September 23rd, 2017 -- The Sign -- from Revelation 12
Problems
#4 -- Eschatological Myopia
There is more than one way to interpret Revelation 12 sign. I have covered at least 3 ways and my own unique interpretation was a result of considering other interpretations. The people who interpret the man child as referring to Jesus do so because it says "He is to rule all the nations". Others interpret the man child as the church because he is "snatched up". Therefore they interpret the woman as Israel. I don't see the church as the baby of the Jews but I also ask what about the Jews, where are they? If this is the fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets they should be there too.
When you combine this vision with the Lord's birth it makes perfect sense. You can see where the Jews are, they are Joseph in the story. The woman becomes all those believers who are left behind during the tribulation.
That said there is one compelling failure in my interpretation. That is that a woman is unclean for seven days after giving birth to a manchild. If the tribulation refers to this seven year period then the woman refers to all of God's people collectively. And that is what is amazing about allegories, they are really stretchy and can have dual meanings.
I am aware of the shortcomings of all these interpretations. I don't like saying the manchild is the church since only one of the seven churches in Revelation is said to be raptured as a church, and it ignores all those who are beheaded during the tribulation because they won't take the mark of the beast. I also don't like saying that the woman is Israel because although we are children of Abraham the Lord also said it would be as the days of Noah and Noah is a representative of all people, not just Jews. I have no issue with the Jews being included in the woman but think it is more universal than just the Jews. However the picture could also be seen to tell us that this woman is a river crosser, that is a Hebrew. So if you wanted to say she is a Hebrew, that is fine as long as you understand we are talking spiritually and not according to the flesh.
Problems
#4 -- Eschatological Myopia
There is more than one way to interpret Revelation 12 sign. I have covered at least 3 ways and my own unique interpretation was a result of considering other interpretations. The people who interpret the man child as referring to Jesus do so because it says "He is to rule all the nations". Others interpret the man child as the church because he is "snatched up". Therefore they interpret the woman as Israel. I don't see the church as the baby of the Jews but I also ask what about the Jews, where are they? If this is the fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets they should be there too.
When you combine this vision with the Lord's birth it makes perfect sense. You can see where the Jews are, they are Joseph in the story. The woman becomes all those believers who are left behind during the tribulation.
That said there is one compelling failure in my interpretation. That is that a woman is unclean for seven days after giving birth to a manchild. If the tribulation refers to this seven year period then the woman refers to all of God's people collectively. And that is what is amazing about allegories, they are really stretchy and can have dual meanings.
I am aware of the shortcomings of all these interpretations. I don't like saying the manchild is the church since only one of the seven churches in Revelation is said to be raptured as a church, and it ignores all those who are beheaded during the tribulation because they won't take the mark of the beast. I also don't like saying that the woman is Israel because although we are children of Abraham the Lord also said it would be as the days of Noah and Noah is a representative of all people, not just Jews. I have no issue with the Jews being included in the woman but think it is more universal than just the Jews. However the picture could also be seen to tell us that this woman is a river crosser, that is a Hebrew. So if you wanted to say she is a Hebrew, that is fine as long as you understand we are talking spiritually and not according to the flesh.