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Daily Devotions

Revelation

Revelation 
Day 
Day 80

"A great sign appeared in heaven"

Text: Revelation 12:1

SIGNS IN HEAVEN

The Lord showed John a number of “signs”. They would need to be carefully handled and interpreted.

“Now a great sign appeared in heaven:
a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a garland of twelve stars.
Then being with child,
she cried out in labour and in pain to give birth.”
Revelation 12:1-2

1. A great sign of a woman.

2. She was well garbed beautifully.

a) Clothed with the sun.

b) The moon was at her feet.

c) A garland of twelve stars was on her head.

3. The question is “Who is this woman?”

a) Three views may be considered.

b) Each view has to be carefully studied.

i) That the woman is the Church.

ii) That the woman is Mary.

iii) That the woman is Israel.

4. An analysis of “the woman” as the Church.

a) Problem with this view is obvious.

b) The Lord Jesus was the One who gave birth to the concept of a Church.

c) The Church did not give birth to the Lord Jesus Christ.

5. An analysis of “the woman” as Mary.

a) Mary spoke of herself as handmaiden of the Lord (Luke 1:48).

b) This sign is a portrait of a woman that is clothed with splendour and glory.

c) The descriptive phrases may have a veiled reference of Mary.

6. An analysis of “the woman”.

a) That this is a reference to Israel.

b) Israel was described as the “wife” of God.

c) Four references may be cited:

i) Isaiah 54:1-6

ii) Jeremiah 3:20

iii) Ezekiel 16:8-14

iv) Hosea 2:2-13

7. The woman in labour

a) The Lord Jesus would be that Rod and Branch that came from the stem of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1).

b) The prophet Micah described the time of labour of Israel until the Messiah is born (Micah 5:1-5).

c) The focus of the prophets and the Gospel writers was on the lineage of the Messiah rather than on the mother of the Lord Jesus.

i) That the Lord Jesus is “the Son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1a).

ii) That He is “the Son of David” (Matthew 1:1b).

iii) That He is “the Son of God” (Mark 1:1; Luke 3:38b).

iv) That He is the Son of Adam (Luke 3:38a).