- And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed in the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. (Rev.12:1)
moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” He told his father and brothers, but his father rebuked him and said, “What is
this dream that you have had? Will your mother and brothers and I actually come and bow down to the ground before you?”
(Genesis 37:9-10)
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In Revelation 12, the woman is said to be clothed with the sun, with the moon under feet and wearing a crown of twelve stars. The answer to the symbolic identity of the woman, is found In Genesis 37:9-10 derrived from Joseph’s dream, where his father Jacob identifies those same symbols;
Sun = Jacob
Moon = wife/wives
Eleven stars = eleven of Jacobs son’s, with Joseph being the twelvth star
These symbols then collectively represent the nation of Israel
She was pregnant and crying out in the pain and agony of giving birth
Since the given symbols identfy the woman as representing the nation Israel as a whole, then her being pregnant must also be viewed as figurative. So what is the figurative meaning of giving birth and who is the Male Child representing?
Do not harm the land or sea or trees until we have sealed the foreheads of the servants of our God.” And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel:
And no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. (Rev.14:3-4)
In Revelation 7:1-8, 144,000 will be sealed with the seal of God, 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Later in Rev.14:3-4, we see this same group of 144,000 in heaven as those who follow Jesus wherever He goes. The verse also states regarding this group that, “these are those who who have not been defiled with woman,” which would make them all male Israelites, ergo, the male child.
The Nation Israel
The Woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and wearing a crown of twelve stars
The Male Child
The 144,000, the first fruits who come out of Israel, recongnizing Jesus as the Messiah
The whole of the symbolism then, is representing the Christ rejecting nation of Israel (the Woman) figuratively giving birth to 144,000 believing Israelites (Male Child) who recognize Jesus as the Messiah
The designation of “Male Child” is therefore a collective name figuratively representing the 144,000 who will come out of (gives birth to) the unbelieving nation of Israel
The woman is not a literal woman, is not literally pregnant, is not giving literal birth and therefore cannot be giving birth to Jesus as a literal male child.
Could Jesus be the Male Child?
We have already seen that the woman and the Male Child are symbolically representing the nation Israel and the 144, 000 Israelites who come out of her, respectively. Therefore, since the woman giving birth is figurative then in keeping with the context, it cannot be referring to the literal birth of Jesus. Jesus does not fit the criteria of the Male Child.
- And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.
- 726 harpázō – properly, seize by force; snatch up, suddenly and decisively
Since the same word harpazo is used to describe the Male Child being “caught up” to God and His throne, does this accurately describe what happened to Jesus?
- And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, ready to devour her child as soon as she gave birth.
- And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter
Jesus - And out of His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations and He will rule them with an iron scepter.
Believers who overcome - And to the one who overcomes and continues in My work until the end, I will give authority over the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery —just as I have received authority from My Father.
The Male Child - And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter
The Great Tribulation Saints - They had not worshiped the beast or his image, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
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Therefore, the promise of those “who will rule the nations with an iron scepter” should not be pigeonholed as referring to Christ only, which is one of the major reasons that others erroneously interpret the Male Child as referring to Jesus.
The Woman – The Nation Israel (Christ rejecting)
The Dragon – Satan
The Male Child – The 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel (Christ Believing)
Gives Birth To – A 144,000 believing Israelites who ‘come out of’ unbelieving Israel
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