Background: the Bible is essentially a macro-prophetic framework and narrative centered on the person of Jesus Christ and dealing with undoing the catastrophe caused by Satan in the Garden (cf. Gen. 3:15–16 and Rev. 19:10). In other words, the Bible is the narrative of the fall and God’s plan, through the Promised Seed, to overcome the fall. Thus, the woman in labor with the injured Promised Seed (Gen. 3:15–16) is the central theme and image in Scripture. It reoccurs very often in Scripture and is central to prophecy.

This is why the Prophets so frequently prophesy through this framework (see Isa. 7:10–17; 9:3–7; 26:17–21; 66:6–9; Mic. 5:1–5; Jer. 30:5–11; Hos. 13:9–14). For instance, immediately after we read the most famous section of Isaiah (The Suffering Servant—Isa. 53), we see the Gen. 3:15–16 image yet again (Isa. 54:1–10).

The future prophecy of Rev. 12 is based on the framework given in Isa. 26 and 66. In these two passages we see:

1. A woman in labor, defined explicitly as Israel/Zion.

2. A birth of individuals distinct from Israel/Zion (Isa. 26) / a birth of a nation distinct from Israel/Zion (Isa. 66).

3. Birthed/resurrected individuals hidden duringthe coming Tribulation (Isa. 26) / newly birthed nation (not Israel), born before the woman’s labor/travail/tribulation (Isa. 66).

In Rev. 12:5 John intentionally quotes the grammatically-incorrect Septuagint translation of Isa. 66 (“huion arsen”; lit. “a son, a male”); in other words, the male son of Rev. 12 is identical to the male son of Isa. 66. The male son of Isa. 66 is not an individual, but a nation. A nation distinct from Israel, because in Isa. 66 the woman is Israel, not the child. The child-nation of Isa. 66, distinct from Israel, would thus be the holy nation mentioned in 1 Pet. 2:9—the Church. Note that the Church literally began/was formed, or you might say was conceived, in Israel circa 30–33 AD on Pentecost.

Isa. 66 explicitly states that the woman will give birth before her labor. The woman’s labor pains are likened to the Trouble/Tribulation of Jacob (Jer. 30), the signs of the Tribulation given by Jesus in the Olivet Discourse (Mt. 24:8), and the onset of the Day of the LORD described by Paul in 1 Thess. 5:1–4.

Putting all these pieces together, we can view Rev. 12 as the crux of Revelation and a macro-timeline of end-time events. In fact, numerous scholars have noted that the book of Revelation is what is called a chiasm and Rev. 12 is the dead center of that chiasm.

So first, we’ll define our terms and characters in Revelation 12:

The woman = Israel/Zion

The child = the Church

The dragon = Satan and his system trying to thwart the Church, and preparing to “devour [the Church] the moment he is born.”

The woman’s labor = the Tribulation of Jacob; Daniel’s 70th Week; etc

Note that there isn’t really any guesswork above. Rev. 12 explicitly defines the dragon; Isa. 26, 54, 66, etc, explicitly define the woman; Jer. 30, Mt. 24, 1 Thess. 5 explicitly define the labor; Isa. 65:1, Deut. 32:21, Rom. 10:19–20, 1 Pet. 2:9, Gal. 3:28–29, Eph. 2:14–16, 1 Cor. 12:12–27, etc, explicitly define the corporate man-child/nation; and so forth.

So, our Rev. 12-defined order of events are as follows:

1. Dragon poised to devour the Church.

2. Church miraculously raptured to escape the dragon.

Note: this completes the Mystical Body of Christ and Jesus+Church begin to reign with the rod of iron (Jesus rules with a rod of iron in Psalm 2, but Jesus extends this promise to the whole Church in Rev. 2:26–27); thus Rev. 12:5 points back to Psalm 2, Rev. 2:26–27, and also Rev. 4–5 where we see Jesus reigning in Heaven with the Elders.

3. Dragon cast down with his minions.

Important note: Medieval Catholic theology teaches Satan was cast down with his angels in the beginning, but Scripture indicates this is yet future; note he still had access to Heaven in Job and also see Zech. 3; furthermore, Paul calls him the Prince of the power of the Air and the god of this age; note also: Rev. 12 indicates when Satan is cast down he has but a short time to do what he’s going to do, that is, namely, give his power and authority to the beast (see Rev. 13). Finally, Rev. 12 mentions a multitude rejoicing in Heaven (the newly raptured Church), but a warning to earth-dwellers: “but woe to the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you…”

4. Woman in labor (i.e., Israel enters the Tribulation).

5. The dragon, unable to get the Church, turns his focus to pursuing Israel on earth (Rev. 12:13). This would be the first half of the Tribulation/Time of Jacob’s Trouble.

6. The woman escapes mid-trib and is fully protected for the last half, the Great Trib; see Rev. 12:6, 14; also Mt. 24:15–22.

7. Finally, since the dragon lost the Church pre-trib (Rev. 12:5), lost Israel mid-trib (Rev. 12:6, 14), he now turns his attention to the woman’s other children (“the remnant of her seed”) as described in Rev. 12:17. These do not escape and are all overcome by the dragon and his beast (Rev. 13:7). These would be what many call the “Trib Saints” (basically Gentiles who come to faith during the Trib and Great Trib; see Rev. 6:9–11; 7:9–14; 20:4).

Note that when we see the Trib Saints resurrected at the end of the Trib in Rev. 20:4, there is also pictured a distinct group seated on thrones (the Elders—the only group on thrones in Revelation).

Pre-trib bonus round: Paul’s chronology in 1 Thessalonians 4–5

When we read the most famous rapture-related section of Scripture as a single narrative whole, without giving heed to our modern verse and chapter markings, an interesting pre-trib picture develops simply by the order in which Paul writes:

The Resurrection & Rapture of the Church

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

The Day of the Lord

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

The Whole Church Raptured, Not Just Those Watching

You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.