Who Is the Man-Child of Revelation 12? Part II
What passages from the Tanakh (Old Testament) teach us about the identity and role of the man-child of Revelation 12?
The Man-Child of Revelation 12 Is Not Yeshua
In a previous article, Who Is the Man-Child of Revelation 12, we determined the identity of the man-child. We learned that the man-child was comprised of the 144,000 saints (Revelation 7 and 14) who overcame in all things (Revelation 2-3). At this point I’d like to continue our study of the man-child, because there is more we need to know about them. First, I’d like to revisit a discussion concerning the identity of the man-child not being Yeshua as many think.
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).
The table that follows has been developed to demonstrate the following facts:
The man-child of Revelation 12 cannot be Yeshua because He does not fit the entire prophecy.
Another person, Moses, fits the prophecy of the man-child of Revelation 12 significantly better than Yeshua.
Although Moses fits the prophecy of Revelation 12 to a great extent, he also is not the man-child of Revelation 12. The point of including Moses is two-fold:
To demonstrate that Yeshua is not the man-child, since we can find another candidate who fulfills the prophecy much better.
The fact that Moses fits a significant portion of the prophecy of Revelation 12 proves that the idea of a man-child born of the woman Israel is not a new topic introduced by John in the apocalypse. Rather, there have been other people (besides Moses) who also fit the pattern of the man-child, thus we can gain a better understanding of the man-child of Revelation 12 by studying those who have preceded him in the Tanakh.
Comparing the Man-Child of Revelation 12 to Moses and Yeshua
As you can see, we most definitely should NOT insist nor assume that the man-child is Yeshua, when, quite obviously, we cannot find the fulfillment of major portions of the Revelation 12 man-child prophecy in His life! Just because a few portions of the prophecy of Revelation 12 match Yeshua’s life does not mean we can ignore the majority of the prophecy and assume the man-child is Yeshua. Should we not do due diligence and search for another candidate who fulfills the prophecy completely? Also, the table quite clearly and objectively shows that Moses fulfills the Revelation 12 man-child prophecy to a much fuller extent than does Yeshua. After studying the comparison of the man-child of Revelation 12 with Moses and Yeshua, if anything, should we not rather be insisting that Moses is the man-child before forcing Yeshua to fit its pattern?
The outline for the book of Revelation given to us by John assures us that the events which occur beyond Revelation 4:1 are future to the time he received his revelation. Therefore, the man-child cannot be Moses or Yeshua, or anyone else born before John received his prophecy.
Revelation 1:19—Write the things which (1) you have seen, and (2) the things which are, and (3) the things which will take place after this.
Revelation 1:1-18 are the things which you have seen.
Revelation 2-3 are the things which are.
Revelation 4:1–21:27 are the things which will take place after this.
Revelation 4:1—After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
The “Birth” of the Man-Child/144,000 is Actually the Resurrection of the Man-Child/144,000 as the Firstfruits
Before going on, let’s make sure we understand what is meant by the “birth” of the man-child. We have learned that the man-child consists of 144,000 individuals. So what does Revelation 12:5 mean when it says she bore a man-child? We know the woman is actually the nation of Israel. Furthermore, we know the man-child is not a singular baby or a singular person, but many. Therefore the birth of Revelation 12:5 is not literal. The birth in Revelation 12:5 is actually a resurrection, the firstfruits of the resurrection! The man-child/144,000 will be “born” when they are resurrected as the firstfruits to Adonai. The idea of a resurrection being likened to a birth is not a new concept. First of all, notice how Yeshua’s resurrection is spoken of as a birth!
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 1:4-5).
He is the firstborn of the resurrection! This is also taught in Psalm 2:7:
“I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’ ”
This verse does not speak of Yeshua being born physically or being created. It speaks of His resurrection from the dead. We know this because Paul specifically mentions that Psalm 2:7 is a prophecy of Yeshua’s resurrection.
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’ (Acts 13:33).
Another proof that the “birth” of the man-child is actually a resurrection is because the Bible is very meticulous in how it thematically and specifically equates new birth to resurrection. This is because thematically, they have many similarities. The most important theme connecting new birth to resurrection is the bringing forth of LIFE. Thus, the gospels chiastically equate the birth of Yeshua (at the beginning of the gospel accounts) to the resurrection of Yeshua (at the end of the gospel accounts) by connecting them through similar themes, events and circumstances. Please note the following connections between Yeshua’s birth and resurrection, because they establish a connection between the birth of the man-child to the resurrection of the 144,000 offered as firstfruits of those to be resurrected.
