The Remnant
The Remnant (12:17)
Revelation 12:17—And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
This study concerns the "Seed of the Woman" and the war the dragon wages against them. Though completely defeated in his attempt to destroy the Man Child and the Woman, the rage of the dragon has not lessened. Because the Man Child and the Woman are now out of his reach, the dragon makes war with the Remnant of the Woman's Seed.
The Remnant of Her Seed
The Remnant Identified
A Counter View
Most that believe the Woman is Israel and not the Church, also conclude that the "Remnant" are a part of Israel who were left behind when the Woman fled into the Wilderness. This is a natural and logical conclusion if the Woman is believed to be Israel and that ALL Gentile Believers have already been "caught out" before this time. Clarence Larkin claimed "When the Church is caught out no REMNANT is left behind, all that are "IN CHRIST" are taken away;…"
Mr. Larkin's claim is possible if no distinctions are made within the saints and all saints (regardless of spiritual maturity and level of obedience) will enjoy an identical reward. This statement appears to ignore the Scriptural truths that there are definite stages of Spiritual Development (For more on this topic see: ":The Born Again", ":The Body of Christ" and ":The Bride of Christ") and that God reserves promises relative to Spiritual Development. (See The Difference Between the Church and the Bride)
Adopted View
The premise we adopted in the beginning of our study of Revelation 12 is that the Woman is indeed the Church. See notes on The Sun-Clothed Woman for explanation.
The "…Remnant of her seed…" are the true Believers in Christ who are left after the Rapture of the Church (they had no oil in their vessel at midnight when the Bridegrooom came and were left behind). These held fast the confession of their faith in Christ Jesus and are a separated people from the prevailing abomination of that time.
The Remnant Defined
"The remnant of her seed" means the children of the "Woman." This "remnant" are the born again believers (the family of God) who are converts of the Church (The Woman). The "remnant" is that which remains – that which is left out of the whole – that which is left from the Rapture of the Church.
God reserves promises relative to Spiritual Development.
(The Sinner - The World) Of all the good promises of God there is reserved only the promise of the hope of salvation IF the sinner repents and condemnation if he does not.
(The Remnant - The Born Again) In John 3, only those Born Again may enter into the kingdom of God. The Born Again will enjoy all the promises given to those a part of the Family of God.
(The Woman - The Body of Christ) In Matthew 25, all ten virgins slept (Revelation 3:16) and at midnight only the virgins with oil (a type of the Holy Ghost) went with the Bridegroom into the marriage. The Church which is Christ's Body will enjoy the promises given to the Born Again and those who have been Baptized into the Body by the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22,23).
(The Man Child - The Bride of Christ) In Luke 21:28,36, the promise of escaping the tribulation hour is reserved for those who are NOT asleep ("watch" - agrupnew - to be sleepless) and are ready. The Man Child as an Overcomer will enjoy every redemptive right and promise! (Revelation 19:7; 3:21)
The baptism of the Spirit is required to be in the Church (His Body). The remnant had not been baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ (His Church; the Woman). Either these were never baptized or they had allowed their experience to go dry. Like the five foolish virgins, they were virgins, but they had allowed the oil to go dry. (Matthew 25:7,10)
These are TRUE Believers and not merely those who profess to Believe. Notice, how there is a distinction made between the masses who confess Christ and those who"…keep the commandments of God."(Revelation 12: 17)
Matt. 7:21–23—Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.
The War Against Her Seed
Revelation 12:17 "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed…"
Defeated in his attack on the "Man-Child" (the Overcomers), and then defeated in his attack on the "Woman" (the Church), the dragon changes his focus and enters into a deadly war with the converts of the "Woman," "her seed."
The Means the Dragon Uses in This War
The Anti-christ
The anti-christ will be the head of the one world government.
Revelation 13:7 "And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them…"
The False Religion
The false religion is the system, which is practiced by the false prophet, bringing all the denominations of the world into one church. This one-world church will be government-controlled and government sponsored and headed up by the false prophet, who causes all to worship the "beast."
Revelation 13:11–15 "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed."
The Economy
A government-controlled one world monetary system will be introduced. No one will be able to buy or sell unless they fit into the government-controlled system and receive a mark in their right hand or in their forehead. There will not be a money exchange system, as we know it. There will be a transfer of credits through the computers, and without the mark you will not be able to transact business. This will force many to receive the mark.
Revelation 13:16, 17 "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."
Revelation 16:2 "And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image."
Revelation 19:20 "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast,andthemthat worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone."
The Effects of the War
Great Tribulation
"Megas Thlipsis" – "Great Tribulation" – exceeding great affliction – to suffer affliction – primarily means a pressuring
The Great Tribulation indicates a definite period of time, which was spoken of by the Lord, which precedes His Second Advent. The Second Advent is the "Epiphany," the revelation of Christ coming back to take over the kingdoms of this world. This is not the secret coming in the air where He raptures the Church.
Matt. 24:29, 30 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
The believers will be greatly persecuted.
Matt. 24:21 "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."
Revelation 2:22 "Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into Great Tribulation, except they repent of their deeds."
Revelation 3:10 "Because thou hast kept the Word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."
Saints Overcome
Revelation 13:7 "And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them…"
The "Man-Child" (the Overcomers) overcame the dragon.
Revelation 12:11 "…They overcame him…"
"The Woman" (the Church) escaped the dragon's attacks by a great miracle. However, these saints that were left behind during the last three-and-a-half years of the Tribulation are attacked and overcome by the dragon's murderous assaults. Permission was "given" (Revelation 13: 7) to the dragon and to the false-christ to make war with the saints and to overcome them. These saints are not Jews only, for the Scripture says, "over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations."
Revelation 7:9 "…Of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues."
Many Martyrs
Many of the saints that are left behind and go into the "Great Tribulation" will give their lives as martyrs, because they refused to give up their faith in Christ Jesus the Lord.
Matt. 24:9 "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake."
John 16:2—They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
Revelation 6:9–11—And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Revelation 7:9–14—After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the Throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the Throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the Throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the Throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 14:12,13—Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
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