Revelation 12 The GREAT RED DRAGON , The DRAGON & . . . A FINAL WARNING for BELIEVERS

Revelation 12 The GREAT RED DRAGON , The DRAGON & . . . A FINAL WARNING for BELIEVERS For generations , REVELATION 12 has been widely understood purely in a ‘ historical ’ context , as a prophecy concerning the rise of the Roman Apostate Church during its early political development. Rarely ( if ever ) is it spoken of as a prophecy related to the ‘ end-times’. Yet every layer of its narrative provides incontestable proof that it is a prophecy for ‘our time ’. There is no doubt that Revelation 12 was an accurate depiction of events during the time of the Roman Empire , namely the overthrow of the ‘ Pagan ’ system of government and the emergence of the Roman Catholic system under Constantine. Yet these ‘ historic ’ events were simply a forerunner to ‘ far greater events ’ soon to be fulfilled in the last days. The purpose of this document is to demonstrate ‘ beyond any reasonable doubt ’ that Revelation 12 - not only pointed to the rise of the Apostate Church in the 4th century - but more importantly ‘ for us ’ ( living in the last days ) it is also a prophecy revealing monumental events soon to come . . . many of which are both unheralded and unforeseen. ========== ============== ========== To highlight the remarkable accuracy of God’s Word , between the parallel ‘ historical ’ and ‘ end-time ’ fulfilments of this prophecy , throughout this paper we have incorporated into boxes the Roman-era fulfilment of this prophecy , the biblical symbols and events commonly accepted as being the ‘ real-world ’ outworking of these signs. Following each box , the text then proceeds to examine and detail the evidence relating to the coming ‘ END-TIMES ’ fulfilment of Revelation 12. VERSE 1 - And there appeared a great wonder in heaven ; a woman clothed with the sun , and the moon under her feet , and upon her head a crown of twelve stars : HISTORICAL FULFILMENT ( 4 th CENTURY A.D. - ROMAN EMPIRE ) “ Great wonder ” [ G4592 σημεῖον sēmeion - an indication , miracle , sign ] was ‘ a sign ’ of the emerging power of the church. “ In heaven ” - the ‘ political ’ heavens ( not the atmospheric ) wherein the church’s power and influence grew in the 4th century “ A woman ” - part of the ‘once’ chaste-virgin ( Ecclesia ) is now portrayed as a corrupt religious system … ie. being with child “ clothed with the sun ” - Sun = ‘ government ’. The church being invested imperial authority by the pagan ruler Constantine “ moon under her feet ” - symbol of State ecclesiasticism which derived its ‘ light ’ ( authority / influence ) from government “ upon her head a crown ” - Crown ( ‘ wreath ’ ) symbolic of the church’s victory over the former ‘ pagan ’ state religion “ of twelve stars ” - 12 Pagan Caesars of Rome ( since Augustus ) symbolise Supreme authority of Rome attained by Church The times of the Roman Empire saw dramatic changes in the earth’s political realms ( “ heavens ” ). Reflecting the incomprehensible nature of these changes the book of Revelation described them as “ great wonders ”. These changes also brought great social and ecclesiastical changes , all of which were accurately foretold in Revelation 12 through symbolic language. Each and every one of these prophetic symbols ( ie. “ heavens / woman / sun / moon / crown / twelve stars ” ) have a continuing relevancy and importance in ‘ the last days’ and are fully examined through the course of this document. Today - in 2021 - we are also living in an age of “ wonders ”. The whole world is experiencing dramatic and unprecedented change , both rapid and ( at times) violent changes happening politically , socially and even morally , just like the days of the Roman Empire. Yet Revelation 12 is not limited to this one ‘ historical ’ outworking. It portends to greater events coming. VERSE 2 - And she being with child cried , travailing in birth , and pained to be delivered. “ she being with child ” - the ‘ once ’ chaste virgin was now pregnant with the ‘ seeds of error ’ ( Acts 15 ) Natural Pregnancy - 280 days - Conception  birth ( man-child ) Political Birth of Man-Child - AD.33 Day of Pentecost  AD.313 Constantine’s victory ( & Church state religion ) “ cried , travailing in birth ”- birth pangs begin apx.10 days prior  AD.303 Diocletian began brutal ‘ persecution of Christians ’. “ pained to be delivered ” - Persecution ( pain ) of Christian community ( woman ) later a key factor in Constantine’s rise to power. The ‘ woman ’ described giving birth to this man-child - we know was a prophetic reference to the Christians ( ie. Church ) in Roman times who delivered Emperor Constantine to power. It is all documented history. While these verses certainly do describe the vast expanse of history relating to the rise of the apostate Roman Church , there is yet ‘ANOTHER PROPHETIC DIMENSION ’ to this chapter that is a vision of the ‘ very last days’ of the kingdoms of men . . . events coming in our time. VERSE 3 - And there appeared another wonder in heaven ; and behold a great red dragon , Having SEVEN HEADS and TEN HORNS , and SEVEN CROWNS upon his heads. “ great red dragon ” - Originally symbolised ‘ crocodile ’ of Egypt - first great opponent of God’s