Yeshua was miraculously born of a virgin’s womb which had known no man (Luke 1:34) and He was resurrected from a tomb where no man had lain (Luke 23:53).
In both events, Yeshua’s body was prepared by wrapping (the swaddling cloths [Luke 2:7] versus the linen grave clothes [Luke 23:53 and 24:12]).
Both narratives are marked by the appearance of angels announcing the good news (Matthew 1:20-21 and 28:5-6).
In both narratives, burial spices are brought as gifts to Yeshua (Matthew 2:11 and Mark 16:1).
In both narratives, people came in haste to see the sign of new LIFE and believe (Luke 2:12-18 and John 20:3-8).
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 to joy after the realization that Yeshua’s death gave way to resurrection (John 16:20-22 and John 20:11-18).
The last proof that the “birth” of the man-child is actually their resurrection as firstfruits takes advantage of our chiastic structure for the book of Revelation. The chiastic structure for the book of Revelation is shown in the next section of this article. The chiastic structure proves that the 144,000 in Revelation 7 are the same 144,000 in Revelation 14, for they are thematically connected through the chiastic structure as elements D and D’. Furthermore, we have already proven that the man-child is the same as the 144,000 in Revelation 7 and 14. But what’s most important is that the 144,000 in Revelation 14 (i.e., the man-child) are specifically identified as those who were redeemed from the earth as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb!
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. (Revelation 14:4)
Thus, with all of this evidence I conclude that the “birth” of the man-child/144,000 is actually their resurrection from the dead. This is the event in Revelation 12 that initiates the 3 1/2 year tribulation period.
Major Themes That Identify a Man-Child
It is my goal to thoroughly identify the man-child of Revelation 12, but in order to do so, we have to do away with the idea that Yeshua is THE man-child of Revelation 12, or else you will not be able to see and accept the true identity of the man-child. This is the reason I provided the table above, to hopefully convince my readers that the man-child of Revelation 12 is NOT Yeshua. That being said, I do believe Yeshua is A man-child, but only one of many Adonai has given to us. You are about to learn that there have been many who qualify as a man-child in Scripture! The ubiquitous nature of man-child theology is the reason why we automatically assume Yeshua is THE man-child of Revelation 12. However, as you’ve seen above, Moses is actually a stronger candidate to be THE man-child of Revelation 12, but he is not the man-child! The point is that the doctrine of a man-child is so pervasive in Scripture that it is easy to mistake Yeshua (or Moses for that matter) as the man-child of Revelation 12. We will soon learn that there are many who fit the thematic prerequisites for a man-child, including Yeshua. This is a good thing because it provides the proper underpinnings to properly identify the man-child of Revelation 12. However, it is extremely important for you to realize that our most important clues regarding the identity of the man-child are found in Revelation 12:1-5. In our quest to better understand the man-child and his role in the end-times, we simply need to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us by the thematic patterns and criteria He has provided for the identity and mission of the man-child. Here are the foundations upon which I hope to navigate this voyage.
The Chiastic Structure of the Book of Revelation
The book of Revelation is written in a thematic pattern called a chiastic structure, where themes in the first half of the book are repeated in the second half of the book in reverse order. Furthermore, the two halves of the book point to the midpoint of the book, known as the central axis.
Revelation 12 is the central axis of the entire book of Revelation, and therefore, the most important passage in the book. The interpretation of the entire book of Revelation stands upon the proper interpretation of Revelation 12.
Revelation 12 is undoubtedly thematically connected to Genesis 3:15-16. Furthermore, Revelation 12 is certainly a prophetic fulfillment of Genesis 3:15-16.
The four major themes of Revelation 12 that identify the man-child are:
The man-child is born from a woman in great travail (Revelation 12:1-5)
There is a deadly conflict between the man-child and the serpent (Revelation 12:1-5)
The man-child is given authority to exercise dominion on Adonai’s behalf (Revelation 12:5)
Adonai will supernaturally preserve the life of the man-child, protecting him from the wiles and destructive schemes of the serpent (Revelation 12:5)
Three of these themes are found in the original creation account in Genesis 1-3.
