Evidence That the Man-Child of Revelation 12 Is Resurrected and/or Transformed (Changed)
Introduction
Hopefully you have read our articles on the book of Revelation and/or seen our YouTube videos concerning the Revelation 12 man-child. If not, please go to our SubStack where you will find these articles located under The Book of Revelation section. In those articles I cover many topics that are the foundation for our continuing teachings on the book of Revelation. I covered many of the following topics:
The Chiastic Nature of the Book of Revelation
Deciphering the Chiastic Nature of the Book of Revelation (Parts I and II)
Who is the Woman in Labor in Revelation 12 (Parts I and II)?
Other Chiastic Structures in the Book of Revelation
Who is the Man-Child of Revelation 12? (Parts I, II and III)
Who Are the Prophetic Forerunners of the Man-Child/144,000 of the Book of Revelation? (Parts I, II, III and IV)
In those articles I’ve also discussed extensively how the man-child of Revelation 12 is not Yeshua, but the firstfruits resurrection/transformation[1] of the saints who represent the first- fruits of the general resurrection that will follow in Revelation 20. As I teach on these subjects, I am presented great opportunities to get feedback from folks on their views of these subjects. The feedback is positive, negative and neutral. And I must say, I am the beneficiary of the feedback in all three of those categories! Why? Because with each bit of feedback, I either receive confirmation that my exegesis of Scripture is correct, or I receive information that challenges me to continually assess what I feel Adonai is teaching me. If changes are warranted, then I’ll be the first to make those changes! In other words, when someone brings up a point I may have not considered, I dig into it and see if I can find an answer. At the same time, sometimes the negative and/or neutral feedback I receive confirms that I’m on the right track and that I need to keep moving in the same direction. This article was conceived from such feedback.
Most of the time, I present information that concentrates on one particular subject. In other words, the scope of the article is typically narrow and focused on a limited idea. This is not a bad thing, rather, it is good because the doctrines and issues that need to be tackled in the Bible are numerous and sometimes complicated. After all, there’s a reason we have thousands of denominations isn’t there? Well, in my quest to divide and conquer, there are times I do not fully develop a particular topic because it’s not the main idea I’m trying to teach. For example, in my teachings on the man-child I have emphatically stated that the catching/snatching away of the man-child in Revelation 12 represents his resurrection/transformation. Recently, someone questioned me about this. Basically, the question was, “Does the birth of the Revelation 12 man-child necessarily mean that the man-child was resurrected/transformed?” As I thought about this question, I realized that I had not given enough detail as to why I see the birth of the Revelation 12 man-child as a resurrection/transformation. Therefore, let me share with you why I connect the birth of the man-child with resurrection.
Precedent
It is my view that any time we make any assertion about a doctrine in the Bible we need a precedent. In other words, we need either direct statements from the Bible that A = B, or we need solid thematic evidence that the Scripture is suggesting or leading us to see that A = B. For example, the Bible clearly states that there will be a resurrection of the dead. We see this in the Tanakh as well as the Apostolic writings:
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God (Job 19:25-26).
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2).
But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years (Revelation 20:5-6).
However, when it comes to interpreting the book of Revelation, I’ve taught that Revelation 12 is the focal point for the entire book. So, how do I know that to be true, especially considering that the Bible does not explicitly state that fact! And how can I say this with such confidence? Well, it’s based on the fact that the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation is written in thematic patterns called chiastic structures and parallelisms. Many people have probably found hundreds of them throughout the Bible. Furthermore, as far as chiastic structures are considered, it is widely agreed that many times the central axis of the chiasm functions as the focal point or most important portion of the story. Knowing this and also knowing that the book of Revelation is arranged chiastically, with Revelation 12 as the central axis of the book, informs me that Revelation 12 is the lynchpin, supporting and holding the entire book together.
