The Woman (Revelation 12)

Let’s begin to understand the mystery of the woman who gave birth to a child and was persecuted by the dragon.

The Woman

Revelation 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

At first glance, this appears to be speaking of Israel and Mary, but as we shall see by the end of the chapter, it has a deeper meaning, because there are others who are included as children of this woman who is in heaven. This is our mother, New Jerusalem (Revelation 12:2, 9-12). Israel is both a mother who gave birth to Jesus (Micah 4:10; 5:3; Song of Solomon 6:10), and a Bride (Isaiah 54:5; 61:10; 62:5).

Revelation 12:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

The Jewish church gave birth to the Savior and His Bride the Christian Church.

Revelation 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

The dragon is symbolic of the evil one.

Revelation 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

This is commonly understood as describing a third of the angels turning bad and becoming demons.

Revelation 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

This is obviously Jesus.

Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

1260 days equals 42 months and 3 1/2 years.

Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

The timing of this appears to be around the birth of Christ and seems to refer to the spiritual battle that necessitated Christ’s parents fleeing to Egypt for a time. However, it also seems to be looking back at a previous time in distant antiquity when the devil was cast out of heaven (Luke 10:18). It also pictures the spiritual battle faced by the church.

Revelation 12:8-9 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

This is how they ended up in the abyss or prison (2 Peter 2:4) often translated as hell, but is the only scripture where a word loaned from Greek mythology, tartaroo is used, picturing an abyss or dungeon of torment.

Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused [accuses] them before our God day and night.

The word “accused” is “accuses” in Greek, revealing an ongoing false accusation from the devil. Michael the archangel did not return accusation for accusation against the devil, but instead said, “The Lord rebuke you.” (Jude 9). King David was inspired to write Psalm 109 as a prayer against his accusers.

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

How do we overcome the devil? All accusations, true and false, are covered by faith in the blood of the Lamb. If our testimony is to be true, it must be based on the Word of God (John 17:17). Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” (John 8:31) The paradox of Christianity is that if we love our lives, we are in danger of losing them (John 12:25). Not every Christian will become a martyr, as many still are in countries where persecution exists, but are we willing to live self-sacrificially (Romans 12:1)?

Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

This is literally “woe to the earth and the sea.” This describes the suffering of everything that exists on planet earth and its primary cause, the devil.

Revelation 12:13-14 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.

Two wings of an eagle are used in the Exodus (Exodus 19:4). David and Elijah fled into the wilderness to escape persecution (1 Samuel 23:14-15; 1 Kings 19:4). Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt (Matthew 2:13–23). Persecutions against the New Testament church have been many and varied, from the earliest persecutions by Jews and Romans, then Persian and Islamic persecutions, then Christian to Christian persecutions, Nazi and Communist persecutions, and contemporary persecution across North Africa and Asia. 1260 days adds up to 42 months and three and a half years, a time, times and half a time.

Revelation 12:15 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.

The flood can symbolize an invading army (Jeremiah 46:7-8; Jeremiah 47:2; Isaiah 8:7-8), ungodliness (2 Samuel 22:5, Psalm 18:4), and a flood of wickedness and evil things (1 Peter 4:4; Proverbs 15:28).

Revelation 12:16 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.

This occurred where Moses’ persecutors Korah, Dathan and Abiram, were swallowed up by the earth (Numbers 16:30-32). The earth is perhaps also symbolic of an earthly power which may be quite corrupt in other ways but helps the church, such as Constantine legalizing the southern European church, various civil rulers protecting the Waldensians in the European Alps, and Frederick the Wise protecting Luther.

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Here we see that others are also children of this woman. They are those who keep God’s commandments and have the testimony of Christ, obviously referring to the church, mother Zion (Isaiah 66:5-11) and Jerusalem above (Galatians 4:26).

For Christians, keeping God’s commandments is in the spirit and not the letter as Jesus explained in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and Paul taught (2 Corinthians 3:6) and as Jesus testified, the spiritual keeping of God’s commandments is summarized by the word love (Matthew 22:36-40). The testimony of Jesus is central to Christianity, trumping the twin heresies of traditionalist legalism and modernist liberalism.

The 3rd Woe (Revelation 11)

Let’s now take a look at the two witnesses and the seventh trump, otherwise called the third woe.

The Two Witnesses

Revelation 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

Christians may recall that “you are the temple of God” (1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1) built upon “the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:19-22). Measurements of a building under construction would include making sure that it’s being built firmly on its foundation.

Revelation 11:2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

The court of the gentiles was outside the physical temple. In this context it represents those from all nations not yet fully in the church of God, and perhaps also those of the world who tread the church under foot, trying to mix worldly ideas into the faith, who in reality sit on the outer edges, not actually measured or not fully included in the church of God. This contradicts any who believe in inclusiveness without boundaries, and any who add vain fads and traditions of the world not measured by the teachings of the apostles, prophets and Christ.

