Chapter twelve - The mysterious woman

The crescent moon is present on all Moslem flags

This new Revelation, has without a shadow of a doubt, given us many good answers pertaining to this particular chapter.

Next appeared a great portent in heaven, a woman robed with the sun, beneath her feet the moon, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Revelation 12 : 1

This woman is the bride, meaning the Law of God that descended upon the prophet Mohammed. It was that particular Law which Mohammed presented to the nomadic desert tribes of Arabia. The sun by which the woman was clothed and the moon, which was under her feet, represents two nations which were under the shadow of that Law, they were the Persian and the Ottoman Empires. The emblem of Persia is the sun and that of the Ottoman Empire is the crescent moon. Thus it can be said that the sun and the moon symbolically represents the two kingdoms which we mentioned and which were under the power of that divine Law.

The crown of twelve stars, which the woman wore, represents the twelve Holy Imans who came later on in the history of the Moslem religion. They came following one another, they were the promoters of the Law of Mohammed, the true educators of that religion. They were like stars who shine in the heaven of guidance.

The old testament of the Christian Bible mentions those twelve princes which are the twelve Imams of the Moslem religion. Let us review that biblical verse.

And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. Genesis 17 : 20

Revelation now tells us that the woman, the Law of God, was pregnant and that soon new teachings would be delivered to the world.

She was pregnant, and in the anguish of her labour she cried out to be delivered. Revelation 12 : 2

The meaning being that the Law of Mohammed had fallen into the greatest of Difficulties, it endured great troubles. After 1260 years, God replaced those teachings with new ones. Thus came a new Manifestation of God Who was the Promised One. That is the meaning of the woman about to deliver her child, the new Law of God was about to appear. The Promised One was the young Messenger of Shiraz whose spiritual title was that of the Door and whose story we have already studied. .

Then a second portent appeared in heaven: a great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns; and on his head were seven crowns,..... Revelation 12 : 3

A portent is a sign of a forthcoming event which is sometimes good but at other times it is bad. The great dragon with the colour of war, red, is an allusion to the dynasty of the Umayyads who dominated the Moslem religion. Seven heads and seven crowns represent seven countries or dominions that were ruled over by them. The ten horns of leadership represents ten of those rulers who were the ten Kings which are also mentioned in the writings of the prophet Daniel.

There were actually fifteen Kings who ruled over the Moslem Empire at that time but five of them had the same name. So, in effect, there were ten kings or we can say ten horns of leadership. Abu Sufyan, Amir of Mecca, was the fallen star whom we have already mentioned, he was the first of those ten misguided kings. He was the first of those misguided rulers who had taken over the reins of the Moslem religion.

The seven crowns mentioned in the prophecy represents seven dominions which were ruled over by the Bani-Umayyads. They were :

1. The Roman Dominion around Damascus; Syria and Palestine.
2. The Dominion of Persia; Iran, Mesopotamia and Syria.
3. The Dominion of Egypt.
4. The Dominion of Africa; Tunis, Morocco and Algeria.
5. The Dominion of Arabia.
6. The Dominion of Andalusia; Spain.
7. The Dominion of Turkestan-Transoxania; Sogdiania.

Let us review the prophecy of the prophet Daniel which pertains to the same ten kings mentioned in this particular chapter of Revelation.

The ten horns signify the appearance of ten kings in this kingdom, after whom another king shall arise, differing from his predecessors; and he shall bring low three kings. He shall hurl defiance at the most high and shall wear down the saints of the Most High. He shall plan to alter the customary times and law; and the saints shall be delivered into his power for a time and times and half times.

Then the court shall sit, and he shall be deprived of his sovereignty, so that in the end it may be destroyed and abolished. The kingly power, sovereignty, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. Their kingly power is an everlasting power and all sovereignties shall serve them and obey them." Daniel 7 : 24 to 7 : 27

A time represents a year or 12 months; times represents two years or 24 months; a half time represents half a year or six months. The total comes to 12+24+6=42 months which is equal to 1260 days, each prophetical day being equivalent to a year 42 X 30 = 1260 years. That 1260 years of the lunar calendar, when converted to our solar calendar, takes us to the year 1844 which was the year whereby the Messenger known as the "Door" declared himself to the world by saying "I am, I am, I am the promised one."

The encyclopaedia Americana defines those evil kings who were the Umayyads. This is how they are described.

Umayyads, a Caliphal dynasty which ruled in Damascus from 661 to 750 AD. It derives its name from Ymayyad, cousin of the prophet Mohammed's grandfather and ancestor of its founder Mu-a-wiyah I (661-680). Mu-a-wiyah wrested the caliphate from Ali, the prophet's son-in-law and last of the orthodox Caliphs. The seat of the Caliphate was at Medina.

Mu-a-wiyah was responsible for starting the process of converting a loosely knit state, with a religious overtone, into an orderly state with a disciplined army, a newly created fleet, and a secular orientation. He was more of a King than a Caliph and his bad examples were followed by his successors.

