God's king
"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." Revelation 12v5
This is a reference to the incarnation and to the ascension and to the exaltation and to the coming of Christ all in one sentence, which should leave us all breathless! We need not worry about any time lines here; the Spirit of God is dealing in the facts and records all things knowing the end from the beginning. There is no mention of the cross or the suffering here, only the victory. The point is to link the woman with the child with the dragon as the main characters in the unfolding drama of redemption. The reference here "she brought forth a man child"
takes us back to the incarnation of Christ. Luke says in chapter 2v7 "she brought forth her first born son." Again in verse 11 he says "unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord." The godly Simeon said of Him "this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against," Luke 2v34 The prophetess Anna who lived in the temple precincts and served God day and night spoke of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. We move from the incarnation to the purpose of why He came which is "He is about to rule all nations with a rod of iron." Satan knew it, and saw Him as the end to his own kingdom.
There is no doubt this is the seed of the woman of Genesis 3v15 who would destroy the kingdom of Satan. He was "caught up"; the word is harpazo, and means "taken by force", taken through Satan's kingdom without resistance. He was taken up to heaven like Enoch and Elijah before Him and like the church at its completion in a day to come. He was caught up to God and to His throne and the one who came as the redeemer of mankind is now on the throne of heaven. The angel proclaimed it to the early church in Acts 1v9-10 "while they beheld He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight." That Jesus will fulfill the purpose for which He came is seen in verse 11 of the same chapter "this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven."
The stage is set, He is beyond the reach of man and demon and in Him God's purposes will be fulfilled. He is coming to rule the nations with a rod of iron. The word rule carries the idea of "ruling as a shepherd", which tends to suggest a caring rule; but also that rule will be with a rod of iron. His rule on earth will be a caring one, but it will be an uncompromising one, and it is clear that His rule will need to be enforced. When He comes back, as this verse is indicating, righteousness will be enacted across the globe and there will be no hiding place. Over a one thousand year period there will be many children born, who are born in sin just as we are today. The rule of Christ with a rod of iron will mean that all sin will be put down and righteousness will be enforced. Divine justice will prevail.
Many scriptures refer to this uncompromising rule. Notice first of all He will rule all nations. There will not be a nation on earth that will not be under His control, and all rebellion will be immediately crushed. "Thou shalt brake them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." Psalm 2v9. In Revelation 2v7 it says concerning the church who will reign with Christ "to Him will I give power over the nations and He shall rule then with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father." Isaiah 60v12 says "for the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea these nations shall be utterly wasted." Matthew paints the picture in Matthew 21v44 "And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." Isaiah 40v10 "Behold the Lord God will come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him." The babe of Bethlehem is on the throne of heaven and some day soon will set up His own throne on earth.
This is a reference to the incarnation and to the ascension and to the exaltation and to the coming of Christ all in one sentence, which should leave us all breathless! We need not worry about any time lines here; the Spirit of God is dealing in the facts and records all things knowing the end from the beginning. There is no mention of the cross or the suffering here, only the victory. The point is to link the woman with the child with the dragon as the main characters in the unfolding drama of redemption. The reference here "she brought forth a man child"
takes us back to the incarnation of Christ. Luke says in chapter 2v7 "she brought forth her first born son." Again in verse 11 he says "unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord." The godly Simeon said of Him "this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against," Luke 2v34 The prophetess Anna who lived in the temple precincts and served God day and night spoke of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. We move from the incarnation to the purpose of why He came which is "He is about to rule all nations with a rod of iron." Satan knew it, and saw Him as the end to his own kingdom.
There is no doubt this is the seed of the woman of Genesis 3v15 who would destroy the kingdom of Satan. He was "caught up"; the word is harpazo, and means "taken by force", taken through Satan's kingdom without resistance. He was taken up to heaven like Enoch and Elijah before Him and like the church at its completion in a day to come. He was caught up to God and to His throne and the one who came as the redeemer of mankind is now on the throne of heaven. The angel proclaimed it to the early church in Acts 1v9-10 "while they beheld He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight." That Jesus will fulfill the purpose for which He came is seen in verse 11 of the same chapter "this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven."
The stage is set, He is beyond the reach of man and demon and in Him God's purposes will be fulfilled. He is coming to rule the nations with a rod of iron. The word rule carries the idea of "ruling as a shepherd", which tends to suggest a caring rule; but also that rule will be with a rod of iron. His rule on earth will be a caring one, but it will be an uncompromising one, and it is clear that His rule will need to be enforced. When He comes back, as this verse is indicating, righteousness will be enacted across the globe and there will be no hiding place. Over a one thousand year period there will be many children born, who are born in sin just as we are today. The rule of Christ with a rod of iron will mean that all sin will be put down and righteousness will be enforced. Divine justice will prevail.
Many scriptures refer to this uncompromising rule. Notice first of all He will rule all nations. There will not be a nation on earth that will not be under His control, and all rebellion will be immediately crushed. "Thou shalt brake them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." Psalm 2v9. In Revelation 2v7 it says concerning the church who will reign with Christ "to Him will I give power over the nations and He shall rule then with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father." Isaiah 60v12 says "for the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea these nations shall be utterly wasted." Matthew paints the picture in Matthew 21v44 "And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." Isaiah 40v10 "Behold the Lord God will come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him." The babe of Bethlehem is on the throne of heaven and some day soon will set up His own throne on earth.
No comments:
Post a Comment