Genesis 3:16 prophesies that the woman would experience 1) sorrows related to the process of conceiving a man-child, and 2) pain during the physical process of delivering this man-child.
Genesis 3:15 prophesies that there will be a conflict to the death between the serpent and the man-child.
Genesis 1:26-28 prophesies that the man-child will be given authority to rule and reign over Adonai’s creation. Furthermore, Genesis 3:15 specifically states that the man-child will ultimately exercise dominion over and subdue the serpent. [We will see soon that Adam qualifies as a man-child, as well as many others.]
Genesis 1:26-28—Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 3:15—And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”
Connecting Our Four Major Themes to the Psalms
The four themes mentioned above form the foundation upon which to build our theology for the man-child of Revelation 12. Two of the three themes of Revelation 12 are thematically connected to two psalms (Psalm 2 and Psalm 8), and these two psalms confirm and augment the themes associated with the man-child of Revelation 12.
The first connection we can make is between Genesis 1:26-28 and Psalm 2, and pertains to the theme of rulership, authority and dominion. Revelation 12 teaches us that one of the main characteristics of the man-child is that he is chosen by Adonai to exercise power and authority and to rule over others.
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.
Psalm 2 is thematically connected to Revelation 12:5 as follows:
Psalm 2:8-9—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.
As you can plainly see, Psalm 2 provides the thematic foundation upon which we can confidently state that Scripture teaches that the most prominent role/duty/task of a man-child is to exercise Adonai’s authority by ruling and reigning in the power and authority of Adonai. We can also connect Psalm 2 to Genesis 1:26-28 through the theme of rulership, authority and dominion as follows:
Genesis 1:26-28—Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Some would say Psalm 2 must be speaking about Yeshua because of the application of Psalm 2 to Him at His return for final judgment of the ungodly in Revelation 19.
Revelation 19:11-15—Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Although this passage clearly (and properly) identifies Yeshua as the anointed one of Psalm 2 who will rule over His enemies with a rod of iron, we must remember that this application of Psalm 2 is not restricted to Yeshua alone. Notice the following promise Yeshua made to those who overcome, a promise where Yeshua Himself applies the prophecy of Psalm 2 to people other than Himself!
Revelation 2:26-27—And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—as I also have received from My Father
Furthermore, Yeshua literally states that there will be a group of people who will literally sit on His throne and rule and reign over the world to come with Him.
Revelation 3:20-21—Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Since Yeshua acknowledges that human beings other than Himself will rule with a rod of iron according to Psalm 2, should we not acknowledge the same? Therefore, although Yeshua is A man-child who will rule with a rod of iron, the Scripture clearly suggests that He is not THE man-child of Revelation 12. As you’ve already learned, THE man-child of Revelation 12 consists of the 144,000 overcomers.
Another connection we can make is between Psalm 2 and Genesis 3:15, and pertains to the enmity of the seed, the conflict to the death between the serpent and the man-child. Notice how the Lord’s anointed one, His man-child, is in mortal conflict with His enemies.
Psalm 2:1-3 and 10-12—Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.”
Psalm 2:10-12—Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
The point here is that Psalm 2 contains two of the three main themes that identify the man-child of Revelation 12. Therefore, Psalm 2 is essential to our theology of the man-child. As an aside, I’d like to note another way the man-child of Revelation 12 is thematically connected to Psalm 2. Obviously, I believe Psalm 2 is messianic in scope, with reference to Yeshua. However, as is so often in the Bible, Scripture often has more than one fulfillment, and this is the case at hand. Psalm 2 refers to Yeshua as the most important man-child of Adonai, but it may also indirectly apply to any other person who qualifies as a man-child. Let me take the liberty to walk you through Psalm 2 and show you how it applies to the man-child of Revelation 12, even though we already know Psalm 2 is messianic, referring to Yeshua also.
Thematic Connections Between Psalm 2 and Revelation 12
This brief comparison of Psalm 2 with Revelation 12 has been quite rewarding. What is going on here? Quite simply, the connections between these two passages underscore the connection between Yeshua as the anointed Messiah and the 144,000 as the man-child of Revelation 12. Remember, it is the man-child/144,000 who will literally rule and reign on Yeshua’s throne by His invitation. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that there would be many similarities between Yeshua and the man-child. The point here is this, although Psalm 2 is literally a messianic psalm concerning the empowerment of Yeshua as the Messiah, it’s also a veiled thematic prophecy of the man-child of Revelation 12, showing how the man-child is walking in the prophetic footsteps of Messiah Yeshua. The similarities are striking and clear.
