expanation of Revelations 12 By Joseph F. Smith

[NoGreaterLove]

Revelation 12.

Time will not permit a thorough discussion of this vision, but in substance the interpretation is this. The woman is the church; she is glorified by the light of heaven. The twelve stars are the apostles. The son born to her is the Priesthood which is to rule the earth by the truth of the gospel, which is the rod of iron. Because of the persecution and power of the dragon, the Priesthood is taken back to heaven, and the woman is forced to flee from the face of the earth. The dragon is Satan who rebelled in heaven and prevailed upon one third of the spirits to follow him. He with his followers was cast out of heaven into the earth where he made war on the church and drove it into the wilderness. The dragon then made war on all those who tried to live the truth who are called the seed of the woman. Remember the angel was showing John what was to take place following the vision, or in later times.In the year 1830, this woman—the church—with her man child returned to the earth. The power of the dragon was overcome and the Lord has proclaimed that the gospel now restored shall never be taken from the earth, for this is the dispensation in which the Lord is gathering in one all things both which are in heaven and on earth

Joseph Fielding Smith, Restoration of All Things page 82-83