I was once told by an elder in the church I used to belong to that the manchild being spoken of in Revelation chapter 12 verse 5 was about Christ when He was born into this world. The Spirit inside me disagreed with the elder 100%, because the Spirit had been showing me something very different. I began my intensive study of the manchild and here is all that I have uncovered thus far. The “woman” is Israel (which is also the church that is part of the world) gives birth to the “child” and is “caught up” to the throne of God. Christ NEVER did this when He was born. Therefore, this proves Christ is not being spoken of in Rev. 12:1-5 nor Isa. 66:7.
For all you English teacher that maybe watching this, I know this is a terrible botch up of first and third person paper, but I was attempting to use this mostly for a video narration.
Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne.
Isa 66:7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.
John Walvoord wrote a splendid commentary on the future work of Christ that depended entirely on His resurrection. John Walvoord was a pre tribulation rapture believer in his day as were many others. He succeeded Dr. Lewis Sperry-Chafer as president of Dallas Theological Seminary in the 1950’s. In a published book, “50 Reasons Why the Rapture Must Happen Before the 7 Year Tribulation.” John listed numerous reasons why the rapture must occur BEFORE the great tribulation.
Psalm 110 was a major prophetic passage in the Early Church. It is a neglected gem today. It allows us to see right into the Mind of God as He has a conversation with the Son, Jesus Christ. His enemies had seemingly defeated Jesus Christ, but God Almighty, the Heavenly Father, invites Him to ascend on high and sit in the honor seat at His Right Hand. These evil men had followed Satan and had given a guilty verdict to God’s own Son, but God reverses this verdict.
The Psalm is PROPHECY at its most thrilling. “Sit Thou at my right hand until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.” Here we see that Jesus Christ has an official position, at God’s right hand in Heaven, right through the present Church Age until He comes back at the Second Advent. The Heavenly Father Himself is going to put down all the enemies of Christ and evil on this earth, by His own power and might. It will not happen because of culture, or civilization working to gain “peace”, or by international politics. Satan and evil will only be put down by GOD’S judgment. Psalm 110 is about God giving DOMINION to Christ Jesus.
Verse 5 tells us that Jesus Christ will take away the power of kings, it will be a day of wrath. And verse 6 tells us that Jesus Christ will break the power of the leaders of the nations on earth. READ PSALM 110. (Howard.)
We can easily see that the pre tribulation rapture of the bride is true. There is plenty of rapture evidence such as, Enoch, Elijah, and Noah being closed in the ark seven days BEFORE the floods came, just to name a minute few. A study done by Gordon J. Wenham, provides a chart of the time-periods of the flood. This backs up the belief of Noah being in the ark seven days prior to the rains beginning, which is significant when applied to the pre tribulation rapture doctrine.
| Date (in Noah’s life) | Event | Day of the week |
| d.10, mth.2, year 600 (Gen.7:10) | God announces that the flood will come in seven days | Sunday |
| d.17, mth.2, year 600 (Gen.7:11–24) | Flood begins. (Rain continues 40 days, waters rise for 150 days) | Sunday |
| d.17, mth.7, year 600 (Gen.8:4) | Ark rests on Ararat, waters begin to retreat | Friday |
| d.1, mth.10, year 600 (Gen.8:5) | Mountain-tops become visible | Wednesday |
| | After 40 days Noah sends out the raven | Sunday |
| | After 7 days Noah sends the dove again (2nd time); dove returns with olive twig | Sunday |
| | After 7 days Noah sends the dove again (3rd time); dove does not return | Sunday |
| d.1, mth.1, year 601 (Gen.8:13) | Waters dried up | Wednesday |
| d.27, mth.2, year 601 (Gen.8:14) | Earth dry; Noah emerges | Wednesday |
| | | |
There is TOO much information about the rapture for it to be untrue. I will get to all of these arguments in another video/article called Rapture, The Day of the Lord, and the Wrath of God.
