Three years and a half therefore before the end, and before the revelation of the Lord, the man-child is caught up. This is the escape of the 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 the tribulation, the woman who flees into the wilderness, and the remnants of her seed which are attacked by the dragon, cannot possibly represent the same group of people. There are the overcomers who are destined to rule; there is the woman, shielded, fed and protected in the wilderness; there are the seed that are left, who are persecuted. It is evident that some believers are left to endure the fierce wrath of the last days.Our attention however must be kept for the present upon the overcomers. Verse 11 adds a detail as to the character of these overcomers:Revelation 12:11 "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death."The sign is a child born under the menace of satanic destruction; the reality is the faithful testimony of those who loved not their lives unto the death, the overcomers. The dragon waiting to devour is interpreted in verse 10 as "accusing the brethren before God day and night." The moment of escape of these overcomers is at the sounding of the seventh trumpet:Revelation 12:10 ''Now is come salvation and strength, and the KINGDOM of our God, and the power of His Christ, for the 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, the prophets, and with them that keep the sayings of this book.
