Bible Discussion Thread

The woman and the man child; out of three interpretations on the woman being either Mary, Israel or the church, I will use a process of elimination to prove who this woman is. 1. the woman must be in the middle of the tribulation when this event happens, therefore, this could not be Mary. 2. the woman keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, therefore, this could not be Israel. Secondly the woman has the moon under her feet, meaning power over Satan and devils, Israel has never had that power, meaning this could not be Israel. The right answer is that this is the church, who is clothed with the sun, a metaphorical meaning of the gospel, the New Testament, the gospel of the kingdom and the new covenant. Her twelve stars refer unto the twelve apostles, knowing power was given unto the church in the name of Jesus Christ over all devils, this is the woman.

The man child; found within the church are brethren that have matured to become sons of God, according to the Apostle Paul these are Christians led by the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:14 The sons of God, and the man child, are both male in gender and are one in the same, during the middle of the tribulation, the church will go into labor pains and deliver the man child who will be taken away in the rapture, this is the same understanding of the bridegroom coming for his bride at the midnight hour.