May 21: Radiant With Love
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. Revelation 12:1
This vision shown to the aged apostle John was a great sign, the Greek word being semeion, which means a symbolic presentation of something real. This beautiful woman represents God’s faithful remnant throughout all stages of earth’s history. Our God is outside of time. He is showing John, and us, that He can see her all at once. She is very real and stunningly beautiful to Him. In the Old Testament she stood—in faith—on the reflection of the Light of the World: the gospel message. Just as the moon reflects the light of the sun, the types and shadows that were taught in the sanctuary illustrated to God’s betrothed the Savior to come.
Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? Psalm 77:13 (KJV)
The betrothed of God in the Old Testament is the bride of Christ in the New. Throughout time, she is clothed in the light of Christ. She is radiant, and the garland of twelve stars on her head is like a sparkling crown, flashing in all directions every facet of truth onto the scenes of time . . . before the twelve tribes of Israel and beyond the twelve apostles . . .
Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. Revelation 12:2
The coming of the Messiah into the world was the beginning of the fulfillment of the first prophecy of the coming Savior, spoken by God directly to the serpent:
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. Genesis 3:15
It is through this woman that Jesus comes into the world, followed by the birth of the New Testament church. She is portrayed as the remnant church in subsequent verses of Revelation 12.
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. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. vv.5-6 (see also v.14)
Although the church, like Israel before it, blundered into apostasy, the remnant has been kept pure. Yes, in every age! She received nourishment even when the enemy of God worked to hide or destroy His Word. Our faithful God will continue to preserve for Himself a remnant in the last days. He shows us the secret of her beauty: it is unfettered love for the Lord Jesus!
Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3
Who is she who looks forth as the morning, Fair as the moon, Clear as the sun, Awesome as an army with banners? Song of Solomon 6:10
And the dragon was wroth [enraged!] with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:17