The Man-Child
Rev. 12: 2--5 "And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 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."
If there is one message above all others that the devil hates, it is this message of the " Man - Child ." Further on in this study you will better understand why the devil sodrastically hates this message. The devil will do his utmost to deceive,delude and destroy those that hear the truth of the " Man - Child " message .
Matt. 13: 19 "When any one heareth the Word of the kingdom, andunderstandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart."
The Woman that is referred to in Rev. 12: 1 is the Church. She is agonizing in pain and travailing in birth to bring forth a "Man-Child,"even in the face of the dragon. The dragon is stationed in a position beforethe Woman ready to devour her "child" as soon as it was birthed.
Therefore, it becomes necessary to understand who this "child"is, the nature of the birth, and the results that follow the birth. Rememberthat we are still in that period of time after the writings and recordings ofRevelation.
Rev. 4: 1 "I will shew thee things which must be hereafter."
Also remember, this is a book of prophecy -- not history.
Rev. 1: 3 "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words ofthis prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein:"
Again remember, this is still dealing with a symbolicrevelation, "a sign."
The Perception of the "Man-Child"
If the Woman is the Church, and we have shown that she cannot be anything else but the Church, who is the "Man-Child" thatthe "Sun-Clothed Woman" is travailing in birth and pained to be delivered of?
Believed to be Christ Produced by Israel
It is believed that the "Man-Child" is Christ being produced by Israel. However, there are many objections to this theory.
Translation is Not Ascension
This is part of a vision that was given to the Apostle John some sixty years after the ascension of Christ. The entire vision is arevelation of things that were to "come to pass" after it was given. How then can the translation of this "Man-Child" refer to the ascension ofChrist, which occurred some sixty years before this vision?
Descending is Not Ascending
At Christ's birth He came down from heaven. The "Man-Child"was birthed and caught up to heaven, and to God's Throne.
New-Born is Not Full Grown
If this Scripture refers to the ascension of Christ, how can the figure of a new-born child, which the devil could not kill ("caught upunto God, and to His throne") be used to symbolize the ascension of afull-grown man, who the devil did have a part in bringing about His death? Christ was killed, the Scripture says, "By wicked hands…crucified and slain,"(put to death, the death of the Cross). True, He surrendered His life, but Hedied. The "Man-Child" is not harmed by the devil, but was caught up to God andto His throne.
Prophecy is Not History
Christ had already returned to heaven when this Prophecy was given. The Revelation was written about 96 A.D., some sixty years after Christdied, arose and ascended to heaven. In Rev. 4: 1 following His messages to theseven Churches, He said, "Come-up hither, and I will show thee things whichmust be hereafter."This is not a Book of History, but aBook of Prophecy. So then, out of the Laodicean Age (the lastage) of the Church, the "Man-Child" is birthed. The "Woman" travails and criesin pain and agony, that the "Child" may be brought to birth andmanifested as the "Sons" (Huios) of God. These are men and women filled withthe highest qualities of virtue, courage, self-denial and strength from God. These are the "Overcomers;" they are "more than conquerors." They haveovercome the world, they have conquered their flesh, and they have triumphedover the powers of darkness.
Believed to be Christ Produced by the Church
It is believed that this is the Church producing Christ. The "Man-Child" is a product of the Woman. The Woman (the Church) was birthedon the Day of Pentecost after the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. The Woman is in travail to bring forth the "Man-Child." It seems to me that itwould be very difficult for the Church, which did not yet exist until after theResurrection, to produce the Christ. Furthermore, Christ said He was going tobuild His Church. This being true, how could the Church produce the Christthat built her?
Matt. 16: 18 "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon thisrock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail againstit."
The Revealing of the "Man-Child"
Rev. 12: 5 "…And she brought forth…"
The Definition of the Revealing
To bring forth is to reveal -- to bring to the light -- the making visible of that which was invisible -- a revealing or manifestation ofthat which was birthed
Scripture speaks of "…the Manifestation of the sons ofGod."
Rom. 8: 17--19 "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirswith Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorifiedtogether. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthyto be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnestexpectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God."
"Apokalupsis" -- "Manifestation" -- Revealing
"Apokalupto" -- "Revealing" -- Uncover, unveil, reveal
I Pet. 1: 3--5 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hopeby the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritanceincorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven foryou, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to berevealed in the last time."
