The Red Dragon Revelation & the End Times | Jonathan Cahn Sermon

The Woman, the Dragon, and the Cosmic Sign: Unlocking the Prophecy of Revelation

The first book of the Bible, Book of Genesis, and the last book, Book of Revelation, both contain powerful visions involving the sun, the moon, and a specific number of stars. In Genesis, Joseph dreamed of the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowing down, representing his family—the twelve sons of Jacob, the tribes of Israel. In Revelation, the vision expands into a cosmic sign filled with prophetic meaning.

The Great Sign in Heaven

Revelation describes a breathtaking image:

A woman appears in heaven, clothed with the sun. The moon rests beneath her feet, and on her head is a crown of twelve stars. She is pregnant and crying out in the agony of labor, about to give birth.

Then another sign appears—a terrifying red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, crowned with authority. With his tail, he sweeps a third of the stars from heaven and casts them down to the earth. The dragon positions himself before the woman, waiting to devour her child the moment it is born.

But the woman gives birth to a son—a male child destined to rule all nations with a rod of iron. Before the dragon can destroy Him, the child is caught up to God and to His throne.

This child can only be the Messiah—Yeshua, Jesus.

War in Heaven and Persecution on Earth

The prophecy continues. After a war in heaven, the dragon is cast down to the earth. Enraged, he turns his fury toward the woman who gave birth to the Messiah. Yet she is given supernatural protection—symbolized by the wings of a great eagle—allowing her to escape into the wilderness, where God sustains her for 1,260 days.

The serpent attempts to destroy her by sending a flood, but the earth itself opens and swallows the torrent. Frustrated and furious, the dragon turns his war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus the Messiah.

This vision reveals an ongoing spiritual conflict stretching from ancient times into the end of the age.

Who Is the Woman in Revelation?

For centuries, interpreters have debated the identity of the woman.

Some have said she represents the church. The church is often symbolized as a bride, and believers have indeed faced persecution. However, there is a critical problem with this interpretation: the woman gives birth to the Messiah.

The church did not give birth to Messiah. Rather, the church was born from Messiah.

Others have suggested that the woman represents Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary did physically give birth to the Messiah, and she is certainly part of the story. However, the prophecy describes the woman as present and active at the end of the age, enduring persecution and divine protection across thousands of years. This goes far beyond the lifespan of one individual.

The prophecy points to something larger—something that existed before the Messiah’s birth and continues to exist today.

The Only Answer: Israel

The woman represents Israel.

The Messiah was born from Israel. Through Mary, a Jewish woman, the Savior entered the world. Throughout Scripture, Israel is frequently symbolized as a woman—sometimes a bride, sometimes a mother, sometimes one in travail awaiting redemption.

The crown of twelve stars directly corresponds to the twelve tribes of Israel. This imagery echoes Joseph’s dream in Genesis, connecting the beginning of Israel’s story with its prophetic destiny.

Israel existed before the Messiah’s birth. Israel gave birth to the Messiah. And Israel continues to exist into the end times, fulfilling the prophetic timeline described in Revelation.

The Jewish Context of the Vision

Just before the vision begins, Revelation describes the heavenly temple of God opening, revealing the Ark of the Covenant amid lightning, thunder, and earthquake. This is profoundly rooted in Jewish imagery. It reflects the heavenly counterpart of the Temple in Jerusalem, emphasizing that the prophecy is deeply connected to Israel’s covenant relationship with God.

Without understanding this Jewish foundation, the full meaning of the vision can be missed.

The Dragon: The Ancient Enemy

The dragon represents Satan—the ancient adversary who has opposed God’s purposes from the beginning. His attempt to destroy the child mirrors historical attempts to destroy the Messiah, from Herod’s massacre of infants to the crucifixion.

His persecution of the woman reflects centuries of hostility toward Israel. His war against her offspring represents ongoing spiritual warfare against believers in Messiah.

This prophecy reveals that the conflict is not merely political or historical—it is spiritual and cosmic.

The Prophetic Message for the End Times

This vision reveals a timeline that stretches across history:

• Israel gives birth to the Messiah.

• The Messiah ascends to God’s throne.

• Satan is cast down and intensifies his persecution.

• Israel is protected by God during a time of tribulation.

• The dragon wages war against believers who follow Messiah.

It shows that God’s purposes cannot be stopped. Even when evil rises, divine protection and ultimate victory belong to God.

The same God who preserved Israel in the past continues to fulfill His promises today. The cosmic sign of the woman, the child, and the dragon is not just a symbol—it is a prophetic revelation of God’s plan, stretching from Genesis to Revelation, from the beginning of history to the end of the age.