Dec 5, 2022
Revelation 12
Throughout Revelation, John describes the subtle, spiritual-body temple of the soul. This is the body enlivening the physical form, but which also exists without flesh and bone.
It’s popular in some horror stories involving torture to paralyze the victim. The victim is unable to move or vocalize objection as they watch and feel a sadistic killer perform a vivisection. The killer removes limbs and organs or cuts into various areas of the body until the victim dies.
When the disciple no longer perceives either the subtle or the physical body as their sole being, and if the disciple loves God while still in human form, it is likely they will have the experience of seeing the components that create the three body temples (physical, subtle/astral, and causal) interact and dissolve. It is like a spiritual vivisection which is initially terrifying to watch. The ego shouts, “That is me” while the soul affirms, “That has never been me.”
Without the direction and insights provided by Christ, the prophets, and John, a disciple who is aware of the dissolution of their created forms easily becomes confused. Many choose to remain bound to matter because it is familiar. The ego wins and keeps the soul bound for another cycle of life and individual awareness.
In Buddhist texts, in yogic texts, in Hindu scriptures, in the mystical traditions of every religion, one can find the same experiences of God love expressed through different cultures and according to one’s personal references.
Christ speaking to and through John uses familiar Jewish imagery as well as some new additions to expound on how creation is expressed through humanity. While there are nuances based on the context of each usage, the following images represent specific meanings throughout Revelation. Briefly, these include:
12 tribes, represent the natural divisions within the subtle nervous system.
144,000 Afferent and Efferent nerves with their “10 horns”, these are the positive and negative poles of the 72,000 nadis of yoga.
10 horns represent the five working senses or incoming afferent aspects of the physical nerves, and the five knowing or analytical efferent aspects of the five senses. Review the commentary on Revelation 4, part 2 for an explanation of the formation of the senses.
24 elders, always represent the steps required to produce the illusion of individual human experience.
Anything mentioned in “Sevens” is a reference to the seven conscious energy centers called chakras in yoga systems. The use of churches, angels, lampstands, each modifies the specific meaning based on the overall context of the usage. Typically “churches” represent the location in relation to the physical forms, “angels” represent the alive and real consciousness present in each church, and “lampstands” or flames represent the energy present in each church. Each church works as one seamless unit with house, power, and master of the house. The product of each church is the result of a conscious intention applied to the energy which is present. Energy is neither positive nor negative until will power directs it.
“Rod like a staff” indicates the subtle spine, while “Rod of iron” indicates the physical spinal column. A shepherd uses a rod to discipline the wayward sheep and the staff is used to comfort and call the sheep together. With a hook at one end, the staff may also lift a sheep out of a pit or guide a sheep in a new direction. Similarly, the physical spinal column is unforgiving in its requirements. If the spine is injured, the person may experience pain or physical paralysis for the rest of their lifetime. The subtle staff-spine is energetic and guided by consciousness. Like a shepherd rescuing the sheep with a staff, the disciple is called home to God through the subtle spinal path.
The Psalmist also alluded to this the rod and staff division in Psalm 23:4.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
While the 23rd Psalm has been considered a beautiful exoteric image of an emotional relationship with God, it is a deep esoteric statement. After growing in understanding about what John is describing in Revelation, it is an eye-opening experience to reread Psalm 21 through Psalm 24. David is illustrating esoteric reality in poetic exoteric language. He is describing the same personal experiences that John expounds in Revelation. Much of the book of Psalm examines how to develop an eternal relationship with God. The back and forth battles that occur internally and externally are illustrated and elaborated throughout Psalm with the care of a Lover for the beloved.
12:1–2
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.
The woman is clothed in the sun which represents the power of the Godhead. The moon is under her feet which indicates that she has conquered the procreative nature. The left side “ida nadi” flow of energy in the subtle spine creates the female gender and is associated with the moon. The female gender is empowered to manifest an ideal physical world. Women are experts in perfecting physical creation for comfort. The twelve stars indicate this woman has command over the subtle and physical nervous system. This woman who gives birth to the Son of God is pure and not bound by any aspect of creation.
She cries out in birth pains because she brings the aloof, absolute nature of God and Christ into spiritual and physical manifestation. The Divine Mother has learned that the only way to perfect creation is to bring God into manifestation.