Revelation 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Amidst much speculation, nobody really knows who the two witnesses are. However, all agree that forty two months is the 1260 days, and three and a half years (time, times and half a time). As half of seven years, this possibly symbolizes shortened time and parallels similar periods in the OT (Daniel 7:25; 12:7).

Revelation 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

This is referring to Zechariah 4 where a hint is given, referring to the ministries of those responsible for finishing the Temple, which may be a type of the final completion of building the church.

Revelation 11:5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

This may refer to literal fire as Elijah called down fire from heaven (2 Kings 1:10), or the symbolic fire of powerful preaching coming from their mouths, which destroys unrepentant attitudes (Jeremiah 1:9-10), or both.

Revelation 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

This is “authorized power” from heaven.

Revelation 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

This is a beast-spirit which is in total opposition to the Spirit of Christ. In Daniel, beasts are symbolic of human kings and human governments, first is king Nebucchadnezzar (Daniel 4:16), and then four successive Empires after him: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome (Daniel 7). The beast-spirit from the pit is the true power behind the scenes of these infamous world governments.

Revelation 11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Spiritually, today’s Jerusalem is not yet the “city of peace” but Sodom and Egypt, perversion, oppression of the poor and slavery to sin.

Revelation 11:9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

Are these 3½ days the same as the 3½ years? Possibly. On the other hand, with modern broadcasting, it is possible for the whole world to see their bodies in such a short time.

Revelation 11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

Only evil, unrepentant people would rejoice over such a death.

Revelation 11:11 And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

This resurrection of the two witnesses echoes the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1-10).

Revelation 11:12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

What a contradiction of all things apostate and in rebellion against God, and what a comfort to all faithful preachers of the Word who suffer opposition!

Revelation 11:13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Why should it take such an event before people repent! This emphasizes the stubbornness of humanity.

Revelation 11:14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

With the resurrection of the two witnesses and a great earthquake, we understand that the second woe is finished and we are now introduced to the final woe, which is the seventh trumpet.

The 7th Trump 3rd Woe - Chorus

Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

The Hallelujah Chorus quotes these very words.

Revelation 11:16-17 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

In a supreme act of worship, the church’s representatives through all ages, give thanks that the hour has finally come.

Revelation 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

The attitude of the nations is revealed as early as Psalm 2:1 and Psalm 99:1, anger instead of repentance.

Revelation 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Archaeological digs search for the ark of the covenant. Is this where it went, or was the ark on earth only symbolic of the one in heaven? We can speculate, but what is clear is that the ark was in the holy of holies, which was opened at the cross, when the veil was torn in two (Matthew 27:51).

Preparation for the return of Christ and the fulness of the kingdom has involved suffering and sacrifice, but when it finally comes, the joy will far outweigh anything we will have suffered in this material existence.

The Little Book (Revelation 10)

Let’s take a look at the little book in the hand of an angel described in Revelation 10.

The Little Book

Revelation 10:1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:

The description “might angel” seems to indicate one of high rank, powerful enough for the superhuman task given, and different from the seven angels with the seven trumpets.

Revelation 10:2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

Theories are that the little book, little scroll or booklet is the Bible, the Book of Revelation, or just chapter 11. Let’s not fall into the trap of wild speculation, but be satisfied with not knowing everything. The angel sets foot on sea and land together, perhaps signifying authority over both.

Revelation 10:3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

The angel cries with a loud voice commanding attention. Then seven others spoke with voices that sounded like thunder and as with the other symbols, wild speculation abounds, dissatisfied with leaving it as a mystery. One has a sense of powerful angels steadfastly loyal to God and disgusted at the unrepentance of humanity.

Revelation 10:4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

Whatever the seven thunders uttered is not to be revealed as yet, perhaps so that we don’t get lost, as many do, in seeking the revelation of twigs of prophecy instead of remaining focused on the main purpose of the book.

Revelation 10:5-6 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

Swear here means affirm or promise with an oath. Where did our modern courtroom practice come from? Are those Christians who refuse to make an oath in court aware of these verses? What does it mean “time no longer”? Other translations render this that there will be “no more delay.” (NIV, NLT, ESV)

Revelation 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

That there will be no more delay, no more space to repent, is confirmed by the words “the mystery of God should be finished.” God’s mystery is the opposite of the mystery of Babylon (Revelation 17:5) and its associated mystery of iniquity (2 Thessalonians 2:7). God’s mystery has to do with the resurrection of the dead and the mystery of the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

Revelation 10:8-9 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

Take and eat a book? This figurative language is similar to the scroll given to Ezekiel (3:1-3). We would describe it even today as digesting the contents of a book.

