The Woman of Ch. 12, the Secret of Anti-Semitism

Rev. 12:1-17

 

Ever wondered why the Jews have been so consistently hated by so many for thousands of years?  One of the most horrendous reoccurrences of human history has been the continuing irrational hatred and persecution of the Jews.  No group on the face of the earth have been more hated than the Jews/more persecuted/more mistreated!

 

Think about the extremes they have endured.

 

Twice they’ve had their homeland torn from them, led as captives into foreign lands.  4 times they have faced potential extermination, and some today would make that 5!...and yet they have survived!

        Pharaoh tried/Nebuchadnezzar tried/Titus and Roman legions tried/Hitler and Stalin tried…the insane flames of anti-semitism have always been burning, and several groups today are stoking the fire and reaching for their bellows!

        Yet over and over again they emerge as a distinct people.

 

Why?  Why so hated/harassed/persecuted/plotted against? 

 

Rev. 12 gives some insight, for right here in the middle of the tribulation comes the worst wave of anti-s. the world has ever seen.  (far worse than Egypt, Neb., Titus, and even Hitler!)

        What the anti-christ brings upon the Jews at this point will make Hitler and Stalin look like choir boys.

 

It’s the time of Jacob’s trouble, the 2^nd half of trib. 

 

Jer. 30:7

30:7

Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

 

v. 1  Who is this woman?  We know she’s symbolic of something (“wonder”, often translated sign or symbol)

 

There are 4 symbolic women in revelation:

 

We already looked at Jezebel in ch. 2 representing paganism.

 

In ch. 17 we’ll see the harlot, the scarlet woman called the great whore, representing apostasy.

 

In ch. 19 we’ll look at the lamb’s wife, representing the blood-bought church!

 

The 4^th woman is here in ch. 12…and Bible scholars will tell you that understanding who this woman is/what she represents is the key to understanding the entire book of Revelation.

 

Let’s pay attn now and see:

 

Let’s see the symbolism of the woman/seed of the woman/suffering of the woman/safety of the woman

 

1.     The Symbolism of the woman:

The Roman Catholic Church will try to tell you she’s the Virgin Mary.

        We know that’s not true, because this woman gives birth in heaven, not on earth.  We categorically reject the notion that this is Mary.

 

A few years ago a certain woman read this verse and said, that’s me!  I’m the woman! (how humble!)

        Mary Baker Glover Patterson Eddy Sears Roebuck!  Founder of Christian Science movement, neither scientific nor Christian!

        She said, I’m the woman!

H.A. Ironside's commentary reads:  I’ll take no more time talking to sane people about that!

 

I believe this woman represents none other than the nation of Israel, and the key to understanding that is in her celestial clothing:

v. 1  The sun, moon, and stars are symbols belonging exclusively to the nation of Israel.

Gen. 37:9-11 talks of a dream Joseph had, in which the sun, moon, and 11 stars bow down to him.  He told his dad, Jacob, and God immediately told Jacob the interpretation:  that he, his wife, and 11 of their kids would bow down to Joseph.  (it happened)  The Jewish race was founded!

 

The OT often compares Israel to a woman, sometimes a woman in travail! 

Is. 54:5, 6        5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

6 For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth…

The symbolism of the woman is that she represents the nation of Israel…

 

2.     The Seed of the woman

v. 2  The mother, Israel, is in labor, bringing forth a man child, Jesus Christ.  V. 5 makes that clear…look at it!  This is a Christmas sermon from Revelation!

v. 5  Shouldn’t this be the Virgin Mary?  No!

 

Is. 66: 8 …for as soon as Zion (Israel) travailed, she brought forth her children.

 

Is. 9: 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder…

 

Who is Isaiah writing to?  The Jews!  “unto US”

 

Romans 9:4-5
⁴ Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
⁵ Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

 

In a very real sense, the Lord Jesus Christ was the son of Israel…no wonder the writer of Hebrews calls Him the seed of Abraham.  (elsewhere, son of David)

 

We’re wading thru deep water right now, keep your heads up!

 

Quiz:  who does the woman symbolize?  Israel!

Who is the seed of the woman?  Jesus Christ!

 

3.     The Suffering of the woman

vv. 3-4     v. 3 is a picture of the devil himself.  V. 9 proves that. 

“great” speaks to his power as the prince of this world/god of this world…

“red” because red is the color of blood.

Jn. 8:44—“Satan a murderer from the beginning”…and he is covered w/ the bloodshed he has instigated all along / slaughters / abortions / suicides / murders / martyrs / victims of cancer, aids, etc.!

        Why does alcohol eventually lead to death?

Because Satan is a murderer! (come to steal, kill, and destroy)   

Why do drugs kill their victims? / promiscuity often leads to death?

 

Great, red…

“7 heads and ten horns, and 7 crowns”

 

v. 4a                “star” here means someone important…same as we use it today (Hollywood). 

        Reference to Lucifer’s fall and how he took 1/3^rd of the angels w/ him.

 

Bright side: it’s still 2 to 1 odds!

 

4b    We understand why Satan would hate Jesus…but why does he hate Israel?

                Because it was thru Israel that you and I received the 2 things we need to defeat Satan…not only the Son of God, but also the Word of God!  (we have the Bible because of 40 Jews who God used to write it!)

Romans 3:1-2
¹ What advantage then hath the Jew? …
² Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

 

Satan didn’t know who would be the Messiah, he wasn’t just waiting for Jesus to come along, and didn’t know where He would come along!  He had to annihilate the race before the child could be born, whenever, wherever!!

 

Even more, it is thru God’s relationship w/ them that you and I can learn a personal relationship w/ God!  (Egypt, wilderness, promised land, captivity, …and they are hated today and yet remain in His care!)

        We can be glad that we serve a God that is not afar off, but is personally interested in us and our welfare. 

 

Remember the covenant God made w/ Abraham:  he who blesses you I will bless/curses you…curse

 

Our political leaders would do well to remember that!  We turn our back on them, and it’s over for us!

 

Symbolism/seed/suffering…

 

4.     The Safety of the Woman

v. 5-6       Remember MT. 24, when we reach the mid-point of the tribulation, Jesus warned the Jews, run to the mountains.  Flee as fast as you can!  The persecution of that day will make the holocaust look pleasant! 

 

v. 6 says God will get them thru it (the many now believing Jews).  And in this life here and now, God hasn’t promised to keep us from tribulation, He’s just promised to have a place for us, and food for us to get us thru all the way 'til He calls us home!

 

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