Revelation 12: The Theme of the Bible
Depending on which commentator you read Revelation 12 has been interpreted in different ways. Mathew Henry depicted the woman as the Church. John Peter Lange in A Commentary of the Holy Scriptures: Revelation, he disagrees yet acknowledges the meaning which Mathew Henry gives. John MacArthur I believe has a more accurate picture with less symbolic meaning telling the story in a more literal sense. The truth behind Revelation 12 should be easy to find thanks to a reference which John included with two additional parallels to that reference.
Revelation 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
The key to understanding Revelation 12 lay within verse 5. There is only one who can rule all nations. From Genesis to Revelation this is consistent. We need to elaborate more in depth with the additional descriptor “with a rod of iron”. Rev 19:15 and Rev 2:27 will give more information as to who this is.
Revelation 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Revelation 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Christ is the one who will rule with a rod of iron within the Millennial Kingdom. The reference in Revelation 12 clearly speaks to Christ having been born of a woman. The depiction of the woman is Israel for Christ was never born from, nor came from the Church. Rather the Church came from Christ. This is why it is so critical to identify the who and for what of Scripture. Yet there should be another reference to clarify this point which is specific to the woman.
Revelation 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
At the midpoint of the tribulation Israel will be displaced by the antichrist and persecuted. They will flee to a place called Petra and find sanctuary there. The book of Daniel also uses the phrase “a time, and times, and half a time” in its depiction of the tribulation. It reflects a period of 3.5 years. This reference in Revelation 12:14 is in the latter half of the tribulation after the antichrist commits the abomination within the new temple.
Revelation 12 is a depiction of two things. First is a picture of our salvation story first. Christ who came to earth to die for all sin. He chose the nation of Israel as His people and was born of a bloodline of kings. He came to this earth to be the sacrifice in so that He could offer His love to those that would trust and believe in Him. He will rule with a rod of iron within the Millennial Kingdom.
Secondly it portrays God’s protection of Israel within the tribulation. This is telling of how God will work to fulfill His promise to Abraham. As judgment comes upon the world the second half of the tribulation is where we find the worst judgments that fall on mankind. At Petra, Israel will be protected by God’s hand from the antichrist and his attempt to eradicate them.
While Revelation 12 has been interpreted in other ways this view holds the greatest literal and cross Scriptural accuracy. Yet its message does not end here. Scripture is always layered within its meaning while the message itself is consistent and uniform. In this passage we have two stories taking place yet both are intertwined as one and the same mission. The depth of this story is profound and beautiful.
First Promise
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
This passage from Genesis takes place immediately after Adam and Eve had sinned. It is the first prophecy given of a Savior who would come to remove the sins of the world. Yet there is more to this picture than most realize. Before Adam and Eve sinned they were perfect, sinless, blameless. This is a state of being that no person who has been born can know. For Adam and Eve after creation until the moment they sinned they knew no corruption, and were not under the threat of death as they walked with God.
This condition was not unique to Adam and Eve. It was also true for all creation within the universe. It was perfect. When Adam and Eve sinned it was not like you or I sinning. When they sinned all of creation fell. The universe came under sin and death as well as the law. At that moment Lucifer stole something. He stole something that was not his to take. This theft is not symbolic, nor is it metaphorical. It is the very reason for Genesis 3:15.
A Theft
To define what was stolen we must look to Revelation. In chapter 1 verse 11 we see Jesus announcing to John who is speaking identifying Himself. There are many interesting identifying features about Christ that John describes such as His hair being white like wool or His feet as fine brass. Yet it is not the appearance that gives us the indication of what we need to define. Rather it is the statement Jesus gives in vs 18.
Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
It is the statement “and have the keys of hell and death” which tells us what was taken. It is Christ that could only be the perfect sacrifice for sin and be our redemption. When He died on the cross He conquered sin and death. Until that moment all of mankind was subject to the law due to the fall and entrance of sin in Genesis. It was not until Christ sacrificed Himself that we could have grace and by faith be covered by His blood to be redeemed. At the cross Jesus took back what was rightfully His, the keys to hell and death.
Why is this so important to see? It is not until Revelation chapter 5 that we see a new witness from heaven by John of Christs authority. All of heaven is asking who is worthy to open the book which contains seals. Only one is found worthy. Jesus takes the book and its meaning is more than we superficially see in terms of future judgments upon the earth capping the final moments of the end times.
Revelation 5:And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
If one remembers Lucifer in his desires wanted to be like the most high. He wished to create his own world in which he was a god. Yet Lucifer could not create. Nor could he be a god. All that Lucifer can do is lie and steal. In the moment of sin entering the world with death all of creation fell, the entire universe. After Christ died and resurrected not only did he take back what what stolen, but in that moment He was worthy to obtain this book in chapter 5 of Revelation.
Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
What is this book then? Certainly we know it is a book containing judgments which will unfold upon the earth. Yet it does not define the title of the book as so to speak. This book could not be opened before this moment. Thus it has meaning beyond just judgment. It is if we can call it, the title or deed to the universe and the earth. It is the very world that Lucifer sought to take, steal, and rule. It is the very theme which the tribulation details with the false prophet and the antichrist. Yet only Christ is worthy to posses the universe which He created.
Unfortunate Depictions Online
Within the world of the internet we find many constructions of the Revelation 12 passage. Some would have you to believe that this is a picture of the Church as some notable commentators have stated. More outlandish versions have this woman as being the Church replacing Israel or that it is the United States to which this woman stands for.
The depiction of the woman and the stars have also been used by some in an attempt to use astronomy in order to find a point in time where the rapture would take place. This astronomical event was to take place on September 23, 2017. There is free software one can download which will rewind time or fast forward time in the nights sky allowing you to see the movement of stars and planets. Unfortunately for them this event has repeated in the night sky within history.
Historically it was convenient for some to depict the woman as the Catholic Church as believers were struggling to get out from under the dominant rule of the Papacy. Some have claimed that this woman was Mary. While it at a point could be seen this way the overall picture is depicting a people rather than a single individual.
Prophecy is only understood if its foundational principles are accepted as written in truth. It is a series of building blocks when misplaced lead to undesired places creating problems in the who, what, when and where that causes confusion.
There are some other interpretations that I could accept within a limited scope such as Mathew Henry in his commentary yet I believe it is misguided. Revelation 12 is important to understand before moving forward into Revelation 13. A misstep in 12 will create a mess with chapter 13 as there are more outlandish versions in the online world than I care to take time to refute. There is no need to force Scripture to say anything, simply allow it to state and reinforce itself as it is stated.