Revelation 10:10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

While the gospel is good news, it is only so in contrast to the bad news all around us. Mature Christians will mourn for the sins of the world.

Revelation 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

The job of a prophet is not one of bringing only good news, but also a warning. Even many Christians only want to have smooth things preached to them (Isaiah 30:9-13).

The mystery of God and His salvation is only bad news to those who don’t want to repent, but want to continue in their sins. God gives us all a little space to repent, but that time is limited.

The First 2 Woes (Revelation 9)

Let’s now take a look at the fifth and sixth trumpets, also known as the first two of three woes, in Revelation 9.

5th Trumpet 1st Woe - The Abyss

Revelation 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.

A star falling from heaven to earth is reminiscent of Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:14-18; Luke 10:18) and the bottomless pit, better rendered as the abyss, elsewhere mentioned as a place of restraint for the demons (Luke 8:31; 2 Peter 2:4).

Revelation 9:2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

Are demons let loose for a while? The influence of such evil ones is the opposite of the smoke of the incense or our prayers. It is a smoke that blocks out the light of the glorious gospel.

Revelation 9:3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

Locusts are suggestive of a swarm, but unlike ordinary locusts, these arise from the smoke coming out of the pit with deadly power, like that of a large army (Joel 2).

Revelation 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

These armies of locusts will only hurt the non-Christians, those not sealed by the Holy Spirit in their foreheads, but having the mark of the beast instead.

Revelation 9:5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.

The natural time of a locust plague can be 5 months, often from April to September. This can also mean 150 prophetic days or years, or it can also be symbolic of a short time.

Revelation 9:6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

This seeking death is descriptive of extraordinary suffering, whereby death would bring relief.

Revelation 9:7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

Locusts look like they have little like horseheads and are called little horses in several languages. It’s easy to imagine a war machine and battle helmets in this imagery.

Revelation 9:8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

Perhaps these are warriors from a culture where men grow long hair like women. Perhaps something about their helmet or equipment gives them this appearance.

Revelation 9:9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.

This is reminiscent of the sound of a great army. Modern war machines, such as attack helicopters are also very loud. The spiritual battle in the world also rages on.

Revelation 9:10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

Again the damage done by these is limited in time.

Revelation 9:11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

The angel of the abyss is probably the devil. The name Abaddon or Apollyon signifies the destroyer and the son of destruction (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

Revelation 9:12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

So, each of these last 3 trumpets is a woe.

6th Trumpet 2nd Woe - 200 Million

Revelation 9:13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

Picturing heaven in such language ties the Old Testament Temple, with its golden altar of incense, and the New Testament together as one unified revelation of God.

Revelation 9:14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

Important events are often initiated by angels. These angels are bound, and thus likely demons, symbolically captive in Babylon.

Revelation 9:15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

This is literally “the” hour, and day, and month, and year. These angels were prepared for a specific time in God’s Divine plan.

Revelation 9:16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

A two hundred million man army is myriads of myriads, which if literal, only a large Asian population east of the Euphrates could muster. Then again, this prophecy is in apocalyptic or symbolic language and could portray a demonic army or all armies throughout human history.

Revelation 9:17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.

There is a possibility that John is describing modern weapons.

Revelation 9:18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

This is a large death toll indeed.

Revelation 9:19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

There is power in weapons and in false doctrines to hurt.

Revelation 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

The purpose of these plagues is to bring men to repentance, but to no avail, as they continue to worship things made by human hands. These are men who will not believe in God without such evidence as supernatural plagues.

Revelation 9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

This exposes the lie of atheism, falsely claiming that there is no evidence for God. Atheists seem to have gotten away with suppressing the obvious truth, those things which are clearly seen, yet they are without excuse, their foolish hearts became darkened and they made excuses for many evils they have committed (Romans 1:18-32).

God gives humanity space to repent. Let’s not waste the time.

Fruitfulness

What kind of faith is saving faith? Let’s look at living faith, its fruit, its evidence and the parable of the vineyard in Matthew 21:33-46.

The Servants

Matthew 21:33-37 “Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. 34 Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. 35 And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. 37 Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

Pashhur beat Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:1-6). Jezebel killed prophets (1 Kings 18:1-13). Joash stoned Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:20-22). What did the owner of the vineyard want? He wanted faithful tenants to “collect his fruit.” The vineyard pictures God’s kingdom belonging to “a people who will produce its fruit.”

The Murder

Matthew 21:38-39 But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.

How many sins in the church are condoned and approved of because we think that God is a long way off? Do we delude ourselves that God is not looking? He may not immediately act, but God is always looking. This is about the murder of Jewish prophets and Jesus.

