THE WOMAN AND THE MALE CHILD

Sergei from the Russian Federation recently wrote, inquiring about the “Male Child” or the “Man Child” of Revelation 12. I’ve expanded a little on this topic hereunder to bring clarity and buttress my contentions and convictions – with links and references thrown in to elaborate the same.

Dear Brother Doug!

Hello again! I remember at one point I've discussed with you the man-child in Revelation 12. I would like to return to this topic once more, if you do not mind :)

I remember that the Plymouth Brethren outlined Revelation according to Revelation 1:19. They taught that things after Revelation 1:4 (sic. Revelation 4:1) are future and confined to the last week in Daniel. If we take this view, then Revelation 12 shall still be future.

I also wonder if woman's labor and pain to give birth is somehow related to the birth-pangs in Matt. 24:8. Revelation 12:6 seems to indicate that the man-child is raptured right before 3.5 years. I will appreciate your insights regarding this.

And BTW can you remind me the website where I can download your radio programs?

God bless you!

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Perhaps I can clarify a few things here -

First of all, the Partial Rapturists, in particular, some of those who affirm the so-called “inner life” (but not necessarily “inner lifers” exclusively - for there are a number of our Pre-Tribulationists/Partial Rapturists who affirm this as well who are not enamored by the quest for interior transformation) who view the male Child or “man Child” of Revelation 12 as the "overcomers" in that they not only view this as a partial and/or Midtribulation Rapture of the overcomers or even the entire Church (overcomers or not) as chronological in nature--i.e., the mid-point of Daniel's 70th Week. (Note: Walvoord has done a fairly good job in elucidating these positions of rapture—therefore, do check out these links.)

But, as well, they see in the male Child the fulfillment of ascension to rule and reign with Christ as an overcomer and connect the following verses:

“She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne” (Rev. 12:5).

“And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations…He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels’-as I also have received from My Father” (Rev. 2:26-27).

Notwithstanding the close connection with the ascended and enthroned Christ, the male Child of Revelation 12 is NOT or “are not” the overcomers. Incidentally, this response is not a declaration of the inconsistencies of our dear brethren who embrace the pre-tribulational rapture of the Church—those diatribes can be reviewed at The Last Trumpet (Tim Warner) as proof positive that this contention, for a multitude of reasons, extinguishes the Church’s final witness and, as we at the Tribulation Network shall declare not too many days hence, is in counter distinction to the very Testimony of Jesus (Note: Our radio program, as well as other writings in the future via Pastor Doug Shearer and myself, as well as Dene McGriff’s convictions, will provide ample assault upon this most insidious eschatological distraction.)

What we must realize is the grand picture given of A WOMAN who is really THE WOMAN (Rev. 12:1 and 4) - this WOMAN must be considered not simply as Israel (as most Dispensationalists contend) nor simply as the Church but as THE WHOLE PEOPLE OF GOD. The Dispensationalists have consigned the figure of THE WOMAN as simply Israel who gives birth to the Messiah; however, we must view this WOMAN in context of the entire Revelation, and for that matter, the entire Scripture - she is EVE - she is that WHOLE PEOPLE OF GOD throughout the Scripture until she is that WOMAN of Revelation 21:9—she is not, as some have claimed from biblical context and the thrust of the Revelation, National Israel; to the contrary, and in accordance with their brazen claim that this Woman is in context, Israel, she is in Revelation’s context the composite of the believing community throughout the ages…

“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.’ - (Literally: “Come, I will show you the WOMAN, the Lamb’s bride.”)...“And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great (Lit. M omit “great” - not in original manuscripts - see side margins) the holy Jerusalem” (Lit. NU, M “holy city, Jerusalem”) (Revelation 21:9-10) - i.e., THE WOMAN, the LAMB'S BRIDE is the HOLY CITY, JERUSALEM; therefore, what is this Holy City, Jerusalem?