The Nature of the Revealing
Revealed with "Travail" and Great "Pain"
This is not the "travailing" and "pain" ofpersecution. The pains of persecution came upon the "Woman" (the Church) from without . This is "travail" and "pain" from within . This "Odino" --"travailing" and "pain" comes from producing "Huios" -- "Sons." That is, theWoman is bringing forth and birthing sons, who will be caught up to God and toHis Throne, as it was foreshadowed by the translation of Enoch before the Floodcame.
Revealed under Great Persecution
Rev. 12: 4 "…And the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to bedelivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born."
The devil will fight harder against this truththen any other truth that has been revealed, because the"Man-Child" takes the devil's place in heaven.
Rev. 12: 7, 8 "…And the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven."
The place of the devil was not left empty -- his place was not found -- someone had filled the place and that is the reason his place was found no more. The astounding ignorance and preconceived ideas of man are what blinds him from seeing this as the only true explanation concerning the identity of this "Man-Child." The devil knows that this age cannot end until the "Man-Child" shall have been birthed, instructed, tested, and translated, "…untoGod, and to His Throne." Therefore, he has intensified his efforts to blind the eyes and minds of even the most outstanding Bible scholars to the identity of the "Man-Child," and to the important part the "Man-Child" plays inGod's plan in this end-time.
The Time of the Revealing
Before the Tribulation Hour
The "Man-Child" is a group of Overcomers that come out ofthe Church and are translated before the Tribulation hour. They do not "…meetthe Lord in the air,"but are "…caught up (Harpazo) unto God, andto His Throne."John recorded that "…the Dragon (the devil)stood before the woman… to devour her child as soon as it was born."
The conflict is in the heart and mind of the believer. Thedragon is trying to destroy the faith of the believer, which iswhat enables the "Man-Child" to be "caught up" to God.
Therefore, we must understand that the "Man-Child's" faithmust be developed to the degree of translating faith, as Enoch of old. The"Man-Child's" faith will be developed under the terrible persecution of thedevil, which would be Pre-Tribulation persecution. Something has to happen toawaken even the "Man-Child" (the Bride). The Bride says of herself in the S.of S. 5: 2:
"I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh saying, Open to Me, My sister, My love, My dove, My undefiled: for My head isfilled with dew, and My locks with the drops of the night."
Again, it is stated in Rev. 3: 20:
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me."
The Church is Still on the Earth
Rev. 12: 6 "And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a placeprepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred andthreescore days." (three-and-a-half years of the Tribulation)
The Church, through persecution, then finds her place and isnourished, fed, and made ready for the Rapture in the middle of the Tribulationhour. This is when the Lord comes in the air for the Church after the marriageof the Lamb.
Lk. 12: 35--38 "Let your loins be girded about (girded with truth), andyour lights burning; (Not only having lamps, but the lamps burning; they haveoil -- a type of the Spirit.) And ye yourselves like unto men that wait fortheir Lord, when He will return from the wedding; that when He cometh and knocketh, they may open unto Himimmediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shallfind watching: verily I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make themto sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if He shall comein the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed arethose servants."
The first watch had already taken place. It was in the evening time that Rebecca saw Isaac and joined in marriage, to him. So likewise, the translated saints (the Overcomers) will be joined to the Lord in the first watch, which is in the evening time . The first watch was from 6:00 PM in the evening to 9:00 PM. The second watch was from 9:00 PM to 12:00 AM (midnight). The third watch was from 12:00 AM to 3:00 AM. The fourth watch was from 3:00 AM to 6:00 AM. He comes for the Church somewhere between the secondand the third watch, explained in the Gospel according to St. Matthew as the "Midnight hour."
Matt. 25: 6 "And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the Bridegroomcometh; go ye out to meet Him."
When the Bridegroom comes, He is coming with His Bride toinvite the Church as guests to the Marriage Supper.
Taken from ancient eastern manuscripts:
Matt. 25: 1 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins, who tooktheir lamps and went out to greet the Bridegroom and the Bride."
Matt. 25: 10 "And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and thosewho were ready entered with Him into the banqueting house, and the door waslocked."
