There are wars in the world and it is quite obvious who the opponents are. Then there are wars based around religion and ideologies where it is hard to define exactly who the opponent is. Factions arise and these break-off groups find a new name and continue the war against good in other places. Perhaps that’s what I am trying to say; the war of good and evil is hard to define exactly but it has existed before Christ, during Christ’s life and after His death.
We start a new chapter today on the back of seeing the Presence of God through the discovery of the Ark of the Covenant. We approach then confidently and without fear. That is the approach of John and that is ours. We wish John had given details of who he was seeing but he does give us a clue.
“A great 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 sceptre.” (Revelation 12 v 1-2, 5)
So we have 2 people here on the same side of good. One is a sign and the other isn’t.
The pregnant woman is a sign, so she isn’t real. However the son she gives birth to is not a sign, he is the real thing.
Here is the clue in v5: will rule all the nations with an iron sceptre.
This quote is from the Messianic Psalm 2 which is the most quoted Old Testament Scripture in the New Testament always pointing to Jesus.
It has obviously led some to think this is Mary and it probably is. But not only Mary for this is a sign remember.
It could also be Eve, the mother of all, where God spoke to her enemy, the snake, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring[ and hers; he will crushyour head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15) But not only Eve it could be more.
It could also be the whole of Righteous Israel and all of God’s people with the picture of the sun, moon, stars all surrounding the whole of the redeemed people, all of creation of all time coming into war with the child.
The child is Jesus, it has to be, there can be no other. He is not a sign. He is literally the real deal. He is coming with the nations into a Great War. We can guess who the opponent is.
However today our eyes are on Christ and His army. These are God’s people of all time in every generation for the Great War that isn’t only to come but has been and which is. Today if you in the middle of great difficulty, if you are battling and you are struggling to know exactly who the opponent is: for example, you might think it is your boss but you know it is not them but something or someone greater. The important thing to remember is this: you know which side you are on! You are on the side of the One with an iron sceptre and who rules the world! He is not a sign but He is exactly how He is described. You along with Mary, Eve and all mothers, the whole of the redeemed are going into battle today on the side of good, the side of Christ. Your opponent is here but so is Jesus!
Missions Paul 