What Child Is This?

 Temple Baptist Church - 4-4-2021

Revelation 12:1-5

 

A.  As we begin the second half, 3 ½ years, of the Jacob’s Trouble or The Tribulation Period, we find three main “players:” a lady, a child, and a dragon.  It is essential that we understand who these three are and what role’s that they play in this prophetic story of rejection, reconciliation, and judgment.

 

B.  We have established that the “lady” is Israel, the “wife of Jehovah.”  She began in heaven in the mind of God and, as a nation, will be God’s Elect People throughout eternity.  The “apple” of God’s eye.  I cannot over emphasize Israel’s importance to both God and the world.

 

Genesis 12:2  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

 

Genesis 17:6  And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

 

Genesis 18:17-18  And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;  (18)  Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

 

C.  Israel plays an important part in this time because Jacob’s Trouble is about the birth, rejection, judgment, and reconciliation of Israel.  From Israel’s inception in the foreknowledge of God until the beginning of eternity future, we find God’s mind about Israel; God’s love of Israel; and God’s eternal purpose for Israel. 

 

Romans 11:11-12  I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.  (12)  Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

 

D.  The second and most important Person mentioned as we open the Second Half is Jesus Christ.  The Bible is all about Christ Jesus.  It is a “Him Book!”  Tonight, I want to show some things found in these verses about our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

E.  Verse 2 – “And she being with child” while still being in heaven.  Israel is found, in the foreknowledge of God, in heaven from the foundation of the world.  Israel physically was founded on the earth as God’s covenant nation but never physically in heaven.  Here we find Jesus Christ seen as being in Israel before Israel became a nation on earth.  The promised Messiah was predetermined to be born of the right people, in the right place, at the right time.

 

F.  Verse 2 – “travailing in birth and pained to be delivered” speaks of the trials and tribulations of Israel from Abraham’s blessing of the promised seed throughout the Old Testament.  The trials and tribulations of God’s elect nation prior to the birth of Christ.

 

What this does in verse 2 shows that Jacob’s Trouble or the Tribulation Period is not reactionary.  God foresaw from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21.

 

G.  Verse 5 – “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron” shows the birth and life of the Messiah along with the prophecy of the Millennial Reign of Christ at the end of the Tribulation Period at His Second Coming.

 

H.  Verse 5 – “and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne” shows our Lord’s ascension back to heaven after His death, burial, and bodily resurrection.

 

J.  Who is this Child?  Almighty Jehovah God who became flesh and dwelt among us.  He was born, lived, died, buried, resurrected, ascended, and is coming again one day.

 

1.  His Preeminence – Jesus Christ is Almighty God; He is Lord.  Though beyond our comprehension, God always was and always will be.  He is an eternal Being.  I believe that He is and is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. 

 

Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

 

Acts 10:36  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

 

The greatest theological statement in the Bible lies in the first four words of Genesis 1:1. This is not a statement of argument.  It is a statement of fact that can either be accepted or rejected.  Either reaction to these words does not either change God in His essence or thwart His eternal plan for the earth and those whom He has made that live there!

 

The word “God” is a plural word in the Hebrew: Elohim -  in the beginning – creator of all

 

2.  His Prophecy – Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

 

He is the Seed of the Woman – Genesis 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

 

He is the Virgin Born Son of God – Isaiah 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

 

Matthew 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

He is the Saviour of the World – Luke 2:10-11  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  (11)  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

 

John 10:6  This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

 

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

3.  His Person – Jesus Christ, all that we need.

 

Isaiah 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 

4.  His Propitiation – Jesus Christ died in our place.

 

1 John 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

5.  His Pleasing – Jesus Christ, God’s obedient Son.

 

John 8:29  And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

 

6.  His Position – Jesus Christ, our High Priest, Mediator, and Advocate.

 

Hebrews 9:11-12  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;  (12)  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

 

1 Timothy 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

 

1 John 2:1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

 

7.  His Palace – New Jerusalem, our eternal home.

 

John 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

 

Psalms 45:8  All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

 

Revelation 21:2-3  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  (3)  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

 

Conclusion:  As we begin the Second Half or last 3 ½ year period, we now have seen the “lady,” the Nation of Israel, and the “child,” Jehovah God—Israel’s Messiah, the Saviour of the World.  Next week, we will look at the third character: the great red dragon.