I have been following a group on Facebook that is discussing the Revelation 12 signs and the coming of Jesus at the Rapture. There are a great number who believe that the presence of the Constellations Virgo and Leo with the planets Jupiter, Venus, and Mars, are a portent for the Rapture.
The text of Revelation 12 is about the nation of Israel and the Jews, not Jesus’ church. Whatever the signs in the heavens mean concerning Revelation 12, it is important for Israel and the Jews in the last days. Most likely, this sign is speaking of the beginning of the seven year Tribulation, not of the Rapture.
Before the Tribulation can happen, the church must be removed from the earth. The Bible is clear that the Tribulation is the 70th week of Daniel that is still unfulfilled. During this time God will turn His attention back to the Jews and show that that Jesus is their True Messiah. As Daniel chapter 9 is clear that the 70th week is applicable only to the Jews, the Revelation 12 sign must only be seen as only applicable for the Jews. During the last three and one half years of the Tribulation, the world will experience the 21 judgments of Revelation 6-18. Nearly two-thirds of the world will perish in three sets of seven judgments; Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls. When the abomination of desolation takes place at the newly rebuilt temple at Jerusalem, the antichrist will enter the Holy place and command the world to worship him as God. The Jews living in Israel will flee for the mountains, to a place that God has prepared for them. This last three and one half years will begin the Time of Jacob’s Trouble.
The Great Tribulation is a time of God’s wrath. Paul and Jesus made it clear that those who have trusted in Jesus are not appointed to experience His wrath, but to obtain salvation.
The dates, September 20-22, which come just before the proposed Revelation 12 signs are to be fulfilled, are the time of Rosh Hashanah, or The Feast of Trumpets. This is the fifth Feast that Jesus has yet to fulfill. The Rapture will likely take place during the two day period of Trumpets that starts today at 8am on the West Coast of the U.S., 11am on the East Coast, and most important, 6pm in Jerusalem. The Feast of Trumpets is observed according to Jerusalem time, not by the local time of people around the world. We must all watch Jerusalem for the beginning of Trumpets.
When Jesus said that no one knows the day or the hour, he was telling us the time when He will return for His church for this is what the Jews called the Feast of Trumpets at the time Jesus said these words. The start of Trumpets was a time that no one knew because it depends upon the moment when the darkness of the new moon, begins to show the light of the first crescent.
As the two witnesses watched for the new moon to arrive, where the moon is dark and no light can be seen, they waited till the first glimpse of light was seen of the waxing moon. This was the start of the Jewish New Year, the first day of the seventh month.
Because this moment could arrive at any moment, the witnesses must watch for it. No one knew precisely when it would happen; the day or the hour. This is what Jesus was saying to us. He was not telling us that we cannot know when He is coming, but the exact time during the Feast of Trumpets.
This two day Feast, September 20-22 is when the Rapture will take place, if it is to happen in 2017. If it does not take place at this time, then we will all watch again next year during the Feast of Trumpets in September-October.
Jesus intentionally fulfilled the first four Feast of Israel, Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits and Pentecost
September 20-22, the time when the Rapture can take place
September 23, the time when the signs in the heaven we now see could be an indication that the seven year Tribulation is about to begin.
Israel became a nation once again in 1948, adding 70 years for the same period that the Jews were in captivity at Babylon we come to 2018, a likely time for the 70th week of Daniel to be fulfilled, the Tribulation period.
The Problem With The Current Theories For The Revelation 12 Signs
The difficulty for astronomers in the current Revelation 12 theory is that Leo does not have only 9 stars. In order to make this theory work, those who teach this idea have had to manipulate the number of stars in Leo to make it fit their theory.
This is, unless, we take into consideration that only the 9 stars of Leo that can be seen with the naked eye were chosen by God to be included in the 12 stars for this prophecy.
It is my feeling that the prophecy of Revelation 12 may not be speaking of the stars in Leo at all. The text states “a garland of 12 stars.” The nine primary stars in Leo, plus Mars, Venus, and Jupiter, are not a garland.
If you will look at the following illustration where the 12 constellations are listed with the 12 tribes of Israel, you will see that they are formed into a “garland,” a circle. The Garland of 12 stars are the 12 Constellations which include the 12 tribes of Israel, which is the entire purpose for the text in Revelation chapter 12.
“Clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet:”
Jacob the sun, Rachel the moon. (Genesis 37:10-11)
On her head a garland of twelve stars: Jacob’s 12 son’s, the 12 tribes of Israel. (Genesis 37:10-11)
It is the 12 son’s of Jacob, the 12 tribes of Israel seen in Revelation 12 that are the 12 stars, not celestial objects. This would help confirm that the sign of Virgo and Leo with the three planets, is a sign that is for Israel, not to signal the Rapture not he 23rd. If the Rapture will happen this year, it will be during Trumpets on Sept. 20-22. Source: The Book: “Great Tribulation: Time Of The End”
I am also concerned about Christians who are expecting Jesus at this time. If the Lord does not return this year, it doesn’t not mean that He will not return next year. I have been a Christian for 42 years and living in constant excitement every year, during the Feast of Trumpets, always expecting Jesus to come.
The Revelation 12 signs are for Israel, not the church. Therefore, if the Lord does not come during Trumpets on September 20-22, some may imagine that the Revelation 12 signs were wrong. These signs are to signal that God is about to deal with the Jews in bringing them to their true Messiah. This will happen during the seven year Tribulation.
It is the Feast of Trumpets that we should look to as our sign that Jesus will come for us. Not the Revelation 12 signs. To those who are watching these things, remember this important principle. Do not be dismayed or discouraged If our Lord does not come this year. Next year is the 70th anniversary of Israel back in their land. It very well may be that the Revelation signs are pointing to 2018.. It may be that 2018 the church will be Raptured during Trumpets and the Tribulation will begin for Israel.
Categories: Believers Removed before Tribulation, Revelation 12 Prophecy, Revelation 12 Signs, Robert Clifton Robinson, The Tribulation Period
Robert Clifton Robinson 
Dear Mr. Robinson,
This email refers to your essay “The Revelation 12 Signs Are Not Predicting the Rapture” dated September 20, 2017.
I cannot thank you enough for writing this because I was inspired to action. I would greatly appreciate it if you took the time to read my email. It is comprehensive but orderly in logic, so I think. If you would, please let me know if there are theology discrepancies that I should re-examine. Also, if the scriptures I quoted are not technically conducive to my argument, please tell me.
I enjoyed reading your thoughts regarding the Revelation 12 Sign which we had witnessed on September 23, 2017 two and a half years ago.
I am somewhat perplexed, however, as to why you believe Revelation 12 is about Israel and not Jesus’ church. You had written:
“The text of Revelation 12 is about the nation of Israel and the Jews, not Jesus’ church. Whatever the signs in the heavens mean concerning Revelation 12, it is important for Israel and the Jews in the last days. Most likely, this sign is speaking of the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation, not of the Rapture.”
and,
“Before the Tribulation can happen, the church must be removed from the earth. The Bible is clear that the Tribulation is the 70th week of Daniel that is still unfulfilled. During this time God will turn His attention back to the Jews and show that Jesus is their True Messiah. As Daniel chapter 9 is clear that the 70th week is applicable only to the Jews, the Revelation 12 sign must only be seen as only applicable for the Jews. During the last three and one half years of the Tribulation, the world will experience the 21 judgments of Revelation 6-18. Nearly two-thirds of the world will perish in three sets of seven judgments; Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls. “
Are you indicating in these two paragraphs that the Mosaic Jews should be reading the Book of Revelation? This email is written with that assumption.
Your essay was so inspiring and initiated the following inquiries and/or convictions:
I. For whom was the Book of Revelation written?
II. The Revelation 12 sign and Christian Rapture will later serve as proof of God’s provocation of the Jews
to jealousy; the mission of the Church serves in this provocation.
III. The Rapture leaves the Tribulation Jews and yet-unbelieving Gentiles without Christian teachers save for
the 144000 remnant and the two witnesses.
I would like to address each of the above asserting my conclusions with supporting scriptures. Here goes.
I. For whom was the Book of Revelation written?
It is my contention that the Book of Revelation was written for the believing Early Church (whether Jew or Gentile) first, then to the Mosaic Jew and nonbelievers.
If we consider that St. John of Patmos was a patent Early Christian, wouldn’t his receptive audience most likely have been Christian? John opens Revelation with a critique and chastisement of the seven churches and then indicates what will happen if they don’t “get their act together”. And if they don’t, “the world will experience the 21 judgments of 6-18”. The world would be Jew and Gentile alike.
The “heads-up” warning to avoid the Wrath of God was given to us in Luke 21:25 which ends in 21:28: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars,,,,,,and when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your Redemption draws nigh.”
This “heads-up” warning sign was John’s Revelation 12 which contained all three, i.e., the sun, moon, and stars. John is admonishing the Church to be ever vigilant watchmen for the return of the Lord rather than becoming Laodicean. The link between the Revelation 12: 1-2 sign and Rapture ( IThessalonians 4:17) is Redemption (Luke 21:25).
