Symbolism and Apocalyptic Language - 21 & 22
What did the writer see and say?
Once you start interpreting reading and leaving room for the writer’s use of symbolism and apocalyptic language, you must now guard yourself against seeing your own symbols and apocalyptic-isms where the writer never used them. I remind you, if the human writer did not mean it, then it is not God’s Word to us.
It becomes difficult for readers to know the mind’s of writers. The writer must make it clear. And the minute symbols are marshaled, we immediately must wonder, what is the symbol referencing?
So when the Apostle John writes “what he saw” in the Revelation and he says, “And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth,” we immediately begin to think, to whom or what is this referring?
Our first inclination (and it is a good one) is to see if John, himself, tells us who or what the woman is as well as the child she is about to bear. Certainly we do not think there will be some gigantic space woman (clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet) as someone who claims a strained literalism.
What does John say? He does not tell us plainly that the woman is Israel, or that the woman is Mary, or that the child is Jesus. However, John goes on to give us more information that will lead a biblical reader to connect those dots.
1. She gave birth to a male child, on who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron (v5).1
2. A great red dragon appeared in heaven (v2) and he stood before the woman in order that when she gave birth, he might devour the child (v4).
3. Her child was caught up to God and to his throne (v5).
4. Furthermore, the dragon swept down a third of the stars from heaven and cast them upon the earth (v3).
5. The dragon had his angels (v7).
6. The dragon is referred to as “that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world.” (v9).
1 This will remind a bible student of the Messianic Psalm 2 verse 9. And if you simply read further in Revelation, you will find where John tells the reader, “From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” (Revelation 19:15-16)