Righteousness is a big word.

 RIGHTEOUSNESS

 

What is righteousness? this word is possibly one of the least understood and therefore most misused among words that some of us are familiar with from The Bible.

 

We tend to think of the word as describing a certain state of being. Someone who is ‘righteous’ is good, better than most, perhaps even more ‘religious’ than most and therefore more ‘saintly’. Some might think it is a state reached with much spiritual discipline and effort.

 

Others might understand the word to mean not something we can gain on our own, but a quality of being that can only be given by God.

 

So, what is it, really? Is there a consensus on a definition? Is righteousness different than righteous? My ancient Webster's New World Dictionary, College Edition, from 1968, has this definition: "1. The quality or condition of being righteous or just… 2. A righteous act, quality etc." If we then look just above that entry, at least in this dictionary, to see what ‘righteous’ means, we read the following "1. Acting in a just, upright manner; doing what is right; virtuous… 2. Morally right or justifiable…"

 

So, this appears to tell us that righteousness does refer to a state of being, or could we even say, a life lived, in which the individual so described lives in a just, upright manner, and does what is right. Of course, we can see that some of these words could lead to even more discussion, e.g. what is 'just' or ‘right’? This does though give us a general understanding of this word as it is used in our world, as we all have some concept of what is just and right.

 

This word comes to our vocabulary from religious language that goes back as far as humanity kept records of their religions. There are ancient Near Eastern and Middle Eastern religions, including that of the Greeks, that deal with this concept. However, no group gave it as much attention as the Hebrews, the Jews. To really look at this then, we, who belong to the Judeo-Christian tradition, ought obviously to examine the original Hebrew (and Greek, as some texts where written in Greek) texts of The Bible for this word. 

 

Where we need to start then is with the Old Testament. When I really began studying the Bible in my college days, I was introduced to an Old Testament scholar named Gerhard von Rad. I believe he gives us a good explanation of this word, its origins, how it was understood and used. I will therefore be drawing heavily on his work for the rest of this essay. 

 

He writes, and I quote from page 370 of his Old Testament Theology, Volume 1: "There is absolutely no concept in the Old Testament with so central significance for all the relationships of human life as that of righteousness. It is the standard not only for man's relationship to God, but also for his relationship to his fellows… indeed, it is even the standard for man's relationship to the animals and to his natural environment. Righteousness can be described without more ado as the highest value in life, that upon which all life rests when it is probably properly ordered."

 

Von Rad then explains that we have misunderstood this word because of our own Western presuppositions to refer to "a man's proper conduct over against an absolute ethical norm, a legality which derives its norm from the absolute idea of justice." He gives credit to C. Cramer, writing in a German publication in 1901, for introducing us to what he believes is a more proper understanding of the term. He writes on page 371 of his volume, that "ancient Israel did not in fact measure a line of conduct or an act by ideal norm, but by the specific relationship in which the partner had at the time to prove himself true." Quoting Cremer, he writes "every relationship brings with it certain claims upon conduct, and the satisfaction of these claims, which issue from the relationship and in which alone the relationship can persist, is described by our term righteousness." Cremer concludes that "Righteousness is out and out a term denoting relationship, and that it does this in the sense of referring to a real relationship between two parties… and not to the relationship of an object under consideration to an idea." This is a quoted from Cremer's writing of 1893, again in a German publication.

 

We then begin to understand that what happens in the relationship, what is acted out, defines righteousness. Von Rad goes on to say it "And over and (going on to page 372) above all these, there is a relationship which Yahweh had offered to Israel… Here to the same holds true - the just man is the one who measures up to the particular claims which this relationship lays upon him." He describes the use of the term is being "employed in a transferred sense, that is, with reference to the effects of Yahweh's faithfulness to the relationship…" Yahweh is the only perfectly righteous person, so only Yahweh, as the Creator, has the power to determine the righteousness of his created beings, mankind. But still, von Rad adds, (now on page 373) "Yahweh's righteousness was not a norm, but acts…" Israel always understood God as acting in history. When their teachers expressed religion at its finest, it was not a set of laws and presuppositions. Those concepts came to us from the Greeks, and have had a severely negative effect on our understanding of God and true religion. So much for "systematic theology." To truly understand the New Testament, we must also see it as salvation history, as New Testament scholars such as Oscar Cullman describe it.” The New Testament writers were really not trying to create a systematic body of knowledge as the basis for our faith. Our faith is based on relationships and the acts which occur within those relationships, as von Read himself further develops  on this page when he writes "Nevertheless it cannot be held that this Old Testament concept of righteousness is specifically forensic, for it embraces the whole of Israelite life, wherever men found themselves in mutual relationships. And in particular, conduct loyal to relationship includes far more than mere correctness or (now page 374) legality, that is righteousness and our sense of the word. Such dependence upon one another demanded the showing of kindness, faithfulness, and, as circumstances arose, helpful compassion to the poor or the suffering." We can certainly see these connections when we read the laws of the Pentateuch, in the Psalms and also very much so, in the writings of The Prophets.