During the reigns of Abd-al-Malik (685-705) and al-Walid (705-715), the empire attained its farthest limits, extending from the Iberian peninsula in the west to the confines of China in the east. It was then that Arab coinage was struck and Arabic was made the official language of the state register.

Al-Walid's successor, Sulayman or Suleiman (715-717), made a series of unsuccessful attempts to capture Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. Sulayman was followed by Umar or Omar II (717-720), noted for his piety and the imposition of humiliating disabilities on his Christian and Jewish subjects. His five successors were on the whole dissolute, incompetent, or both, interested more in self-indulgence than in State affairs.

In all, there were fifteen Umayyad Caliphs, the last of whom Marwan II (744-750), was crushed at the battle of the Zab which is a tributary of the Tigris. They were crushed by the combined strength of the Abbasids, of the Persian and of the Shiite forces.

The Umayyad period was not one of high intellectual activity or attainment. Only in the fields of grammar, lexicography, and physiology was some notable work achieved. The greatest measure of literary progress was accomplished in the field of poetical composition.

The court poet was a Christian named al-Aktal (died c.710), whose works are still studied and admired. In religious architecture two great structures survived, the Umayyad mosque in Damascus and the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. Next to the mosques of Mecca and Medina these are the most revered places of worship for Islam.

Let us continue to unseal chapter twelve where many more surprises are surely awaiting us. Some good stories and some great truths are yet to entertain and enlighten us.

And with his tail he swept down a third of the stars in the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that when her child was born he might devour it. Revelation 12 : 4

Let us keep in mind that the woman represents the Law of God. The dragon, who is about to devour the man child who was the Promised Manifestation and the offspring of the Law of Mohammed, is the various Umayyads who were constantly awaiting to get possession of the Promised One. They knew that He would come from the lineage of Mohammed. They wanted to destroy and annihilate Him because they feared the appearance of a promised Manifestation. They feared anyone who might be a descendant of Mohamad and who could be very highly esteemed.

She gave birth to a male child, who is destined to rule all nations with an iron rod. But her child was snatched up to God and his throne. Revelation 12 : 5

The woman gave birth to a new man child who is the promised Manifestation. He was born from the Law of God and reared in the midst of the divine teachings The meaning is that she gave birth to a man child who came to give us the renewed word of God, which means that He came to give us new necessary teachings. The woman symbolically gave birth to God's new messenger who was the young Messenger from Shiraz, this took place in the ancient land of Persia. The iron rod is a symbol which represents power and might - it does not represent a sword - The meaning is that with divine power and might, he was about to shepherd all the nations of our planet, the earth.That son was the One we discovered previously and whose title is the "Door", He was the forerunner to Christ's second coming.

In the writings of the new testament, in the writings of John, may be found the prophecy of the good shepherd. I strongly believe that the prophecy belongs to the young prophet of Shiraz whose title was the "Door" or the "Gate".

And the woman herself fled into the wilds, where she had a place prepared for her by God, there to be sustained for twelve hundred and sixty days. Revelation 12 : 6

The meaning is that the Law of God had fled to the wilderness of the Arabian peninsula which became the dwelling place, the abode, the center where the Law of God was being renewed.

The meaning of twelve hundred and sixty days, according to the terminology of the Holy Book, is as follows : 1260 days means 1260 years. It was the duration of the old Law of God, the Koran, which lasted until 1844. After that time, it had no more influence. The new Law of God appeared in 1844 ad was given to the people by the young Messenger of Shiraz known under the title of the "Door".

The teachings of the prophet Mohammed were sustained in the Arabian desert for a period of 1260 years. Those 1260 days mentioned, when converted to our calendar, become 1222 years, which takes us to the year 1844 (622+1222=1844). Example: (1260 X 354 = 446 040 divided by 365=1222 years).

Therefore, 1844 is the year whereby the young messenger from Shiraz revealed his mission to the world. He was the man-child mentioned in the prophecy. In this new Revelation, we have also being told that he was the return of the spirit of Elijah who was one of the greatest prophets mentioned in the Old Testament and whose return Jesus Christ had well prophesied. Let us review that biblical prophecy mentioning Elijah.

....And they put a question to him: "Why do our teachers say that Elijah must come first?" He replied, "Yes, Elijah does come first to set everything right."...... Mark 9 : 11-12

Let us continue with our deciphering of this very highly symbolic chapter of Revelation.

Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels waged war upon the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought, but they had not the strength to win, and no foothold was left them in heaven. So the great dragon was thrown down, that serpent of old that led the whole world astray, whose name is Satan, or the Devil - thrown down to the earth, and his angels with him. Revelation 12 : 7-8-9

Those verses are very symbolic and perhaps uneasy to comprehend if you do not know the history of the Moslem religion very well. The war in the physical heaven is actually a war of words that occurred on one of God's heavenly world, which in this case is the earth.

Michael, whom I mentioned previously, was the returned Christ who fought a battle of words against the great dragon meaning against the Moslem clergy. The great dragon being thrown down to earth with all of their hordes, their angels, is again symbolic and it represents the Moslem teachers eventually losing the battle of words against the biblical Michael, the returned Christ.