John Walvoord goes on to describe that the second coming of Christ CANNOT be when the rapture happens because in Rev. 19-20 there is NO resurrection or translation (rapture) mentioned as an event. Thus Walvoord goes on to describe:
1. The resurrection of all men. It is anticipated in the prophetic Scriptures that Christ by the power of His own resurrection will raise the dead in a series of resurrections, probably in the following order: (a) the church at the time of the rapture (1 Cor 15:51-53; 1 Thess 4:14-17); (b) Israel and the Old Testament saints at the time of His coming to the earth to establish His kingdom (Dan 12:2, 13; Hos 13:14; Matt 22:30-31); (c) the tribulation saints at the time of His second coming (Rev 20:4); (d) the probable resurrection of millennial saints at the end of the millennium, though this is not mentioned in the Scriptures specifically; (e) the resurrection and judgment of the wicked dead at the end of the millennium (Rev 20:12-14). Regardless of time and character of resurrection, all resurrection is attributed to the power of Christ (John 5:28-29; 1 Cor 15:12, 22) and depends upon the historical fact of His own resurrection.
2. The marriage of the Bridegroom and the bride. At the time Christ comes for His church at the rapture, He will be joined to the church in heaven in keeping with the figure of the Bridegroom coming for the bride. This figure in the Scriptures speaks of the eternal union and fellowship of Christ and His church and is an important aspect of His future work, logically depending upon the fact of His resurrection from the dead. The church in the present age is a bride waiting for the coming of her husband (2 Cor 11:2; Rev 19:7). (Walvoord.)
In mapping out of Revelation 12:1-5 will show the language involved. I use “mapping” to bring all the “language” of the scriptures together, which gives me a broader idea of the descriptions that interpret the Bible.
Revelation 12:1-5 Mapping
Rev 12:1 ¶ And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: (Gen. 37:9).
Rev 12:2 And she being with child cried, a travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
Rev 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold b a great red dragon, c having seven heads and ten horns, and d seven crowns upon his heads.
Rev 12:4 And e his tail drew the third part f of the stars of heaven, g and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood h before the woman which was ready to be delivered, I for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, k who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne.
Rev 12:2 And she being with child cried, a travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
Rev 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold b a great red dragon, c having seven heads and ten horns, and d seven crowns upon his heads.
Rev 12:4 And e his tail drew the third part f of the stars of heaven, g and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood h before the woman which was ready to be delivered, I for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, k who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne.
a) Isa. 26:17 & 66:7; Gal. 4:19
Isa 26:17 Like as a woman with child, [that] draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, [and] crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.
Isa 66:7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.
Gal 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
b) Rev. 17:3, 7, 9
d) Rev. 13:1& 19:12
e) Rev. 8:7 & 9:10,19
f) Rev. 17:18
g) Dan. 8:10
h) ver 2
i) Ex. 1:16; Mat. 2:16
Exd 1:16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see [them] upon the stools; if it [be] a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it [be] a daughter, then she shall live. (This was when Moses was born under the orders of the Pharaoh to kill all male children in the Israel nation.)
Mat 2:16 ¶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
k) Ps. 2:9; Acts 8:39; Rev. 2:27 & 19:15
Psa 2:9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Act 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
We can see that the manchild of Revelation 12 and Isaiah 66 is not simply speaking about Christ, but of the body of overcoming believers of men and women that have become “one” with Christ and the Father. These people manifest God’s love to each other and to the unbelieving world. Another proof is found in these scriptures:
Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Now we can flesh out the meaning of the original words used in many scriptures that prove the manchild is indeed the sons of God are made into the nation born in one day. Craig Bluemel in his article, “A Manchild Ministry,” explains this perfectly:
In 1 Thessalonians 4:17, there is a reference to the return of Jesus Christ for His church, and the same Greek word “harpazo” is used for the believers being “caught” or “seized.”
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. (NAS)
Again, the Greek text in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 does not support the idea of being caught “up” (as in an upward direction); the Greek word for “up” (apo) is not used. Rather, a primary preposition “en” is used; the Greek preposition “en” denotes those being “seized” or taken into a fixed (permanent) position in their state of existence and their relation of eternal rest with the Lord. This word “en” is rarely used with verbs of motion, and even then is not to indicate direction. In other words, 1 Thessalonians 4:17 reads as follows using the Greek construction:
1 Thessalonians 4:17 b “Then we which are alive and surviving shall be seized together into a fixed position, into a relation of rest.”