Here’s another striking similarity. According to Acts 13:33, Psalm 2:7 (Today I have begotten You) is a prophetic declaration of the resurrection of Messiah Yeshua.
Acts 13:33—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.’
Note how this equates with what’s actually happening in Revelation 12:5, because the catching away of the man-child/144,000 to the throne of God is literally their resurrection from the dead as the firstfruits of the resurrection!
Revelation 14:4—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 (this occurred in Revelation 12:5), being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
Now, let’s look at the connection we can make between Genesis 1:26-28 and Psalm 8, which also pertains to the theme of rulership, authority and dominion. Revelation 12 teaches us that one of the main characteristics of the man-child is that he is chosen by Adonai to exercise power and authority and to rule over others.
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.
Psalm 8 is thematically connected to Revelation 12:5 as follows:
Psalm 8:5-6—For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet
Psalm 8 is our second witness providing a thematic foundation upon which we can state that the most prominent role/duty/task of a man-child is to exercise Adonai’s authority by ruling and reigning in the power and authority of Adonai. We can also connect Psalm 8 to Genesis 1:26-28 through the theme of rulership, authority and dominion as follows:
Genesis 1:26-28—Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Psalm 8 is a magnificent psalm teaching us of the awesome privilege Adonai has given mankind, the ability to rule and exercise authority over the universe on His behalf. Psalm 8 like most of the psalms is written in a thematic pattern. Psalm 8 is written in a chiastic pattern, where all the themes in the first half repeat in the second half of the psalm in reverse order. It is shown below. The chiastic nature of a passage can be understood by comparing the thematically connected elements in the two halves of the structure, e.g., compare A/A’, B/B’, C/C’, etc. The thematic connections are shown in bold, italicized font.
The Chiastic Structure of Psalm 8
The connections between elements A/A’ are obvious! Elements B/B’ are thematically connected to each other because infants (B) and the animals (B’) need someone appointed to lead them and exercise authority over them. Element D/D’ are thematically connected because the sun and the moon (D) were originally thematically connected to the concept of dominion and rulership, and they are thematically connected to the phrase, “You have crowned him with glory and honor” (D’), emphasizing the idea that man has been given dominion and rulership over the earth.
Genesis 1:16-18—Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness.
The central axis presents a paradox in that 1) man is such a lowly creature especially compared to angels, and 2) he is almost insignificant when compared to the rest of creation, yet it is mankind who is crowned with glory and honor and given dominion and rulership! As you can see, the primary theme of Psalm 8 pertains to the authority, rulership and dominion bestowed upon mankind. Furthermore, you should be able to see how this theme is one of the primary themes associated with the man-child of Revelation 12.
At this point, let’s see how Psalm 8, like Psalm 2, is also thematically connected to Genesis 3:15, another foundational theme associated with the man-child, which teaches us about the enmity between the serpent and the man-child. Elements C/C’ of our chiasm are thematically connected through the phrases, “Because of Your enemies” and “that you may silence the enemy and the avenger” (C), to the phrase “You have put all things under his feet” (C’). Under his feet is an obvious thematic connection to Genesis 3:15, speaking of the enmity of the seed and the deadly conflict between the serpent, his seed and the woman and her seed. Thus, Psalm 8 and Psalm 2 are both foundational passages teaching us about the man-child of Revelation 12. Furthermore, Psalm 2 and Psalm 8 both point us back to Genesis 1-3 as does the main story line in Revelation 12!
Now that we know Psalm 8 can teach us about the man-child of Revelation 12, we need to take notice of one other theme it teaches us. A major focus in Psalm 8 is the apparently surprising and remarkable idea that Adonai would take something so lowly as a human being and make him a regent over the creation! This is the main topic of Psalm 8:3-5, elements D, E (X) and D’. The psalmist is in wonder that Adonai would take such a lowly creature as humanity and crown him with glory, honor and dominion over the vast creation. Thus, we are introduced to another man-child theme that will help us develop our doctrine of the man-child. We will soon learn that Psalm 8 is the basis for the foundational theme found in every man-child, the theme of someone of low estate being exalted to a position of prominence, rulership, authority and dominion.
