Post by paul on Jul 14, 2017 8:40:53 GMT -6
I believe that the truth is in Jesus. The apostle Paul said that in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. So whatever the answer we are looking for we can get it by beholding the Author and the Finisher of our faith. And as we beholding the glory of the Lord the Holy Spirit transforms us from glory to glory. (2 Cor 3:18)
When I was meditating on the woman, the meaning of her labor and who might be her child, the Holy Spirit led me to John 16 where Jesus said to His disciples: "'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'". His disciples couldn't understand the statement, so Jesus gave them the analogy about woman being in labor and giving birth to a child. (John 16:21) Then He explained to them what He meant by giving this analogy. So, let’s dive into the Word and find out who is the woman, what is her labor signifies and who is her child?
THE WOMAN:
After Jesus talked about the woman in labor, He said: "Therefore...". The word therefore means that He is about to explain what He was talking about before that. Jesus said: "Therefore you now have sorrow...". Let's compare it with the previous verse: "A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow..." (John 16:21) So, who is the woman? The Jews!
"Isn't the woman symbolizes Jesus’ disciples?" -- someone might ask. But what was the difference between Jesus' disciples and the rest of the Jews? Jesus' disciples were still living under the old covenant of the Law of Moses, for the new covenant wasn't yet inaugurated, because Jesus hasn't yet shed His blood. They still had the old covenant spirit of slavery, for the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of sonship was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. And most of all they did not believe in Him or the fact that God raised His from the dead. That is why Jesus rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart. (Mark 16:11,14)
If somebody attends a Christian gathering or makes a donation like Ananias and Sapphire or even follows Jesus like Judas, it doesn't make him a believer. The one who believes that God raised Jesus from the dead is the true believer. (Rom 10:10) He is like the father Abraham, who believed and His faith was counted him for righteousness. (Gen 15:6; Gal 3:9)
Jesus' disciples didn't believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ even after the women told them that they have seen the Lord. They didn’t believe it because they still had the veil of the Law on the eyes. Therefore, the woman in labor is the Jews living under the Law of Moses.
THE LABOR:
Jesus said: "A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow..." and then explained: "Therefore you now have sorrow...". Why did Jesus' disciples have sorrow?" Let's the Lord answer Himself: "But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart." What things, Lord? "But now I go away to Him who sent Me" and "A little while, and you will not see Me". The labor and its sorrow is the time when Jesus' disciples didn't see the Lord. It is the time after Jesus died on the cross and was in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
When the woman's labor starts the water and the blood come out and that's exactly what happened when the Roman soldier pierced Jesus’ side with a spear. The water and the blood came out. Jesus gave up His ghost to the Father and even the John who was standing by His side didn't see the Lord anymore. The sorrow has filled his heart, because the Lord who loved him was gone.
THE CHILD & HIS BIRTH:
Jesus said: "but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born" and then explained: "but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice..." So, who is that child that the woman saw and rejoiced? It is our Lord Jesus Christ. And what is the birth of the child? That's when He rose from the dead then came and showed Himself to His disciples. Even as Jesus was born in the flesh and came out from the virgin womb, so He was born again and came out from the virgin tomb. When Jesus’ disciples saw Him they were like a woman who forgets about all her sorrow when she sees a newborn baby. They were glad and full of joy.
Jesus told the Jews that even their father Abraham rejoiced to see His day: and he saw it, and was glad. Abraham looked at the stars and read an amazing story written on them. He saw the pregnant woman. He saw how she gave the birth to a child who was going to rule the nations with the rod of iron and he believed. It is written that Abraham believed that God is able to raise up, even from the dead. (Heb 11:18) That is why the Lord counted his faith unto righteousness. Believe in what? In the resurrection of the Messiah, which is the birth of a male-child. Amen!
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What a wonderful story! Every time we read how the Lord died on the cross, was buried and rose from the dead our hearts get filled with gladness and joy even as the hearts of Jesus’ disciples when they saw their Lord after His resurrection.
So, is there any other story in the Bible that correlates with this one? Is there a story that is very similar and alike that is going to happen in the future? Indeed, it is! Let’s take a look at it and draw the parallels.
In the Revelation 11 we can read about the two Witnesses who prophesied for 1260 days or 3.5 years. The length of their ministry is the same as the ministry of Jesus. After they have finished their testimony they were killed. The same has happened to Jesus when He finished His testimony. He was condemned unto death and hung on the cross. This is the beginning of woman’s sorrow.
As Jesus’ disciples were in a great sorrow when their Master died, so the Jews who heard the testimony of the two Witnesses will be in sorrow when they see them dead. As Jesus’ body was in the womb of the earth for 3 days and 3 nights, so these Witnesses will be in the street of the great city for 3.5 days. It's the same city where also our Lord was crucified. (Rev 11:18) The Holy Spirit or the Spirit of truth mentioned explicitly it as to make a connection to the story of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.