If we compare Revelation 12:5 and 1 Thessalonians 4:17 side by side, we can see a definite relationship between the two verses:
Revelation 12:5 And she brought forth a man-child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was seized toward the throne of the God, (at a particular point in time). *Literal Greek rendering.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and surviving shall be seized together into a fixed position in a relation of rest with them in clouds, to meet coming from different directions, the Lord into the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. *Literal Greek rendering (KJV)
The Greek word for “coming” in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 is parousÃa meaning ‘presence’; Jesus Christ is portrayed as “coming” in a “presence” from multiple different directions. When the text says the believers meet him in the air, it speaks not of our immediate natural atmosphere, but a spiritual realm or dimension.
The Jews did not designate the “air” as the dwelling place of angels, but of Satan and his demons. It is in this context that Paul designates Satan as being the ruler of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2 & 6:12). The Lord will penetrate this realm or area in order to deliver His own people from the earthly dimension.
Thus far, we have established three points:
The “manchild” symbolizes the church; male & female believers collectively
The “harpazo” or “seizing” of the child toward God’s throne indicates a relationship of parent to child.
There is a clear relationship in the use of the word “harpazo” in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 and Revelation 12:5 to offer proof of a “seizing” of certain believers from the realm of this earth, and from Satan, the god of this world, into another realm.
The manchild represents the overcoming believers who are watching and praying (Luke 21:34-36) in order to escape the beast, which brings the Great Tribulation upon the lukewarm Christendom, which is deceived by the cares of life. The manchild will be “seized” toward the throne of God in Revelation 12:5, and “seized” into the presence of Jesus in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. The verses below give us a better understanding of what exactly a believer should be doing in order to escape the great tribulation:
Luke 21:25-36 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” And He told them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. Even so you, too, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Be on guard, that your hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (NAS)
Something distinguishes the manchild overcomers from other believers in the last days. That distinction is their fervent (i.e. - boiling) love for Jesus Christ. Unlike the Laodicean church, which has become lukewarm by seeking material and financial gain, the manchild is also symbolized as the Philadelphia church, which has maintained their love and zeal for Jesus Christ.
The book of Revelation contrasts the church of Philadelphia with the church at Laodicea. Philadelphia represents the church of overcomers, the manchild. Why? Because the text of Revelation 3:7-13 says they have kept the word of Jesus’ patience, and are therefore they will be kept “from” (Greek word is “ek”, meaning “out of”) the hour of temptation (the Greek word means “testing”), which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Revelation 3:10-13 ‘Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from (The Greek preposition is “ek” meaning, “out of”) the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ (NAS)
Laodicea seeks materialistic goals (Revelation 3:17), and therefore they are similar to the rich in the “last days” that hoard wealth and riches, as mentioned earlier in James 5:7. This group of believers will not be one heart and mind with the manchild during its development in the womb of the visible church (i.e. – Christendom), which is symbolized by the pregnant woman in travail in Revelation 12:5. They will find repentance at a later time, when they are tried by fire, so to speak, in the Great Tribulation, which shall come upon the entire earth.
The church at Philadelphia has but a “little power,” yet those who are part of Philadelphia are faithful to hold fast the word of God, and will not abnegate or deny the name, character, authority, and reputation of Jesus (see Revelation 3:8). This is solid proof that the manchild is not some last day’s powerhouse army of believers, but a meek and humble group of Christians, who have taken the role as servants.
In fact, the Greek words “little power” in Revelation 3:8 are “mikrán dúnamin” meaning, “microscopic in strength, ability, power.” God is saying the Philadelphia church is not noted for their miraculous demonstration of signs and wonders. In fact, they are actually quite weak; but in this weakness, they find they are strong in God. If the Philadelphia church is synonymous with the manchild of Revelation 12:5, then the Latter Rain concept of a manchild company of believers endued with miraculous power, and doing greater works than Jesus did is fallacious.