It should be noted here that the Old Testament Jews were admonished by Joel 2:30, “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the Earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke”. Joel in the Old Testament was warning the Jews back then that God will show signs before His Arrival; it is only in Luke in the New Testament who links these celestial events to imminent Redemption. We must therefore link the Revelation 12 sign by default to our Redemption which would be the Rapture.
In addition, the believing Church will be spared the Wrath of God. (I Thess 5:9 “For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain Salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.) We looked up at the celestial signs as Luke told us to and we see John’s prophecy in the sky September 23, 2017. Therefore, our Redemption via the Rapture (I Thess 4:16-17) is nigh. As Early Christians were privy to the Gospel and old prophets, this spells good news for them. Now, in conjunction with this:
!!. The Revelation 12 sign and Rapture will provoke the Jews (Mosaic) to jealousy; the mission of the Church serves in this provocation.
The Jews have always been endowed with a spiritual darkness and hardness of heart since the time of Moses. We are told in Deuteronomy 29:4, “But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.” Paul tells us in Romans 11:11 “I say then, have they stumble that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall Salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.” And in Romans 10:19 “Moses says: I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation.”
The question becomes: But how will the Revelation sign and Rapture provoke the Jew to jealousy?
The early Christians were knowledgeable of the Abrahamic, Davidic and Mosaic Covenants as the Mosaic Jews were. But the early Christians were at an advantage. They knew that the early prophets were accurate. The power of the Book of Revelation comes from the fulfillment of the previously-written scriptures.
Eventually, in the near- future Tribulation, the Jews will have realized that the Revelation 12 sign was actually prophesied and had come to pass. And, therefore, when Jesus’ Church is snatched away, the Mosaic Jews left behind will say “But God, we are your Chosen People! Why weren’t we redeemed first before the Gentiles? We’re jealous!”
This is when the Mosaic Jew will begin to realize the depth of their blindness.
This brings up the current mission of Jesus’ Church since the Rapture did not occur yet. Jesus’ Church must continue spreading the Gospel to all including the still-blind Mosaic Jew.
Since the Revelation 12 sign occurred prior to the Rapture, could it be that the Holy Spirit gave the Christian this sign to start “provoking” Mosaic Jews (and unbelievers) during this interim period before the Rapture? And would not the Mosaic Jew therefore have greater incentive to read the rest of Revelation knowing that the concrete celestial physicality of the Revelation 12 sign was prophesied and actually occurred?
Notwithstanding the fact the early Jews killed their own prophets, pragmatism wins out by the sheer fact that many Old Testament prophecies have already come true. The Revelation 12 sign is “handwriting on the wall” that yet-to-be-fulfilled prophesies will come true as well. The Mosaic Jew may scoff at this, but truth be told, it’s still a selling point for the Christian.
The above paragraph therefore brings into focus the role of the Christian to spread the Gospel to Mosaic Jews and the Laodicean. If it is our onus to do this, we need to be ready on the spot to relay the redemptive value of Calvary and the Second Covenant of Faith exclusive of the Mosaic Law, using the Revelation 12 sign, amongst others, to support our argument.
Despite this challenge to teach hardened souls, our time is short.
The Book of Revelation, with the Revelation 12 sign becoming a reality on September 23, 2017 becomes incentive for Jesus’ Church to remain steadfast in her Faith Covenant. Before Jesus’ Church is rewarded for her faithfulness, the Book of Revelation serves as a comeuppance guide for the existing church as well as a road map for the Tribulation teachers.
III. The Rapture leaves the Tribulation Jews and yet-unbelieving Gentiles without Christian teachers save for the 144000 remnant and the two witnesses.
During the Tribulation, the Mosaic Jews will experience awakenings albeit rude. Disobedience to God results in Deuteronomy 28:29, “And you shall grope at noonday, as the blind gropes in darkness, and you shall not prosper in your ways: and you shall be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save you.”
This blindness will end. Paul tells us in Romans 11:25, “Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: A partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”
This “fullness of the Gentiles” would be the close of the Church Age punctuated by its removal during the Rapture. As Israel’s blindness becomes ameliorated by God, the Mosaic Jews will have hearing ears and seeing eyes allowing them to be receptive to the 144,000 newly-converted teachers and the two witness who oppose the Antichrist. At this time, the Church will have done what it could, and now the Remnant and Witnesses will assume the Church’s role.
