BanjoPicker
Senior Member
Manchild--Various Interpretations. The manchild od Rev. 12:5. This is another symbol and must be treated as such. The following are four theories of the manchild and the reason why they could not possibly be the idea of the symbol.
The Manchild as Christ
It is believed by some that the manchild is Christ because He came from Israel according to the flesh Rom. 9:4, 5, because He will rule the nations with a rod of iron Rev. 19:15; Ps. 2, because He was translated to God Eph. 1:20, and because He is called a man 2 Tim. 2:5.
This argument is too general and proves nothing, for every Jew came from Israel according to the flesh. Upon this basis any one son of Isarel could be taken as the manchild. The expression "rod of iron" means authority over the nations, and in this sense every raptured saint will have such authority with Christ, as is proved by the following Scriptures in both Testaments.
The Old Testament saints will reign with Christ Ps. 149:6-9; Dan. 7:18, 27; Matt. 9:11, 12; Jer. 30:9; Ezek. 34:24; 37:24, 25; Hos. 3:5.
The church saints will reign with Christ Matt. 19:28; 20:20-28; Rom. 8:17; 1 Cor. 4:8; 6:2; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 1:5, 6; 2:26,27.
The 144,000 Jews will reign with Christ Rev. 7:1-8; 12:5; 14:1-5; Ps. 149:6-9; Dan. 7:18, 27.
The tribulation saints and all who have part in the first resurrection will reign with Christ Rev. 20 :4-6.
Therefore, in view of the fact that all saints of all ages will reign with Christ, then concludes that the phrase "rod of iron" in Rev. 12:5 does not prove that Christ is the manchild any more than it could be used to prove that any one of the above mentioned for companies of the redeemed is the manchild. All the saints will not have the same degree of rule, nor will it depend on whether they are in a certain company that they will rule, but all be given authority in proportion to their degree of faithfulness in the service rendered here on Earth. That will be determined at the judgment seat of Christ Lk. 19:11-27; Matt. 16:27; Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 3:11-16; 2 Cor 5:10, 11.
The translation of Christ is no definite proof that Christ is the manchild. The angel is not showing John the historical ascension of Christ, which he saw with his own eyes about sixty years previously, but a prophecy that will be fulfilled in the middle of the Week as revealed here. All raptured saints will be caught up to God and His throne 1 Thess 2:19; 3:13; 4:13-18; 5:23; Rev. 3:21; 4:4; 7:9-17; 14:1-5; 19:1-10.
That Christ is called a man does not prove that Christ is the manchild, for others are also called men in Scripture. The church is called a man Eph. 2:15; 4:13. Hence, we see that all these arguments are too general and cannot be used as proof that Christ, any other individual, or group of individuals, is symbolized by the manchild.
This theory destroys the plain consecutive order of the book of Revelation, disregards the natural divisions, and inserts historical events in this plain prophecy. If this theory is true, it would make necessary the fulfillment of all of Rev. 1:1-12:4 before the ascension of Christ. Surely it has been proved incontrovertibly that we are dealing with things in the middle of the Week and all that of Rev. 4-22 takes place after the Church Age. The plain statements concerning the woman and manchild could not possibly be harmonized with the events in the lives of Christ and the virgin Mary. Therefore, This, theory that Christ is the manchild is out of harmony with the thought intended in the "prophecy" and has no part in the things which must shorty come to pass.
The Manchild as Christ
It is believed by some that the manchild is Christ because He came from Israel according to the flesh Rom. 9:4, 5, because He will rule the nations with a rod of iron Rev. 19:15; Ps. 2, because He was translated to God Eph. 1:20, and because He is called a man 2 Tim. 2:5.
This argument is too general and proves nothing, for every Jew came from Israel according to the flesh. Upon this basis any one son of Isarel could be taken as the manchild. The expression "rod of iron" means authority over the nations, and in this sense every raptured saint will have such authority with Christ, as is proved by the following Scriptures in both Testaments.
The Old Testament saints will reign with Christ Ps. 149:6-9; Dan. 7:18, 27; Matt. 9:11, 12; Jer. 30:9; Ezek. 34:24; 37:24, 25; Hos. 3:5.
The church saints will reign with Christ Matt. 19:28; 20:20-28; Rom. 8:17; 1 Cor. 4:8; 6:2; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 1:5, 6; 2:26,27.
The 144,000 Jews will reign with Christ Rev. 7:1-8; 12:5; 14:1-5; Ps. 149:6-9; Dan. 7:18, 27.
The tribulation saints and all who have part in the first resurrection will reign with Christ Rev. 20 :4-6.
Therefore, in view of the fact that all saints of all ages will reign with Christ, then concludes that the phrase "rod of iron" in Rev. 12:5 does not prove that Christ is the manchild any more than it could be used to prove that any one of the above mentioned for companies of the redeemed is the manchild. All the saints will not have the same degree of rule, nor will it depend on whether they are in a certain company that they will rule, but all be given authority in proportion to their degree of faithfulness in the service rendered here on Earth. That will be determined at the judgment seat of Christ Lk. 19:11-27; Matt. 16:27; Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 3:11-16; 2 Cor 5:10, 11.
The translation of Christ is no definite proof that Christ is the manchild. The angel is not showing John the historical ascension of Christ, which he saw with his own eyes about sixty years previously, but a prophecy that will be fulfilled in the middle of the Week as revealed here. All raptured saints will be caught up to God and His throne 1 Thess 2:19; 3:13; 4:13-18; 5:23; Rev. 3:21; 4:4; 7:9-17; 14:1-5; 19:1-10.
That Christ is called a man does not prove that Christ is the manchild, for others are also called men in Scripture. The church is called a man Eph. 2:15; 4:13. Hence, we see that all these arguments are too general and cannot be used as proof that Christ, any other individual, or group of individuals, is symbolized by the manchild.
This theory destroys the plain consecutive order of the book of Revelation, disregards the natural divisions, and inserts historical events in this plain prophecy. If this theory is true, it would make necessary the fulfillment of all of Rev. 1:1-12:4 before the ascension of Christ. Surely it has been proved incontrovertibly that we are dealing with things in the middle of the Week and all that of Rev. 4-22 takes place after the Church Age. The plain statements concerning the woman and manchild could not possibly be harmonized with the events in the lives of Christ and the virgin Mary. Therefore, This, theory that Christ is the manchild is out of harmony with the thought intended in the "prophecy" and has no part in the things which must shorty come to pass.
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