The Birth of the Man Child and the Travail of the Woman

“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: “And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. “And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” (Rev.12:1-5).

Portions of this article (denoted by quotation marks) have been borrowed from three main sources: (1) “Pre-Tribulational Rapture: An Interview With Michael Svigel” < http://mydigitalseminary.com/pre-tribulational-rapture-interview-michael-svigel/ > (2) “Who Is The Male Child of Rev 12?” (Gary @ Unsealed.org) < https://www.unsealed.org/2017/08/who-is-the-male-child-of-revelation-12.html > (3) “The Celestial C-Section” (Gary @ Unsealed.org) < https://www.unsealed.org/2017/05/the-celestial-c-section-defense-of.html >

“Historically the predominant assumption was that the male child of Revelation 12:5 was referring to the events surrounding the First Coming of Christ, but this interpretation appears to have some significant faults. In retrospect it looks like the popular view regarding the male child was held for two reasons: first, because Augustian allegorism has held sway over the Church since the 5th century and second, because significant scholarly studies on Revelation 12 have been almost entirely avoided until relatively recently.

The Reformers largely carried over Augustinian eschatology from the [Roman] Catholic Church. They continued beliefs of prophetic allegorism and Replacement Theology. The issue at the time wasn’t escatology, it was soteriology,… doctrines such as sola fide, sola scriptura, and the priesthood of all Believers.” [ source (3) ].

Surprisingly to many , Rev.12:5 is perhaps the strongest proof-text in support of a pre-tribulation Rapture of the Church. “It is a consideration that has been almost entirely lost in the discussion of the Rapture. In fact, the earliest advocates of a pre-tribulational Rapture ( John Nelson Darby, William Kelley, William Blackstone, H.A. Ironside, etc. ) pointed to this passage as it’s decisive exegetical evidence.

The problem is, of course, this is a symbolic vision that needs to be carefully interpreted and the interpretational issues are complicated and require a working knowledge of the original Greek. Also, it requires that the exegete has already concluded that Revelation is to be interpreted in a premillennial, futurist light. I argue that the symbol of the male child in Revelation 12:5 is best identified as the body of Christ , the church, and the child’s catching up to God and His Throne is best identified as the catching up of the body of Christ ( 1 Thess.4:17).” [ source (1) ].

“I find it fascinating that around the same time the Revelation 12 Sign was first spotted using astronomy software ( sometime in 2011 or 2012), a number of scholars, such as Michael Svigel, re-discovered the use of Revelation 12:5 as the chief pre-trib proof text. The timing is impeccable.” [ source (3) ]

The Identity of the Man child :

Rev. 12:5, “And she brought forth a man [ arsen, Strong’s G730 – male ] child [ huios, Strong’s 5207 – son ], who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron : and her child [ teknon, Strong’s 5403 – child ] was caught up unto God, and to his throne.”

Identifying the male child as the Church preserves the corporate symbolism in Revelation 12. The woman is Israel, the dragon is the satanic world system that arises [ to it’s zenith ] under [ the ] antichrist, and the child [ teknon] is the [ corporate Body of Christ – the Church ].

The child in Revelation 12:5(b) is called teknon ( informal child ), rather than huios (son of honor ), which is strange considering that Jesus is exclusively called huios in the Scriptures, except on a single occasion by his mother ( Luke 2:48). In addition, the Apostle John uses teknon to refer to the Church as the children of God in his first epistle ( 1 John 3:1-2,10,5:2 ), and uses huios exclusively to refer to Christ in his gospel and first epistle ( John 1:49, 59, 3:13,16,5:19,14:13, 1 John 3:8,4:15, 5:5,5:20 ). To assume John is suddenly changing course in Revelation 12 would be contrary to all evidence. The Apostle John intentionally made a grammatical [ “error” ] in Revelation 12:5(a) by modifying masculine huios ( son ) with neuter arsen. He is clearly connecting this particular male child with the male child in Isaiah chapter 66, which is a corporate entity.