So, as you can see, the Bible has more than one way of teaching its lessons. And there are other ways the Bible teaches things without directly saying so. For example, the Tanakh teaches extensively on a third day resurrection! Despite this fact, many today read the Bible (even with the teachings of the Apostolic Writings available) and do not have this understanding.[2] Why? Because for whatever reason (and the reasons are many) they do not see how the Bible sometimes teaches its most important lessons without doing so explicitly. These lessons are taught thematically by making connections between themes, and it is the prevalence of these themes that can converge to make it obvious that Adonai is sometimes stating that A = B, even though He may not do so literally.
Therefore, as we look to Revelation 12, we have to ask, “What does it mean that the man-child was born?”
Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne (Revelation 12:1-5).
As you can see from the text, there is no explanation of the meaning of birth as it applies to the man-child. Therefore, in the remainder of this article, I will present the thematic evidence Adonai has shown me that the birth of the man-child represents his resurrection/ transformation. I hope to do this by showing you numerous ways in which the Scripture thematically leads us to the inescapable conclusion that birth is often used as an indication, sign, figure or symbol of resurrection.
Isaac’s Birth = Resurrection
In Romans 4 Paul is teaching about how we are saved by faith and not by works. As an example, Paul talked about the circumstances surrounding the birth of Isaac. He used the occasion of Isaac’s birth and demonstrated how Abraham’s faith in the promise of Isaac’s birth could be seen within the context of a resurrection!
Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Romans 4:16-22).
In context, we know Paul is talking about the promise of Isaac’s birth. But notice how he introduces the theme of resurrection in Romans 4:17! In other words, Paul made a connection between birth and resurrection within the context of discussing the promise Adonai made to Abraham concerning Isaac. How did he make this connection, you may ask. Well, in Romans 4:19, Paul explained his reasoning.
Abraham was beyond the years when he could naturally produce seed for Sarah’s pregnancy (he did not consider his own body, already dead [since he was about a hundred years old]).
Sarah was well beyond childbearing age, and it was as if her womb was dead (and the deadness of Sarah’s womb)!
Thus, Paul presents a picture of death and the impossibility of life. Think of it. It was as if Sarah’s womb was dead because no life had ever sprung forth from her womb! But what happened when Isaac was born? LIFE sprang forth from where there had been only DEATH. Imagine the number of times Abraham and Sarah came together in sexual union throughout their long lifetime (each providing the seed of life), and not once did life come forth from their union. Her womb remained DEAD! However, at the appointed season, Sarah’s womb sprang forth with LIFE. In other words, her DEAD womb brought forth LIFE, which Paul noted as God giving LIFE to the DEAD. And that my friends equals RESURRECTION. And, as you can see, Paul clearly made the connection between birth and resurrection. To Paul, sometimes a birth can be seen as a resurrection.
The Firstfruits of What?
In previous articles on the man-child, I discussed my reasoning for why I believe the man-child of Revelation 12 is identical to the overcomers of Revelation 2-3 and the 144,000 of Revelation 7 and 14, and I provided the thematic connections that served as a basis for those conclusions. In this article I want to provide fresh evidence for how I believe Adonai has connected the man-child of Revelation 12 to the 144,000 of Revelation 14. It just so happens that Revelation chapters 12 and 14 are told in parallel. When stories are told in parallel, the themes of each story are presented in the same order in the pattern shown below:
Please note below how Revelation 12 and 14 are thematically written in parallel alignment! There are four major themes in both halves of the parallelism. You study a parallelism by comparing the matching themes in the two halves. For example, you compare themes A/A’, B/B’, etc. The matching themes are emphasized using bold, italicized font as well as colors when multiple themes occur in one connection.
Please notice how Adonai uses this parallelism to show us quite clearly that the man-child is the 144,000 by noting the following thematic connections connecting the two:
The connection in A1 (Revelation 12:1-5) and A’1 (Revelation 14:1-5) thematically connects the man-child of Revelation 12 with the 144,000 of Revelation through the following connections:
Both the man-child and the 144,000 were taken from earth up to heaven!