12:3–6
3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.
The dragon (Satan) indicates the ruler of a fallen humanity. The “red” dragon, indicates that the lowest church (or coccygeal chakra) has command over the seven churches in the fallen human. The coccygeal chakra is the center of procreation, sensuality, addiction and greed. The ten horns or manifestation of the “knowing” and “working” senses (efferent and afferent nerves in physical form) are also under control of the dragon within fallen humanity.
The purified woman gives birth to a male child who rules over all nations. This represents Christ Jesus and he “was caught up to God” from the moment of his birth in a manger. This Divine Mother gives birth to a male because the male gender perfects the spiritual transition back to God. Women perfect creature comforts, men perfect methodologies of loving God. Both genders are required to achieve a balance that allows creation to exist. For example, the natural devotion of women is a powerful force when used by men to cultivate loving God alone. Genders only exist in the crude, materialistic realm. In the subtle realms the differentiations are like trends in consciousness without specific designations in form.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. — Galatians 3:28
For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. — Matthew 22:30
For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. — Mark 12:25
In yoga philosophy, one who is born again after being freed from all connections to creation (causal, astral, and material) is called an Avatar. Few in Christianity take care to note that “Christ” is a title which indicates a “son of God”.
A side note in the discussion of names and titles: the historical origins of the name “Jesus” is based on an arbitrary assignment from priests using of Roman Latin. The Jewish Messiah was actually called “Yeshua” which translates as “Joshua”. When people shout “Say the name of Jesus”, I tend to roll my eyes. How can one follow a Messiah when they don’t even call him by a derivative of the name he used during his lifetime. Of course, devotion to God (another name of questionable historical origins) is received by God in any name. Some religions emphasize not using any name for God, because a name places a limitation on the limitless.
12:7–9
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world — he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
The dragon represents the fallen angel called Satan. In the non-human hierarchy of angelic beings, Satan represents the manifestations of the negative pole in the wonderful delusion of duality. Without shadow and light, no separate existence would be possible. Satan’s angels represent the power of multiplicity or variation applied to the simple nature of duality which has positive, negative, and neutral qualities.
The Archangel Michael represents the positive aspects of manifestation.
All angelic beings, good and evil, are subservient to the “son of God”. Being made in God’s image, humanity should rise above the affairs of angelic beings. Like watching two dogs fight in the dog park, the role of “made in the image” human is to keep the battle from becoming too destructive.
Humans who are subjected to the wiles of Satan and his demonic minions have chosen to be subservient to shadows and negativity. While in fallen consciousness, humanity has given up the power to rule over all aspects of creation.
12:10–12
10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
When the disciple of Christ unravels the mystery of creation, the aspects of duality become more apparent. The positive nature becomes increasingly purified. The negative aspect becomes increasingly corrupt. The neutral aspect becomes clarified. The peace of neutrality begins to pervade the disciple’s life.
When a glass of muddy water is left to stand still, the mud separates from the water. Even the cloudy particulates settle slowly to the bottom. A similar process happens in consciousness when the disciple embraces the imperative noted by David in Psalm 46:10 -
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Creation begins to separate and Michael defeats the dragon who has been relegated to lowest realms. The blood of the Lamb not only indicates the blood which Christ shed on the cross, but also the individual disciple’s decision to sin no more. Nothing within the realm of human expression can tempt this disciple. The human life of blood and flesh is sacrificed on the altar of love for God.
As the energies of positive and negative attributes of duality become concentrated, “the devil has come down to you in great wrath”. The positive aspect of the final experience of duality is unity in God. The negative aspect of the final experience of duality is the destruction of the illusion of creation.
12:13–17
And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. 17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.
Ignorance is tough to conquer. Satan uses any means possible to stop the soul from reuniting with God. By “making war with the rest of her offspring”, the disciple who is being liberated in Christ notes that all of his siblings and fellow disciples who have not chosen God completely will lose familiar qualities and perhaps even their actual existence in the battle with evil.
The next in the series will be linked here, when posted.
“A New Eschatology for Revelation” begins here: https://edsharrow.medium.com/a-new-eschatology-for-revelation-1c7bb51ef8df
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
