REVELATION 12. THE WOMAN, ISRAEL
The “woman” of this chapter is none other than the nation of Israel and her remnant. Not by any stretch of the imagination is she Mary, the Roman Catholic Church, the protestant church, or Mary Baker Eddy!
She is a “sign” which depicts Israel and her conflict with Satan. The “sign” is clear. (See Genesis 37:9-10.) Joseph had two dreams, which were a prophecy of Christ who was rejected by His brethren, sentenced to death, raised to life, and will be recognized by Israel and reign over them at His Second Advent.
There can be no doubt that the vision of the sun, the moon, and the twelve stars represent Joseph and his brethren, which symbolize Israel. No other person in Scripture fulfills as many types of Christ as Joseph, who had this vision.
Israel is often called a woman married to God under the terms of the old covenant (Isaiah 54:1-6; Jeremiah 3:1-14; Hosea 2:14-23). There is no thought of Mary in the Genesis or the Revelation passage. Jesus is the Son of Abraham, the seed of David and the Chosen One of Israel.
This woman is described as a “sign.” The sign itself is not a literal woman existing in heaven. This was only a “sign.” The vision is a type of Israel, and the description of her is significant.
No other nation on earth can claim a miraculous birth, continuous protection, and eternal appointment as the nation of Israel. Listen to what King David says concerning Israel in 2 Samuel 7:23-24, “And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.”
God’s plan for the nation of Israel originated in heaven. She is protected by the God of heaven, and the heavens will rule the earth through her!
The woman is “clothed with the sun.” The first mention of the sun is in Genesis 1:16, “And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.”
Not only was the sun given for a “sign,” its purpose was given to “rule the day.” The sun is also a symbol of strength, splendor, righteousness, and glory. Thus, the righteous nation will bring forth a “man child,” who is the “Light of the world,” and will rule the earth in the splendor and the glory of an eternal day.
In addition, the sun was given for a light to the world. Just so, God’s original purpose for Israel was to be a light to the Gentile world. Israel failed at that, but God will restore her, and she will accomplish that for which she was created.
The disciple, who represented the nation of Israel and the kingdom were told by Jesus that they were the light of the world. Isaiah said concerning Israel, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah 60:1-3). Thus the woman, clothed with the sun, is an intended symbol of Israel in her future power and glory.
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.