One example is when “Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel” (1 Chron 21:1) in the hope that Israel’s punishment would lead to complete annihilation. The Devil “stood before the woman” as he has done many times in Israel’s history. Rev 12:3-4 speaks of “ another sign appeared in heaven,” which in fact chronologically precedes Israel’s history: a fiery dragon who “ drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.” This is none other than Satan’s rebellion which caused the fall of angels and man. In short, the first two verses of the chapter teach that it is through the suffering of Israelite prophets and martyrs Christ was foretold and they are His descendants.Īfterward, the chapter recapitulates all of salvation history. In short, verse 2 is a reference to persecutions before the time of Christ. So, Rev 12:2 is clearly about Israel, who “having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise” (Heb 11:39) but endured painful persecution waiting for the coming of the Lord. The coming of the sinless one cannot defile anyone nor bring to the woman pain in childbearing, which is the curse of Eve’s sin. Rev 12:2 is clearly not about the Virgin Mary, as “being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.” We know by the authoritative tradition of the Church, and the correct understanding of the Scriptures such as Ezek 44:1-3, that when the Virgin gave birth she had no pain and she remained a virgin. She is “ like the shining sun” or “ as the light of the sun,” but not the seven-fold light of the Church. The woman, standing on the moon, is brilliant but not as grand as the New Testament Church. This is a reference to how the fullness of revelation has been given to only Christians. She (that is, Old Testament Israel) is less than the Church, because “the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold” (Is 30:26). “he moon” is “under her feet,” “and on her head a garland of twelve stars” is a description of the woman being Israel, made up of twelve tribes. the Church) who before the coming of Christ may be described as follows: “he path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day” (Prov 4:8) and “the righteous will shine forth as the sun” (Matt 13:43). The chapter begins with “a woman clothed with the sun,” (Rev 12:1) which is Old Testament Israel (i.e. Let’s open our Bibles and read along with the exegesis. While what follows by no means serves as a definitive exegesis of the chapter, it leads me to believe that the woman clothed with the sun is a reference to the Church and not the Theotokos.
As for myself, I believe the chapter serves a recapitulation of all redemption history.
Many interpreters have argued over the Book of Revelation over the years and more than a few are quick to read Marian doctrines into its twelfth chapter.
0 kommentar(er)
