Genesis 2:23 – And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
The Bible is an amazing book inspired by the Holy Spirit. There are many types and shadows of people and events that point to Jesus Christ. For example in the Garden of Eden when Eve was deceived by the serpent into sinning against God, Adam had to make a choice. His choice was to be with his bride which meant to bring death into the world, he chose to sin. He was not tempted and seduced to sin like the woman was, but he made a choice that he would rather love his bride and be with her and therefore he chose to die to be with his bride. This is clearly a type of Christ who “for the joy set before him he endured the cross and despised the shame” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus willfully laid down his life because of his love for his bride, you and me.
A Woman is Symbolic of a Church
First we must understand what term represents a church. Throughout the New Testament, the term “woman” is used as a symbol for a church. The type of woman can be either identified as pure or a harlot. So, when a woman is used as a symbol it can either man a true church or an apostate church. How do we know thisis so? The Bible tells us.
2 Corinthians 11:1-2
The Apostle Paul writes to the church at Corinth, “Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly; and indeed you do bear with me. For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
Clearly, the true church is here described as “betrothed” to Jesus Christ—in the position of an engaged woman to her fiancé who is Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:23-24,
Paul writes, “For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body (believers-1 Cor. 12:12-31; Rom. 12:4-5; Eph. 3:6, 4:16 – just a few of many). Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.” Emphasis added: believers.
Again, the analogy clearly identifies the true Church as being in the position of a woman—a wife who is submissive to her husband, Christ.
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:
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
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.
We read the inspired account of the “woman”—this time ancient Israel, the “church in the wilderness” (Acts 7:38, KJV)—being used by God to bring forth the Messiah, “a male child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron.”
Revelation 12:5 picks up the story about “the woman”—now the true New Testament Church—fleeing into the wilderness to “a place prepared by God.” The following verses make it even more evident that this “woman” is, in fact, the true Church of God that is protected by God Himself from the wrath of Satan. Not only then, but He has protected His church down through history and will continue doing so until He returns. He has always had a remnant of faithful followers.
Additional Identifying Attributes of the True/Pure Church
Of course, the church is not speaking of a building or organization but people. The Bible tells us Christ is the head of the church and we are the body (1 Cor. 12:12-14). So how is “the body” described? They are described in Revelation 14:12 as: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”
Commandments of God
The Plain Word will be publishing a series on the commandments of God, what are they and what do they mean to us today. There is so much the Bible has to say about these commandments, that to do it justice a series will be forth coming. Stay tuned…stay connected.
Faith of Jesus (Revelation 14:12)
What is the faith of Jesus? How does one know if they have it? The “faith of Jesus” is an active and living experience with Jesus. We are justified by faith, we shall see the whole law of God written in the heart and shining in the life, and the words: ‘Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.’ All . . . is reflected and shines in Jesus Christ.” The gospel is intimately connected to the “faith of Jesus. The gospel is the heart of our faith journey, The gospel places the law of God in a correct relationship to a living faith in Jesus. The three angels of Revelation 14 are framed with the gospel. They begin with the “everlasting gospel” to the entire world and end with the “faith of Jesus.”
Through faith in Christ’s righteousness, which He wrought out in His life of perfect obedience, that sinner is accounted righteous—hence, righteousness by faith.
What constitutes the faith of Jesus, that belongs to the third angel’s message? Jesus becoming our sin-bearer that He might become our sin-pardoning Saviour. He was treated as we deserve to be treated. He came to our world and took our sins that we might take His righteousness. Faith in the ability of Christ to save us amply and fully and entirely is the faith of Jesus.
The faith of Jesus is an immediate, voluntary, trustful surrender of the heart to God—a coming into union with Christ in confidence, affectionate obedience to do all His commandments through the merits of Jesus Christ. It is a decisive act of the individual, committing to the Lord the keeping of the soul. It is the climbing up by Christ, clinging to Christ, accepting the righteousness of Christ as a free gift. The will is to be surrendered to Christ. Through faith in the righteousness of Christ is salvation (Galatians 2:20).
Persecuting or Apostate Church
Also, this “woman” is a great persecuting church. For John was inspired to write, “I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement” (v. 6).
Please think about that.
Who is this great fallen woman—a powerful church—which has and which will again be “drunk with the blood of the saints“? Obviously, she persecutes the true Christians—the true “saints” of God, the body of His true/pure church.
In contrast to the commandment-keeping Church of God, this great apostate church and her “daughter” churches reject the need to keep the Ten Commandments as a way of life! Somehow, in their spiritual drunkenness, they manage to reason around the plain and clear teachings of Jesus: “if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17).
Note: Understand these are just a few verses, there are many text. A Bible study may be prudent to have a grasp on this concept, especially when we come to prophecies of the Bible – specifically the end time prophecies.