Revelation 12 Sign Prophecy Insight

Many date setters looked at a very rare astronomical event on September 23, 2017 as the fulfilling of Revelation 12:1-2. The so-called Revelation 12 Sign Prophecy did not result in the Rapture as many thought it would.

In this article, I explain why the Revelation 12 Sign Prophecy failed in 2017 and explain the symbolism of Revelation 12:1-2.

Revelation 12 Sign Prophecy Insight Video

Revelation 12:1-2’s Context

One of the main reasons the Revelation 12 Sign Prophecy failed is that its proponents only looked at Revelation 12:1-2 by itself.

We can’t look at Revelation 12:1-2 in isolation. Revelation 12:1-2 is part of a larger passage about a conflict that takes place between Satan and the woman:

“(1) And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: (2) And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. (3) And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. (4) And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. (5) And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. (6) And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.” (Revelation 12:1-6)

The woman represents the remnant of Israel, and we can see that this vision spans throughout history as

  • Revelation 12:5 refers to the ascension of Christ.
  • Revelation 12:7-9 describes Satan and his angels being cast to earth during the end times.
  • Revelation 12:13-16 describes the woman seeking refuge from Satan for 1260 days (the second half of the tribulation).

Therefore, Revelation 12:1-2 is part of a vision about an ongoing conflict between the woman and Satan-not an astronomical sign.

Revelation 12:1-2 Symbolism

Many proponents of the Revelation 12 Sign Prophecy did not recognize that Revelation 12:1-2 relates to a vision described earlier in the Bible.

The Book of Revelation often harkens back to other Bible prophecies. For instance,

  • Revelation 13’s beast of the sea harkens back to Daniel 7.
  • Revelation 17 in Revelation 18 harkens back to Jeremiah 50 Jeremiah 51 Isaiah 47
  • Gog and Magog of Revelation 20 harkens back to Ezekiel 38 and 39.

The same thing applies for Revelation 12:1-2. Revelation 12:1-2 harkens back to Genesis 37. In Genesis 37, Joseph has a dream that consists of the Sun, the Moon, and 11 Stars:

  • The Sun represents his father Jacob
  • The Moon represents his mother Rachel
  • The 11 Stars represents his eleven brothers

Revelation 12 has a sun, the moon, and 12 stars. Genesis 37 relates to Israel while Revelation 12 relates to the remnant of Israel, so the visions are consistent.

Therefore, we can say that the symbolism in Revelation 12:1-2 is consistent with the remnant of Israel rather than an astronomical sign.

  • I don’t believe we’re supposed to look at an astronomical sign in Revelation 12:1-12 – it’s more of a vision consistent with something described earlier in the Old Testament.
  • Also, there’s not much you can derive about the Rapture from Revelation 12, so I don’t know where people got the idea that Revelation 12:1-2 relates to the Rapture.

Final Thoughts

The Revelation 12 Sign Prophecy hype was another case where teachers who don’t know what they are talking got people excited for no reason. Unfortunately, we will see more of this sensationalism in the future as false teachings about the end times become more common.

Do not fall for the hype by date setters. They will lead you astray!

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Wayne Croley
Wayne Croley

Hi! I’ve studied and written about Bible prophecy since I was a teenager. My goal is to make Bible prophecy easy for you to understand while avoiding the sensationalism seen elsewhere. I am the author of several end time books, including Prophecy Proof Insights on the End Times, a comprehensive book about the end times. I hold an M.B.A. and degrees in Managerial Economics and Political Science.