This fleeing into the wilderness for protection will occur a little later once the “forces …desecrate the sanctuary
fortress.” The most important fact taught here is that God continues to watch over Israel even in the time of
Israel’s great distress. God will seal His people and protect them during these trials and tribulations, by sending
them into the wilderness or mountains where God will nourish them for 1260 days during the Great Tribulation.

The Grand Design

Even though it is unusual to call Satan the great dragon, it is the term used throughout Revelation. This was
because of the heavenly sign seen by the Apostle John in his vision, which was a dragon. Nevertheless, there is a
sign of the Serpent, which is the Constellations of Serpens. Is this the sign of a dragon in the heavens for
fulfillment of prophecy? Yes, it is to demonstrate to the world that there was a Creator of the universe and the
Word was with God from the beginning. Those who have insight will understand the significance of this point. It
is amazing to see God’s creation align with His Word. This is stated in the opening of the Gospel of John.

John 1:1-5, 14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has
come into being.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
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5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

This passage says “All Things come into being through Him” who is Christ the Lord and the Word was with God from
the beginning. What a marvelous statement for those in the “light” and then “the darkness did not comprehend it.” I
pray that this wonder is truly appreciated by those who have insight and life in Him. It is astonishing to find the
Holy Word aligns perfectly with God’s “Grand Design” of the visible universe that we can observe and see. It is
through His Spirit that He has revealed an invisible spiritual world, an eternal world, to us as well as this visible
world in which we live today. At this time, believers are in glorified bodies in Heaven waiting to return with Him.

War in Heaven
Revelation 12:7-9 “And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The
dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place
found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the
devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were
thrown down with him.”
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How do we know for certain His “angels waging war” in heaven occurs during the End Times? This could be a
reflection on a past event. Could this be similar to the statement in Revelation 12:4 where it says “woman who was
about to give birth”? We know this is in reference to Christ’s birth which didn’t occur during the End Times.
Nevertheless, Satan, the dragon, has not been cast down until the Tribulation occurs. The fallen angels have had
eternal bonds and have been cast into the abyss by God. Jude’s reference to the abyss is “under darkness.” The
“bottomless pit” and the “abyss” as well as the word Tartarus Latin, from Greek Tartaros all refer to the same
location. This is where immortal beings are being held until the “Day of Judgment.” These immortal beings are the

171 New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Re 12:13–14, Re 12:7–9). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

172 New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Jn 1:1–5). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.