Jesus told his disciples before He went on the cross: “Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice…” (John 16:20) That’s exactly what will happen when the two Witnesses will be lying dead in the street. “And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another…” (Rev 11:10)
When apostle Paul was writing to Corinthians about the resurrection of the dead he said: “…what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain…” (1 Cor 15:37). The physical body is a seed from which God builds new and glorious body.
“Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet…” This is the exact event of the birth of male child. When the child is born into the world he starts to breathe and the woman forgets her sorrow and rejoices. That’s when we can remember the words of Jesus: “…but your sorrow will be turned into joy.” (John 16:20) The Jews will see the newborn baby standing on its feet and rejoice. They will believe even as Thomas believed when He saw Jesus!
Then the two Witnesses heard the voice from Heaven: “Come up here” and they ascended to heaven in a cloud, even as Jesus ascended in a cloud. Didn’t Jesus and the two Witnesses ascend to the throne of God when they were already adults and not as a newborn baby? That’s because we look at Jesus according to the flesh, but apostle Paul said: “Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.” (2 Cor 5:16) His flesh was just a seed for a new and glorious baby. He was only 40 days old when the cloud took Him to the throne of God.
According to the Law of Moses the baby Jesus was presented in the Temple after the purification of His mother (Luke 2:22). So the Christ Jesus was caught up to the God’s Temple which is in Heaven after the purification of His many disciples. Apostle Paul said that Jesus “was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once…, After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also…” (1 Cor 15:5-8) That is the purification process of a woman after she has given birth. The two Jesus’ disciples said to each other: “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” When we see resurrected Christ Jesus and believe then our heart gets purified. Apostle Peter by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit said: “God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us… purifying their hearts by faith.” (Acts 15:9)
In the like manner the woman or the Jews will be purified after the birth of the two Witnesses. When they see them standing on their feet, they will believe. That’s where we can find the rest of woman’s offspring who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ after the woman’s child was taken to the throne of God. (Rev 12:17)
In the Gospel of Mathew, we can read that there was a great earthquake for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the tomb where Jesus body was lying. In the same manner after the resurrection of the two Witnesses there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel and the Jews will give glory to the God of heaven. (Rev 11:13)
Now it up to you dear reader to decide who is this male child. But when you look at the Author and the Finisher of our faith, the morning star will start to rise in your heart and your eyes will be enlightened by the truth, for the truth is in Jesus.
When I was meditating on the woman, the meaning of her labor and who might be her child, the Holy Spirit led me to John 16 where Jesus said to His disciples: "'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'". His disciples couldn't understand the statement, so Jesus gave them the analogy about woman being in labor and giving birth to a child. (John 16:21) Then He explained to them what He meant by giving this analogy. So, let’s dive into the Word and find out who is the woman, what is her labor signifies and who is her child?
THE WOMAN:
After Jesus talked about the woman in labor, He said: "Therefore...". The word therefore means that He is about to explain what He was talking about before that. Jesus said: "Therefore you now have sorrow...". Let's compare it with the previous verse: "A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow..." (John 16:21) So, who is the woman? The Jews!
"Isn't the woman symbolizes Jesus’ disciples?" -- someone might ask. But what was the difference between Jesus' disciples and the rest of the Jews? Jesus' disciples were still living under the old covenant of the Law of Moses, for the new covenant wasn't yet inaugurated, because Jesus hasn't yet shed His blood. They still had the old covenant spirit of slavery, for the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of sonship was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. And most of all they did not believe in Him or the fact that God raised His from the dead. That is why Jesus rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart. (Mark 16:11,14)
If somebody attends a Christian gathering or makes a donation like Ananias and Sapphire or even follows Jesus like Judas, it doesn't make him a believer. The one who believes that God raised Jesus from the dead is the true believer. (Rom 10:10) He is like the father Abraham, who believed and His faith was counted him for righteousness. (Gen 15:6; Gal 3:9)
Jesus' disciples didn't believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ even after the women told them that they have seen the Lord. They didn’t believe it because they still had the veil of the Law on the eyes. Therefore, the woman in labor is the Jews living under the Law of Moses.
THE LABOR:
Jesus said: "A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow..." and then explained: "Therefore you now have sorrow...". Why did Jesus' disciples have sorrow?" Let's the Lord answer Himself: "But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart." What things, Lord? "But now I go away to Him who sent Me" and "A little while, and you will not see Me". The labor and its sorrow is the time when Jesus' disciples didn't see the Lord. It is the time after Jesus died on the cross and was in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
When the woman's labor starts the water and the blood come out and that's exactly what happened when the Roman soldier pierced Jesus’ side with a spear. The water and the blood came out. Jesus gave up His ghost to the Father and even the John who was standing by His side didn't see the Lord anymore. The sorrow has filled his heart, because the Lord who loved him was gone.