Revelation 14:4b – These were redeemed from among men, being
firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.Revelation 12:5 – She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
Both the man-child and the 144,000 consisted of Israelites
Revelation 7:1-8 identifies the 144,000 as Israelites from the twelve tribes of Israel. The 144,000 in Revelation 7 are the same 144,000 in Revelation 14, as they are chiastically related through the chiastic structure of the book of Revelation. Therefore the 144,000 spoken of in Revelation 14 consist of people from the twelve tribes of Israel.
Revelation 12:5 also consists of Israelites, seeing that they were sons born from their mother, the nation of Israel (She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.)
Both the man-child and the 144,000 appear specifically before the throne of God.
Revelation 12:5 – She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
Revelation 14:5 – And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
If you examine the other connections in the parallelism you are left with one inescapable conclusion, the man-child is the 144,000. But I want to draw your attention to the following connection. Now that we know the man-child is the 144,000, notice that the 144,000 are referred to as the firstfruits unto the Lamb!
These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb (Revelation 14:4).
Therefore, we now know the man-child represents the firstfruits unto the Lamb, which begs the question, “The firstfruits of WHAT?” The answer is simple. The firstfruits of the resurrection! The point of the book of Revelation is that Adonai will be revealing Yeshua, but to two different groups of people. To the unsaved, He will come in judgment to make a final overthrow of all world dominions. To those of us who are saved, He will be appearing to resurrect and/or transform us to inherit the kingdom. Yeshua spoke of this in the parable of the wheat and the tares.
He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 13:37-43).
There is coming a time at the end of the age when the Son of Man will come for His harvest! This is what is depicted for us in the book of Revelation. In fact, Revelation 14 records how Adonai will deal with the harvest of both the righteous and the wicked. The general harvest of the righteous is shown in Revelation 14:14-16:
Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. (Revelation 14:14-16)
However, the general harvest will be preceded by a harvest of the firstfruits. In the Biblical paradigm, a firstfruits or sampling of the final harvest always occurs first, where the firstfruits represents the best of the best (which is what the man-child/144,000 are, the best of the best). This is depicted in Revelation 14:1-5:
Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from
among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God. (Revelation 14:1-5)
Lastly, there will be a gathering of the tares, or, as the book of Revelation puts it, “a gathering of the clusters of the vine.” This occurs in Revelation 14:17-20:
Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs. (Revelation 14:17-20)
The important takeaway here is that by properly thematically connecting the man-child of Revelation 12 to the 144,000 of Revelation 14, we see that the man-child represents the firstfruits of the resurrection! Thus, again we see a clear precedence that birth = resurrection.
The Firstborn of the Dead
What are we to make of the word firstborn as it is used in Scripture? Most people immediately think of the firstborn as the first son to be physically born. Although this is certainly the idea from a literal interpretation of the Bible, the idea of the firstborn has a much deeper and fuller meaning. The notion that the firstborn pertains to something deeper than just the first child to be born is easily seen when we begin to look at the storyline concerning firstborns in the Tanakh, especially as it pertains to the covenant family Israel. Please notice the following trends:
According to Genesis 27, even though Esau was physically the firstborn, it was Jacob who received the blessing of the firstborn.
According to 1 Chronicles 5:1, although Reuben was Israel’s physical firstborn, the actual firstborn blessing was split between Judah and Ephraim.
According to Genesis 38, Zerah was the physical firstborn because his hand came out of his mother’s womb first. Nevertheless, Perez prevailed and came out second, but was given the blessing of being the ancestor of Messiah Yeshua.
According to Genesis 48, Ephraim was given the firstborn blessing over Manasseh, even though Manasseh was the elder.
Moses was the chosen leader of the nation of Israel even though his brother Aaron was older.
David was crowned king over Israel even though he had older brothers.
