This post is Day 30 in a series of studies about “Babies and Children”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Babies and Children – Day 30

This chapter of Revelation goes on to say that a dragon, worse than anything you might have seen in a horror movie, was ready to devour the new born baby! The nativity story tells us that King Herod heard about the new born Jesus and set out to kill him.

Revelation 12:1-2

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. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.

The Thought

There is nothing very unusual about a woman crying out in pain when she is giving birth. But a woman with the description above is different! Most theologians agree that in this part of John’s visions, the woman is representing Israel. The twelve stars on her head represent the twelve tribes of Israel, as described in the Old Testament.

The child she was to bring forth was Jesus, coming from one of the tribes of Israel, the tribe of Judah. Just like His ancestor David. Jesus was often referred to as the Son of David.

We don’t know anything about how much pain Mary suffered at the actual birth of Jesus. But we can imagine the emotional pain she suffered up to that time as people judged her and rejected her for being an unmarried woman. And also the deep pain much later as she watched her child be crucified!

This chapter of Revelation goes on to say that a dragon, worse than anything you might have seen in a horror movie, was ready to devour the new born baby! The nativity story tells us that King Herod heard about the new born Jesus and set out to kill him (was King Herod the dragon?). But the Lord warned Joseph in a dream (Matthew 2:13), and the family escaped to Egypt until Herod’s reign was over!

Action

Read Revelation 12 today and see how many other parts of this vision you can relate to other parts of the gospels. If you need help there are several internet sites that explain Biblical symbolism. But think about it prayerfully first. You might be surprised at what God will show you.

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