Chapter 12 continued
“Twelve hundred and sixty days”
It may seem strange that in verse 1 the “woman” is elevated to power! In verse 5 we are told her child was to rule all nations and we are further told that her child was “caught up to God and his throne”. Notwithstanding this elevation of the woman and her son, we are told in verse 6 that “the woman” fled into the wilderness.
The answer to this seeming anomaly is in the constitution of the power styled “the woman’s.
Most of those styling themselves “Christians” were only nominal believers. This is the position which applies today, in that all the churches about us profess to be “Christian”, whereas we feel that they have lost the “Truth”, and that only an exceedingly small minority can claim to have the true teaching of Jesus.
Verse 17 of chapter 12 makes the matter quite clear, by calling the ones to be persecuted “the remnant of the woman’s seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ”.
This latter body of people were to occupy a position in which the State did not recognize them politically.
They were to remain thus for 1,260 “days”. On the day for a year principle, commencing with Constantine’s first accession to power, A.D. 312, we come to the year 1572, in which a terrible massacre by the Catholics of France took place. Those massacred were Protestants, who called themselves “Hugenots”. Many thousands (up to 75,000) were involved. Thus, after 1,260 years, “political death” had come to the remnant of the Woman’s seed, and was completed in 1685, at the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.
“War in heaven” (verse 7)
Even to the uninitiated in scriptural matters it would appear incongruous that there could possibly be war in Heaven—the dwelling-place of God” Do we not pray, “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven”.
Obviously it is the political arena or heaven that is referred to. It was a struggle for power among the rulers of the Roman Empire.
Michael and his angels fight the dragon
The name “Michael” means “who like God”, and in Daniel 12. 1 it is applied to Christ, who will yet contend against the powers of the world for supremacy.
Constantine claimed to fight in the name of and for Christ, and in a sense pre-figured the contending by Christ with the world rulers and His victory over them in the days to come.
Here we might also mention that Cyrus was alluded to in the Old Testament (Isa. 45. 1) as “mine anointed”—a term which applies to Jesus. “Christ” means anointed.
The angels mentioned here are simply the messengers (“Angelos”—one sent) or helpers of Constantine—his forces.
The term Dragon was obviously applied to the pagan rulers who opposed the champion of the Christians. The pagans used the dragon as one of their symbols; indeed it has been claimed that the dragon appeared on coins of the realm. It has been claimed that Constantine wrote a letter to Eusibius in which he mentioned that the dragon had been driven from the administration of public affairs by the Supreme Deity and further “all can sets the efficacy of the Divine power”.
“That old serpent—the devil—and satan”
This appellation applied particularly to the Pagan Roman administration of the Empire, because of its adoption of falsehood, its disbelief of the one true God, and its opposition or “adverseness” to the Gospel. It also falsely accused the servants of Christ, saying that their memorial meetings were orgies where those taking part drank blood and carried out abominable rites. Let us consider the terms separately.
“That old serpent”
The serpent in Eden denied God’s instruction. In this he was a liar. So long as human nature — uncontrolled — obtains it will adopt an attitude of opposition as shown in Gen. 3. 15 hence the term:
“Satan”
also applies because it is thereby an adversary to God. The term “satan” means “adversary”.
“The devil”
This term devil is taken from the word Diabolos or Dia-Ballo, meaning to “pierce through”, to “calumniate”, to destroy one’s character.
All these terms describe the rebellion of human nature against God.
“The whole world”,
These words from v. 9 do not refer to the globe, but only to the Roman habitable, or Empire. The original word for world is “oikumene”, which means “habitable” and is so used in Luke 2. 1.
“Cast into the earth”
The pagan rulers and their helpers were cast from the political “heaven”, or supreme government, to the earth, or among the common people. The rulers who had opposed Constantine were Maximin, Licinius, Galerius”
Now is come . . . the kingdom of our God
The words of verse 10 echo the sentiments and claims of the Christian party surrounding Constantine. Today the church teaches that the Kingdom of God is in our hearts and does not believe in the actual appearing of Christ on earth to set up a literal kingdom.
The “accuser” of the brethren of the day was the pagan government of Rome under such men as Maximin, Licinius and Galerius.
Constantine espoused the cause of the Christian party, not caring whether such people were true or false in their profession. The nominal Christians openly took up arms under the new champion, and they were the ones who thought that the Kingdom of God was now established”
Of course Constantine’s victory could be taken as a type of Jesus’ victory over the forces of present day paganism, which includes Christendom.
“By the blood of the Lamb”
While the pseudo-Christians were convinced that Christ’s Crucifixion had brought retribution upon the power which put him to death, it was actually Christ directing the affairs of the nations which allowed the situation now obtaining.
He had directed the preaching of the true brethren from the first century until now. Their witness under great stress, and in many cases at the expense of their lives, had swayed the populations of the Empire against the barbarous way of life of the pagans and their government, and so it could truly be said that victory had been achieved by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of testimony preached in his name.