people , Israel - With political decline of Egypt , this role was assume by Rome - Dragon - ‘ RED ’ in colour - which is colour of ‘ Sin ’ and describes ‘ war-like belligerency ’ ( esp. towards Christianity ) - Dragon represented the Pagan state religion that wrought belligerent opposition to Constantine ( and the Church ) A ‘ second wonder ’ then appears . . . a Great Red Dragon. Unlike the woman found in verses 1-2 the Great Red Dragon has no discernable religious or spiritual attributes ascribed to it. In fact , it is hostile to the woman ( Christians / Church ) as we discover in verse 4 . Nevertheless , it is itself an ‘ apostate entity ’ , having rejected any form of faith or religion. The prophetic ‘ END-TIMES ’ manifestation of this Great Red Dragon . . . is the Communist - Socialist state of CHINA !!! GREAT RED DRAGON - It is an inarguable fact , a Great Red Dragon is the quint-essential symbol for CHINA. For thousands of years the red dragon has been universally known as the singular symbol for China , utterly and uniquely synonymous with this populous nation-state. Seen at every Chinese festival and every cultural event , the imagery and mythology of the Great Red Dragon is deeply ingrained and immersed throughout Chinese history , the culture and the psyche of the people. However , China’s connection to this prophetic symbol in Revelation 12 does not rest simply on the ‘ visual-likeness’ of this multi-headed dragon. There is a deep and inescapable ‘ correlation ’ between the specific features and characteristics of the Great Red Dragon ( as described in Revelation 12 ) and the modern day republic of China , which combined together all point to this communist nation-state being specifically and unmistakably prefigured in this end-time prophecy. Here’s why ... The two ‘ most powerful ’ institutions in the Chinese political structure are : 1) the Politburo Standing Committee ( P.S.C ) and 2) the State Council. Both these political bodies in their design & their composition bear stunning parallels to the description and features of the Great Red Dragon as detailed in Revelation 12. “ seven heads ” - 7 mountains upon which Rome was built & 7 kings ( ie. systems of government ) by which Rome was ruled SEVEN HEADS - In the same manner as the “ seven heads ” symbolised Rome’s ‘ seven kings ’ ( and the seven forms of rulership that governed Rome ) the “ seven heads ” are also a key feature of the present-day Chinese governmental structure. The ‘supreme ’ ruling authority in China rests with the Communist Party Politburo Standing Committee (PSC). Headed by the Chinese President and Chairman of the Communist Party Xi Jinping , this committee is the most powerful policy and decision making entity in the nation. It is comprised of ‘ seven men ’ - effectively ‘seven kings’ - who govern the nation of China with absolute authority. Every aspect of Chinese society is orchestrated , governed and controlled by this supreme ruling committee of seven men . . . These seven men are the ‘seven heads’ ofthe ‘end-times’ Great Red Dragon.  WIKIPEDIA  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politburo_Standing_Committee_of_the_Chinese_Communist_Party#Current_members_(in_order) “ ten horns ” - subsequent 10-fold division of the Roman Empire ( 10 Toes of Image - Daniel 2 ) the basis of modern-divided Europe TEN HORNS - The ‘ second ’ highest institution in the Chinese political system is the State. The cabinet appointed to administer the State is the State Council ( Executive Meeting Standing Committee ) which is comprised of ‘ ten ’ government officials known as State Councillors. Headed by the Premier ( of the State ) and four Vice-Premiers - these ‘ ten councillors’ are NOT ‘ kings’ in the true sense , rather they are officials or ministers appointed to execute the affairs of the State , including the day-to-day management of the economy , National Defence , State Security , Public Security and the Ministry of Culture. Importantly though , the State Council is sub-ordinate to the all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) and its directives. We therefore see the description of the dragon’s ‘ten horns’ (v3) is in exact alignment with the ten members of China’s 2 nd tier State Council . . . These ten men are the ‘ten horns’ horns of the Great Red Dragon.  WIKIPEDIA  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Council_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China#Executive_Meeting_(Standing_Committee) “ seven crowns upon his heads ” - ‘ crowns ‘ ( Gk. ‘ diademaia ’ ) represent a ‘ symbol of authority ’ of those who wear them. SEVEN CROWNS - To underscore the difference in ‘ relative power ’ between the ‘ Seven Heads ’ ( Politburo SC ) and the ‘ Ten Horns ’ ( State Council ) the text in Revelation provides an additional qualification highlighting the ‘ power status ’ of these two respective governing bodies in China. The follow-up observation of “ seven crowns ” being found ONLY upon the ‘ Seven Heads ’ ( Politburo SC ) of this great red dragon , is a profound statement confirming these seven were conferred with absolute power. Notably , the “ crowns ” were not found on the “ ten horns ” indicating the ‘ inferior nature ’ of the State