Who Is This Woman? Who Is This Earth?

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto

 the earth, he persecuted the woman which 

brought forth the man child. And to the woman 

were given two wings of a great eagle, that

 she might fly into the wilderness, into her place,

 where she is nourished for a time, and times, 

and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 

And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as 

a flood after the woman, that he might cause 

her to be carried away of the flood. And the 

earth helped the woman, and the earth opened 

her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which 

the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon 

was wroth with the woman, and went to make 

to make war with the remnant of her seed, which 

keep the commandments of God, and have the

 testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 12:13-17 

     Before I begin I must apologize for not writing yesterday as I had to aid a person and it took almost all day, and today the morning was used up at the Veteran Medical Clinic as I had my monthly treatment. But we again tackle this wonderful book so full of symbols and even has caused so much controversy and once again I will remove myself as far as I can from those controversies.

     We know that the dragon is Satan and John now tells us that he has been (The Greek word is aorist, and means something that has happened back in time) cast unto the earth. The earth: is it the literal earth? Or, is it something symbolic? In the past Satan was able to go before God as we have read in the Book of Job, but now something else has happened, Satan cannot any longer go before God as before. Satan has lost some of his power. Remember, Satan did not oppose God in regard to God's power for if he had done so God would have been justified to destroy Satan. Satan opposed God's right to rule, His authority. Satan desired to rule the earth and into the earth he was cast and without power to go before God Satan knows that he has lost and time is not on his side. Satan, angry, knowing that he has lost and has lost his original power now persecutes the woman. Who is this woman? Why would Satan persecute those who do not believe in God? That would be ridiculous. There fore Satan persecutes the "woman" and that symbol, "woman," is a symbol for the Church, God's people. How is this to be true? It is from God's people that the Son of God came into this world and it is God's people who make up the bride of Christ, therefore the "woman" is the Church. God's protection is once again portrayed as the woman is given to wings of a great eagle. It is appropriate that an "eagle" was used as a symbol, not just any eagle, but a "great eagle." An eagle has eyesight so strong that he can see a creature, a small creature, we even use the phrase "eagle eye" for someone who sees not just physically well but sees the unseen. Into the wilderness for a time, times and half a time, a short period of time and while the woman is in this wilderness she is fed and kept from Satan. Satan was not deterred by this so he and does now, attemts to drown out the Gospel, to overcome the faithful, to quench their hopes, to destroy the people of God, but, to no avail. The people of God aided one another, and should do so today, why else to we go to Church, yes to hear a sermon, but more, to care for one another. It is our faith in Jesus, not a sermon, nor meeting together on Sunday, etc., but our faith in Jesus Christ that lifts us up on wings of eagles so we can withstand the wiles of Satan, his war against God's people. Authentic Christians may have to suffer some of these wiles of the devil, but Authentic Christians have already won the war: Heaven awaits the faithful. Who are the faithful? It is those who keep the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 

     There are two roads to travel: 1. to be earthly, that is to be in opposition towards God and His people. 2. To be that woman, that woman that is made up of people, those faithful people resided temporarily on this earth. We are told to put on the full armor of God so we can withstand the darts thrown at us be the devil. That includes that we keep the Church free from those who use Christianity as a "club" rather than to be a child of God who has a relationship with Him. God is Just: so we must be just. God Love: so we must be love (that does not mean love as this world defines love, but agape love, God's principled love). God is Merciful: we must be merciful. God allow His Son to be cruelly killed on the cross for us: we must die to Him and do the work that He did by bringing the Gospel to our world. We do not have complete understanding of God: we do have all that God has revealed to us in His word. 

     The question is: Which of the two choices are you making? Each have consequences!

I have not hid Thy righteousness

    within my heart; I have declared

Thy faithfulness and Thy salavation:

    I have not concealed Thy lovingkindness

and Thy truth from the great congregation

                     Psalm 40:10

Rejoice and be glad in God

Richard L. Crumb