The Owner

Matthew 21:40-41 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?” 41 They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”

Ultimately God owns everything and we are but tenants. Both Jews and Christians have persecuted God’s messengers and his Son. We too are guilty of disobeying God. As the current tenants, what will He say to us when He returns? What fruit have we produced for Him in His vineyard?

The Stone

Matthew 21:42-44 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

Jesus said that the stone which the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. A cornerstone is the first stone laid in masonry construction. All other stones are set in reference to it. Our faith is oriented towards Jesus, not the faulty edicts, canons, and traditions of mere humans.

The Pharisees

Matthew 21:45-46 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.

Humanity has rejected God. Yet, God persists sending His servants. Loving the unlovable is difficult and loving those who hate you is almost impossible, except with God. God loves us enough to rescue us from ourselves. We are incapable of managing this earthly estate upon which we are God’s tenants.

Application

The ancient Quadriga helps us understand the Bible in four dimensions: 1) the literal betrayal by murderous tenants, and the spiritual meaning in three parts, 2) an allegory of people killing God’s servants, 3) a moral lesson, and 4) eternal implications. Do we faithfully bear the fruits of the kingdom?

The Ten Commandments

One of this week’s readings is the Decalogue. We are “ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6) How ought Christans understand the Ten Commandments and the Old Testament law in spirit?

No other gods

Money, materialism, materialistic false gospels. Rather than a self-sacrificing Jesus, some worship a tooth-fairy Jesus, who grants their every wish. Christians ought not worship knowledge, science, governments, leaders, technology, popular fads, celebrities, luxury, or our own egos (Jeremiah 17:9; Proverbs 16:25).

No idols

An image is not an idol unless it is bowed down to and served. The covering cherubs were statues and were not worshipped as idols. We cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24). Paul encouraged Christians to flee idolatry, which is fellowship with demons (1 Corinthians 10:14-22).

No taking the name of God in vain

Vain and purposeless use of God’s name is common in today’s world. Some avoid God’s name lest they accidentally blaspheme. Yet, the Lord’s prayer encourages us, in the spirit of this law, to hallow God’s name (Matthew 6:9). We cannot hallow something that we avoid. Let’s honor God’s name.

Remember the sabbath day

A day off for worship and bodily rest is wise, but not a New Testament law. The spirit of the Sabbath law is: rest in Jesus for our souls (Matthew 11:28-30), a spiritual rest that neither Moses, nor Joshua could give Israel on a physical Sabbath day (Hebrews 3-4).

Honor Parents

This command and the promise of a long and happy life are repeated as is, in the New Testament. “Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:2-3)

You shall not murder

The spirit of this command is to value life. It’s a principle that Christians use in regard to many topics like abortion and the poor. In Matthew 5 Jesus explained that a spirit of murder begins in the heart and involves things like unrighteous anger, name-calling and unwillingness to reconcile.

No adultery

Jesus warned in Matthew 5 against careless glances, inappropriate touching and easy divorce, which would also lead to adultery. The principle applies to any sexual expression outside of a faithful marriage between a man and woman.

No stealing

Theft is everywhere. Stealing things, stealing time from an employer, or stealing fair wages from an employee. “Let him who stole, steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” (Ephesians 4:28 NKJV)

No false witness

In Matthew 5 Jesus taught the spirit of the law involves not making false promises or oaths. As Christians, we ought to be known for our honesty in business, telling the truth, keeping our marriage vows, and teaching our children the value of truth over fairy tales and childhood myths.

No coveting your neighbor’s things

The opposite of coveting is thankfulness for what we have and contentment (Philippians 4:11). If we have earned an income through honest work, ethical pricing, honorable trading, paying fair wages to our employees, and worked diligently for our employers, then we can rightly enjoy what we purchased.

Saving faith is not a dead faith without fruit but a living faith that produces much fruit. God has given his kingdom to a people who will produce its fruit. What fruit are we allowing God to produce in us?

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Exodus 20:3-17 the Ten Commandments
Psalm 19 all creation proves the glory of God
Revelation 2:8-11 the Smyrna Church

Matthew 21:33-46 in Rhyme
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A landowner planted some grapes
A tower, a hedge, what it takes
He leased it out and went far away
Then sent his servants for his pay
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The tenants beat, killed, and stoned them
And in the end, he sent his son
But they cast him out and killed him
What will the owner do to them?
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He’ll bring them to a wretched end
Find men who’ll pay his dividend
The stone the builders rejected
Is now the corner erected
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The kingdom is taken from you
Given to those bringing fruits due
Fall on this stone and you’ll be crushed
If it falls on you, you’ll be dust
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The chief priests and Pharisees knew
It was them He was speaking to
But though they sought His detention
They feared the people’s dissention

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