Philadelphia means literally “in the direction of being in a fixed position, of close association in dear, and active fondness as friends, coming from the same womb.“ This shows the primary characteristic of the Philadelphia-manchild church is characterized by their committed friendships love one for another.
Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) Perhaps this is what Christ meant in John 14:12 by His church doing “greater works” than He did. After all, the greatest of all of Christ’s works was being humbled, even to the point of death on a cross. We are His servants, and the servant is not greater than His master, is he? (Read John 15:20)
John 14:12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father.” NAS
One interesting note in the Greek text of John 14:12 is the fact the word “works” following the word “greater” has been omitted. The English Bible translators erroneously added the word “works” to comply with either their doctrine or assumption. Latter Rain – Manchild doctrine emphasizes this verse, and uses it as a hallmark characteristic of what the Manchild Ministry will be like. They believe when God pours out the Latter Rain” or strong deluge of His spirit in the last days, it will result in the manchild company doing greater miracles and signs and wonders than Jesus Christ ever did.
The simple fact is John 14:12 reads from the Greek as, “…the works that I do shall he do also; and greater…” Greater what? Not miracles, for sure. Philadelphia has only microscopic strength, but they have the love of God, which is greater than any miracle or sign or wonder.
The following is a list of the “greater” characteristics of the Philadelphia church/manchild; note that not one verse associates miraculous power as being part of what God or Jesus considers “greater!”
Matthew 11:11 "Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. New American Standard
Mark 12:31 “The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these.” New American Standard Bible
Luke 22:27 For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. New American Standard Bible
John 13:13-17 “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master; neither is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. New American Standard Bible
John 15:12-14 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends, if you do what I command you.” New American Standard Bible
1 Corinthians 12:31-13:2 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way. 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. New American Standard Bible
1 John 4:4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. New American Standard Bible
3 John 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. New American Standard Bible
Note that the literal definition of Philadelphia includes this church as “coming from the same womb.” This simple fact gives the Philadelphia a clear and direct tie to the birth of the manchild from the womb of the woman in Rev. 12:5. Ironically, with regards to the birth of a Manchild, the Greek word “arsen” is used in reference to the womb in another NT reference:
Luke 2:23 As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord; (KJV)
The word “manchild” is from two Greek words. “Man” is the Greek “arsen” meaning “male”, (as stronger for lifting), and is from a root word “airo” meaning, “to lift”; by implication, “to take away”. The second part of the word “child” is the Greek word “huios” and this word primarily signifies the relation of an offspring to parent and not simply the birth as indicated by the usual Greek word “teknon.”
In Matt. 19:4 “arsen” is used when Jesus said, “...He (God) who created them from the beginning made them male (arsen) and female.”
When we compare the concept of both male and female being made into what scripture calls, “man,” the account in Gen. 5:2 applies:
“He (God) created them male and female, and He blessed them & named them man (Adam) in the day when they were created.”
Gen. 5:2 refers to both male and female as the “manchild.” We know this because of the manner in which Gal. 3:28 is written, and includes ‘arsen’ to refer to both man and woman in Christ. In the NT “arsen” is used in Gal. 3:28 which reads:
“... there is neither male (arsen) nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal. 3:28
Combining these thoughts, “arsen” can refer to the strength (lifting) of a body of believers in Christ who are born of the Spirit (John 3:3,8) and are made one in the Spirit by God. The manchild of Rev. 12:5 symbolizes groups of believers, both male and female, who have come from one Father; who have been born of the Spirit of God, and nurtured in the womb of the visible church. Their oneness with God is seen in their friendship and love for one another:
John 17:11, 21 “And I am no more in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep them in Thy name, the name which Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, even as We are…that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me. (NAS)
John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (NAS)
As stated earlier, the Greek word “huios” primarily signifies the relation of an offspring to parent and not simply the birth as indicated by the usual Greek word “teknon.” The Greek word “huios” used for the “child” part of “manchild” shows the relationship of this body of believers to their God. Huios is used in the relationship between God and Christ as Father and Son. Huios is also used of the spiritual parental relationship of God and His children, the body of Christ, referred to as “sons” (though it is not speaking of the male and female gender; rather by way of analogy) in the following scripture references:
Rom. 8:14 “For all who are being led by the spirit of God, these are the sons (huios) of God.”
