By Mrs A. vd Laan-Leito..There are many interpretations of the sign of the woman described in the book of Revelations 12 verse 1 to 17. When I put all these aside for a moment, I wonder. What if this woman is a woman? I mean a woman for real. It doesn’t say anywhere in the book of Revelations that she herself is a symbol of anything or anyone.
While when it comes to the woman mentioned in Revelation 17, the passage is very specific about her being a symbol. And she is not the bride of the Lamb either. Revelation 21 verse 9 and 10 clearly states that Jerusalem is the bride. Let’s suppose she is the revelation of a person. Could she be someone from the past, before John received this revelation? I don’t think so. Prophecy points to the future, not to the past. So I believe this woman is a person who has to be revealed by God in the future since he revealed her to John.
So who is she?
The first verse of Revelation 12 tells something about her identity. A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She is not a symbol herself, but her crown, the stars, the sun, the moon, does have significance as symbols. The crown has twelve stars. In the dream of Joseph, Genesis 37 verse 9 to 11, the stars symbolised him and his brothers. They were the fathers of the 12 tribes of Israel (Jacob). And the sun and moon symbolised his parents, Jacob and Rachel. Some see the sun as a symbol for God and the moon as one for Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ).
But the sun and the moon can also refer to the Kingship of King David as written in Psalm 89 verse 35 to 37: Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness and I will not lie to David that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.” Everything around her points at Israel. But since she herself isn’t a symbol, could it be she is someone that will be positioned by Gods grace to rule over Israel in the future? Who will be a descendent of King David’s royal line?
What could possibly be the reason for this woman to be?
Ezekiel 37:15 to 28 and Jeremiah 31 tells us about God’s promise to bring the Israelites to their land and unite Ephraim (10 tribes) and Judah (2 tribes). So Israel will be a United Kingdom. God did give the land of Israel two thrones. Genesis 49:9-12 says that Judah would hold the royal sceptre and his descendants would always rule. Nations would bring him tribute and bow in obedience before him. And it’s written in Genesis 48:19 that Ephraim (One of Jacob’s grandsons that he adopted as his son.) would be great and his descendants would be great nations.
By the way it doesn’t say that those nations would be full of Israelites or people from the tribe of Ephraim. 1 Kings 11:26-40 tells us that God made Jeroboam from Ephraim, the ruler over 10 tribes. So God gave Ephraim a throne too. Notice verse 36 says that God wanted only a descendant of David (of the tribe of Judah) to be ruler in Jerusalem. And verse 39 clearly states that God’s decision concerning the punishment to the Davidic line would not be for all time.
Where are these thrones today?
Where is the throne of Ephraim, the leading tribe of the 10 tribes? Ephraim’s descendants would become great nations. I believe this throne could be within any of these nations. It’s possible, but not necessarily, with someone on it this very day. (By the way I believe this could be through royalty, politics and or finance.) God almighty knows whom and where. Daniel 4:7 says that God has power over kingdoms. Where are the sceptre, the crown, and the throne of Judah, the Davidic royal line?
Ezekiel 19 speaks of the sceptre. This passage is a song of sorrow over the princes (kings) of the land of Israel. Judah is the one referred to as being like a lion in Genesis 48:9-11 (it also speaks of a grapevine). So this passage is about the tribe of Judah, the Davidic royal line. Notice that the lioness in this passage of Ezekiel didn’t die nor was she taken captive. And that according to verse 14, it’s the stem of the vine that caught fire and not the root. The branches that got burned up will never be royal sceptres. But the root is still planted there where it is in the dry dessert of Israel (this passage is about princes of Israel). Zechariah 6:9-15 speaks of the crown. It’s in the Temple in Jerusalem. This passage speaks of the promise of whom will were it in the future. Verse 12 says that the branch that will flourish where it is will build the Temple. So the root will bring forth a new branch that will flourish. There is more you can say about this passage, but I rather don’t get into that.
And where is the throne?
1 Kings 11:36 states that, the ruler from the Davidic royal line will rule from Jerusalem. So sceptre, crown and throne are all in Israel, Jerusalem. And no one on earth on this throne today. I believe that Judah and Ephraim will be united in one kingdom, with one ruler as written in Ezekiel 37:15-28. And that the land of Israel will be at peace, with people living in safety, before the Gog Magog war described in Ezekiel 38 and 39 (Revelation 19:11-21, Armageddon).
