The Woman Brought Forth A Manchild

by Pastor Charles Schmitt

The vision of Revelation 12 has always had more than one possible interpretation. Here is the story of a woman in travail, and she births a manchild ("a son, a male child," NIV) "who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter" (Revelation 12:5). Some logically see Mary as the woman and our Lord Jesus as the manchild. Yet others reasonably see Israel as the woman and our Lord Jesus as the manchild. And yet others prophetically see the woman as the Church and the mandchild as those overcomers in the Church, spoken of previously in Revelation 2 and 3.

We will not want to dismiss this last interpretation too quickly. In each of the seven messages to the seven churches a specific word is given "to him who overcomes," for even in the midst of churches that have failed deeply and fallen miserably (such as Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea) there is mention made of a band of overcomers and a promise given to "him who overcomes." Specifically to the church in Thyatira this word is given: "To him who overcomes and does My will to the end, I will give authority over the nations-'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'-" (Revelation 2:26-27). Consequently, when this same statement is made concerning the manchild of Revelation 12-"She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter..." (v. 5)-it becomes reasonable to see in this manchild a picture of the overcomers in the Church headed up by Jesus; and there is a growing band of these in each local church today, even as there was in each one of the seven churches of Asia Minor in John's day!

Perhaps this is the reason why I do not personally get unduly disturbed when in a church of thousands, hundreds come out to seriously seek the Lord in prayer. We could wish that in a church of thousands, thousands would respond-but that usually has not been the case. Perhaps the only exception to this 80/20 rule is found during seasons of visitation from the Lord. More people usually jump on the bandwagon in days of visitation than normally would, but, we note, historically, that most revivals are birthed not because everybody prayed, but because a few hidden, unsung, unheralded men and women, boys and girls pressed into God and unlocked the heavens. And what they did, they did for all the rest.

Immanuel's has a strong nucleus of "overcomers"-men, women, boys and girls-folks who are pressing into God, seeking His presence, pursuing "life on the highest plane." My burden as a pastor is to see that nucleus grow and increase, but I am not distraught to realize that "overcomers" are usually not the majority, but a minority, and that we have people at every level of victory and even defeat in our midst. (One brother even felt the Lord showed him a few who were living in adultery. That is grievous, and these-if they do not repent-will be severely disciplined by God, for He hates unrepentant sin!) We probably even have consistent attendees who are not yet born-again. The hour of their spiritual rebirth is yet ahead of them; we're just glad to have them come and sit under the Word of God. And the same is true regarding those who are yet to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus describes His Kingdom in Matthew 13, He describes it as a good field but, unfortunately, there are some weeds in it-the work of the enemy. His concern about pulling the weeds is while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. And so Jesus instructs: "Let them grown together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn" (Matthew 13:24-30). In Matthew 18:15-17 Jesus gives clear instructions for dealing with those who specifically are found to be living in sin-and we will be obedient to that teaching. But perhaps the point of the parable of the weeds is to guard us from developing a general criticalness that can become destructive in any church. ("Someone here is living in sin...There are those who are not pleasing to God," etc.) Many times this kind of weed-pulling uproots sincere and conscientious souls as well. So if God gives you a specific person to deal with, go to that one in the spirit of Galatians 6:1-2. Apart from that, we need to watch the weed-pulling. It will be counter-productive.

Week by week, in teaching and in our altar work, we cast out the net in a passion to see people surrender their lives to Jesus, to be filled with His Holy Spirit, and to dedicate their lives wholly to Him. Our quest as a church is for "life on the highest plane." An so my prayer as a pastor is that in these final hours of this age, as the church births a mature "son" in the earth to ascend to the throne of God and to rule the nations with a rod of iron, that we in Immanuel's will contribute heavily to that holy calling! Amen!