Let’s examine the last of our four foundational themes associated with the man-child. This theme informs us that Adonai will supernaturally preserve the life of the man-child, protecting him from the wiles and destructive schemes of the serpent (Revelation 12:5). One of the most powerful themes applicable to the man-child concerns the enmity that exists between him and the serpent. This is laid out for us in Genesis 3:15, Psalm 2, Psalm 8 and most importantly, Revelation 12:1-5. We are told in Genesis 3:15 that the seed of the woman would eventually crush the head of the serpent. In previous articles I related the dual nature of this prophecy, that it pertained to Yeshua’s defeat of the devil. However, we discovered that it also applies to the body of Messiah alive at the time envisioned by John’s apocalypse, especially the man-child of Revelation 12. The Scripture that clearly speaks of this final battle between the serpent and the body of Messiah is Romans 16:20:
And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.
This verse informs us that Paul was soon expecting the time when the body of Messiah (not Yeshua) would crush hasatan’s head! It is obvious that we are to connect this imagery to Genesis 3:15. So, as we learned in previous articles, Genesis 3:15 is another Scripture that functions in a dual prophetic role. It describes that which has already been accomplished through Yeshua’s death on the cross, where he has already legally crushed hasatan’s head. But it also applies to the final end-time battle between the serpent and the body of Messiah, especially the man-child of Revelation 12. So again, we see that the Bible is thematically emphatic that a group of saints will be the ones who crush the serpent’s head at the end of the age (shortly, as Paul put it in Romans 16:20).
The Importance of Psalm 91
With that in mind we can now understand how we can appropriate Psalm 91 as part of our thematic foundation for learning the identity of the man-child of Revelation. Genesis 3:15 teaches us of the enmity of the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman, as well as the fact that the seed of the woman (the man-child) will crush hasatan’s head. Psalm 2 and 8 mention this conflict as we’ve seen before. Psalm 91 is a prophecy of the last days conflict between the seed of the woman/man-child and hasatan. Notice how Psalm 91 evokes the imagery of Genesis 3:15 and Psalm 8.
Psalm 91:3 and 13—Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the perilous pestilence. 13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
Remember, our present theme concerns the fact that the man-child will be protected from the serpent. This psalm is the quintessential passage describing the divine protection Adonai has secured for the man-child. Please compare Psalm 91:3 with Revelation 12:5 and notice how remarkably complementary they are! The serpent is lying in wait directly in front of the man-child’s mother waiting to destroy this favored son as soon as he is born. In other words, the fowler has set his snare and is awaiting his prey! However, notice what happened in Revelation 12:5. Immediately upon birth, Adonai caught the man-child up to His throne, thus foiling hasatan’s plans and delivering the man-child from him, exactly as Psalm 91 lays out. In fact, let’s prove that Psalm 91 pertains to the man-child of Revelation 12 by simply taking thematic inventory of the connections that exist between Psalm 91 and the book of Revelation. There are so many connections between Psalm 91 and the book of Revelation, it seems that Psalm 91 was written explicitly about the man-child/144,000!
Those in Psalm 91 who dwell closely to Adonai and abide under His shadow are thematically connected to the 144,000 who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They are always together in fellowship, abiding under His shadow because they follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
Psalm 91:1—He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Revelation 14:4—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.
The man-child/144,000 will be delivered from the snare of the serpent (as promised in Psalm 91) when he is rescued by being caught up to God’s throne.
Psalm 91:3—Surely, He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.
Revelation 12:4-5—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.
As stated in Psalm 91, Adonai will be the refuge and fortress of the man-child, protecting the man-child (by sealing him) from the devastating judgments that will come upon the earth, sea and trees. These are the areas of carnage of the trumpet judgments that the man-child/144,000 will be protected from.
Psalm 91:2—I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”
Revelation 7:1-3—After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”
The man-child/144,000, along with the woman Israel, will be carried on eagle’s wings during the tribulation as they will be ministering to the woman in power and authority.
Psalm 91:4a—He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge
Revelation 12:14—But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
The man-child/144,000 will walk in Adonai’s truth which will be their shield and buckler.
Psalm 91:4b—His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
Revelation 14:5—And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault
before the throne of God.
The man-child/144,000 will be protected from the plague of darkness, from the arrows of the four horsemen and will be able to overcome all pestilences and any type of warfare from men.
