Response to Dr Michael Heiser and Rev12

From all accounts Dr Michael Heiser is a brilliant author.  I am in no position to debate him on 99% of the Bible.  In fact, I love him as a brother in Christ and sincerely wish I didn't even have to write this post.  But for whatever reason God has placed me in this position, so I feel that it is my duty and calling to point out inaccurate information that is being fed to the flock regarding the importance of the upcoming Revelation 12 Sign.

Please know that I take no pleasure in doing this as part of me feels like this post will further divide an already divided community of believers.  But just as my hand takes no pleasure in removing a splinter from my foot, I must write this post in order to help prevent it from spreading unchecked to other parts of "The Body".  I would be more than happy to organize an extended sit down, phone call, or Q/A with any of these prominent skeptics so that we can show them the evidence and have them tell us point by point why we are wrong.  But instead of a deep discussion, we get condescension and superficial attacks.

Ok, lets get started with this.  First off, I would suggest you go to Dr Heiser's page and read his post for yourself as it is fairly short: http://drmsh.com/a-note-on-the-september-23-2017-astral-prophecy-hype-and-nonsense/

Here is how it starts....

In the above paragraph Heiser reiterates that long ago he rejected this phony idea that Revelation 12 has anything to do with the End Times.  So first off, I am wary when anyone says he made up his mind long ago about something prophecy related and nothing is going to change it. Second, you mean to tell me that the twelfth chapter in the Book of Revelation has nothing to do with the Second Coming of Christ or the End Times?  Surely that doesn't mean what I think it means, does it?  If that is true, well then what exactly is it doing smack dab in the Book of Revelation?  Granted I am just some nobody with a website trying to read the text for what it plainly says; But when Rev 1:1 and Rev 1:19 say that the things written are "soon to come" and "will take place after these", why then is it so hard to believe that this is a future (perhaps very near future) event?  In all love, that statement boggles my mind...  I would like to try to understand it but all we get is the same tired old rebuttal that this is just another one of those crazy dates again.

Moving on...

Ok, here are his reasons. He basically says that there aren't any verses that tell us to LOOK for signs or that signs will even be involved in any way related to these end times events.  Here is my response to that:

1. What about how Rev 3:3 that tells us to "wake up" so that we won't be surprised when He comes?"
2. What about 1 Thes 5:4-6 which tells us to be "awake" so we are not surprised when this time comes."
3. Why does Hebrews 10:25 imply we will SEE the day approaching?
4. What about Luke 21:25 that specifically says that there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars?

And why are we limited to the NT?  Why is the clear statement about signs in Gen 1:14 or the direct reference to this specific sign in Micah 5:3 off limits?  Why should we ignore Isaiah 40:26 which tells us to lift up our EYES and admire these things which God has made?

He even says that "The Sign of the Son of Man" in Matt 24:29-30 may not be specific, and certainly not astronomical in any way.  But why then does it talk about the sun, the moon and the stars specifically?  Those are astronomical terms, surely there is a scriptural basis to think that they will be involved in some way?  (FYI, Many of us including Daniel Matson, Jeff and Gary from Unsealed, and myself don't see Matt 24:30 directly related to the events of Rev 12:1-2, the point is Dr Heiser says he doesn't even think that verse has anything to do with the actual Sun, Moon and Stars!)

Next paragraph...

Notice how far along we have gotten in his post without him even discussing the actual evidence.  All we are supposed to do is trust that he knows what he is talking about despite the fact he hasn't even adequately researched this specific subject.  That's not wise on his part (Proverbs 18:13) no matter how brilliant you are on other subjects.  The fact of the matter is this: Rev 12:1-2 tells us about a 'Great Sign' relating to a woman in labor appearing in the sky (heaven), right were Gen 1:14 tells us signs will be.

