One Year Later - 5 Things We've Learned

As I type this today is exactly 1 year since the Revelation 12 Sign appeared in the sky for all the world to see.  365 days since a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy occurred before our eyes.  I have pondered that fact countless times and it still blows my mind.

Despite of that fact, the world still seems to be going about its business, unrelentingly trying to drag more and more cares of this life back into the forefront of our minds.  But if you are anything like me, the fact that we saw The Revelation 12 Sign in our lifetime always seems to put things in perspective.  We are most certainly the 'Revelation Generation'.  We are undoubtedly on the off ramp to the End Times...  I believe we can fully expect the rapture of the church to take place anytime from hear on out because of all the prophetic signs we have seen around us...not the least of which is crown jewel of end time signs...The Great Sign.

But the fact of the matter is this,  it has been a year since it appeared (and I for one didn't really expect us to be living our normal lives this long afterwards).  But here we are on this anniversary of sorts, so I felt it was important to do a bit of reflecting on what we have learned since that day.  Here are a few things that came to me... Please add any additional items in the comments below!  Happy Anniversary and God Bless You all!

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1. The Sign Was Authentic

And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. (Revelation 12:1-2)

I know most of you reading this have felt this way for quite a while, but one of the questions I would often get asked before 9-23-17 was "What if nothing happens?"  One way to address that is to them that something did happen...something big.  A great sign from the Bible appeared in the sky above our heads for all to see.  When you think about that, that is an amazing thing.



But as time goes by, you might think that some people may begin to have doubts about the whole thing and its significance. That would be natural I suppose...and maybe it has happened to some. But to my knowledge, that simply hasn't been the case for anyone who intensely studied the sign. Some people didn't get it...but if you were one of them that was blessed with eyes to see, well you know, You can't un-see it! And you certainly can't forget it. God has stamped that sign in our heads and in our hearts, and its not something that will just go away.

I believe that part of the reason God gave us so many confirmations like the conception comet and Jupiter "ultrasounds" leading up to the sign was to drill it into our heads that this was the real deal. That this was not some uncanny coincidence. I have come to believe He gave us such overwhelming evidence in order to eliminate all doubt so that no matter how much time passes we couldn't deny its authenticity. It is a called a GREAT sign...and it certainly was...and time ain't gonna change that!

If you need a refresher on some of that info, check out this post from last September:
23 Articles You Can't Miss or check out The Sign page on Unsealed.org.

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2. There Is Significant Escalation In Israel

Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
to the people of Israel.
(Micah 5:3)

I believe the above verse indicates that after the Rev 12 Sign there will be an escalation in the prophetic events impacting Israel which will help lead to the repentance and belief of those people.  Well if that is true we should expect to see a lot of action happening there in the days since the sign.  We have.  Here is a partial list:

• War in Syria leading to Ezekiel 38 Alignment of Nations
• Jerusalem Capital Recognized by shocking US Embassy Move
• First Red Heifer Born
• Extensive Peace Deal Negotiations Taking Place
• 3rd Temple Preparations Completed
• Direct Israeli Military Attacks on Damascus 
• Israeli Nation State Bill Passes

(Gary called that last one the "biggest prophetic development in 50 years")

There are countless articles and videos about these developments online and it is clear there is a consensus among prophecy teachers that these are clear indicators that the Tribulation, and therefor the rapture, is very near. Yes.... anyone who recognized the Revelation 12 Sign is not surprised by this escalation... in fact it makes perfect sense!  After the rapture...the birth of the body of Christ into heaven, well then these events will be amplified even more!

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3. Our Continual Fellowship Is Essential

not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:25) 

One of the greatest things that has happened during this year has been the overwhelming amount of encouragement and support that has been shared on this site by all the people who comment.  I am so grateful that God saw it fit to bring us all together on this humble platform to make that fellowship happen.  Even though some of us are continents apart, God has made a way for us to easily support, pray for, edify, encourage and comfort one another.  And according to the scripture above that is exactly what we should be doing on a regular basis as we see the Day drawing near! It is so awesome to see that happening here and it is something I certainly never imagined when this site was started. To all those who consider themselves to be in the Rev12 Family, thank you for meeting together here!

As I was preparing to type this post I asked Shelia if she would mind sharing something and she wrote me the most beautiful text which I think sums it up pretty well.

Here is what she said she learned:
"The joy and delight the comes from sharing the love and magnitude of our Almighty God EVERYDAY and the inspiration the comes from that."

She continues saying that is "something she had never experienced before the Rev 12 Sign which brought so many far flung believers together in accordance with Eph 4:4-6." 

Thank you for sharing Shelia....  So many of  us feel the same way! : )

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4. We Think We Understand The Second Sign

And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. (Revelation 12:3-4a)

Everyone has been very curious as to what the 2nd Sign in Revelation 12 is talking about.  There has been abundant speculation, tons of theories...but nothing has materialized in the heavens yet to fill the bill.  In my estimation we know have the most logical and legitimate explanation of that "other sign", and it is soon to take place.  In short, we believe this sign could be represented by an extraordinary meteor storm/shower potentially coming this October.

The common name for this shower is called the Draconids since it radiates out of the Draco (Dragon) Constellation. Will meteor storms are extremely hard to predict, we have found evidence that the conditions seem to be aligning perfectly for a meteor storm to happen this year. Part of the reason we believe this is because in 1933 and 1946, when the earth was in a very similar placement with the parent comet of the Draconids (Comet 21p), we experienced some of the most amazing meteor storms ever recorded.  The positioning is even more favorable this year!

But despite of this, a strange thing is happening in the secular astronomy world.  Despite the fact there are multiple sources dating back decades looking toward the 2018 Draconids as a having huge potential, nearly all secular astronomy sites are writing off this years shower as a nothing-to-see dud.  One of the most prominent sites have even removed it from their calendar!

But if things go how we think they could in just a few weeks these astronomers could be in for a big surprise.  How amazing would if this theory is right and God had it predicted in His word all along!

If this is new to you, here is the best link to get you started as it provides a goods summary, tons of details, and all of the relevant articles and videos are linked there:
21P/Giacobini-Zinner - In Depth (Updated!)

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5. Our Hope Will Not Put Us To Shame

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. (2 Peter 3:9-10)

Why hasn't the rapture happened yet?  Why aren't we in our glorified bodies just yet?  Why haven't the mockers and scoffers torn us to bits yet?  We are learning for the umpteenth time that God is far more patient than us.  This simple truth is demonstrated to us over again in our daily lives, and the Revelation 12 Sign is no different.  God is on the move and He has our back.  He has given us plenty of signs, even a great sign, but the long anticipated rapture of the church has yet to take place.  Why?  Well the above scriptures paint a clear picture.

• He is refining us to be more like Jesus. (Romans 5:1-5)
• We have still have work to do here. (1 Cor 15:58)
• He is extremely kind and loving, giving time for more to come to repentance before unleashing His holy wrath. (2 Peter 3:9-10)

God has it all figured out and we certainly don't.... so He simply asks us to trust Him.  He has given us ample evidence and warnings that the time is near and asks us to occupy until He comes.   With that he gives us awesome promises to hang on to...  Our hope is in Jesus, and He has promised to come take us to be with Him where He is (John 14:1-2) and that hope will never put us to shame. 

On the flip side of that is the fact that Gods grace is a limited time offer.  The Day of the Lord will come suddenly and unexpectedly to most....  And at that time things will get very very bad around these parts.  Therefore, if you haven't given your life over to Jesus yet, please do so today before it's too late.