Birth from Heaven

Birth from Heaven July 29, 2014

Here’s an odd thing. Revelation 12 begins with a clear vision of incarnation and exaltation: A woman gives birth to a messianic child who is taken to the throne of God. 

But then the child disappears. The dragon attacks the woman; no Messianic intervention to rescue. The dragon calls up two beasts who overcome and slaughter the saints. No child. Christ appears in chapter 14 as the “one like a son of man” who harvests the grain and grapes, but He’s riding safely on a cloud while the saints continue to be slaughtered below. Then angels slather blood all over, a city comes crashing down, and still there’s no Jesus.

He doesn’t reappear until chapter 19, when heaven is opened again and He emerges, born from above. But He’s no longer a child. He’s the ferocious, fearsome being that John first saw at Patmos (1:12-17): Eyes of fire, crowned with crowns, astride a white horse prepared to make war. After He slaughters the kings, the saints take their thrones for a thousand years and the bride descends to earth.

What’s odd is not Jesus’ absence during the biggest crisis of the church’s young history. He told them it was going to happen in the Upper Room (John 13-16): I am going away. And when I go away, the world will hate, persecute, and kill you. All while Jesus is gone.

What’s odd is what happens to Jesus during this interim. When we see Him in chapter 12, He’s a newborn – a king, enthroned, but a child. He makes a cameo as the son of man riding a cloud. But when He appears from heaven, He is full-grown. What’s happened in the interim is the suffering and victory of the saints. Not only the saints, but Jesus becomes full-grown when the saints share in His sufferings.

Which is not only odd, but mysterious and wonderful beyond thought.


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