I believe they are the same war. When it is about the outcome of this war, Ezekiel 39:4, 17-20 is comparable with Revelation 19:17, 18. When it is about the devastating earthquake Ezekiel 38:20, 21 is comparable with Revelation 16:18-21. I won’t elaborate further on this. I believe that God may also do this through marriage between someone from the royal line of David and someone from that of Ephraim. God will unite two thrones to one, preparing for when Yeshua Messiah comes. Zechariah 9:9-10 speaks of him as a humble king who will come to do away with the enemies of a United Kingdom of Israel and make peace amongst nations. The Temple is already built (Zechariah 6:9-15). Since the kingship of King David, there have been descendants of him on the throne in Jerusalem. God almighty can put another one on this throne for the reasons mentioned above, before Yeshua Messiah comes.
So there is a point for this woman to be a person for real.
Now, what about the rest of her story as written in Revelation chapter 12? Can this be a realistic story of a person’s life? The dragon wants to kill her baby boy, who is of royal Davidic descent, as soon as he is borne. Exodus chapter 1 verse 1 to 22 tells us that, at the time Moses was borne, baby boys were killed. Pharaoh even wanted the midwives to kill them immediately after birth (they didn’t do this. And God protected Moses in a way nobody would have expected. So this happened before. Her baby boy is taken to the throne of God. Isn’t it written that a child should be presented to God, and that every firstborn male is to be dedicated to God (Leviticus 12, Luke 2:22-24)?
Doesn’t this happen in the Temple in Jerusalem? She has to flee to the desert, where God prepared a place for her and will take care of her. Happened before: King David fled too out of Jerusalem (2 Samuel 15:13-37). And God did take care of people in the dessert before. For example: David, Elijah and even a multitude of people, Israel under the leadership of Moses. And the wings she receives from God, what are those? We are living in modern times in which we have wings to fly.
Who are the rest of her descendants that the dragon wants to fight? She is a ruler, she represents a nation. So what about those who are part of that nation, Israel? And those who are part of it, supports it through faith? Did Israel ever have a legitimate woman ruler in the past? Yes, the only one was Deborah who sat under a tree in the hill country of Ephraim. Judges chapter 4 and 5 tells us that she ruled as judge and prophetess, so put in place by God almighty, for 40 years over ancient Israel. If she ruled that long, she must have been a blessing for Israel. So this also happened before. Deborah is, alongside King David, one of my heroes in the bible. She is one of the first woman warriors ever recorded in history.
There are blue prints in biblical scripture about past events in Israel’s history which shows us how the God of Israel does his work through ages. I believe all this is very possible. But only God almighty knows for sure. He knows when Israel will be united, in which way and who the people that will be involved in this process are. I believe that then the second part of Jeremiah’s task, Jeremiah 1:10, will be completed. God gave him authority over nations and kingdoms to uproot and to pull down, to destroy and overthrow, but also to build and to plant.
Is it possible that the next words could also, beside other interpretations, refer to her? The Lord will create a new thing on earth. A woman will surround a man. (Jeremiah 31:22b) [Traditional Jewish wedding ceremony.] Who is this that appears like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars in procession? (Song of Solomon 6:10) The woman is a woman, meant by Gods grace to be a blessing for Israel. God bless you.
Tags: Prophecy, revelation
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wonderful information for bible students. i am studying . thank you.
I like your post and agree.
This woman is real.
Jhn 16:19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him; so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’?
Jhn 16:20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.
Jhn 16:21 When a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world.
Jhn 16:22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
Jhn 16:23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name.
If you understand the concept of “a little while” and a day is a thousand years then Rev 12 becomes very real.
After 2000 years He will return. The child in John 16:21 is the same in Rev 12.
The first verse in Rev 12 are celestial signs that tell when this will happen.
Thanks,
This is my story…..my words are limited at this time.
The celestial sign is when the women has the child,(children) time has come for the woman.
Her 31:22 Jeremiah…a woman is not a Jew but sewn in b her husband. He is from tribe Levis, his name on earth meaning anointed Christian,the chosen one.
A woman surrounds a man is his other half…his wife
She has only faith alone…her roots are deep. Her branches are not.