23-Revelation-12:

A great wonder ...Israel gives birth (in Pain) to Jesus and in that season she is reborn herself (without pain) to flee into the wilderness for the same 3 and 1/2 times as is referred to throughout Revelation. "Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit...and ye shall be gathered one by one..."(Isaiah 27:6,12). "He will swallow up death in victory...and it shall be said in that day, lo, this is our God.. rejoice... and he shall spread forth his hands...as he that swimmeth* spreadeth forth his hands to swim...salvation...for walls...open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in..." (Isaiah 25:8,9,11and 26:1,2). "Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O Lord. We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind..." (Is. 26:17,18). "Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear, break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord." (Is. 54:1). "Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children." (Is. 66:7,8).

Satan's wars are all with Christ:

SWI...... war with Israel, the seed of the woman which leads to Christ (Gen. 3:15A) (this war lasted about 4000 years)

SWII..... war in heaven with the Seed of the woman from the birth of Christ to His resurection and ascension (33 years)...(Rev. 12:7-12)...(Gen. 3:15B)

At the resurection of Christ, Satan was cast out into the earth, having lostSWII and was thus spiritually bound (no longer having direct access to theFather) for a millennium...the same millennium of time as is referred to in the other sections of Revelation (Rev. 20:2). Now Revelation chapter fivecould proceed. Note that we dwell in the heavenlies and reign upon the earth (Ephesians 2:6). So Satan's power was reduced until 1911 when he was unbound for a 'little season' to once again achieve world domination (for the shortest time ever). This is not to say he was not active, having great wrath and knowing his time was short ever since his defeat.

SWIII... war with Israel continued (Rev. 12:13) until she is physically destroyed in 70 a.d. (a period of 37 to 40 years). However, she is reborn as the christianbody of Christ and flies away to physical safety with her two wings (Jew andgentile...verse 14).

 SWIV... is the 1841 year millennial war on the remnant (from 70 a.d. to 1911 a.d.) as Satan turns his full attention to the church ( Revelation 12:17).

 SWV.... is the Laodician war with the saints of 91 years (Revelation 11:7 and 13:7).

SWVI... is Armageddon (actually a non-war) where Satan is totally and immediately defeated. This is the marriage supper of the Lamb of chapter 19 which occurs in 2002 (Revelation 16:16 and 20:9,10).

Overcoming...is John's word and we have been urged to overcome in the seven letters to the churches...to overcome the world and the flesh and Satan...to endure weariness and hold fast and be zealous for 'faith is the victory that overcometh the world' (I John 5) even as Jesus overcame the world (John 16:33). "Now is come salvation and strength...and the power...and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." (Rev. 12:10,11). We overcome Satan by not loving ourselves.

*The Swimmer..."He will swallow up death in victory...Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us; This is the Lord ; We have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation...and he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim....."(Isaiah -25:8,9,11). High on a cragy rock, overhanging the surging ocean,a man stands erect and takes a deep breath prior to his dive. He pauses...places both feet together...and lowers his head as he begins to swing his arms outward and upward in a perfect arc. His knees are bent as he leans forward rising upon his toes with his outstretched arms midway, elbows bent, palms outward..........This is the Lord..........Come unto me, all of you that labor and thirst after righteousness...all that are heavy-laden with sins...take hold of me now by pure grace....we will plunge into the depths...... then we will burst forth and soar as eagles in an eternal sky.