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Woman, Child, Remnant
Phil Maxwell
June 4, 2002
There is a distinction between the male child born of the woman
in Rev 12 and the remnant of her seed discussed in the same chapter. Similarly,
there is a difference between the CHILD that is born and the MAN that will
ultimately rule all nations with a rod of iron. The former represents the
starting point of the manifestation of the sons of God in the world, while the
latter represents all the members of the first resurrection – including the
innumerable company that come out of great tribulation at the cost of their
lives; i.e. the “remnant of her seed.”
Notice that the devil’s wrath is aimed first against the unborn child, then
against the woman who birthed him, then against the “remnant of her seed.”
Even after the child is “caught up to God and to His throne,” the mother
falls under attack, being spared only by divine intervention from the devil’s
wrath. The woman who birthed this child is to be divinely protected for 1,260
days while the “remnant of her seed” are persecuted. Again, there is an
obvious distinction between people on the earth during this time who are all
destined to a part in the royal priesthood of the first resurrection who will
rule the nations with a rod of iron: Some are divinely protected for 1,260 days,
while others endure extreme persecution for about the same period.
The letter to the Church of Philadelphia indicates particular favor amongst all
the others, as it has both a crown on its head and an open door that no man can
shut set before it. Likewise, the woman who births the man child is first seen
with a heavenly crown and is assured of 3-1/2 years of safety in the midst of
tribulation. (Actually, her circumstances involve a lot more than that: She is
kept safe under direct attack of the strongest sort from spiritual wickedness in
the highest of places.)
Another glimpse of a division amongst the seed of the woman is seen in
Revelation 11. The people of God are to be counted according to where they are
in relation to the temple. Those dwelling in the holy city outside the walls
will be given over to 42 months of tribulation, just like the remnant of the
woman’s seed in chapter 12. And, just like the woman who bears the child,
those worshipping within the walls of the temple are tucked safely within. The
hard thing about this is the number: John is told to count, and the only count
shown is two. These two witnesses will, therefore, be given great powers of
defense to prophesy for 1,260 days, just like the woman who births the male
child Satan hates so much.
The bottom line is that when the living temple of God is measured, the two
Yahshua calls "MY two witnesses" will be set before the altar alone,
being THE two who stand before the Lord of the whole earth, as Zechariah wrote.
The message delivered to the angel of the Philadelphia Church alludes to this
spirit's domain in the last days, which equals the Two Prophets, at least at the
onset of these events, and also the woman who births the man child in Rev. 12.
The male child she births is Yahshua coming in to sup with those who heard His
voice and opened to Him. As the Lord said, both He and the Father will make
their abode with those who both hear and do according to His words. He will be
"seen" and "heard" through them, at least by those able to
hear His voice. Yahshua's presence -- His "birth" -- will bring again
the power of the kingdom of heaven to this world. He will be shown openly by the
works they do, just the Father's presence with Him was evident by His works
before.
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