Adonai is obviously trying to teach us something with so many stories in which the natural, physical firstborn does not fulfill the role of the firstborn. Speaking of the role of the firstborn, those in the Tanakh who received the firstborn status usually earned a larger inheritance, a special paternal blessing, and family leadership. All these aspects of the status of firstborn were given to Jacob when he obtained the firstborn status by stealth (Genesis 27). Thus, it is obvious that the status of firstborn moves beyond the physical. It seems that the firstborn is more about a position of preeminence, privilege, authority and inheritance, all bestowed on someone by Adonai, according to His sovereign choice. In the following examples, notice how many have been called firstborn by Adonai even though they were not the physical firstborn! Also, notice that the idea of firstborn applies even in examples where the status is bestowed upon an entity other than a single human being!
They shall come with weeping, and with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they shall not stumble; for I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn (Jeremiah 31:9).
Then you shall say to Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Israel is My son, My firstborn. 23 So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn’” (Exodus 4:22-23).
Also I will make him [David] My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth (Psalm 89:27).
The idea of preeminence is clearly seen in Exodus 4:22-23 and Psalm 89:27 above. Israel is Adonai’s firstborn in that Israel is the only nation Adonai chose. Furthermore, all of history is moving towards the day when He will rule all nations of the earth through Israel. Likewise, David is Adonai’s firstborn in that he was given preeminence and chosen to be the “highest of the kings of the earth.” However, one of the most powerful passages in the Tanakh that speaks of the status of the firstborn and his role as ruler and recipient of the double portion of inheritance is Psalm 2. We know Psalm 2 is a messianic psalm speaking of King Yeshua. Notice how it addresses the aspects of inheritance, rulership and authority for Yeshua:
“I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel’” (Psalm 2:7-9).
Notice how I’ve said that Psalm 2 addresses aspects of inheritance, rulership and authority, yet Psalm 2 does not mention the word firstborn! So how do I know Psalm 2 pertains to Yeshua and His firstborn status? Because in Acts 13:33, Paul quoted Psalm 2:7 to prove that the phrase, “You are my Son, Today I have begotten You,” was a prophecy that Yeshua would be raised from the dead! In other words, the phrase, “Today I have begotten You,” has nothing to do with Yeshua being created or any other such nonsense. Yeshua was begotten in the sense that He was raised from the dead as Paul so emphatically states here:
“God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’ 34 And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’ 35 Therefore He also says in another Psalm: ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption’” (Acts 13:33-35).
As you can see, Psalm 2 has three aspects of the status of firstborn and not just the two I mentioned earlier—rulership and inheritance. Psalm 2 introduces a third aspect of the meaning of the status of firstborn—RESURRECTION. For it is within the context of a messianic psalm which is extolling the virtues we normally associate with the firstborn status that we learn about Yeshua’s resurrection. The point here is that Adonai is inviting us to see that another aspect of the status of firstborn is resurrection. Actually, He first began to teach us this back in the Exodus! What was the big event in the Exodus that thematically connects the status of firstborn with resurrection? The Passover! It was on the Passover that Adonai spared the lives of the Israelites who smeared the blood of the lamb upon their doorposts. In other words, we can see a clear prophetic foreshadowing of resurrection in that ALL the firstborns in Egypt were supposed to die. But the firstborns of Israel escaped DEATH, a picture of resurrection LIFE, when their lives were spared.
The fact that Adonai desires us to connect birth with resurrection is once again staring us in the face. All we need to do is look at a particular phrase, used two times in the Apostolic writings:
And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence (Colossians 1:18).
John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth (Revelation 1:4-5a).
You see it? Yeshua is the first BORN from the dead, once again establishing a clear and strong thematic connection between birth and resurrection, as if to say that His resurrection can be seen as a type of BIRTH. Thus, the Bible’s teaching on the firstborn supports the notion that birth is connected to resurrection.
