Consider the following passages from Revelation 12:
1 A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.
2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.
5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.
17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring—those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
QUESTIONS:
Who is the woman?
Who is her son?
Why does she have a crown?
Who are her "offspring" ?
2006-10-20 04:15:20 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"KNOWBIBLE" writes: "Now if we go into the Catholic Bible (General Catholic Catechism); they have changed these three commandments."
This person obviously doesn't understand what the Catechism is. The Catechism is not the "Catholic Bible."
Since this person makes such a fundamental error about Catholicism, everything he writes about the Catholic Church should be disregarded.
Regarding the Sabbath:
Jesus said "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27-28)
Ignatius of Antioch wrote this in 110 A.D:
"Those who were brought up in the ancient order of things [i.e. Jews] have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord’s day, on which also our life has sprung up again by him and by his death" (Letter to the Magnesians 8 [A.D. 110]).
Interesting that John got His Revelation on the "Lord's Day". (Rev 1:10)
Christians observe the Lord's Day.
2006-10-20 12:11:03 · update #1
The woman is Mary. Jesus is her son. She is wearing a crown because she has been crowned queen of heaven. We are her offspring. She is the mother of Jesus. God is the Father of Jesus. We are all God's children. Mary is our heavenly mother.
2006-10-20 04:29:10 · answer #1 · answered by Stanbo 5 · 1⤊ 4⤋
Who is the woman? (Rev.12:1; Eph.5:27)
In the Bible the woman represents a church; there are two women mentioned in the Bible. This woman represents the true church; the other woman mentioned in Rev.17:6,9 is the false church. The woman in white represents the bride of Christ, His people.
Who is her son? It would be Jesus Christ. Did you see in Acts 20:28 that he purchased with his own blood the Church of God. And if you see more in Rev.1; it tells us it reveals Jesus Christ. As you see in Rev.5; he was caught up to God to his throne(see Mark 16:19).
Why does she have a crown?
A crown represents rulership such as a king or queen.
It says in Dan.7:27; Rev.5:10; Matt.25:14-23 that the saints(kings and priests) will rule over cities with Jesus Christ being King on earth.
See also Isaiah 28:5; Heb.2:9; 1Tim.6:15; 2Tim.4:8; Rev.11:15
Who is the offspring? KJV reads "remnant of her seed"
This means the remaining of her seed that wasn't with the woman when she went into the wilderness.
Clue: Rev.12:17; Rev.14:12 = "the one's that keep all 10 Commandments and have the testimony(faith) of Jesus Christ."
*****************************************************************
I hate to say this, but most churches don't have these characteristics. Most are disobeying the 4th Commandment about the Sabbath (Saturday) John 4:22-24. As we continue on: I wanted to point out some things. I know you're a Catholic; but I want you to see something clearly from your Church that you probably didn't know.
I want you see this verse in Daniel 7:25; it says "it will think to change times and laws". I will give you an example of this.
Here are the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17; look at the second carefully as well as the fourth and ninth.
Now if we go into the Catholic Bible (General Catholic Catechism); they have changed these three commandments.
WHAT PART OF THE LAW DID THE PAPACY CHANGE?
http://www.marianland.com/tencommandments/ten_commandments.html
http://www.padfield.com/1993/tencom.html
http://www.angelfire.com/sc/YJesusCame/page4.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Commandments
http://family.webshots.com/photo/1339749760049373547pfqiuM
http://www.truecatholic.org/baltp2.htm
Note: Catholics even changed the time you do the Sabbath too. They say "midnight to midnight"; when the Bible says "evening to evening" according to Genesis 1:5,8,13,19,23,31 and Lev.23:32.
They changed the New Year from April to January too.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now as for the testimony of Jesus Christ; you have to worship God in spirit and in truth(John 4:22-24; 1John 2:4; Rev.19:10) to get the spirit of prophecy. As for (Col.2:6)Jesus's faith too; most are not keeping the will of God the Father(Matt.7:21-23; Luke 4:4) or God's Feast Days that (1Pet.2:21)Jesus and the (Eph.2:20)Apostles kept. They are seeking their own salvation by interpeting the Bible theirself(Rom.12:16; 1Tim.1:7; Col.2:8; Phil.2:21; Eph.4:14)instead of letting God's spirit help them(2Pet.1:19-21; James 1:5).
2006-10-20 13:46:23 · answer #2 · answered by KNOWBIBLE 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This passage is prophetic of the "birth" of the Kingdom of God.