This is the Marriage Feast, not the marriage. Most all ofthe other older translations have either "Marriage Feast," "Marriage Banquet,"or "Wedding Feast."
In Rev. 19: 7--9 after the marriage of the Lamb, guests areinvited to the "Marriage Supper."
"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linenis the righteousness of saints. (Righteous Acts) And he saith unto me, Write,Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And hesaith unto me, These are the true sayings of God."
The Church is invited as guests to the Marriage Supper ofthe Lamb after the wedding of the Bride (the Overcomers).
The first three-and-a-half years of persecution will causethe Church to prepare for the Rapture in the middle of the Tribulation hour. The Bride will make herself ready; the Church has to be driven by persecutionto get ready. The Lord will come secretly in the air to Rapture the Church infulfillment of Paul's prophecy regarding the believer:
I Thes. 4: 16 "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with ashout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the deadin Christ shall rise first:"
"Dead in Christ" -- The Greek has it "Christos" --"Anointed." These "dead in Christ" (anointed) do not include all thosethat died in "Jesus" (I Thes. 4: 14 "Which sleep in Jesus…") havingonly the experience of salvation. These are those that are filled with theSpirit, the Church (the Body of Christ).
I Thes. 4: 17 "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught uptogether with them in the clouds…"
"Nephele" -- "Clouds" -- refers to people
Heb. 12: 1 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great acloud of witnesses…"
II Pet. 2: 17 "These are wells without water, clouds that are carried witha tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever."
Acts 1: 9 "And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight."
Eph. 4: 8 "When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive…"
Remember, the graves were opened when Christ died andmany arose after His resurrection.
Matt. 27: 50--53 "Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yieldedup the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from thetop to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graveswere opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out ofthe graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appearedunto many."
There is another word in I Thes. 4: 17 that is verysignificant:
"Perileipo" -- "Remain" -- to leave over -- "are left"
Left from what? This can not be the "…dead inChrist…" for they are all caught up together. These are left from thetranslation of the Bride (the Overcomer -- the "Man-Child") which was translatedto heaven before the Tribulation.
Lk. 21: 36 "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass,and to stand before the Son of man."
"All these things" that He speaks of are the things recorded before this, explaining what will happen in the Tribulation. Remember, the Church today is in a terrible condition.
Rev. 3: 16, 17 "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold norhot, I will spue thee out of My mouth. (Vomit) Because thou sayest, I am rich,and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thouart wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:"
However, some in the Church will hear His voice (Rev. 3: 20)and will pray that they be found worthy (Lk. 21: 36).
The Nature of The "Man-Child"
Rev. 12: 5 "And she brought forth a man child…"
"Arsen" or "Arron" -- "A Man-Child" -- means male
It has to do with manhood, not gender. Sex is no barrier either to salvation or to the development of the Christian's life.
Manly Characteristics
The idea is that the "Man-Child," either male or female,will have heroic virtues and overcoming strength.
They are Strong -- Not Weak
I Jn. 2: 14 "I have written unto you young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you."
Rev. 3: 21 "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne."
I Jn. 5: 4 "…And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."
It is said of Enoch, Heb. 11: 5 "By faith Enoch…" It was by faith that he pleased God -- and then by faith he was translated.
They are True -- Not False
The "Man-Child" is fervent and on fire; not lukewarm and sleeping.
I Jn. 2: 3 "Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments."
If you love Him you will keep His commandments.
Jn. 14: 21 "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is thatloveth Me…"
They are Pure -- Not Defiled with Mixture
I Tim. 4: 1, 2 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the lattertimes some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, anddoctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscienceseared with a hot iron;"
Rev. 3: 1 "And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These thingssaith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thyworks, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead."
They are clothed in white raiment, clean and white, which isthe "Righteous acts of saints."
Rev. 3: 5 "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in whiteraiment…"
Rev. 3: 18 "I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thoumayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that theshame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, thatthou mayest see."
Rev. 4: 4 "And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and uponthe seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; andthey had on their heads crowns of gold."
Rev. 19: 8 "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in finelinen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."