Council and reflects with ‘ perfect accuracy ’ the balance of power / status of these two Chinese political institutions. None of these parallels are ‘ coincidence ’. Written almost 2,000 years ago - this vision of the ‘ latter-day ’ Great Red Dragon is a powerful ‘ final revelation ’ intended to warn and prepare the faithful for ‘ unheralded ’ events . . . still yet to come. VERSE 4 - And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven , and did cast them to the earth : and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered , for to devour her child as soon as it was born . “ his tail ” - the tail of a beast indicates its fear and wrath - symbol applicable to Roman Empire in 4th Century ( esp.Pagan adherents ) “ drew the third part of the stars of heaven ” - Pagan Dragon ( Roman Emp. Maximin ) declared Holy War agnst Christianity / Church “ did cast them to the earth ” - Determination to eradicate Constantine ( & Christianity ) from the Roman Empire “ the dragon stood before the woman ” - ‘ Pagan ’ Roman Emperors openly hostile to , & persecuted Christianity / Church ( woman ) “ which was ready to be delivered ” - Emperor Constantine soon to be ‘delivered’ into power with help/support of Church ( woman ) “ for to devour her child as soon as it was born ” - Pagan Emperors Galerius , Maxentius & Licinius all sought to extirpate Constantine Having firmly established the prophetic relevancy of the Great Red Dragon to the communist nation of CHINA in our time , we find in verse 4 a description of the evil intentions of the red dragon in the last days, yet again with astonishing parallels : “ His tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven . . . and did cast them to the earth ”. This is an amazing prophetic statement reflecting the ‘ EXACT ’ situation concerning China’s global rise in recent times. China’s greatest ever economic and political project has been the much publicised “ Belt and Road Initiative [ BRI ] ”. In its continuing quest for world domination , China’s objective through this massive and multifaceted ‘ global strategy ’ of economic power and pressure is to bring over 65 nations ( 2/3 of the earth’s population ) into its direct sphere of influence and control [see : ABC News video below ]. China’s master plan continues to be rolled out throughout the Asia-Pacific region , Europe , Russia , Middle East and Africa. This form of economic and political coercion ( contrasted to the alternative option of overt and naked military aggression ) is also known as “ soft power ”. It is an insidious , but highly effective means of subjugating and ultimately controlling weaker nations as they become increasingly dependent on China’s economic might. This wolf-warrior diplomacy is a calculated and sinister plan aimed at making China the ‘ sole and unrivalled ’ super-power of the world. Implicit in China’s plan to dominate 2/3 of the world , is to undermine and destroy ( “ cast them to the earth ” ) the remaining 1/3 of nations ( “ third part of the stars of heaven ” ) namely Western democracies and Commonwealth nations whose systems of government and notions of freedom are antithetical to China’s communist regime and its ideologies . The operation of this plan ( to weaken Western democracies ) has been in play for several years and is well-documented. China’s infiltration of every strata of Western society and its subversion of key institutions is both extensive and endemic. Politics , major corporations , big tech , education and academia ( ie. universities / colleges), major sports, even Hollywood !! This seditious cultural transformation aimed at up-ending Western society , is being engineered and aggressively pursued by the Great Red Dragon . These subversive activities do not include the incessant cyber-attacks ( incl. massive database breaches, identity theft .. of millions ; theft of scientific and military technologies , state secrets and even disrupting and shutting down major Western infrastructure ). Now in 2021 , amid the ongoing aftermath of the Corona Virus Pandemic ( COVID-19 ) that China unleashed on the world , the Great Red Dragon is nearing completion of its objective to totally derail the West. Given that Revelation clearly describes these events in the ‘ past tense ’ ( “ drew … / and did cast …” ) would indicate China will succeed in this effort. There can be no doubt the Great Red Dragon of REVELATION 12 ( vs. 2-4 ) is‘ modern-day ’ China. Given this bible prophecy clearly does have a demonstrable and verifiable ‘ end-times’ application and context, we must ask a series of questions : WHY . . . do we only view this chapter through a ‘ historical ’ prism ( ie. 4th century Roman era ) and unwisely dismiss it from being a prophecy speaking of ’ literal events’ in the last days ? More importantly . . . WHAT do the remaining verses of Chapter 12 actually portend to ? And WHAT are these ‘ unheralded ‘ events coming soon ? Please read PART 2 of this paper ‘CLICK’ to Play Video THE COMING OF ‘ THE EAST WIND ’ Another strong ‘scriptural ’ indicator of where China’s malevolent role in world events will soon lead , can be found in PSALM 48. In verse 7 the Psalmist draws a long-sighted ‘ prophetic vision ’ of dark events coming