“She had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel" (Rev. 21:12 - ISRAEL)....Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (the CHURCH--Rev. 21:14).

These are the TWO WITNESSES of Rev. 11--they are corporate in nature and present the SINGULAR WITNESS of the Almighty to Gentile World Powers (Israel--the Two Olive Trees--earthly governments--the KINGSHIP--STATE) and to the Principalities and Powers who now ravage the earthlings/earth (the Church--the Two Lampstands--heavenly--the PRIESTHOOD--the CHURCH), as His HOLY CITY (Rev. 11:2) which shall be trodden asunder (persecuted) for 42 months--the final 3.5 years/days (Rev. 11:9, 11) of the 70th Week of Daniel...

“But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the HOLY CITY (which I here capitalize to draw attention to its COSMIC VALUE and designation) underfoot for forty-two months” (Revelation 11:2) - we must see this WOMAN juxtaposed to the WOMAN of Revelation 17--the HARLOT which is that GREAT CITY, BABYLON vs. the HOLY CITY, JERUSALEM. For there are only two cities in this book - there are only TWO WOMEN in this book!

I could go into more detail here--but, by God's grace, it shall be included in the contemporary exposition of the Book of Revelation which I am daily working on.

However, The WOMAN of Revelation 12 as the WHOLE PEOPLE OF GOD brings forth the Messiah, the male Child. She is in heaven - the same WOMAN who descends from heaven in Rev. 21:10.

She is clothed with the sun - even as His face diffused the brilliance of the sun (“and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength” - Rev. 1:16) and who most assuredly, for his feet stand upon the sea (for He will overcome in us the Beast who ascends from the abyss/sea/the bottomless pit - Rev. 13:1 and Rev. 11:7, and the close of Rev. 12 - and overcomes the Second Beast of the earth - Rev. 13:11) - so, “A rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire” - Even so—“we all with unveiled face (not as Moses who was veiled) behold and reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the SAME IMAGE from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord” (II Cor. 3:18) - and that IMAGE is the reflection of the SUN/SON - we, therefore, are CLOTHED WITH THE SUN! Praise God!

...“the moon under her feet” (Rev. 12:1) - clearly, she is the REFLECTION of the Sun of Righteousness! And, as well, under her feet are the powers of darkness (for the moon is noticed at night) - "among whom ye shine as lights in the darkness" - "And I will put enmity between you and the woman (speaking to the serpent), and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." (Gen. 3:15). The Serpent, Leviathan, the Serpent is under our feet - the feet of the Woman ... "And the God of peace will CRUSH SATAN under your feet..." (Romans 16:20). So, she reflects His glory in the darkness - for her glory is not her own - and she is to CRUSH SATAN under her feet!

…“and on her head a garland of twelve stars” (Rev. 12:1) - Again, this is reminiscent of Joseph's vision . . . “Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, ‘Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me’” (Gen. 37:9) - Joseph being the twelfth star. The number 12 is comprised as follows (3x4=12 or the Triune God with redeemed creation/creature).

Now, it must be comprehended that these 12 stars which are above THE WOMAN demonstrate that God and man work in cooperation - therefore, these stars express the working of God with man (both in the Old Testament - Israel) and in the New Testament (the Church); therefore, 12+12=24 - i.e., the 24 elders which we affirm to be the 12 Patriarchs and the 12 Apostles of the Lamb and that they together (gates/foundations) constitute the WALL of Revelation 144 cubits or 12x12=144 (Rev. 21:17--which, taken clearly in its context bespeaks of Israel and the Church as the final consummation, the HOLY CITY, the WOMAN, the BRIDE or the LAMB'S WIFE.

Therefore, the 12 STARS are seen as overcoming as well in the midst of adversity - here we cannot omit John's awareness of the writings of Daniel who spoke in the midst of tribulation there would be “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).

So - although there are here present 12 Stars, they clearly constitute the work of God with His creation throughout human history.

