A great sign
Day 708, Monday, July 20
Revelation Chapter 12
“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.”
These opening words of chapter 12 let us know that we’re in for some challenging symbolic language, and that’s certainly what follows. How the reader understands what follows depends significantly on who or what the woman represents, and there have been many theories.
I share the conclusion that she is a somewhat fluid symbol representing both the mother of God’s people, and God’s people—who are also represented as her children.
In biblical precedent, she shares characteristics with both Eve and Mary; also with Israel and Christ’s church.
The first hearers would have also recognized symbolism inherited from pagan culture: the newborn rescued from the clutches of evil to save people appears in the mythology of Eastern, Egyptian, Greek and Roman myths, and survives in our day with Superman, Luke Skywalker and other stories.
Atheists often claim that Christian beliefs about Jesus are just the Christian version of the same mythology. Christians often counter that the widespread existence of similar stories proves that humans are predisposed to understand and accept Christ’s story, even adapting it to fit their own cultures. In the end, our faith is not proved by either the uniqueness or the universality of particular elements of Christian history and tradition; it is proved by our personal encounters with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Thinking of some of those fictional stories can actually help us learn from Revelation. Rather than always representing specific historical events, Revelation takes the story of all of history to a cosmic level—the tragedy of war and martyrdom and the struggles of our day-to-day life all reflect the battle between good and evil. It’s not exactly the Force vs. the Dark Side, but it’s reassuring to understand that not everything we experience is our fault. We’re affected by conflicts we can’t see.
The dragon who is attacking the woman and her children (God’s people) is explicitly identified in verse 9 as “the devil, or Satan.” His battle is against “those who keep God’s commands and hold fast to their testimony about Jesus.”
Like a cornered animal, the devil attacks viciously because he knows his time is short. Even as the battle rages, we know that victory is assured: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God night and day, has been hurled down.”
Rev. Mark Fleming
Monday meditation
Ecclesiastes 11:7 – 12:14
Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.
You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”—before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when people rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then people go to their eternal home and mourners go about the streets.
Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless!”
The Conclusion of the Matter
Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.
The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.
Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
Prayer focus
We often face trials we don’t understand. Help us remember it’s not always about us, but the world we live in.