Faith Dependant
Rev. 12: 11 "…They… by the blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of theirtestimony…"
They Overcame by the Blood of the Lamb
They exercised faith in the "Blood." They believedin the "Blood" as a weapon against the adversary of their soul. The "Blood" ofJesus is not something only to be thankful for and admired, but to be used as ameans of overcoming the enemy. We are to use the "Blood" against the works ofdarkness until it is said of us, "They overcame him(the dragon) bythe Blood of the Lamb."
They Overcame by the Word of Their Testimony
"Marturia" -- "Testimony" -- "Witness" -- evidence given --record -- report
"Marturia" -- "testimony" -- almost always rendered "witness" Remember, the Scripture states that they overcame by the "Word of theirtestimony." The whole idea is that they overcame by saying what the"Logos" -- "Word" says.
This is how Jesus overcame the devil. He quoted the Word. The "Man-Child" will also overcome by quoting and living the Word by faith. Asthe Scripture says:
Rom. 1: 17 "…The just shall live by faith."
Heb. 11: 6 "Without faith it is impossible to please Him (God): for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is arewarder of them that diligently seek Him."
Remember, it was "by faith Enoch was translated that heshould not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: forbefore his translation he had this testimony , that he pleased God ." He pleased God in his living and in his "testimony."
"Martureo" -- to bear witness -- to confess the truth
The word #39;confess' comes from a Greek word -- "Homologia" --and denotes confession by acknowledgment of the truth.
"Homo" -- "Same" "Lego" -- "To speak" -- to speaksomething
The "Man-Child" overcomes by saying the same thing that Godsays. Confession is affirming something that is believed. It is testifying ofsomething that is known. It is a witnessing of truth that is embraced. God'sWord is the exclusive subject of their testimony. Thus, the Scripture iseasily understood to be saying that they overcame by "saying the same thing"that God says. Overcoming is agreeing with God in testimony and confession(acknowledgement) of the Word.
Overcomers
Rev. 12: 11 "And they overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb,and by the Word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto thedeath."
They are Overcomers, "They overcame."
I Jn. 2: 13 "…I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one…"
Rev. 2: 26 "And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations…"
Rev. 3: 21 "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne…"
The Overcomer, and only the Overcomer, is promised to sitwith Him on His Throne. The "Man-Child" is "caught up to God and to HisThrone." An "overcomer" is one that appropriates by faith, through theWord of Truth, EVERY REDEMPTIVE RIGHT .
Perfection of Obedience
Rev. 12: 11 "…And loved not their lives unto the death"
Obedience Without Questioning
Who is sovereign? We are told in the Scripture, "WhatsoeverHe saith unto you, do it." Christ's authority is absolute and there is nohigher authority than His.
Matt. 28: 18 "…All power (Exousia -- authority) is given unto Me in heavenand in earth."
Christ Jesus is sovereign.
Obedience Without Delay
Jesus said, "Follow Me."Some say like the man inthe Bible, "Suffer me first…"The Scripture is easily understood forJesus to have said, "No" -- "Follow Me, let the dead bury the dead."Todelay is to be disobedient. When Jesus called His disciples "…they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed Him." (Matt. 4: 22)
Obedience Without Reservation
"…Unto the death…" -- Completely surrendered to theLord and to His Word
Psalm 40: 8 "I delight to do Thy will, O my God: yea, the law is within myheart."
Rom. 12: 1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, thatye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which isyour reasonable service."
"These… follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth."
Obedience Inspired by the Word
They did not combat the devil in their own strength, butthey "Overcame him by the… Word."
II Cor. 10: 4--6 "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, butmighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled ."
They are obedient to the Word.
Josh. 1: 8 "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; butthou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy wayprosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."
Elijah had fire on his altar for only one reason.
I Kings 18: 36 "…I have done all these things at Thy Word ."
Obedience is inspired by the revealed Word. It is not justsaying something, or just quoting the Word. Some say, "Just say it and youhave it." No! It is a Word from God, inspired by the Spirit.
Rom. 10: 17 " Faith cometh by hearing,and hearing by the Word of God."
"Akoe" -- "Hearing" -- denotes the sense of hearing. It isnot praying, not reading, not quoting, not repeating, but "hearing."
"Hearing by the Word"
"Rhema" -- that which is spoken -- a revealed Word from God
Isa. 55: 11 "So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but itshall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing wheretoI sent it."