This "Woman" represents God's (wifelike) heavenly organization, (you first see her mentioned in Genesis 3:15). You should have noticed that she does not only have a crown, but it is a crown of "stars". This represents that God's favor shines upon her at all times. Satan, would like to prevent this "birth" but he cannot. The context shows that he is kicked out of heaven and confined to the vicinity of the earth.
Her "Son" is a new Heavenly Government (God's Kingdom, which was the theme of Jesus' preaching) which is first set up in heaven and soon to manifest itself to people on earth (like it or not) and then rule over the earth. (see Daniel 2:44) Jesus Christ is the King of this kingdom.
Her "offspring", (again see gen 3:15) is part of her "seed" or those loyal to God and the Womans new child, (God's Kingdom) who are alive on the earth who obey God and are preaching the good news of God's kingdom. The devil wants to stop this preaching.
2006-10-20 12:40:25 · answer #3 · answered by fasteddie 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Having read Revelations many times, (due to a radio drama I was writing that was based on it) this simply cannot be true.
"The woman is Mary. Jesus is her son. She is wearing a crown because she has been crowned queen of heaven."
This is a SECOND female and a SECOND infant. The woman has other children that the "dragon" (euphemism for satan) is trying to destroy. Somehow, this aspect of the Revelations story is supposed to negatively impact on the final climax. Consequently, great effort is made to try and save the woman and her child.
You've pointed out a great conundrum of the Revelations story. This part of it, along with many others, makes absolutely no sense. I read it, and reread it many times trying to make sense of it all for the radio drama. Consequently, when all was said and done, I came to this conclusion about this final chapter of the bible.
Given that John was very ill while he was on the Island of Platmos - the location of his revelation - he must have been having a fever dream. That's the only logical, sensible conclusion one can come to after reading this group of nightmarish tales strung together as one book. None of them fit together in any kind of sensible order. It's just one catastrophe after another with the climax being the final battle and the birth of the New Jerusalem. And speaking of that final battle...
Why does this all powerful god have so many failures before finally beating satan? If this god is the creator of the universe and satan is such a thorn in his side, why not just step on him and be done with it? Why send the Archangel Michael out first with subsequent battles following? What's the friggin' point?
It's a fever dream. They never make sense! They only scare the beegeebers out of you! Perhaps that's the point? To scare the shyte out of believers so they will tow the line?
2006-10-20 11:45:29 · answer #4 · answered by gjstoryteller 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The woman is represented by the creation.(we are the Creator's Bride----Yahweh)
The son is the Messiah resurrected in our hearts and our minds--thus giving birth spiritually.
The crown with the twelve stars (12 tribes of Israel) represents her DIVINE attributes.
She (we---the creation) are the Creator's bride.
The Offspring--those who obey Yahweh's commandments and hold the testimony of Yahshua---son of man.
Yahweh is the Creator's name---Lord is a title---God also a title.
2006-10-20 11:25:28 · answer #5 · answered by BP 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I havent read/remember the bible about this verses,..but from ur above statement,..i try to guess:
the woman= Mary ,mother of Jesus....Mary apparitons(check yahoo video)
The son= Jesus
crown,..=Mary as Jesus mother
Offspring= chatolic/christians
2006-10-20 11:23:31 · answer #6 · answered by the withness 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The "woman" is Israel, her "son" is Jesus the Messiah, not sure about the crown, but the rest of her offspring are the 144,000 that arise from the tribes of Israel after the Rapture.
2006-10-20 11:30:33 · answer #7 · answered by resilience 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
not sure ...all things are not as they appear...as the great whore is a city..she could also be...the son could be a product..the crowns are symbols of twelve kingdoms..her offsprings-more product of her enviroment.All of the Bible must be considered in the final chapter in order to comprehend.On Sunday TBN has several good interpraters on the subject.
2006-10-20 11:28:29 · answer #8 · answered by Stella G 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Great question. but the answer may be too long for this forum. Are you up to a little more digging?
Try this URL.
http://www.raystedman.org/revelation/4204.html
2006-10-20 11:35:53 · answer #9 · answered by Bruce 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Christian church (people in all state of readiness).
Those who are taken in the rapture (the Bride).
I am not sure about crown.
Those who now believe (after the repture) and are living for God despite persecution.
2006-10-20 11:25:35 · answer #10 · answered by tim 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