This is my term paper for my class through IHOPKC. In this class we are going through the 150 chapters in the Bible whose main theme is the end-times. There are parameters I had to adhere to, two of which are double spaced and only two pages. Therefore, it is a condensed short paper. Enjoy!
Another
Woman
While studying Isaiah 66 it became
apparent that the woman in Isaiah 66:7-9 must be a different woman than
Revelation 12’s woman, since there are irreconcilable differences.
A fresh look at Isaiah 66’s woman: “Before she travailed, she brought forth;
Before her pain came, she gave birth to a boy. 8 Who has heard such a thing?
Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be
brought forth all at once? As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth
her sons.” We find two key points: 1. Isaiah 66’s woman brought forth a boy
before she travailed; 2. Through travail she brought forth sons. This woman is
Jerusalem. Jesus is birthed before travail (the 3 ½ year tribulation) (7),
while her sons are birthed through travail (the 3 ½ year tribulation) (8e). The
sons birthed through travail are defined as: “Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at
once?” Meaning that the nation of Israel—the sons—receive their Savior
Jesus at once! Romans 11:26 coincides: …and
so all Israel will be saved. Furthermore, Romans 11:26 must be married to
Romans 10:13: … for “whoever will call on
the name of the Lord will be saved.” The nation of Israel finally embraces
her Savior! The “boy” is born pretribulation, in fact 2000 years before. The
nation “sons” are born post-tribulation—after the 3 ½ years.
Revelation 12’s key points about its woman:
1. She was with child and in labor (1); 2. Her child was caught up to God and
to His throne (5); 3. Immediately she fled into the wilderness for 3 ½ years (6);
4. The dragon, who now dwelt on the earth, persecuted the woman (13); 5. She
was supernaturally taken to a safe place from the dragon for 3 ½ years (14); 6.
The earth helped the woman (16); 7. The dragon went to war with the rest of her
children (17).
Although there are many differences between
these two women, there are two distinct similarities—they both travailed and birthed
a boy. However, Isaiah 66’s woman travailed with sons, while Revelation 12’s
woman travailed with a male child. In Isaiah 66 we understand the travail to be
the 3 ½ year tribulation, however in Revelation 12 it cannot be so. This woman
supernaturally flees to safety for 3 ½ years—the exact duration of the
tribulation—after she gives birth. She travailed with her boy before the tribulation—a
distinction of magnitude!
Isaiah 66’s woman and boy are surrounded
by eschatological scriptures, yet they are distinct from them. Verse 8 states: As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought
forth her sons. Subsequent scriptures reveal these “sons” (through Jesus)
are nourished by Jerusalem following His return. The woman, Jerusalem, has both
a son and sons, howbeit 2000 years apart.
Jerusalem was God’s wife (Isaiah 62:1-5). He divorced her due to her unfaithfulness to Him. Could the woman in Isaiah 66 be Jerusalem and Jesus’ Bride? Could the Son take His Father’s wife? How could Jerusalem or Jesus’ mother fit Revelation 12:6—this woman fled supernaturally into the wilderness for safety for 3 ½ years? I conclude that Revelation 12’s woman is the Bride of Christ. She is the part of the church who made herself ready (Revelation 19:7). The man child is not Jesus, but is an “offspring” of Jesus and His Bride. This child will rule the nations with Jesus and overcomers in Thyatira (Revelation 2:27). Also, consider the faithful in Philadelphia are preserved through the hour of testing on the earth (Revelation 3:10). Revelation 12’s woman must be people alive on the earth at the time of tribulation (Revelation 12:16), otherwise it would of necessity be subsequent to the first resurrection.
Isaiah 66 broadens our eschatological understanding
as we can clearly see Jerusalem’s eternal place in the heart of God. It propels
us to engage with His heart in prayer to carry this people through her most
severe of times and into her eternal destiny. Without Isaiah 66 we would lack
understanding of God’s purpose for Jerusalem during this time. Isaiah 66 will
bring hope and a message to Gentiles and Jews alike as we walk through the last
3 ½ years of this age.