Often times this is misquoted giving the impression that onemust simply speak the Word and it will not return empty, but it shallaccomplish what they want. This is wrong.
Remember, it is "My Word… that goeth forth out of My mouth,"saith the Lord.
Water was turned to wine at His Word.
A miraculous catch of fish was caught at His Word.
The tempest was stilled at His Word.
Five thousand were fed with five loaves and two fish, at HisWord.
Peter walked on the water because of His spoken Word.
Tax money was found in the fish's mouth at His Word.
The fig tree withered at His Word.
Lazarus lived at His Word.
The Lord spoke and it happened.
The "Man-Child" will overcome because the Lord speaks theWord of faith into their heart. Then they, in turn, speak that which Hespoke. They overcame by the spoken Word, which had been revealed to them bythe Lord.
I Characteristicsof the "Man-Child"
A Student of the Word
To confess the Word, you must know the Word! This does not simply mean to know about it, but knowthe Word. "Ginosko" -- "Know" -- by experiential knowledge. It is not a matterof what one thinks or what one supposes the Word to say, but rather what theWord does say.
II Tim. 2: 15 "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman thatneedeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word ofTruth."
"Orthotomeo" -- "Rightly dividing" -- to cut straight -- todissect correctly
This is having a right understanding so that, in turn, youcan teach the Scripture correctly.
A Believer in the Word
"They overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the Word oftheir testimony."
To overcome by the blood and the Word, you must believe.
I Jn. 5: 4, 5 "…This is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith. Who is he that overcometh… but he that believeth…"
A Lover of the Word
"And they loved not their lives…"They loved theWord more than their own lives.
Psalm 119: 97 "O how love I Thy law! It is my meditation all the day."
Gal. 5: 6 says,"Faith which worketh by love…"Aholy object (the Word) calls out for a holy affection (our love).
We should love the Word for it is God's Word.
We should love the Word because it is Right & Perfect.
We should love the Word because of its Author.
The Development of the "Man-Child"
Rev. 12: 2, 4, 5 "And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, andpained to be delivered… The dragon stood before the woman which was ready tobe delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she broughtforth a man child…"
There is development, growth and maturity here.
Conceived
"Gaster" -- "With child"
A child has been conceived in her womb and is beginning todevelop.
Developing
"Tekonon" "Child" -- being brought to the birth
"Her child… as it was born…"
This gives prominence to the fact of birth.
Matured
"Huios" -- A "Man-Child" -- Grown up -- matured -- fullydeveloped
Eph. 4: 13 "Unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of thefullness of Christ:"
"Teleiuso" -- "Perfect" -- complete -- grow up -- of full age
The Word of Truth (the Seed) has been planted in the heartof the Church by the Holy Spirit. It is not fully grown or developed, but Godis nourishing and developing the "child." He will bring it forth in due time.
Eph. 4: 11, 12 "And He (God) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; andsome, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of thesaints…"
This is a complete furnishing, implying a process leading toa consummation.
Eph. 4: 14 "That we hence forth be no more children, tossed to and fro,and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, (tricks)and cunning craftiness, where by they lie in wait to deceive."
The "Man-Child" will not be babes or immature children, butfully developed sons.
Full grown -- fully developed -- mature -- perfected
There is a type of the "Man-Child" in the Old Testament, achild being developed in the house of God.
II Kings 11: 1--12
Joash was the son of Ahaziah the king. He was but a babe ofabout one year old when his father died. As soon as his father died hisgrandmother, king Ahaziah's mother (a type of the devil), rose up to destroyall the royal seed, as the devil will try to destroy the "Man- Child." However, Joash's aunt, Jehosheba, took him and "hid (him) in thehouse of the LORD (a type of the Church) six years." This is a typeof the Sixth Dispensation -- the Dispensation of Grace. He was hid in the Houseof the Lord with his nurse (type of the Holy Spirit), who nourished him --taught him -- instructed him -- and prepared him for the throne.
When Joash was seven (a type of maturity, or perfection), hewas crowned king and placed on the throne. Like Joash who was raised,nourished, fed and instructed in the House of God, so the "Man-Child" is beingraised, nourished, fed and instructed in the House of God (the Church). Assoon as the "Man-Child" is matured, he will go to the throne.