in the last days : “ Thou breakest the ships of ‘ Tarshish ’ . . . with an east wind ” In a prophetic ‘ end-times’setting it is widely documented and accepted that ‘ Tarshish ’ is modern Great Britain (U.K.). If the ships of Great Britain are to be broken with an “ east wind ” what is this destroying power ? Could it be a ‘ literal ’ wind - or - is this “ east wind ” a metaphor for something else ? Coming out of ‘ the East ’ clearly it has implications of righteous judgment ( ie. ‘ the Sun of Righteousness ’ ) but it is NOT the appearing of the Lord himself. If we consider the many other bible references to the “ the whirlwind ” ( of the LORD ) we know these prophetic allusions speak unmistakably to the ‘ Russian confederacy ’ of the last days that will sweep all nations before them. It’s the same ‘ divine-pattern ’ of operation seen repeatedly throughout history , the LORD using ‘ foreign military powers’ to execute His righteous judgments upon Israel , or upon the nations generally. The Assyrian/Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans . . . and ultimately the Russians. It will be no different with the “ East Wind ”. Prior to the final all-conquering rise of Russia , China will be the Great Red Dragon that comes ‘ out of the East’. Yet another destroying power appointed of the LORD , purposed in this instance to punish the naval ships of the ‘ old lion ’ ( Great Britain ). So how , and by what means will the Great Red Dragon ( China ) accomplish this terrible deed ? In recent years China has made massive advances in the development of its missile technologies and vastly expanded its arsenals , this includes specialised missile variants known as “ aircraft carrier killers ” designed specifically for the purpose of countering America’s formidable naval battle groups. These fearsome missiles can destroy ‘ whole ships ’ with one lethal strike. Being the foremost possessor of these doomsday missiles - is it at all surprising that China should be the ‘ central figure ’ of an ancient prophecy foretelling the catastrophic destruction of the British naval fleet. This is all particularly relevant in 2021. As Britain - ‘ glorying ’ in its own might and ingenuity - parades its newly commissioned aircraft carrier and ‘ flagship of the feet ‘ ( HMS Queen Elizabeth II ) from port to port around the globe on its inaugural voyage . . . Could disaster be coming ? Are we about to see the latter-day fulfilment of Psalm 48 ? Undoubtedly ‘ the most astonishing ’ aspect concerning China’s bristling array of ballistic missiles is that all these weapons ( both nuclear and conventional ) are known exclusively as “ Dongfeng ” missiles or abbreviated to “ DF ” to specify individual models or variants ( ie. DF-1 / DF-25 / DF-41 etc. ). So what does “ Dong feng ” translate to in English ? . . . . it means “ East Wind ” So the ‘ EXACT ’ same term used in the bible ( over 2,500 years ago !! ) is the ‘ official name ’ of China’s deadly missile systems. Could this just be a wild , incalculably random co-incidence ?? - or - a testament to the fore-knowledge and accuracy of God’s revealed Word of Truth ?? It is not even a secret. Rather , it is publicly available information. Listed below are the internet search results for “Dongfeng ” from the world’s most recognised information source : From Wikipedia , the free encyclopedia Dongfeng ( missile ) The Dongfeng ( simplified Chinese : 东风; traditional Chinese: 東風; lit. ' East Wind ' ) series, typically abbreviated as "DF missiles", are a family of short, medium, intermediate-range and intercontinental ballistic missiles operated by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Rocket Force With China’s increasing hostility and belligerence on the world stage , most dramatically seen towards its neighbours ( Hong Kong / Taiwan / Japan / South Korea ) ; punishing trade wars and threatened missile attacks against regional powers such as Australia ; the swallowing up and militarisation of territorial seas and international shipping routes; the infiltration and destructive subversion of its principal rival the United States and ( most recently ) the frightening discovery of over 250 ‘ new ’ ICBM nuclear-missile silos being constructed in China’s north western Gansu Province, there can be ‘ no doubt’ concerning the future geopolitical intentions of the Great Red Dragon ( of our time ) , China. As a people patiently awaiting the appearing of the Lord from heaven ( viz. DANIEL 12v1 ) we need to prepare ourselves to endure faithfully until ‘ THAT ’ time. The reality is , we WILL still be present to see the outworking of these distressing events in Psalm 48 . . . of the havoc and destruction soon to be wrought upon the ‘ships of Tarshish ’ and presumably also upon her accompanying ‘ young lions ’ ( allied Commonwealth nations ). As terrible events escalate during this “ time of trouble such as never was ” - and as western democratic nations come under attack by the totalitarian tyrants of this world - ‘ our faith ’ and our trust in our God will surely be tested like never before. Please take time to examine the articles listed below & TEST them biblically. Not everything coming will be . . as we’ve been taught. But God’sWord is true