Woman of the Apocalypse

The WOMAN OF THE APOCALYPSE is referenced in the Book of Revelation and her story has produced many interpretations: she is considered the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Church, the Nation of Israel, the Generic Man and Eve of Eden. She is represented as a woman travailing in labor and soon to give birth. The Great Red Dragon, interpreted as Satan, waits nearby to snatch the child from its mother, but the Creator intervenes and takes the "Woman" away so that the Red Dragon cannot touch her or the child. (Revelation 12)

 The Blessed Virgin Mary   
                           

"Woman of the Apocalypse"
by Peter Paul Rubens. 

The Roman Catholic tradition assigns the identity of the "Woman" to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This theory is based on dogma as well as Scripture. After her assumption into heaven, she is revealed [and venerated] as the "Queen of Heaven","Mother of God", and "Mother of the Church". The incarnation of the Son of God through Mary thus signifies her as the likely candidate for the "Woman".



This view has been affirmed by the following Roman Catholic Popes: Pius X, Pius XII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. According to their religious theory, the woman's "male child" is a reference to Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:5), since he is destined to "rule all nations with a rod of iron" (Revelation 12:5).

The red dragon trying to devour the woman's child at the moment of his birth (Revelation 12:4) is a reference to Herod the Great's attempt to kill the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:16). Through his death and resurrection, Jesus "was snatched up to God and to his throne" (Revelation 12:5).

The current Pope, Benedict XVI, maintains that the Virgin Mary possesses divine motherhood which she continues to bestow as intercessory "graces associated with God's blessing." This sentiment echoed loudly through Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome on March 25, 1987 as Pope John Paul II delivered his encyclical Redemptoris Mater and said:

"At the centre of this mystery, in the midst of this wonderment of faith, stands Mary. As the loving Mother of the Redeemer, she was the first to experience it: "To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator!" 

It was during the Middle Ages that the idea of the Blessed Virgin Mary being the "Woman of the Apocalypse" was widely accepted and such beliefs have continued into our modern times. However, the ancient Christians of the early AD era associated The Church with the "Woman" of Revelation.

The Church: 

In Roman Catholic teachings, the veneration of Mary is a logical and necessary consequence of Christology: Jesus and Mary are son and mother, redeemer and redeemed. This belief is shared by the entire Christian body of "The Church". However, according to the reformed theology of Christian eschatology, the "Woman" is identified as the Church and the man child she gives birth to represents the saints and therefore reverting back to the ancient beliefs that the Church is the "Woman". Revelation 12:17 describes the remnant of the seed of the woman as those who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Hence, the woman's seed (the man child) then refers to the saints, who are a symbol of the faithful members of the Church.

The Church in Thyatira, mentioned in Revelation 2:18-29, is promised that the faithful shall rule the nations with a rod of iron. In Revelation 19:15, the same thing is stated of Jesus, who is considered the head of the Church. Furthermore, in Revelation 21:2 (and Ephesians 5:21-32), the Church and New Jerusalem, referred to as "our mother", are portrayed as the Bride of Christ.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has traditionally identified itself as the end-time "remnant church" described in Revelation 12:17. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also interprets the "Woman" to be the Church, and the man-child to be the political kingdom that will grow out of the Church prior to or during the Second Coming of Christ.

While there are various theories concerning the concept of "The Church" being the "Woman of the Apocalypse", there are other ideals that interpret the nation of Israel as being the "Woman".

Nation of Israel

There are many reasons given to support the theory of the "Woman" being the nation of Israel. The biblical prophets of antiquity referred to Israel as a "woman" (Isaiah 54:5-6; Jeremiah 4:31; Micah 4:9-10). The woman in Revelation is said to be clothed with the sun, the moon under feet, and twelve stars. This is indicative of Joseph's dream in Genesis 37:9-11, in which the sun and moon represents the first family of Israel (Joseph's parents, Jacob and Rachel) and the stars are in reference to his brothers (the sons of Jacobs, also known as the Twelve Tribes of Israel), whom will eventually bow down to him [Joseph] as the Governor of Egypt.

Further, the archangel Michael is called the guardian over the sons of Israel in Daniel 12:1. And he will arise at that time of Israel's great tribulation (Daniel 12:1; Revelation 12:7). During this time, Israel will flee into the wilderness to escape the persecution of the Anti-Christ, who is called "the son of destruction," "the lawless one," and "whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan" (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Revelation. 12:4,9). In the Olivet discourse, Jesus warned the people this would occur just prior to His return to set up His earthly, millennial kingdom. (Matthew 24:15-22) This scenario is also called the Seventieth Week of Daniel, a prophecy specifically addressed to Daniel and his people, Israel (Daniel 9:24-27).

