The Woman, the Child and the dragon

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in labour and agony as she was about to give birth.

Then another sign appeared in heaven: there was a great fiery red dragon having seven heads and 10 horns, and on his head were seven diadems. His tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. And the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child. But she gave birth to a Son- a male who is going to shepherd all nations with an iron sceptre- and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. The woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, to be fed there for 1,269 days (3 1/2 years). Revelation 12:1-6

When I was growing up I used to see this image often and was taught it was Mary, the mother of God. However, I now know this is not true. Yes Mary gave birth to Jesus but the woman is Israel, He came forth from the house of Israel.

The dragon is Satan. We know he took a third of the angelic host with him when he rebelled against The Lord God almighty.

At the birth of Jesus satan attempted to destroy Him but using Herod who had all the babies destroyed from around the time Christ was born. He failed.

The above scripture talks of Christ ruling with an iron sceptre, this is at His second coming. This Jesus has not been seen as yet.

The woman was persecuted by Satan but she fled to the wilderness and was cared for by God for 3 1/2 years during the time of the tribulation.

This woman represents the Jews who have come to acknowledge Christ in the end times. Their God will sustain them, just as He has always done, they are His people. Amen!