Rev. 12:1-6 (ESV)
And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. [2] She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. [3] And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. [4] His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. [5] She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, [6] and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.
“And now for something completely different…” as Monty Python was apt to break from a routine.
There is a break in the sequence of events. John is given a vision of an event that transcends all the doom and gloom he has been witnessing on earth. It is an event John knows of well, the birth and life of Jesus Christ, it is a sign to remind John and all Christians reading this, all Christians suffering the toils and tribulations of this world, of the hope they have in Jesus Christ.
Two signs, the first is the Virgin Mary depicted here as queen of the universe and all of Israel, her crown has 12 stars representing the 12 tribes of Israel. Her Son will be king. As she is giving birth another sign appears, a dragon who seeks to consume the child. One is reminded of the slaughter of the innocents, Herod’s attack on the city of Bethlehem that comes so close on the heals of the story of Christ’s birth. There could have been as many as five years in between Christ’s birth and this attempt, but nevertheless Satan begins to act quickly to do away with this prince. But the Child manages to live and find refuge in heaven, the right hand of God. His is the final victory.
2 comments:
Have you seen the "Star of Bethlehem" documentary. The professor presents the night sky with the "virgin" and the moon under her feet. It's very, very interesting stuff using a modern day star-charting program.
Can't say I have mollo. But I have to say, With that many stars up there to connect, you can draw anything.
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