 

Ultimately, Israel came to understand that righteousness was something that originated with Yahweh. To be sure, obeying the laws, as they often are referred to, does allow humans to act righteously. At the same time, Yahweh's "commandments were not indeed any absolute law, but a kindly gift rendering life orderly."

 

I really like the way von Rad then describes this understanding at the top of page 375, it was "Israel's conviction that her whole community life was sustained by a constantly forthcoming righteousness which flowed over upon her" from Yahweh. This is a wonderfully poetic vision of God giving his righteousness to his people.

 

This understanding of righteousness as finally being only a gift from Yahweh, is something that is even more fully developed in the New Testament by writers such as Paul. He makes it clear that we cannot attain righteousness on our own, but that it is a gift of God. To use his clear language, we have “all sinned and come short of the glory of God,”(Romans 3:23), so it is impossible for us to attain righteousness by our own efforts. However, here we come to understand that what really makes humanity righteous is the saving act of Christ's sacrificial death. With this, if we believe this, it is possible for us to move from our imperfect state to one which God regards as perfect. Certainly, we know that we are still not perfect as long as we are alive in the Earth as we know it now. However, again, we understand further from the teachings of the New Testament, there will come a day when heaven and earth will be renewed, and with that our righteousness will become complete, pervasive, and eternal. We will have been restored to the state in which we were first created. What better news is there for mankind than that? It is simply up to us to decide whether we want to accept this gift or not.

 

Losing Our Mother IV.

I am in mourning. That’s what it is. Admit it. Face it. Deal with it. 

 

For what? It’s a ‘for whom’ situation. It’s for my mother (actually, my stepmother but she’s been our mom for a lot longer than our biological mother was). Still, it’s not the same. Particularly when I was turning 18 when she came into our family life. As a young adult who essentially moved out a year later, the bond was understandably never what it was with my real mother, who died when I was just 17.

 

But still. Our father left us 13 months ago today. Our family was all able to process that with a wonderful weekend of closure together 10 weeks later, just before the coronavirus shut everything down.

 

And that’s what makes this so hard. We have not seen our mother since that memorial weekend. We phone, but of course it’s not the same. We could have driven up in the summer before things got worse again. But to drive 5 hours and stay in a motel and only see her through a window or maybe through shields and masks for an outdoor visit on the grounds – not that attractive a proposition. So, rightly or wrongly, it did not happen. 

 

Would I have done it if it had been my ‘real’ mother? Possibly. But is that fair to ‘mom’, as we have called her over the years to distinguish her from ‘mother’? After all she has done and been for us?

 

I have written three blog postings before on losing our mothers (May-June 2019). I have written there of the sudden, unexpected death of our ‘biological’ mother, which was obviously a rather traumatic loss. I have also written about the loss of this mother. It is a loss we were already experiencing because she has slowly been changing from whom she used to be because of dementia. Some of you will resonate with that. This dreadful condition is far too common these days.

 

As such, we have seen the changes over the last five years and then, looking back, realized things we noticed going back over ten years were already signs. We have seen her situation become ever more tenuous in the Assisted Living facility she and father moved into in March 2019 – two years or more too late in our opinion, but we all know ‘old people’ can be stubborn. It’s hard to give up independence. We knew safety was becoming a potential concern.

 

So, it caught me off guard as to my emotional reaction when our youngest sister, mother’s only remaining ‘full’ child (our half-brother died prematurely 6 ½ years ago) informed us by email that mother had been admitted to hospital because of wanting to leave her ‘home’ and that she was not going back. We know and have expressed our appreciation for the ‘second mile’ to which the facility did go to try and keep mother there, as she did like it there.

 

Then I realized a couple of things, actually at least three. One, this is the second such transition in the space of two years for us. In the meantime, our father who made the transition in March 2019, had died in December. So, there’s that loss still, still recent. Secondly, there’s the element of not being able to be there to journey through this with mother at some level, like we could with father to a degree. Neither the Vernon Restholm Assisted Living or Vernon Jubilee Hospital are accepting visitors these days due to coronavirus. I did talk with mother today for the first time since being admitted there on the 15^th. She is frightfully confused, as expected. That’s when we should be there to give her a hug, cry with her and talk her through it all as best we can. But we can’t. We’re grateful the hospital staff takes a portable phone to her for a short conversation. But I think the third point is in some ways the worst. All this is happening to mother because she does not know what she is doing. 