During this Tribulation, there will be no doubt whatsoever of the truth and reality of the Revelation 12 sign and how important the event really was. The Rapture event then serves to show the pre-eminent fact that the whole of the Gospel must be just as authentic. The authenticity of the scriptures will be magnified by these events causing people to accept and embrace the Gospel.
The Rapture event serves to focus attention on the significance of what Lord Jesus Christ accomplished at the Cross. The Rapture will consummately serve to show the Mosaic Jew that Jesus of Nazareth is actually Lord Jesus Christ Who is their Messiah, their God. The Jews will so rejoice when the Holy Spirit comes upon them.
Finally, there were 12 stars in the crown of the woman. The KJV uses the word “crown”. Nine of these stars are from the Leo constellation. These nine stars are the main defining stars of Leo. The other three comprising the crown were Mercury, Mars, and Venus. The sun clothed the woman and the moon was under her feet. Although this celestial configuration happened before, computer models have clearly demonstrated the extreme rarity of such a close alignment and had the researchers and scientists buzzing.
We are in a “season” demarcated by many of the eschatological events in proximity to September 23, 2017: eclipses, church apostasy, social division, wars, rumors of war, pestilences, plagues, deceivers, scoffers, and Day of Noah lifestyles. The series of blood moon tetrads on Jewish Feast Days seem curiously apropos to this season as well. Now we have a global pandemic and rampant locust swarms as I write.
In conclusion:
I am just trying to “bring home” the enormous implication of the Revelation 12 sign and its colossal ramification. Jesus’ Church should be doing cartwheels since we’ve been waiting for this sign for 2000 years. This sign of the imminent Rapture is powerful evidence of the veracity of the prophets should ever Jew and Gentile discuss scripture.
The Book of Revelation has been available for all to read. No doubt the Mosaic Jews are negligent reading the New Testament, being apparently fully indoctrinated in the Tanakh. Nevertheless, the prophesied Revelation 12 sign, indicative of the Rapture, was put in the sky by God for the already-believing Christian. This sign, prophesied nearly 2000 years ago, serves as a tool to provoke the Mosaic Jew to embrace prophecy, scripture, the Gospel, and ultimately Lord Jesus Christ.
Steve Rodak
3/27/20
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Dear Steve,
Thank you for the detailed commentary! I will respond as soon as I am able. This is a very busy time for me currently. I am finishing my 40 year effort to publish the book of Revelation commentary. The primary source of information used to interpret Revelation 12 is from Genesis 37.
Genesis 37:9-10 (NKJV) 9 Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”
10 So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?”
In this text, Jacob (Israel), tells us who the sun, moon, and the 12 stars are: Jacob, Rachel, and the 12 tribes of Israel. This dream, and subsequently the text of Revelation 12, is interpreted by the answer Jacob gave in Genesis 37.This makes it certain that the church is not the intended purpose of Revelation 12, but the nation of Israel and the Jews.
The book of revelation describes the events of the Great Tribulation, which does not involve the church, but Israel and the Jews, and their subsequent conversion to Christ and the Messiah. The context of the church is understood by her presence in heaven in chapter 4 of Revelation, before the Tribulation begins in chapter 6. Those who are saved during the Tribulation, become a part of the church as they are saved “out of the tribulation,” and are all beheaded and are taken to heaven.
Even in scanning your essay, I was superbly impressed with your observations. Well done!
I will give a longer reply when I am able.
Blessings!
Rob
In this text,
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I feel the possibility for the rapture feels now more than ever. There is that strong point that this event could happen Thursday or Friday around 11:35 am est. which is 6:35 pm in Israel. I have many reasons to believe this. I had a vision or dream four years ago that shook me to the core about the rapture! There were details in it that have been remembered and finally understood. It did not reveal a date, but there were parts to it that were clues to the time of day here.
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Thanks for you great comments Don. I agree with you that there is something very different about this year. After knowing Jesus for over 42 years, I became aware about a month ago that this would be the year of His return. I write a book about these days and just published it at Amazon two days ago. It is clear that something profound is about to happen. I am watching with you…
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I doubt Jesus’ return is going to be some physical event and non of the prophesies is going to have a physical manifestation. Most people have grossly misunderstood prophesy and that is what is being taught to others. It was said that the Antichrist is coming; well he already came and is here. Jesus also doesn’t come as an individual but as ‘kingdom of heaven’. For you to know when these things happen/happened, all you need to know is the interpretation of 70 weeks of Daniel (time line). Jesus already came and is coming and is to come but it’s just not an event. Rapture too is not a single event and is not a mass event but an individualistic diversion from harms way.
It is a war of kingdoms and eventually the kingdom of God will rule but not before the antichrist overcome the people of God.
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