Psalm 91:5-6—You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies
by day, 6 nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.Revelation 6:1-4—Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. 3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” 4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.
Revelation 16:10—Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain.
As the seal, trumpet and vial judgments wreak havoc on the earth causing thousands upon thousands to die in earthquakes and other natural disasters, the man-child/144,000 will be untouched!
Psalm 91:7-10—A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. 8 Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
even the Most High, your dwelling place, 10 no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;Revelation 3:10—Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Revelation 11:13—In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Psalm 91 informs us that there will be angelic activity during the tribulation designed to protect the man-child/144,000!
Psalm 91:10b-12—Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; 11 for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. 12 In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
Revelation 7:1-3—After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”
Revelation 9:4—They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
The man-child/144,000 will overcome the demonic lions and serpents in the book of Revelation. And, according to Romans 16:20, they will crush the serpent’s head. This is all foretold prophetically in Psalm 91!
Psalm 91:13—You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
Revelation 9:17-19—And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. 18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. 19 For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.
According to Psalm 91:14, Adonai will set the man-child/144,000 on high and will deliver them throughout all the judgments of the tribulation period. The first aspect of their deliverance was at their birth in Revelation 12:5. And what was their destination when they were delivered from the serpent by being caught up? The throne of God! Furthermore, He will set them on high as noted in Revelation 14:1 when it states that the man-child/144,000 are with the Lamb standing on Mount Zion! All through the book of Revelation men are stated to be before the throne or before the Lamb, but here we see that the man-child/144,000 are with the Messiah on Mount Zion. Why? Because, as Yeshua promised in Revelation 3:21, those who overcome (the man-child/144,000) will sit with Him on His throne. Also, note to where the man-child is caught up in Revelation 12:5—to the throne of God! Truly, they have been set on high because they have known the name of Adonai.
Psalm 91:14—“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.Revelation 14:1—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.
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.
Psalm 91:15 is somewhat of a summary verse of all Adonai will do for these amazing people He has chosen. They will perform His will flawlessly and he will reward them with deliverances, answered prayers and honor. The greatest deliverance will be their catching away to God’s throne as those who were first redeemed from the earth. Their greatest honor will be the authority Adonai gives them to rule and reign with Yeshua, sitting with Him on His throne!
Psalm 91:15—He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
Revelation 14:3—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.
The man-child/144,000 will be rewarded with life! But not just any type of life—they will be rewarded with resurrection life as they will be the firstfruits of the resurrection, and examples of the most powerful expression of the word salvation!
Psalm 91:16—With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”
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 14:3—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.
Psalm 91 is a beautiful psalm which tells us how Adonai will reward those who are fully devoted to Him. There have been others who’ve have walked in the authority and power of Psalm 91. We have many examples from the Scriptures and we will look at those in future articles. But we also have the testimony of hasatan himself! We can learn much about Psalm 91 from the account of Yeshua’s temptation by the devil in Matthew 4.
Matthew 4:5-7—Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’”
From this passage we learn that the devil understood that Psalm 91 applied to Yeshua! And how did he know this? It was because Yeshua is the Son of God, a man-child, someone born as the seed of the woman, destined to exercise authority on Adonai’s behalf!
Let’s review our foundational teachings concerning the man-child.
The man-child is born from a woman in great travail (Revelation 12:1-5, Genesis 3:16).
There is a deadly conflict between the man-child and the serpent (Revelation 12:1-5, Genesis 3:15, Psalm 2, Psalm 8, and Psalm 91).
The man-child is given authority to exercise dominion on Adonai’s behalf (Revelation 12:5, Genesis 1:26-28, Psalm 2, Psalm 8, and Psalm 91).
Adonai will supernaturally preserve the life of the man-child, protecting him from the wiles and destructive schemes and of the serpent (Revelation 12:5, Genesis 3:15, Psalm 2, Psalm 8, and Psalm 91).
The man-child is someone of very lowly status who will be exalted to a position of authority, power, dominion and rulership (Revelation 12:5, Genesis 1:26-28, and Psalm 8).
In our next article, I will propose a number of people who serve as prophetic forerunners of the man-child, and we’ll examine their lives so we can understand the mission of the man-child.
[1] After viewing this table and the various aspects of the Revelation 12 prophecy, it should be obvious that Mary, the mother of Yeshua, could not possibly fulfill the prophecy of Revelation 12, so she is not even considered as the woman.