Lutheran scholar, Craig Koester, stated:

"The woman encompasses the story of Israel, from whom the Messiah was born, as well as the story of the church, which was persecuted after Jesus' death and resurrection... John's visionary account of the threat against the woman and the woman's preservation uses imagery that encompasses many moments in the story of God's people. This allows the story to apply to people in many times and places."

The Amillennialist belief also interprets this passage as the nation of Israel, however this belief as expressed by amillennialists refers, not to the modern Israel, but to the Ancient religious state of Israel (Judea) as it existed in the time of Christ. The man child is Jesus Christ, born into the then existing state of Israel, and of Israel's linage. The Anti-Christ is often interpreted as not being a specific person, but as being that which is not of Christ, including the "generic" man who is a non-believer.

The Generic Man

Christian Scientists understand the "Woman" to symbolize "generic man, the spiritual idea of God; she illustrates the coincidence of God and man as the divine Principle and divine idea...the spiritual idea of God's motherhood." The man child represents "Christ, God's idea, [which] will eventually rule all nations and peoples - imperatively, absolutely, finally - with divine Science." To the followers of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy [its founder] typifies generic man. Some believe she actually referred to herself as the "Woman of the Apocalypse", even though she denied it, most notably at the Woodbury Trial of 1901. However, there were many who acknowledged Mary Baker Eddy as the "Woman" in Revelation 12 and her place in Bible prophecy. Such public statements were published in the Christian Science Journal in July, 1890. Mary Baker Eddy responded to these public statements by printing the following notice in the Christian Science Journal in August, 1890:

MR. EDITOR: - The late articles referring to me in July issue of the JOURNAL contain presentiments that I object to having uttered or written now in regard to myself. God alone appoints the befitting path and place for each of His children; and mankind should wait on Him, and let the ages declare judgment. It is my impression that at least a half century will pass away before man is permitted to render his public verdict on some of the momentous questions that are now agitating the world. (Vol. 8, p. 193; emphasis added)   

While it was never proven that Mary Baker Eddy made these claims, the fact remains that she taught that the "Woman" was a symbol of generic man, not the Church. Others disagree with this theory and believe Eve [from the Garden of Eden] was the "Woman" referenced in Revelation. 

Eve of Eden 
    

Some theologians believe the "Woman" referenced in Revelation is Eve from the Garden of Eden. Their reasoning is that she [Eve] was part of a conflict that also involved her seed (the future descendants of Israel) and the Dragon, who is identified as the ancient serpent in Eden. (Revelation 12:9; 20:2) This symbolic comparison mirrors the conflict experienced between Mary, Satan and Jesus.

"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." (Genesis 3:15)

Jerusalem was considered to be the "wife" or "bride" of God (Jeremiah 2:2); however, she was an "adulterous wife" (Ezekiel 16:32). Therefore, the New Jerusalem, the capital city of the new heaven, will become the perfect "Bride" of the Lamb of God when it comes out of  the new heaven (just as Eve came out of Adam) after a new heaven and a new earth have been created.

It does not matter that Eve never ascended to Heaven because John of Patmos is recording the conclusion of events which began in the Garden of Eden and with the Fall of Man. Satan, who is responsible for tempting Adam and Eve to regain access to Heaven, will finally be expelled once and for all. Since the beginning, when Michael and his angels cast Satan and his fallen angels from their heavenly access, the Red Dragon [Satan] has waged war to stop his confinement on earth and reinstate himself into Heaven.

It was through Eve that the nation of Israel came into existence to bear the "male seed" that redeems what Adam and Eve lost as a result of the Serpents deception. And it is the prophecy of the coming Messianic redemption that parallels that which involves Eve, her seed, the serpent and the serpent's seed.

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There is a lot of debate about what the symbol of this "Woman" represents. The different aspects of the conflicting symbolism that points to various possible meanings remain a study of debate among the scholars and theologians. Although the one thing agreed upon is that Satan has tried to prevent the Messiah's birth and the completion of the Creator's plan of redemption from the time Cain killed his brother, Abel. The Revelation given unto John reveals the spiritual dimension of this age-old conflict which will one day enter the final act.

The debate over the "Woman" and her identity will continue with each new generation and, most likely, the answers will remain as enigmatically obscure as the Revelation itself. But, it does make one ask: Who's ? Right