Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.
· As in travail and now in pain, to bring forth a holy progency to Christ (MH)
· To bring forth the martyrs (DP)
Isaiah 26:17 As a woman with child is in pain and cries out in her pangs, when she draws near the time of her delivery, so have we been in Your sight, O LORD.
Micah 4:9 Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in your midst? Has your counselor perished? For pangs have seized you like a woman in labor.
Now a great sign appeared in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.
· The church is represented as the woman (MH)
· This is the first of seven signs that John relates, and is described as a great sign (mega semeion). (DG)
Genesis 37:8-10 …..What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?
Exodus 31:17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.
Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake and great hail.
· This was in the holy of holies; in the ark the tables of the law were kept (MH)
· By terrible things in righteousness God would answer those prayers that were presented in His holy temple, now opened (MH)
Numbers 10:33 So they departed from the mountain of the LORD on a journey of three days; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them for the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them.
Exodus 9:28 Entreat the LORD, that there may be no more mighty thundering and hail, for it is enough.
And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying:
“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged.
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”
· They rejoice that his reign shall never end (MH)
· There are angry resentments in the world at these actings of the power of God (MH)
Psalm 2:1-5 Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?........
Daniel 7:9 I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire.
Then the seventh angel sounded: and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
· Loud and joyful acclamations of the saints and angels in heaven (MH)
· They thankfully recognize the right of our God and Saviour to rule and reign over all the world (MH)
Exodus 15:18 “The LORD shall reign forever and ever.”
Isaiah 27:13 So it shall be in that day: the great trumpet will be blown; they will come, who are about to perish in the land of Assyria, and they who are outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.
The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
· Worse judgments are coming – but given warning of
Psalm 120:5 Woe is me, that I dwell in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
Joshua 2:5 And it happened, as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.
In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
· The consequences of their ascension – a mighty shock and convulsion and an earthquake (MH)
· When God’s work and witnesses revive, the devil’s work and witnesses fall before him (MH)
Joshua 7:19 Now Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I beg you, give glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession to Him, and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.”
Isaiah 29:6 You will be punished by the LORD of hosts with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with storm and tempest and the flame of devouring fire.