The Chiastic Coupling of Yeshua’s Birth and Resurrection in the Gospels
I am utterly convinced that Adonai wants us to make a connection between birth and resurrection because of the amazing connections between Yeshua’s birth at the beginning of the Gospel accounts and His death at the end of the Gospels. Most of you are probably familiar with the teachings here at RTM, and how heavily I rely upon chiastic structures. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible’s narratives are arranged thematically where themes repeat themselves in well-ordered patterns. A chiastic structure is one such pattern. A chiastic structure is a thematic way of writing a story. Whenever you see a story in the Bible being told chiastically, the story will have two halves. All the themes in the first half of the story will repeat in the second half of the story in reverse order as shown below:
The main point here is that themes at the very beginning of the story will repeat at the very end of the story. It just so happens that the Holy Spirit inspired the writers of Scripture to connect numerous themes regarding Yeshua’s birth and resurrection chiastically within the beginning and end of the Gospels. Please note the following amazing parallels that are beyond coincidence:
Yeshua was miraculously born of a virgin’s womb which had known no man, and He was resurrected from a tomb where no man had lain.
Luke 1:34 – Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
Luke 23:53 – Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before.
In Yeshua’s birth and death, His body was prepared by wrapping with clothes.
Luke 2:7 – And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 23:53 – Then he took it [His body] down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before.
In Yeshua’s birth and death angels were dispatched with a message of encouragement to calm the fears of Adonai’s people.
Matthew 1:20-21 – But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 28:5-6 – But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
Burial spices were given to Yeshua at His birth and His death.
Matthew 2:11 – And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Mark 16:1 – Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. John 19:39 – And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
At Yeshua’s birth and resurrection, people came in haste to see the sign of new LIFE and believe—birth on the one hand and resurrection on the other.
Luke 2:15-18 – So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it
marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.John 20:3-8 – Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the
handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed.
Mary’s travail in labor gave way to profound joy after Yeshua’s birth. This is thematically connected to how Mary Magdalene’s grief was turned into great joy after the realization that Yeshua had been resurrected.
John 16:20-22 – Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 A woman, [Mary] when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
John 20:11-18 – But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.
All these connections are inspired invitations for us to see that Adonai connects birth to resurrection.
Birth in the Revelation of the Resurrected Sons of God
Romans chapter eight gives us a profound interpretation of events that will occur at the onset of the millennial kingdom.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance (Romans 8:18-25).
Paul is speaking about the glorious day when all the saints will be resurrected, and the curse will be removed from the earth. This is what he terms the revealing of the sons of God. Notice in Romans 8:22 how he frames his discussion concerning our resurrection within the context of birth! It is as if Paul is saying the earth is pregnant and writhing in birth pangs, readying herself for the time when she will give birth. This event will be marked by the resurrection of our dead bodies as they burst forth from their graves in the “womb” of the travailing earth! Once again, we see a clear connection between birth and resurrection!
These are some of the reasons why I emphatically say that the birth of the Revelation 12 man- child is to be seen within the context of his resurrection/transformation. Adonai has given us plenty of precedence to understand what it means that the Revelation 12 man-child was “born.” Hopefully, this will help you on your journey to understand the book of Revelation.
[1] At present I do not know if the event in Revelation 12 is exclusively resurrection, exclusively a transformation from a mortal to an immortal body, or a combination of both. Therefore, I’m leaving open the option of either permutation. I’m sure Adonai will make this clear when it happens. My current thoughts are that the catching away of the Revelation 12 man-child is a combination of resurrection and transformation, because we know when Yeshua does return to gather His elect, that event will be a combination of resurrection and transformation (1 Corinthians 15:50-57 and 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). It would seem that perhaps the firstfruits resurrection might follow the same pattern. But we shall soon see!
[2] For example, New Testament scholar N.T. Wright (N. T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003, 85) writes the following: “It is all the more surprising, then, to discover that, within the Bible itself, the hope of resurrection makes rare appearances, so rare that some have considered them marginal. Though later exegesis, both Jewish and Christian, became skilled at discovering covert allusions which earlier readers had not seen—a skill shared, according to the gospels, by Jesus himself—there is general agreement that for much of the Old Testament the idea of resurrection is, to put it at its strongest, deeply asleep, only to be woken by echoes from later times and texts.”