After man-child is taken up to God woman flees into wilderness. So in Matthew 24, after period spoken of as beginning of birth-pains, which synchronizes with Revelation 12:2, we hear of affliction and hatred, of offence and betrayal, of false prophets who deceive. This is at same time a gospel activity is indicated witnessing to all nations before end comes.

Revelation 12:6 And woman fled into wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

About this same time abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel prophet (Matt. 24:15) will be set up in holy place. This evidently refers to image of Beast; Daniel's prophecy (Dan. 11) indicates that setting up of this abomination occurs in midst of final seven years there referred to. This would leave 3 ½ years for tribulation to run until "the end."

So, in perfect harmony, we read that woman is fed 1,260 days (12:6), or (as in 12:14), "a time, times and a half," in line with Daniel's cryptic utterance.

Three years and a half therefore before end, and before revelation of Lord, man-child is caught up. This is escape of overcomers. Some will be "accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass" (Luke 21:36).

The man-child caught up and escaping tribulation, woman who flees into wilderness, and remnants of her seed which are attacked by dragon, cannot possibly represent same group of people.

There are overcomers who are destined to rule; there is woman, shielded, fed and protected in wilderness; there are seed that are left, who are persecuted. It is evident that some believers are left to endure fierce wrath of last days.

Our attention however must be kept for present upon overcomers. Verse 11 adds a detail as to character of these overcomers:

Revelation 12:11 "And they overcame him because of blood of Lamb, and because of word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death."

The sign is a child born under menace of satanic destruction; reality is faithful testimony of those who loved not their lives unto death, overcomers. The dragon waiting to devour is interpreted in verse 10 as "accusing brethren before God day and night." The moment of escape of these overcomers is at sounding of seventh trumpet:

Revelation 12:10 ''Now is come salvation and strength, and KINGDOM of our God, and power of His Christ, for accuser of our brethren is cast down".

The words "our brethren" should attract our attention. Who is it that says these words? The speaker ("I heard a loud voice saying in heaven") is unnamed, but it is clear, from all other similar references, that it cannot be a man. In Revelation 22:9 an ANGEL says to John:

Revelation 22:9 "I am a fellow servant with thee and with thy brethren, prophets, and with them that keep sayings of this book."

When looking at this verse 9 we would like to adopt translation given in Emphatic Diaglott. "I am a fellow servant of thee," sounds like a contradiction in English. It means that angel and John and brethren are all upon one common level in this aspect. An ANGEL, therefore, appears to be one who calls overcomers "our brethren."

The overcomers are to be identified with Church of first-born who are enrolled in heaven (Hebrews 12:22). These have come to Mount Zion (so had one hundred and forty four thousand, Revelation 14:1); and unto city of living God, heavenly Jerusalem. This is also said of overcomers. These had also come unto an innumerable company of angels, general assembly. The casting out of great dragon to earth ushers in third and last woe:

Revelation 12:12 "Rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them, woe to inhabiters of earth, and sea! For Devil is come down, having great wrath, because he knoweth he hath but a short time".

The woman is carried away to a place prepared for her, and nourished in wilderness for rest of period until kingdom is set up on earth. To this period applies LORD'S PRAYER. "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." These words will be heartfelt utterance of this persecuted company, and while experiencing again manna in wilderness, they will pray with real understanding, "Give us this day bread that cometh down upon us." The word rendered "daily" epiousios {ep-ee-oo'-see-os} in prayer occurs nowhere else in Scripture, nor, as far as we know, in any writing in Greek language. It is a word which can only he fulfilled by repetition of miracle of manna, and this is what does take place.

The Scriptures speak of several categories of believers, some ready, some unready, some watchful, some asleep, some like wise virgins, some like unwise, one taken, other left, one child of woman caught up to God and His throne, other of her seed suffering wrath of dragon, some sheltered in heaven and secret of His presence, others sheltered in wilderness. The Church of One Body, while not connected with these events of great plan revealed in Revelation, should be aware of these differences and thereby seek to learn from them.

With Veeck there to join in it was most certainly a party now and in Chicago there was just so much music to swirl up from all these winds---Muddy Waters yielded stage in this street shrine to an elf of a man who reached to about John Coltrane’s waist---Steve Goodman walks up to Coltrane and says, “Hey, how’s weather up there.?” And once again a miracle. Coltrane laughs! Then Goodman strums:

“The streetlights are on in Chicago tonight And lovers are gazin at stars The stores are all closing and Daley is dozing And fat man is counting his cars!”

And when crowd gets to chorus of “Lincoln Park Pirates” (He, hey blow um away! The Lincoln Park Pirates are we! A new line forms underneath that bridge with Virgin on wall: and a parade begins to form!

Deep under Kennedy Expressway above: every single St Patrick’s Day Parade---all politicians, all floats. All marching bands. It’s a parade!

And on reviewing stand—there he stands---The Mayor. Richard J Daley! Look him straight in eye and all political power is no where to be found. Look him straight in eye and what do you see? You see a kid. A great big kid who gets to watch a parade!

Now place is jammed!

The parade marches thru then back then around every square inch of that underpass with Virgin on wall. But just when you think it is about to wind down---still another voice. This one lifts up corn fields of Iowa, woods of Wisconsin, rich farmland of southern Illinois, pure crystal tones and unlimited range of Bonnie Koloc joining those who come before with those here now. She sings

“I’ve got to believe In all my love songs”

And as that voice soars up and out encompassing everything and everyone who even thought about what was going on underneath expressway next to image of Virgin Mary---Bonnie Koloc gives way to a voice who’s origin is now off with Coltrane. From very deepest part of faith, from very kernel of faith, a gospel sound of Mahalia Jackson:

“We are travelin in footsteps Of those who come before And we’ll all be re-united.”

Then she is surrounded by Pops Staples, Mavis Staples and her sisters there too

Oh when saint Go marchin in Oh when saints go marchin in!

And as they all parade together, swirling in and around expressway underpass, dancing Chicago spirits all, it is same song, same “When Saints Go Marchin In” segued over to Weavers, a crazy haired Woody Guthrie marching along right next to Pete Seeger, Fred Hellerman, Lee Hays, and Look, there’s Win Strache up leading everyone who ever even thought about picking up a guitar at Old Town School of Folk Music. . . .

Some say this world of trouble Is only world we’ll know. . But we’ll all be re-united. .

All hands clapping now music and words just resounding! That white haired crazy man in fedora---Saul Bellow right in middle of it all still writing, drawing out some grand idea. Royko holding a softball, looking for a game.

Pete Seeger leads crowd!

Oh when saints! Go marchin in!

Pete and Woody having slept previous night on kitchen floor of grey haired, stooped over man in red checkered shirt who comes along at end of this parade. . .the last man in line. . .

Studs Terkel walks over to where Obdulia is praying, cocks his head and smiles, then he walks to east, out from underneath where Kennedy Expressway crosses over Fullerton Parkway, Studs Terkel walks into light of sun coming up over lake to east---waves his arm motioning us all inside underneath that bridge and in that grizzled old voice of time and what’s best about Chicago, Studs Terkel, says:

C’mon in. Join us!

Roger Wright can be found on the blog Church Food Chicago.