The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

of accomplishing the purposes of Satan towards the Church. The eagle was the common
Roman ensign in the time of the Republic and in the earlier periods of the empire, but in
later periods the dragon became also a standard as common and as well known as the
eagle."
On this point Mr. Elliott says that . . .
". . . in the third century it [the dragon] had become almost as notorious among Roman
ensigns as the eagle itself; and is in the fourth century noted by Prudentius, Vegetius,
Chrysostom, as well as Ammianus Marcellinus; also in the fifth, by Claudian, and others."
Another strong indication as to the particular period in history when the vision began to
have its fulfillment is found in the fact that the "diadems" were on the "heads" of the
"dragon," instead of on the horns as in the case of the beast of chapter 13:1, which fact of
itself suggests that the period of the vision is that prior to the cessation of the imperial rule
in Western Rome in 476 AD, and before the ten kingdoms and Papacy begin their exercise
of power.
Thus do the symbols themselves establish the time for the beginning of the fulfillment of
this vision of chapter 12 as that of Pagan Rome, particularly the reign of Diocletian. He,
according to all historians, is the one who ruled the Roman Empire during the last great
persecution of the Church by Pagan Rome. This persecution began in 303 AD and
continued until 313 AD.
The woman in travail
In view of the foregoing it seems clear that the woman's cry, and labor to bear, represent
the importunate desires, prayers, and endeavors of the Lord's true people in the days of
Pagan Roman persecution, particularly the time of the ten years' persecution under
Diocletian, to have a government that would use its authority and power to cause
persecution to cease. Such a state of affairs as is thus described, existed in the true Church
just prior to the reign of the so-called Christian emperors. That such importunate desires
and prayers were proper, and in harmony with true Christianity, is seen in the instructions
given by St. Paul to Timothy, in the language:
"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplication, prayers, intercessions, and giving of
thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a
quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."--1 Tim. 2:1,2.
It is said of the dragon that "his tail drew [dragged, hauled] the third part of the stars of
heaven, and did cast them to the earth." There are two interpretations of this symbol, one
of which is that it refers to Christian teachers falling in the sense of apostatizing, and
adopting the Paganized counterfeit Christianity that gradually came in after Constantine's
accession to the throne, about 312 AD. A seemingly insurmountable difficulty with this
interpretation is that this action of the dragon occurs prior to Constantine's accession to the
throne, and during the period of the Pagan government's persecution of the true Church.