Why is the returned Christ being referred to as Michael in biblical prophecies? First of all, the word Michael means one who looks like God, He is the Glory of God and He was the returned Christ. I have already mentioned that Michael was a great supporter of the teachings of the young Messenger of Shiraz. Let us review some biblical prophecies mentioning him and then, perhaps, we will begin to understand who he really was and what was his earthly mission. Those prophecies may be found in the writings of the great prophet Daniel.

I would like to say at this point in time that the writings of the prophet Daniel contain many prophecies which are very similar to the prophecies also be found in the fascinating book of Revelation, so you may want to study them on your own.

At that moment Michael shall appear, Michael the great captain. Daniel 12 : 1

But the angel prince of the Kingdom of Persia resisted me for twenty-one days, and then, seeing that I had held out there, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me against the prince of the Kingdom of Persia. And I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in days to come; for this too is a vision for those days. Daniel 10 : 13-14

I have no ally on my side to help and support me, except Michael your prince. Daniel 11 : 21

Michael, who is mentioned in the writings of the great prophet Daniel, was a great spiritual prince who lived in the land of Persia during the last century. We will discover more concerning him as we continue our study of the book of Revelation.

Then we will be sorry that we did not previously discover this great personality which was sent to us by God Himself. We will be sorry that we missed out knowing what his mission to humanity really was.

We also missed out knowing all the great principles which he has brought to us, principles which are badly needed by all of the people of this world who could be annihilated very shortly by great God sent calamities, perhaps by some drastic earth changes that have already begun.

Then I heard a voice in heaven proclaiming aloud ; "This is the hour of victory for our God, the hour of his sovereignty and power, when his Christ comes to his rightful rule! For the accuser of our brothers is overthrown, who day and night accused them before our God. By the sacrifices of the Lamb they have conquered him, and by the testimony which they uttered; for they did not hold their lives too dear to lay them down.

Rejoice then, you heavens and you that dwell in them! But woe to you, earth and sea, for the Devil has come down to you in great fury, knowing that his time is short!" Revelation 12 : 10-11-12

A very symbolic saying and a saying that is very hard to understand because it is mentioning a heavenly world which cannot possibly be comprehended by any human beings. However, it seems to be saying that we are still in a period of great woe for mankind. And that last great woe was the coming of Michael, the returned Christ, which the world still refuses to accept or to investigate. It is a period whereby many devilish things are still happening.

But we are also told to rejoice because the period of devilish happenings will soon come to an end because its time is short. Meaning that the truth will eventually surface and be accepted by all of the people of this world.

The people of this world could discover the real truth much sooner if only they could discipline themselves by not continuously listening to their teachers who keep on saying that there is no truth outside of their own old family religion and in the way that it is taught by themselves. Those sayings are nothing but outward lies. At one time, the Christians were forbidden to read certain books which they had indexed and others which they had put to the torch. What were they afraid of? They should have known that it would not stop the real searchers of the truth.

Later on in history, mankind found out that those books, which a few of them have somehow survived, contained a lot of truths. How can mankind discover God's new prophets and Messengers if no one ever searches for them outside of their own old religion?

There is no other way known for the discovery of the truth, personal investigation of the truth is still the one and only way. If you really wish to find that truth then you must become like a treasure hunter and look for the truth everywhere. It is similar to a search for a treasure, is it not? You cannot find a buried treasure unless you search for it and eventually find some clues as to its whereabouts.

When the dragon found that he had been thrown down to the earth, he went in pursuit of the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given two great eagle's wings, to fly to the place in the wild where for three years and a half she was to be sustained, out of reach of the serpent.

From his mouth the serpent spewed a flood of water after the woman to sweep her away with its spate. But the earth came to her rescue and opened its mouth and swallowed the river which the dragon spewed from his mouth.

At this the dragon grew furious with the woman, and went off to wage war on the rest of her offspring, that is, on those who keep God's commandments and maintain their testimony to Jesus. He took his stand on the sea-shore. Revelation. 12 : 13 to 12 : 17

We have already discovered who the dragon is, It represents the Ummayyad Caliphs who became satanic. The prophecy says that before the woman gives birth, she is to be sustained for 1222 years. The three years and a half mentioned become 42 months and when those months are multiplied by 30 days (per month) it becomes 1260 days, which in turn represents a period of 1260 years.

Again 1260 years, when converted to our modern day calendar, becomes 1222 years of prophecy and that takes us again to the year 1844.

What the ending of chapter twelve is actually telling us is that the Moslem Caliphs would be making war on the rest of the woman's offsprings. It also means that they would be making war on Moslem believers for a period of 1222 years. They will be making war on those who live according to the word of God, according to God's teachings which have been given us by his prophets which he has sent to us and which we obstinately continue to ignore.

The word Jesus, mentioned in that prophecy, does not belong because this particular chapter of Revelation is mentioning the religion of Mohammed, the Moslem religion, which began in the year 622 and terminated in 1844. This particular chapter does not mention Christianity. It is another proof that the word Jesus was added in by early Christian writings who corrupted the Holy text, Jesus was not the Revelator of the Moslem religion.