Revelation 12:17
Bible, KJV Translation:
12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Re-evaluation Translation:
12:17 The global socio-economic system is enraged at arising restored Israel, and went to make war with them, who keep the commandments of Elohim, and with the Yehuveh-saved anointed, have confirmed their covenant with Yehuveh.
Significant Words and Comments:
Commentary on Revelation 12:17 (1 March 2008): “The dragon was wroth with the woman,” that is, the global socio-economic system is enraged with the arising restored remnant of Israel. Little wonder! Only the powerful truth of Yehuveh can collapse this corrupt system, but under Yehuveh’s hand and by His long-foretold purposes, “the great dragon . . . was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:9.
“Went to make war with the remnant.” is “the global socio-economic dragon-system determined to war against and ultimately destroy restored Israel.” War, see Revelation 9:7; remnant, see Revelation 11:13.
“Of her seed,” from sperma [G4690], meaning “the seed from which a plant germinates; of the grains or kernels sown; the semen virile; children, offspring, progeny, family, tribe, posterity.” In context, everyone who is taught and drawn to Yehuveh by those who already know Him; those now arising as a result of the teachings and wisdom being taught them.
“Which keep the commandments of Elohim,” the only Scriptural evidence that the covenant with Yehuveh has again been confirmed. Note that in Torah Yehuveh asks us to love Him and keep His commandments, two choices which, though linked together, neither cause nor result from each other. Our choice to obey does not define our love for Yehuveh, nor is our love for Him sufficient if we choose not to obey His commandments. Study these verses: “Know therefore that Yehuveh thy Elohim, He is Elohim, the faithful Elohim, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations.” “Therefore thou shalt love Yehuveh thy Elohim, and keep His charge, and His statutes, and His judgments, and His commandments, alway.” “Take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of Yehuveh charged you, to love Yehuveh your Elohim, and to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments, and to cleave unto Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” “O Yehuveh, the great and dreadful Elohim, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love Him, and to them that keep His commandments.” Deuteronomy 7:9; 11:1; Joshua 22:5; Daniel 9:4 [Also study: Exodus 20:6; Deuteronomy 5:10; 11:22; 19:9; 30:16].
Christianity errantly teaches: “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” This is a subtle but distinct twist on the teachings of Torah, very similar to the twist given to the matter of prayer. Torah simply calls us to love Yehuveh and keep His commandments, never making the keeping of these commandments a condition of nor an evidence of our love for Him. Love is from the heart, a deep inner response to Yehuveh’s goodness and love toward us. Such a love goes far deeper into our beings than merely the determination to guard and live by His instruction. John 14:15 [compare: John 15:10; 1 John 5:2-3]. See Powerful and Effective Prayer.
“Have the testimony of Jesus Christ,” is “the communicated teachings of the Yehuveh-freed, saved anointed instructors,” as discussed in notes on Revelation 1:2. Testimony, here, is covenant. In Revelation 11:19, the ark of the testimony is counterpart to “the ark of the covenant” in Torah. See the notes on Revelation 1:1 regarding the Torah understanding of both Jesus and Christ.
What, then, is the full significance of this verse? “And the dragon [the presently empowered Roman-modeled global socio-economic system] was wroth with the woman [the arising re-covenanted descendents of Jacob], and went to make war [to openly, vigorously, viciously oppose and resist] with the remnant [the faithful restored last group] of her seed [of Jacob’s descendents], which keep the commandments of God [Elohim, the provision, protection, and strength of Yehuveh], and have the testimony [the everlasting covenant of Yehuveh] of Jesus Christ [the Yehuveh-saved anointed instructors raised up to be leaders at this time].” The system of government and economic exploitation represented by this dragon is so totally opposed to the system of government and economic equity which Yehuveh is to restore that there can be not other response but war!
Gael Bataman
Originally Written: 1 March 2008
Latest Update: 31 May 2008
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