The Church is twice called a man (Eph. 2:15,4:13) and the most common metaphor in the Bible for the Church is actually the “Body of Christ”, rather than the “Bride of Christ”. That is not to say the Church is not also Christ’s Bride, but that as far as metaphors go, and there are many, the “Body of Christ” is the most frequently used ( e.g. 1 Cor.10:16-17,12:12-13,25-27, Romans 12:4-5; Col.1:18,24,2:19,3:15; Eph.4:4,11-13). So to say that the male child is only Christ would be to neglect these many other Scriptures.” – [ source – “Major discovery Concerning Revelation 12” – Gary @ Unsealed.org : https://www.unsealed.org/2017/07/major-discovery-concerning-revelation-12.html

The Man Child is Caught Up :

“and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne” – Rev.12:5(b)

“The word in Revelation 12:5 [ for “caught up” ] is the word for “rapture”, harpazo, and always means a sudden removal, a snatching. In contrast, for the ascension of Christ, the New Testament uses terms such as “to be lifted up,” epairo (Acts 1:9), “to ascend”, anabaino (John 20:17: Eph.4:8-10) and “to take up” analambano (Mark 16:19; Luke 1:11). These are neutral terms meaning a removal from one place to another.

Revelation 12:5 has the male child being suddenly snatched away from the dragon, who wants to devour the child. The ascension of Christ was gradual (Acts 1:10), not sudden. Also, Revelation 12:5 is a context of “rescue” from the threat of the dragon. The word “rapture”, harpazo, is appropriately used in the New Testament for a rescue in Acts 23:10 and Jude 23. In His ascension to heaven, Christ was not rescued, but ascended victoriously and was in no danger from the devil or anybody else. The term “rapture”, harpazo, is never used of Christ’s ascension to heaven.” The evidence clearly associates Rev.12:5 with the Rapture event. [ source (1) ].

The Man Child will Rule with a Rod of Iron :

“And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron” – Rev.12:5(a)

“It is obvious enough that Jesus will rule the nations with a rod of iron ( Psalms 2:7-9, Rev.9:15 ), but Rev. 2:26-27 informs us that the Church is afforded this honor as well. There is no good exegetical reason to reject the view that the male child represents the Church in union with Christ. For such an interpretation does not deny that something of Christ is in view, but contends that it is Christ in union with His spiritual body, the Church, that is being symbolized.” [ sources (1) & (2) ].

The Travail of the Woman :

“And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.” – Rev.12:2

The sun – clothed woman of Rev.12:1 who is pregnant represents ( natural ) Israel, who brought forth Christianity, out of the house of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the root of Jesse through the Messiah – Jesus Christ ( Isaiah 53 ). Both Jews and Gentiles who place their faith in Jesus Christ ( the body of Christ ) partake of “the root and fatness of the olive tree.” ( natural Israel, Rom.11:17 ) – namely, the covenants and promises of God ( Rom.9:4 ). The child or “baby” is the body of Christ – both the dead in Christ and those who are alive in Christ at the time of the Rapture ( 1 Cor.15:52 ). The baby has been conceived at the inception of the New Covenant when Jesus died, resurrected and ascended to Heaven. The baby has been growing ever since, and is soon to be born!

“The use of the neuter adjective arsen ( male ) modifying the masculine noun huios ( son ) and the image of Israel (the woman ) giving birth points careful readers back to Isaiah 66:7-8, where we read in the Septuagint ( Greek version of the Old Testament ) :

“Before she travailed, she brought forth ; Before her pain came, she gave birth to a boy ( arsen ). Who has heard such a thing? Can a nation be brought forth all at once? As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her children.”

“Can a nation be brought forth all at once?” (Isa.66:8 ) – “a nation”, since the text tells us plainly that the woman is Zion ( or “Israel” per the text ), it would seem evident that she is not giving birth to herself. There are many parallels here to the rebirth of Israel in 1948, but I believe in it’s ultimate, futuristic application, the nation she gives birth to is the “body of Christ” – the church. In 1 Peter 2:9 the church is called “a holy nation.”

The image is parallel in Revelation, and John explicitly breaks the rules of grammar ( modifying the masculine “son” with the neuter “male” ) to point us back to this passage in Isaiah 66. The child in both cases is corporate, not individual.” [ source (1) ].

The birth in Revelation 12 is a specific birth, a miraculous birth. A birth that takes place in reverse order, contrary to the normal order of things. The baby is born before the woman has labor pains. This is exactly what was portrayed in the Mazzaroth during September of 2017. You might call this a “celestial c-section”. In September 2017 the sign occurs on the 23rd, two weeks after the birth ( on Sept.9th ). In Revelation 12:1-2 the pains are simultaneous with the sign, yet Isaiah 26 tells us the woman only give birth to wind after her labor pains. Her womb is empty! The baby was already born via miraculous delivery. This is exactly the order we see in September – a birth before the sign. The baby is born and delivered before the Tribulation ( or “travail” of the woman ) occurs.” [ source (3) ] https://www.unsealed.org/2017/05/the-celestial-c-section-defense-of.html ; Also, view chart at the bottom of the following article which shows a detailed chart on the birth of Jupiter on Sept.9, 2017 entitled, “Luis Vega ( 14 Aug 2016 ) “Birthing of the Manchild – Gestation of Jupiter in Virgo.” http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/aug2016/luisv814.htm

