Revelation 12:5 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Revelation 12:5

Comments

Here is the shortest dealing with the incarnation, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ in the entire Bible. It is the incarnation to ascension in a single verse. Revelation moves quickly on to focus on the subject of the opposition of the devil. This chapter is a broad sweep of history focusing on the hostility of the devil to God and his people.‘The woman brought forth a male child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron.’ There is an obvious reference to Psalm 2 here. Some teach that this rod of iron is used in a beneficial sense, but the context of Psalm 2 will not allow this. The saints also share in this reign (Revelation 2:27). There is opportunity in the psalm for the kings of the earth to repent, but they are also warned that if they do not, they will be forced to submit. He was to rule not just over Israelites but to be the Saviour of the whole world, over believing Gentiles also. ‘Indeed he says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be my Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be my salvation to the ends of the earth’ (Isaiah 49:6).‘And her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.’ Having made an atonement for sin, and having risen from the dead, Christ returned triumphant as the God man to his throne in glory. He was caught up to heaven where the dragon, the devil, has no power to hurt him. The devil is represented as a defeated foe who has failed to prevent God’s plan being fulfilled.

Application

What takes place in the middle of the verse could be expanded a little. ‘Who was to rule all nations.’ Even in his life Christ, ruled everything. It doesn’t look like it superficially. You see Christ walking on earth. In his humiliation he assumed the position of a poor man, a preacher, a healer. He was constantly oppressed, he had no royal throne or place, but when you look at his life, he actually ruled all the way through. Satan begins with the temptation of Christ. There were massive assaults upon him, and in his power and in his glorious holiness he dismissed them all, and Satan was forced to withdraw: Christ, ruled. Then too he dealt with Satan’s henchmen, the people he appointed to oppose Christ and try to take him in his words, and even to try to end his life (Luke 4:16-30). That was the triumph and the rule of Christ. Every time the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem tried to take him, he would not allow it to happen. He was in control. He ruled until the time when he permitted himself to be taken. And he went to Calvary in order to secure an even greater victory: to deliver his people and to secure the absolute right of judgement over all those who spurned and rejected him.

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Revelation 12:5 Commentary and Bible Study