The Revelation Christmas Story 08/12/2023

Photo courtesy of The Chosen [Permission kindly granted].

You might not associate the last book in the Bible with the Christmas story but, surprise, surprise, there is a reference to the birth of Jesus in Revelation. It is not what we might expect because that is the norm in this book. We come to expect the unexpected. There is nothing about shepherds or wise men. There is no mention of the star of the message of the angels. Here it is:

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. [‭‭Revelation‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬]

There are three characters in chapter 12 of Revelation - the woman, the child and the dragon. The chapter begins with a sign appearing in heaven. It is a strange symbol - this woman is clothed in the sun and she has the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. Further down the chapter, we read of another sign appearing in heaven and it is a dragon who is taken to represent Satan. There is another character in the narrative of this chapter - it is a child. It does not say that this is a sign - because the child is not a symbol which we need to interpret. We all know who the child is. It is of course, Jesus the Son of God.

And so the incarnation - the coming of Jesus into the world as a baby is celebrated in the book of Revelation. There are no details of his life story in Bethlehem or Nazareth or the shores of Galilee. But we are told some very important facts about Him. Firstly, it is a male child. Secondly, we are told his destiny: "He will rule all nations with an iron sceptre." Thirdly, he was snatched up to God and to his throne - referring to His ascension to heaven. The title of this last book is, The Revelation of Jesus Christ. And this is part of this revelation.

We like the story of the baby in the manger - this has all the ingredients of a good story. But Revelation focuses on the nastier side of the 'Christmas story.' This is the evidence of Satanic opposition right from the start.

The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. [Revelation‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬ b NIV‬‬]

There was a jealous king who felt that his throne was threatened by the birth of a child 'who is born king of the Jews.' This did not happen immediately at his birth but was probably within the first two years of his life judging by the fact that Herod ordered the slaughter of any child under two years of age. But God intervened and preserved the life of the child and his mother by escaping to Egypt. This was the beginning of Satanic attack on the person of Jesus.

This child was born as a ruler. "He will rule all nations with an iron sceptre." This comes from Psalm 2 which is very relevant to today's world.

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. [‭‭Psalms‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬]

There is no mention of the many miracles Jesus performed, of the challenging teaching he gave to his disciples or to the multitude, of his compassion and tenderness towards those who were lost .... and we could go on. Although the cross is not specifically mentioned in this chapter, it is certainly referred to in the book of Revelation. What else would we understand from this verse?

And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. [Revelation‬ ‭5‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬]

But in chapter 12, the narrative is condensed, jumping straight from his birth to his ascension. He is snatched up to God and to his throne. In Revelation, God is portrayed as the One who sits upon the throne and Jesus shares this throne.

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. [Revelation‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬]

But, of course, prior to the incarnation, Jesus was on that throne. In the fourth gospel, the writer portrays Jesus as existing in heaven prior to His coming to earth in human flesh.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. [John‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬]

This is only a brief look into the Revelation of Jesus Christ. It is not an easy book to study but the effort is extremely rewarding. We see Jesus in a different light and, from the experience of the group which meets in Dawson Community Church every week, the visions of Jesus produce worship. Don't let us confine Jesus to Bethlehem's manger. We see Him sharing the throne of heaven with God the Father. We see Him ruling the nations. We see Him being worshipped by angels in heaven. Have all those who read the Dayshare blogs 'kissed the Son lest He be angry?' Have we made Jesus King and Lord of our lives or do we simply bring Jesus out at Christmas for a few nostalgic, sentimental carols?