Right here would be a good time to restate my position concerning the timing of the Rapture in relation to the final 7 years of this age. Previously, I clarified my position in my article entitled, “Re-Thinking the 2017-2014 Tribulation Timeline – (Part 2)” https://raptureboundoutreach.home.blog/2019/09/21/re-thinking-the-2017-2024-tribulation-timeline-part-2/

My perspective is very similar to those who hold to a mid-tribulation Rapture, but differs only in the window of time in which it will take place. Those who hold to a mid-tribulation Rapture generally believe the Rapture will occur at some point during the middle of the seven-year period of “tribulation”. Although I would agree that their theory could very well play out, I expand the window of it’s possible fulfillment to the very start of the final 7 years of this age.

What we hold in common is the assertion that the Rapture does not have to occur prior to the entire 7 year period of time ( of “Great Tribulation” ). I would call myself a “modified pre-tribulationalist” in the sense that I believe that the Rapture will take place prior to the Great Tribulation which is limited to a 1260-day time span, “The Time of Jacob’s ( Israel’s ) Trouble”( Jer.30:7 ). That is, of course, not taking into account the possibilities of the delay of the Rapture ( Matt.25:5 ) or the shortening of days ( Matt.24:22 ) ; for these reasons, I believe it is nearly, if not altogether, impossible to set a rigid or “absolute” time line.

Speculative numerical correlations to the 2017-2024 Tribulation Timeline theory :

(1) The mathematical anomaly contained within the “2017-2024” :

Incredibly, by multiplying the year of the first Solar eclipse with the year of the second, it yields the exact date of the second eclipse in it’s first five digits! What are the odds? ……..

2017 X 2024 = 4082408 …. or 4/08/24 with a remainder of 08 …..

Could the “08” or “8” be pointing to a “new beginning” with the ushering of the Millennial reign of King Jesus near the end of the year 2024? “The number eight in the Bible signifies resurrection and regeneration. It is the number of a new beginning. Eight is 7 plus 1 and since it comes just after seven, which signifies an end to something, so eight is also associated with the beginning of a new era or that of a new order.” – article, “The Bible numerology code number 8” ( AstroVera ) http://www.astrovera.com/bible-religion/189-bible-number-8.html

For a deeper understanding of the possible prophetic significance of the Solar eclipses, refer to my article, “X Marks the Spot : The Great American Solar Eclipse” ; https://raptureboundoutreach.home.blog/2019/09/27/x-marks-the-spot-the-great-american-solar-eclipse/

(2) The 726 days from Sept.28, 2015 to Sept.23, 2017 :

(a) Sept.28, 2015 – the final Blood Moon of the 2014-2015 Tetrad.

(b) Sept.23, 2017 – the appearance of the Sign of the Sun-Clothed Woman of Rev.12:1-2.

Could the 726 days between the Supermoon Blood Moon of Sept.28, 2015 visible from Jerusalem at moon-set be heralding the start of the “Rapture window” on Sept.21-23, 2017? For a fuller appreciation of the Divine symmetry behind the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad or “Jewish Holiday Eclipses” view here : http://www.watchmansview.com/Blood_Moon_Tetrad.html

(3) The puzzling day count connections to the Feast of Pentecost in 2021 :

There are two potentially significant day counts that both point to Pentecost in 2021. What, if anything, is the message here?

(a) Sept.21/22, 2017 + 1335 days = May 17/18, 2021

Sept.21/22, 2017 =Yom Teruah/ Feast of Trumpets & possible start of Daniel’s 70th Week.

1335 days = Dan. 12:12, “Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.”

May 17/18, 2021 = Pentecost on the Hebrew calendar ( Hebcal ).

Will the Rapture event take place at this time?

(b) Dec.6, 2017 + 1260 days = May 18, 2021.

Dec.6, 2017 = Trump’s historic declaration of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

May 18, 2021 = Pentecost on Hebcal.

Will the 144, 000 of all the tribes of Israel be sealed at this time? ….. only time will tell. Although these day counts are purely speculative, they are in my opinion worth pondering.

Luke 21:28,”Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift your heads, because your redemption draws near.”