Now - we take Rev. 12:2 – “Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth” - and again . . . “And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne” (Rev. 12:4b-5).

Here, a most amazing sight we behold - from His INCARNATION to His ASCENSION and ENTHRONEMENT we witness the triumph of the male Child over the Dragon! This panoramic vision of Christ is tremendous - even so, now must the WOMAN, once again, who gave birth to the male Child - flee into the wilderness where she has a place prepared by God “that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days” (1,260 days) - for this is the same time frame mentioned in the previous chapter, Rev. 11:3 where the Testimony of the Two Witnesses PREVAILS for the first half of the 70th Week of Daniel for the same period of time: “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” (Revelation 11:3)

However, and as it has so clearly been foretold - there will, in the midst of the 70th Week be the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION and the Antichrist will be designated as the BEAST as he is incarnated by Satan himself to make a parody of the resurrection of the true Messiah - for the war mentioned in Rev. 12:7-9 is NOT the primordial conflict at the initial rebellion of that Wicked One but the total banishment of his presence - of the Accuser of the Brethren who accuses “them before our God day and night” (Rev. 12:10 - from the heavenly realms.

Therefore, we read: “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” - and it is at this juncture that Satan - whose incarnation into the body of Antichrist constitutes this Abomination of Desolation, THE BEAST who ascends out of the Abyss (Rev. 12:18 - Now the dragon stood on the shore of the sea (for he was cast out of heaven - Rev. 12:9)...And I saw a beast ascending from the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, etc. (Rev. 13:1) - even so, is there any wonder that the Dragon was there for “the dragon gave him (the Beast) his power and his throne and great authority” (Rev. 13:2).

Now, for forty-two months the Beast who ascends from the abyss/sea/bottomless pit shall “persecute the woman who gave birth to the male Child” (Rev. 12:13) - for it is clear from Rev. 11:7, that after the 1,260 days we read:

“When they (the Two Witnesses) finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, over come them, and kill them" (Rev. 11:7) - just as those under his mark cooperate with his wicked schemes and his persecution of the HOLY CITY/TWO WITNESSES/THE WOMAN: “But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the HOLY CITY underfoot for forty-two months” (Rev. 11:2).

Though THE WOMAN is preparing as a Bride for the Lamb - yet she must persevere and endure suffering to demonstrate she bears the TESTIMONY OF JESUS! This is her final preparation. Therefore it is said:

“And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God (Israel) and have the testimony of Jesus” (the Church) (Rev. 12:17) - but HALLELUJAH! In the midst of our tribulation we are kept by Him to such an extent that we read of these final 3.5 days where their “dead body” lies in the street of the Great City (not Jerusalem - but our Lord was crucified outside the gate of that city)...remembering this: THE HOLY CITY vs. THE GREAT CITY.

“And their dead BODY (singular) will lie in the street of THE GREAT CITY which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified (as He suffered - we also share in His sufferings) . . . but again, how glorious is the TESTIMONY OF JESUS through His Triumphant People:

“And they overcame him (the Dragon) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives to the death” (Rev. 12:10).

But - just as the MALE CHILD overcame and as He has also said to the Church in Laodicea: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Rev. 3:21) - even so:

“Here is the patience (endurance) of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God (ISRAEL) and the faith of Jesus” (the CHURCH) - Rev. 14:12.

And...how blessed are we: “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them’” (Rev. 14:13).

The entire thrust of the Scripture bespeaks of victory in tribulation - indeed, we are “kept from the hour of trial which is to try the whole earth” (Rev. 3:10) - but as G. H. Lang shares and as Grant Osborne confirms (see my latest article on “O Jerusalem” on www.the-tribulation-network.com - we are “kept from the evil one” - not in the sense of “escape from Satan's wrath” - but as Jesus was kept throughout His crucifixion - even so, we shall endure until the end! Did not our Lord pray for our inner man: “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:15-17).