Rom 8:19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons (huios) of God to be revealed. (NIV)
Rom 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son (huios), that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (NIV)
Rom 9:25-26 As He says also in Hosea, “I will call those who were not My people, ‘My people,’ And her who was not beloved, beloved.’ And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘you are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons (huios) of the living God.” (NAS)
2 Cor 6:14-18 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons (huios) and daughters to me,” says the Lord Almighty. (NAS)
Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children (huios) of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (KJV)
Gal 4:4-7 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son (huios), born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons (huios). And because you are sons (huios), God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son (huios) into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son (huios); and if a son (huios), then an heir through God. (NAS)
Heb 12:7-11 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons (huios); for what son (huios) is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons (huios). Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. (NAS)
SUMMARY OF THE ABOVE: The word “manchild” in Revelation 12:5 refers to a body of believers who are made one by the Spirit of God, as long as they are willing to be led by His spirit. Huios is also used in Rom. 8:19 “sons”, Rom. 9:26 “children” or “sons” and in other texts in reference to the body of Christ, both male and female.
We are to grow in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. We do this by walking in the footsteps of His only begotten Son, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Just like a child grows inside the nurturing womb of its mother, the manchild is to grow up into Him who is the Head, even Christ (Eph.4:15-16). As the context of Ephesians chapter four indicates, this growing up, or maturing into Christ can only happen through the ministry of the different members of His spiritual body:
Eph 4:11-16 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love (NAS). (Bluemel.)
The prophecy stated in Isaiah 66 coincides with the prophecy of the manchild in Rev. 12:5. Isaiah tells us about the manchild who is like Jesus Christ as being a nation born in one day. The birth of many children will be comprised of a “nation” of unique individuals who love God with all their heart. Even these are them who have received the agape love of God into their hearts. God produced a manchild (Rom. 4:17-25). We can see that Isaiah 66:8 shows us that the manchild will be a nation brought forth all at once and 1 Pet. 2:9 confirms this “holy nation.”
1Pe 2:9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
Mr. Bluemel continues:
In this last generation before the Lord’s return (Luke 21:32), God is bringing to the breach a people who “tremble at His Word.” (Isaiah 66:5) But just like Christ was hated by the religious men of His day, and delivered up because of their envy and jealousy, so the manchild shall be “hated for His Name’s sake,” (Is.66:5; Matt.10:22; 24:8-9; Mk.13:13), even by their own brethren.
Nevertheless, Gal. 4:26-29 promises that the Jerusalem above is free, she is our mother, and she will cause the barren woman to give birth in the midst of persecution (see Gal. 4:29). Perhaps this hatred and persecution is what is meant by the “pains” of childbirth the visible church experiences, as a body of believers develops within its womb, kicking and moving against the walls of tradition, and causing the woman to separate the child from itself.
One of the characteristics of the manchild is their love for the truth of God’s word, and a desire to obey it, no matter the cost (John 17:14-17; 7:16-17; 4:23).
· They value God’s truth above the traditions and orthodoxy of man (Col. 2:8; Mk. 7:8-9).
· They recognize the Scriptures as the inspired Word of God, and study it to show themselves approved of God, not men (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
· They grow in the truth, not for the sake of doctrine alone, but to draw closer to their Lord and to one another (John 5:39-40).
The Scriptures say that there will be a great falling away of believers in the last days because Christians don’t have a love for the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:3; l0-l2; l:Tim.4:l). God’s Word is said to be the “sword of the Spirit” (Eph. 6:17), and Christ said that this “sword” would bring division, even in the family of God (Matt.10:34). The word of God shall either unify those who speak it to one another in love (Eph. 4:15,21,25), or it will divide those who are disobedient to it.
