Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - Continue

 For the first time John beholds a woman in heaven. She is, of course, not a literal woman. Rather she is a sign or a symbol. (Revelation 1:1) What does she symbolize? In the inspired prophecies, women at times represent organizations "married" to outstanding personalities. In the Hebrew Scriptures, Israel was spoken of as a wife of Jehovah God. (Jeremiah 3:14) In the Greek Scriptures, the congregation of anointed Christians is spoken of as Christ's bride. (Revelation 21:9-14) The woman John here sees is also married to someone and she is about to give birth. Who is her husband? "Well, later her child is "caught away to God and to his throne." (Revelation 12:5) Jehovah thus claims the child as his own. Therefore, the woman that John sees must be Jehovah's symbolic wife.

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - Continue

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