Brother - the Male Child overcame - and even as He overcame, we shall overcome! There is no escape, as Corrie ten Boom once said - but “through Christ Who gives me strength” - we endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ and if that be “unto death” - then by God's grace, so be it - for just as Peter was told after he confirmed his love to Jesus:

“‘Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish’...This He spoke, signifying by what DEATH he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’” (John 21:18).

Rev. 1:19 simply connotes the “things seen” of Rev. 1; the things which are from Rev. 2-3 among the seven churches; and the things “which will take place after this” (“after this” vision of the seven churches - NOT after the Church Age!). Revelation 1:4 I am certain you mean Rev. 4:1 – “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.’”

There is absolutely NOTHING based upon the Scripture that would indicate that just because the word “church” is not used from Rev. 4 (ecclesia) onward that somehow the Church is not there - nonsense. The word “disciple” is used throughout the gospels and into the Acts and then is obsolete in its usage throughout the epistles until the end of Revelation. But, the “disciples” have become “the saints” - set apart for Him.

Even so, the churches are taught to overcome now throughout the ages and culminating in the 70th week of Daniel are OVERCOMING. Indeed, if the “overcomers” are enjoined in Rev. 2-3 - they are wholly committed to overcoming from Rev. 6 into Rev. 18 (until they are called by the Almighty to flee Babylon (Rev. 18:4) prior to her judgment and so manifested thereafter. Indeed, what say we of the TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST for which John the Beloved was exiled on that Patmos Isle (Rev. 1:2)?

Is this not the same TESTIMONY OF JESUS of the seed of the WOMAN of Rev. 12:17? Really? - Yes, during the very persecution of those “who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus” (Rev. 12:17) there is still the TESTIMONY OF JESUS - the same TESTIMONY for which John bore witness.

Is this not the same TESTIMONY OF JESUS found at the conclusion of all the suffering of God's people – “His wife has made herself ready” – “I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the TESTIMONY OF JESUS . . . . for the TESTIMONY OF JESUS is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10).

And now you know that the TESTIMONY OF JESUS brought John into exile; the TESTIMONY OF JESUS is hated by the Dragon who makes war on the saints; and, the TESTIMONY OF JESUS survives and thrives until the Marriage Supper of the Lamb - and that same TESTIMONY OF JESUS is the spirit of prophecy - not of escape, not of survivalists or of running from Jezebel as Elijah did--but returning to face the Accuser of the brethren - and to overcome!

We are called to PROPHESY - not to escape, to flee. Where’s the testimony brother? Remember that phrase? Well, we are called to testify. If John in Rev. 4:1 is a “TYPE” of the Church in rapture to the heavens - then why, pray tell why, is he told in Revelation 10:8-11 to go UPON THE EARTH?...“YOU must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings” (Rev. 10:11).

John is as much a TYPE of the TESTIFYING SAINTS as any type there could ever be--and on the EARTH at that!

And, when he is told to so testify he is immediately told to "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and THOSE WHO WORSHIP THERE" (Rev. 11:1)...for "I will give power to my two witnesses, and THEY WILL PROPHESY one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." (Rev. 11:2).

Brother---John is very much on the earth at this time--you may say he captures this vision from the heavens--but he is solidly on the earth for those who need to repent are upon the earth, not abiding in the heavens!

Rev. 12 is both past and future - make no doubt about that. The Woman’s birth pangs are not related to the birth pangs of Matt. 24:8 -- for her birth was that of the Messiah and the birth pangs are of those trials yet to come upon the earth, and even now, are upon us. And, NO, the male Child is not raptured - HE ASCENDED AS A MAN AND REIGNS IN GLORY AS A MAN UPON THE THRONE...awaiting to take the Throne of David!

You may download our radio program (which is a top secret to our “reading audience”) at the following: www.discipleaudio.com and then click "here" for the pod casts. I am not certain about radio--but by all means that we might win some!

God's abundant blessing upon you and yours.

Bro. Doug