The greatest commandment Jesus gave His disciples is found in Mark 12:29-31. It is to:
1. Hear that the Lord our God is one Lord
2. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength
3. Love your neighbor as yourself.
Jesus, prayer that we become one, as He and the Father are one, is relational. A man cannot say he loves God whom he has not seen, yet hate his brother whom he has seen (l Jn.2:3- 6, 9-11; 4:20-21). The “manchild” in the womb of the church is perfected (Greek means matured) by the love they have for one another (1 John 4:7-19).
After the manchild has fully matured within the womb of the visible church, and the woman with a crown of 12 stars gives birth to the child (Revelation 12:1-2,5), she flees into the wilderness to be nourished by God for 3 ½ years (Revelation 12:6). The seven-headed dragon pursues the woman with a flood of destruction, but she was protected for 3 ½ years (see Revelation 12:14-16). The crown of 12 stars on her head represents the 12 tribes of Israel, each with 12,000 members, totaling 144,000; and symbolically these represent the first fruits of national Israel who are sealed in Christ (Revelation 7:4-8; 14:4).
The 144,000 which are known as the “first-fruits” of national Israel, will fulfill the last half of the 70 weeks of Daniel by confirming the covenant with Messiah the Prince (Jesus) during the time of God’s wrath upon the Gentiles. (See Daniel 9:24-27) The 144,000 are Messianic Jews, who, like some of their Jewish brethren in the days of Jesus’ 3 ½ year ministry, and confirmed the covenant with Jesus for the first half of the 70Th week, now complete the prophecy by doing the same during the last 3 ½ years before the Second Coming of Christ to earth. Like the manchild, they will rule and reign with Christ upon the earth for 1000 years during the period known as the Millennium.
What will happen to the lukewarm Laodicean church? These are the same as the “two witnesses” who prophesy for 3-21 years, and then are martyred for Christ (see Revelation 11:1-14). They are also seen in Revelation chapter 12 as the “remnant” of the woman’s seed upon whom the seven-headed dragon makes war with when he is unable to destroy the woman with the crown of 12 stars (see Revelation 12:17). These Laodicean believers are now compelled to become red hot, and repent of their lukewarmness, because they will be tried in the fires of the great tribulation (Rev.3: 18-19). These believers will sit down with Jesus on His throne, but they are not mentioned as reigning with Him like the manchild is. (Bluemel.)
In conclusion, the manchild is in direct contrast to the Laodicean church who compromise the last church before the second coming of Christ. The manchild is “Hot” for her bridegroom like the passion scriptures in Songs of Solomon:
Sgs 6:8 There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.
Sgs 6:9 My dove, my undefiled is [but] one; she [is] the [only] one of her mother, she [is] the choice [one] of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; [yea], the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.
Sgs 6:10 ¶ Who [is] she [that] looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, [and] terrible as [an army] with banners?
Sgs 6:9 My dove, my undefiled is [but] one; she [is] the [only] one of her mother, she [is] the choice [one] of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; [yea], the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.
Sgs 6:10 ¶ Who [is] she [that] looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, [and] terrible as [an army] with banners?
The manchild is constantly looking up to Christ’s return and are not burdened by the cares of this life. The manchild specifically matures into a state of cooperative body of believers because they all are saying the same thing. They have become “ONE” with Christ and the Father. Jesus prayed for this before He ascended to heaven (John 17:21). Let us all strive to become the “manchild” that God wants. (Eph. 3:14-19; Mat. 18:2-6; Acts 13:22; Luke 18:16-17; Rom. 2:9-11; 1 Thess. 5:2-9; Rev. 3:13)
Eph 3:14 ¶ For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Eph 3:15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Eph 3:15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Mat 18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
Mat 18:6 ¶ But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
Mat 18:6 ¶ But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Act 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the [son] of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
Luk 18:16 But Jesus called them [unto him], and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Luk 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
Luk 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
Rom 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
Rom 2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Rom 2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober.
1Th 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober.
1Th 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Rev 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Works Cited
Bluemel, Craig. “A Manchild Ministry.” Web. Accessed 30 October 2011. <
Howard, Wendy. “The Rapture Question.” Web. Accessed 30 October 2011. <
Walvoord, John. “Christ in His Resurrection part 3.” Blue Letter Bible. Web. Accessed 30
October 2011. <
