Revelation 12:2

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. Revelation 12:2

John’s vision of the woman, clothed with the sun, continues now, saying, “Then being with child.” The woman, who is believed to represent Israel (see the previous commentary), bears a son. This could be one of two circumstances. It could be Israel bringing forth the Messiah at the time of Christ’s first advent, or it could be Israel in the end times symbolically bringing forth Messiah (accepting Him as Messiah). More likely, it is the latter.

It is from a mother that a child is born. In other words, it is Israel who brought forth the Child who is the Redeemer and Lord. Jesus was not brought forth by the church. Instead, the church issued from His work at the cross. It is absurd to think the church brought forth Jesus.

The symbolism now being conveyed goes all the way back to Genesis 3:15 which is known as the Protoevangelium, or the “first Gospel.”

“And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15

The seed of the woman would be the one to destroy the devil’s work. In the physical sense, this was Mary in whose womb Christ was conceived, but Mary was of the seed of Israel and the line of David. It is this group of people who are symbolically represented by the woman. John next says, “she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.”

This is a reference to Isaiah 26:17 which is speaking of Israel –

“As a woman with child
Is in pain and cries out in her pangs,
When she draws near the time of her delivery,
So have we been in Your sight, O Lord.”

The symbolism of Israel being the woman continues in Isaiah 66 –

“Before she was in labor, she gave birth;
Before her pain came,
She delivered a male child.
Who has heard such a thing?
Who has seen such things?
Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day?
Or shall a nation be born at once?
For as soon as Zion was in labor,
She gave birth to her children.” Isaiah 66:7, 8

Again, in Micah, it says –

“Be in pain, and labor to bring forth,
O daughter of Zion,
Like a woman in birth pangs.
For now you shall go forth from the city,
You shall dwell in the field,
And to Babylon you shall go.
There you shall be delivered;
There the Lord will redeem you
From the hand of your enemies.” Micah 4:10

The church is never said to be such an entity.

Life application: As noted in the previous verse, the words of this chapter of Revelation have been, and continue to be, used to predict the dating of end-times events. By looking to conjunctions in the stars and equating them with the symbolism in Revelation, people have scammed countless multitudes into believing they have determined a set date for events like the rapture, the second coming, and so on.

If you are presented with such an analysis, don’t waste your time on the video, and be sure not to waste your money on the book. The future will unfold exactly as God intends, and it will not be as they predict. Be sure of this. We are given a general outline of events so that when they happen, those who have experienced them will know it was of God. The only thing that happens when people insert themselves into the narrative in advance is that they damage other people’s faith, and they make themselves look stupid.

In the end, let us be patient and do as the Lord says for us to do. Let us be witnesses to the wonderful workings of God in Christ. Let us be witnesses for our precious Lord JESUS.

Heavenly Father, since the world began, You have spoken through Your holy prophets concerning the coming of the Messiah. And You have brought Him forth through Your beloved people Israel. And now all nations share in the rich heritage of the birth of Your Son – fully God and fully man. Thank You for what Christ Jesus means in our lives. We once again have restoration with you. Hallelujah and Amen.

 

 

 

 

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