Rejoice ye heavens! (v. 12)
“Therefore rejoice ye heavens and ye that dwell in them.” The new ruling heaven was the party called Catholics, who gave full vent to their rejoicing at the turn of events.
“Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and sea”
The rejoicing mentioned was by those constituting the “Heaven” or ruling class. “Earth and Sea” relate to the common people. Paganism had not been completely obliterated; it had been broken into fragments, and thus there were quite a number of places where Licinius in his fallen condition was still supported. However, the new rulers endeavoured to complete the rout of the old party.
The “Devil”, or false accuser as he would be more accurately described (that is, paganism), could see that it would only be a short while before the Christian party would be completely victorious. The warfare was therefore intensified, particularly in the eastern section of the Empire, where the persecution was exceedingly bitter against the true believers.
“The short time”
The short time mentioned was from A.D. 312-324. From 324 onward Constantine’s rule was supreme. It was indeed like a rod of iron.
“Two wings of a great eagle” (v. 14)
The eagle was the symbol of Rome, and the wings represent the extremities of the Empire. These were located in Switzerland and Northern Africa, where the true servants sought refuge. (Moses had foretold the coming of the Romans in A.D. 70 using the term “eagle” and had described the awful conditions to which the inhabitants were reduced in the siege of Jerusalem)
“A time, times and half a time”
As mentioned in regard to verse six, this is a period arrived at as follows:
| Time = | 1 year (or) 360 days |
| Times = | 2 years (or) 720 days |
| Half a time = | 6 months (or) 180 days |
| Total = | 1260 days |
Thus, on a day for a year basis, 1,260 years are indicated and commencing in A.D. 312 were to end in the great massacre of St. Bartholomew’s day in 1572.
The “wilderness” was a political one. In fact it was said of the late Sir Winston Churchill that just prior to the war of 1939- 45 he had been in the “political wilderness”, thus indicating that for a time he did not hold any official position in the state.
The Serpent
In describing the power which would oppose the “woman”, a subtle difference is noticeable between verses 12-13 and 1415.
Verse 12 says that the “dragon” of verse 13 “hath but a short time”. Now verse 14 says that a period of 1,260 years is intended, and verse 15 describes the power opposing the “woman” as “the serpent”.
The answer is seen when we understand the changing nature of Roman affairs. The “dragon” or pagan-power only lasted until Constantine assumed complete control in both eastern and western divisions of the Empire, A.D. 312-324. It was the support given by the nominal Christians (Catholics) which brought the new emperor to power. Upon his assumption of power this party prevailed upon him to legislate against and to actively persecute the true servants of Christ who would not under any conditions take up the sword in defence of the State” What was formerly called “Pagan” now became so-called “Christians”.
The struggle between the State-sponsored church and the true “Ecclesia” (those called out) lasted until in 1572 the Catholics at last crushed the Hugenots and blotted out the Truth in France, and all Europe lay enchained by Romish error.
Cast out water as a flood
The terms serpent, devil and satan all aptly applied to the powers arraigned against Christ’s brethren. The State-sponsored church now becomes aptly described as a serpent as well as a dragon. Pagan beliefs had been mixed up with the Gospel. The lie of the serpent in Eden was well to the fore in the teaching of the State-church. “Thou shalt not surely die”, or immortality of the soul, was one of its outstanding pronouncements.
Egypt riseth up like a flood, wrote Jeremiah concerning Egypt’s atempt to “drown” or subdue Israel. So likewise the Roman State now used its soldiery to carry out the behests of the State-sponsored church. The “water”, then, is the military excursions of the legions against those who refused to submit to unbridled Catholic sway.
“The earth helped the woman”
Just as the “heavens” indicates the rulers of the political firmament, so the “earth” indicates those ruled over. In Europe, as well as in Northern Africa, there were subjects of Rome who were prepared to fight for the individual’s right to freedom of conscience.
In Northern Africa the Donatists (the true believers) were greatly helped, although sometimes embarrassed, by a body of people calling themselves “Circumcellions”. These people were fearless, rough and often blood-thirsty, and were found mainly in Numidia and Mauretania. They delighted in fighting for civil and religious liberty, and their influence assisted in giving a measure of relief to the persecuted believers. The historian Mosheim makes reference to them and their doings”
In other parts of the empire other bodies also were prepared to fight for civil and religious liberty. Thus the “earth” helped the woman and dried up, or resisted, the flood sent against her.
“The remnant of the woman’s seed”
In verse 17 we read, “The dragon was wroth with the woman”” At this stage we must realise that the term “dragon” had applied to the pagan military forces of the empire. The military force still existed, but was nominally “Christian.”
Apart from the Catholics, these were the Protestants, and those styled, “The remnant of the woman’s seed who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
Those from all nations who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ have been but a remnant” ever since, and will remain so, even to the coming of Christ.
Of the future judgment of the persecuting power Paul wrote, “Whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming” (2 Thess. 2. 8).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One