Furthermore, in the OT there are so many references to a woman in labor which are directly related to the end times.  Isaiah 26:17-21 is heaped full of rapture imagery and specifically references when the Lord will "come out to punish the inhabitants of the earth".  Jeremiah 30:6-7 directly relates a pregnant woman in travail to the time of "Jacobs Trouble".  Micah 5:3 states that a woman in labor will be the key indicator that the current dispensation will end.  There are many other verses that I know Dr Heiser would discover for himself if he actually took the time to dig into this rather than flatly dismiss it all as "nonsense".

Surely this is worth watching closely and discussing brothers and sisters?  Surely the fact that technology was used to discover it doesn't somehow invalidate the sign as he implies?  Does that fact he uses a keyboard to communicate somehow invalidate his words?  And since he referenced John 14:1 when telling us to not let our hearts be troubled, I would suggest he reads the very next verses (John 14:2-3) in which Jesus himself tells us the actual REASON not to be troubled.  It's because HE IS COMING to take us to the PLACE he has prepared for us!

Ok, lets wrap this up, here is his last section:

I am sure Dr. Heiser is a brilliant man.  I am sure he writes brilliant books.  But this is not some of his best work.  All writing and teaching regarding the Bible should be well researched and thought out... not flatly dismissed as nonsense without a proper review, especially something as complex and relevant as the Rev12 Sign. Additionally, 2 Peter 3:11-14 tells all of us to eagerly desire the coming day of God, not eagerly desire October so we can further mock other Christians.  The date setting argument is not fair as the VAST MAJORITY of reasonable people are not dogmatic about the rapture taking place on the exact date of the sign.  We are just saying that THERE IS A SIGN on an exact date.  The sign and the rapture do not have to be at the same time, it just seems to be a logical possibility because its a very rare sign and it appears on a very significant day.  It could be a warning, or perhaps the birth / rapture could even take place before the date of the sign as some think Isaiah 66:7 suggests.  Either way the claim of date setting is false.  As a commenter said: "Nobody set a date, we just discovered it."  It was God that made the sign so precise....bring it up with Him if you don't like how exact it is.

So if in fact this is a legit sign from God, which based on the actual evidence there is very little reason to think its not, then all of these people who are aware of the sign yet actively tell others to ignore it should read the following verse from Ezekiel:

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.

That warning right there is a big reason why many of us go through the trouble to tell others about these things. 

In closing I would like to address the idea that this "nonsense" will destroy the faith of many.  That is a serious claim and none of us want to see that.  None of us.  Especially those of us who tell others about it and think this is real.  First off, we must know that nobody's TRUE faith can be destroyed by anything (John 10:28-30).  Secondly, if we present this sign in a balanced way, simply pointing out the sign and ultimately pointing people to their need for Christ and His soon coming, then there is little risk and great reward.  At worst the end result in October (assuming we get there) should be a much larger group of true believers in Jesus who are now awake to the lateness of the hour.  Yes, they may be slightly confused or disappointed, but ultimately I think most would tell you they are much closer to God due to the journey. 

I personally think its OK if our hopes are riding high due to all that this sign could mean. At the same time please remember that our faith and hopes are not in a sign, but in Jesus Christ himself, who is the God of Hope (Romans 15:13).  Studying this sign and hoping for that great day should not be faith destroying, but faith purifying, just as 1 John 3:2-3 says:

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

If nothing big happens this Fall, please do not lose hope.  Do not let your faith be shaken. While we humans are prone to mistakes, the Bible is true and there are many other factors showing us that Jesus is coming soon.  Maybe there will come a day when we are are proven wrong about the Rev12 Sign (either by a solid biblical argument or time itself), but until then I personally believe it is OK, even biblical, to hope abundantly for the coming of the Lord, which this sign seems to point to.

So with that in mind you can choose to either listen to the big names and their flimsy arguments or choose to walk forward along side so many of us who have an abundant hope... not fearing man but believing this sign is from our amazing God who has promised us in Romans 5:5 that our hopes will not put us to shame!