Rev. 12: 5 "…Her child was caught up unto God, and to His Throne."
There are several Greek words used concerning the birth,growth and maturity of the Saints. We will now consider some of these.
"Gennao" -- to begat -- to be born
Jn. 3: 3 "…Except a man be born again, he cannot see thekingdom of God."
"Anagennao" -- "Ana" -- again "Gennao" -- to be born
I Pet. 1: 23 "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, butof incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."
"Paidion" -- an infant just born
I Cor. 14: 20 "Brethren, be not children in understanding…"
This word is used metaphorically of believers who aredeficient in spiritual understanding. Jesus used this term in calling Hisdisciples in Jn. 21: 5. It was as if He was calling them "little boys."
"Nepios" -- non-speaking -- "childish" -- infant -- immature --babes
I Cor. 3: 1--3 "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as untospiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed youwith milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neitheryet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among youenvying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"
I Cor. 13: 11 "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as achild, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childishthings."
"Teknion" -- "Child" -- little children
I Jn. 2: 1 "My little children…"
"Neaniskos" -- "Young man"
I Jn. 2: 14 "…I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong,and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one."
"Pater" -- "Fathers"
I Jn. 2: 13 "I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him…"
"Pater" -- "Father" is one advanced in the knowledge ofChrist.
"Huios" -- "Son"
Rom. 8: 14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons(Huios) of God."
Developing -- Growing up -- Maturing
Gal. 4: 1, 2 "Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child,differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutorsand governors until the time appointed of the father."
Gal. 4: 5 "…That we might receive the adoption of sons."
"Huiothesia" -- "Adoption" -- The positioning of sons
God has no adopted children --all must be born of God or theyare not His. Adoption in Scripture does not have to do with taking a childthat is not a member of the family and making them a member, as we understandthe term "adoption" to mean.
"Huiothesia" -- "Adoption" -- has to do with the placing orpositioning of sons that have come to maturity in a position equal with theFather.
Rom. 8: 17 "Heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ."
Gal. 4: 1 "…That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothingfrom a servant, though he be lord of all…"
The Church today is made up of many immature babes andchildren; but the Lord is feeding and developing those that are responding toHis call.
Rev. 3: 20 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear Myvoice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and hewith Me."
Jn. 7: 17 "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine,whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself."
Rev. 2: 17 "…To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hiddenmanna…"
In Rev. 3: 20 this is what He is doing; #39;supping' -- sharingDivine Truth.
I Cor. 2: 9, 10 "…Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have enteredinto the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that loveHim. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spiritsearcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."
"Bathos" -- "Deep" -- mystery -- hidden -- secret things of God
The "Man-Child" will be fully developed before he istranslated to the throne.
Rev. 12: 5 "And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nationswith a rod of iron: and her child ("Man-Child") was caught up unto God, and toHis throne."
Rev. 4: 2--4 "And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a thronewas set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He that sat was to look uponlike a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about thethrone, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were fourand twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting,clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold."
The only ones who were promised thrones are the Overcomers --The Bride.
Rev. 3: 21 "To him that OVERCOMETH will I grant to sit withMe in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne."
The Reigning of the "Man-Child"
"And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron…"
The "Man-Child" is an overcoming company of people that will reign over the nations with irresistible power and authority, and will judge even the angels. The rule is specifically indicated that it is to be reigning over the nations.
Dan. 7: 27 "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the MostHigh…"
The Reigning is Promised
Rev. 2: 26, 27 "And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end,to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as Ireceived of My Father."
The promise of reigning is not to every believer, it is only to those that qualify. There are conditions that are required to be met to qualify to reign. Those that reign will be overcomers; they will overcome asHe overcame. They will also keep His works unto the end. That is, they will be faithful to observe and keep all that He requires.
The Reigning will be Realized
Rev. 5: 10 "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shallreign on the earth."
Rev. 20: 4 "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment wasgiven unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witnessof Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast,neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or intheir hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."
There will come a time when this promise of reigning will bemade a reality. While John was caught away in the Spirit he saw into thefuture and saw thrones and the thrones were occupied by those that were giventhe authority to judge. "…Judgment was given unto them…" (Rev. 20: 4)
Rev. 22: 5 "…And they shall reign for ever and ever."
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