THE CHILD & HIS BIRTH:
Jesus said: "but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born" and then explained: "but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice..." So, who is that child that the woman saw and rejoiced? It is our Lord Jesus Christ. And what is the birth of the child? That's when He rose from the dead then came and showed Himself to His disciples. Even as Jesus was born in the flesh and came out from the virgin womb, so He was born again and came out from the virgin tomb. When Jesus’ disciples saw Him they were like a woman who forgets about all her sorrow when she sees a newborn baby. They were glad and full of joy.
Jesus told the Jews that even their father Abraham rejoiced to see His day: and he saw it, and was glad. Abraham looked at the stars and read an amazing story written on them. He saw the pregnant woman. He saw how she gave the birth to a child who was going to rule the nations with the rod of iron and he believed. It is written that Abraham believed that God is able to raise up, even from the dead. (Heb 11:18) That is why the Lord counted his faith unto righteousness. Believe in what? In the resurrection of the Messiah, which is the birth of a male-child. Amen!
--------
What a wonderful story! Every time we read how the Lord died on the cross, was buried and rose from the dead our hearts get filled with gladness and joy even as the hearts of Jesus’ disciples when they saw their Lord after His resurrection.
So, is there any other story in the Bible that correlates with this one? Is there a story that is very similar and alike that is going to happen in the future? Indeed, it is! Let’s take a look at it and draw the parallels.
In the Revelation 11 we can read about the two Witnesses who prophesied for 1260 days or 3.5 years. The length of their ministry is the same as the ministry of Jesus. After they have finished their testimony they were killed. The same has happened to Jesus when He finished His testimony. He was condemned unto death and hung on the cross. This is the beginning of woman’s sorrow.
As Jesus’ disciples were in a great sorrow when their Master died, so the Jews who heard the testimony of the two Witnesses will be in sorrow when they see them dead. As Jesus’ body was in the womb of the earth for 3 days and 3 nights, so these Witnesses will be in the street of the great city for 3.5 days. It's the same city where also our Lord was crucified. (Rev 11:18) The Holy Spirit or the Spirit of truth mentioned explicitly it as to make a connection to the story of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.
Jesus told his disciples before He went on the cross: “Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice…” (John 16:20) That’s exactly what will happen when the two Witnesses will be lying dead in the street. “And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another…” (Rev 11:10)
When apostle Paul was writing to Corinthians about the resurrection of the dead he said: “…what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain…” (1 Cor 15:37). The physical body is a seed from which God builds new and glorious body.
“Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet…” This is the exact event of the birth of male child. When the child is born into the world he starts to breathe and the woman forgets her sorrow and rejoices. That’s when we can remember the words of Jesus: “…but your sorrow will be turned into joy.” (John 16:20) The Jews will see the newborn baby standing on its feet and rejoice. They will believe even as Thomas believed when He saw Jesus!
Then the two Witnesses heard the voice from Heaven: “Come up here” and they ascended to heaven in a cloud, even as Jesus ascended in a cloud. Didn’t Jesus and the two Witnesses ascend to the throne of God when they were already adults and not as a newborn baby? That’s because we look at Jesus according to the flesh, but apostle Paul said: “Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.” (2 Cor 5:16) His flesh was just a seed for a new and glorious baby. He was only 40 days old when the cloud took Him to the throne of God.
According to the Law of Moses the baby Jesus was presented in the Temple after the purification of His mother (Luke 2:22). So the Christ Jesus was caught up to the God’s Temple which is in Heaven after the purification of His many disciples. Apostle Paul said that Jesus “was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once…, After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also…” (1 Cor 15:5-8) That is the purification process of a woman after she has given birth. The two Jesus’ disciples said to each other: “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” When we see resurrected Christ Jesus and believe then our heart gets purified. Apostle Peter by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit said: “God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us… purifying their hearts by faith.” (Acts 15:9)
In the like manner the woman or the Jews will be purified after the birth of the two Witnesses. When they see them standing on their feet, they will believe. That’s where we can find the rest of woman’s offspring who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ after the woman’s child was taken to the throne of God. (Rev 12:17)
In the Gospel of Mathew, we can read that there was a great earthquake for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the tomb where Jesus body was lying. In the same manner after the resurrection of the two Witnesses there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel and the Jews will give glory to the God of heaven. (Rev 11:13)
Now it up to you dear reader to decide who is this male child. But when you look at the Author and the Finisher of our faith, the morning star will start to rise in your heart and your eyes will be enlightened by the truth, for the truth is in Jesus.
