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REVELATION - Behold, I am Coming Soon
Studies in the Book of Revelation
BOOK 4 - THY KINGDOM COME (REVELATION 10:1 - 12:17) – The two witnesses of the last days and the expulsion of Satan from heaven
PART 4.5 - DECISIVE DEVELOPMENTS FOLLOWING THE SOUNDING IF THE SEVENTH TRUMPET (REVELATION 12:1-17)

3. The Birth of the Prince of Peace (Revelation 12:5)


REVELATION 12:5
5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up to God, and to his throne.

God had revealed to the prophets at various times and in different ways that the promised Christ would be born out of the congregation of Old Testament saints. Isaiah testified: For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7).

Satan was infuriated, because in the Child the Father had become man, so that men could become children of God. The devil wanted to annihilate this Divine Child, cost what it may. The murder of children in Bethlehem through Herod the Great clearly showed his intention (Matthew 2:16-18).

God had revealed to David that one of his sons would also be the Son of God (2 Samuel 7:12-14). This One would rule over all nations of the earth (Psalm 2:8-12). Even though the Son of David later appeared in humility and meekness and offered Himself as the Lamb of God for all sinners (Isaiah 53:1-12), His claim to world dominion remained undiminished (Matthew 21:33-44).

Christ can also appear totally apart from any falsely understood humility or peace-loving meekness. He spoke of Himself to the elders of the church at Thyatira as the One having eyes like a flame of fire, whose feet, like burnings coals, would trample down the lovers of Satan. Jezebel had seduced a part of the church to explore the depths of Satan. What Jesus revealed about the evil one in the gospels should be enough! The Son of God encouraged the innocent and unpretending church leader to fight to victory, and to hold fast to His completed works. In doing so, he would receive power and authority to evangelize the nations. His witness, like a rod of iron, would smash the empty talk of all religions (Revelation 2:18-29).

Christ is not only the Lamb of God, but also King, Lord, and Judge. In context, the King who sits in judgment in the text of Revelation speaks not of Christ's work of redemption on the cross, but of His resurrection, ascension, and enthronement on the throne of His Father (Revelation 3:21; 5:1-14; 12:5). In previous visions John had clearly described the act of Christ in salvation (Revelation 1:5-6; 5:10-12). He now revealed Jesus' seizure of power, His sovereign office, His battle, and His victory.

Muhammad took a “similar” version of the ascension of Christ into his Koran, but without the crucifixion! He most definitely described the begetting of Christ through the Spirit of Allah, and His birth through the Virgin Mary. Nevertheless, he called Christ a “created” son in Maria, and rejected Him as being the Son of God seventeen times in the Koran. Furthermore, he outright denied the fact of the crucifixion of Jesus (Sura al-Nisa’ 4:157). He allowed the son of Mary to ascend to heaven, and as son of man to gain access to the nearness of God. He did not permit Him, however, to sit “on” the throne with his Father. Muhammad, thereby, showed himself to be an antichristian spirit, who accepted essential elements of the Christian faith, but only with the purpose of winning Christians for Islam. Decisive realities he consequently denied: The incarnation of Christ, His reconciliation on the cross, and His sovereign rule. Muhammad cushioned his lies with much truth, so that, superficially considered, they appeared to be true. Yet they remained great lies. The seducer had wrapped them cleverly (Galatians 1:8; 1 John 2:22-26; 4:1-5). Islam is a product from the trick box of the master of trick (Sura Al ‘Imran 3:54).

John had previously testified that the Lion of Judah is a slain lamb (Revelation 5:5-6), to whom, on the basis of His self-sacrifice, all power in heaven and on earth had been conferred. The prophet recognized in the virgin birth of Christ the representative for the assembly of Old Covenant saints. Immediately thereafter he saw the ascension of Christ to heaven as the coronation of His earthly life. The enthronement of Christ appears to be the goal of His birth. The Son of God was born to be victorious, and to reign! Satan could hinder neither His birth, nor His coronation. Both signified decisive victories for God over the prince of this world, who knows, that he has already been defeated, and that little time remains to him.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we rejoice and celebrate because Your Son Jesus was born as a man in pains and You appointed Him as a divine shepherd for the nations with a rod of iron (Ps 2: 8- 9), and therefore You raised Him after His death and resurrection to heaven, where He sits with You on Your throne and fulfills the judgments gradually. Give us power to obey His commands willingly.

QUESTION:

  1. What did you understand from Psalms 2:8-9 as an explanation of this verse?

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