 

It seems so unfair. Not only is she smitten with dementia, which really means we can’t expect to walk her through the transition to any extent approaching what we did so imperfectly even with father. The coronavirus restrictions, and I don’t question the need for them really, don’t even allow us to be there to try and do what we can.

 

But we will do what we can from a distance, with her, with one another, with her staff. The story is not finished.

VII. The Visions of the Wars of Satan - part 3

 Revelation 13:1-8, 11-17

13:1 Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, and on its heads a blasphemous name. 13:2 Now the beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority to rule. 13:3 One of the beast’s heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement; 13:4 they worshiped the dragon because he had given ruling authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast too, saying: “Who is like the beast?” and “Who is able to make war against him?” 13:5 The beast was given a mouth speaking proud words and blasphemies, and he was permitted to exercise ruling authority for forty-two months. 13:6 So the beast opened his mouth to blaspheme against God – to blaspheme both his name and his dwelling place, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 13:7 The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation, 13:8 and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed. 

 

13:11 Then I saw another beast coming up from the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but was speaking like a dragon. 13:12 He exercised all the ruling authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, the one whose lethal wound had been healed. 13:13 He performed momentous signs, even making fire come down from heaven in front of people 13:14 and, by the signs he was permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, he deceived those who live on the earth. He told those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who had been wounded by the sword, but still lived. 13:15 The second beast was empowered to give life to the image of the first beast so that it could speak, and could cause all those who did not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 13:16 He also caused everyone (small and great, rich and poor, free and slave) to obtain a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. 13:17 Thus no one was allowed to buy or sell things unless he bore the mark of the beast – that is, his name or his number. 

Now we come to two fearful and bizarre images. Again, we must recognize that these are drawn from previous apocalyptic writings. In them, and here, these beasts stand for world powers. They do not represent one power at one point in time, as so many current predictors of end times would have us believe. They are figures of world powers down through the ages. In older writings, they were seen as referring to Persia and then Greece. It this writer, John, is speaking from the latter part of the first century, he is speaking to his audience about Rome. 

These beasts are earthly powers. They arise out of the sea and the land, respectively. In such writings, the sea is often seen as the source of evil and chaos. However, the dragon, Satan, gives this first beast his power. Remember, Satan has been thrown to earth, so he can do this. He can give authority to the beast to rule and to wage war against the saints and even to conquer them. 

One might well ask, how can God allow this? Look at v. 8: “and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed.” Is this not reassuring? Possible cause for joy? As with Elijah of old, God will preserve a remnant who will not bow down to the beast. They might be conquered, killed, martyred, but they will not have bowed down to the beast as their names ae secure in the book of life. As we have said before, they will be victorious in the end because of their faith in the redeeming work of the slain Lamb.

The multiple heads of the beast point to successive Roman Emperors, particularly those who vainly accepted or even declared that they were gods and therefore demanded worship. Failure to obey could mean death, and indeed it did for many Christians in these times. Note that John writes that one of this beast’s heads appeared to have been killed. This likely refers to a story traveling around the empire round this time. It was said that the wicked Nero, who had committed suicide when deposed by the Roman Senate, had come to life again. He was apparently going to come from the east with a mighty army (Parthian soldiers from beyond Asia Minor?) and retake the throne.

These emperors and their subjects perpetrated varying degrees of persecution against the Christians. It is to these believers that John is writing, passing on what he hears and sees from heaven and its various representatives, whether Christ or angels or the voice of God. He puts what they are experiencing in perspective. He constantly puts it all in the course of history and also includes the salvation history that gives the Christians victory in the end, to give them heart and reassure them. They are challenged to hold fast to the faith, even through death, for they will be victorious, whether alive here, or in the next life.

The second beast (vs. 11 and ff.) can be understood as those world powers that give support to the first beast, which is the government. In other words, those who control the economy, whether it be arams of government, trade or financial institutions. Some have included the United Nations. But who are these beasts in our time? Who or what is it we are to be wary of and not fall prey to. Really, we should not be giving first allegiance to any world power, whether it be the United States, Russia or China. All of these have and do act in accordance with what is described here as the behavior of the beast. Eighty years ago, it could have pointed to the rise of the Third Reich and Hitler. These powers will come and go as others have before them, which we have already referred to. Our allegiance is to Christ and his Kingdom. That is the only one that does what God wants with the world God created. That is the kingdom that will be victorious over all others in the end.

A word about numbers. The beast is given power for forty-two months. This does not necessarily refer to any particular period in history. Remember that seven is the perfect number, whereas six is the opposite, the imperfect, perhaps even evil. So, these powers are allowed to rule for a block of time that will be filled with a lot of evil, whatever period of history it is, however long it really is.

As for the mark of the beast on those who worship it, elsewhere it is identified as ‘666’. Numerologists in the early first century could contrive this number to refer to almost any one of the Roman Emperors at the time. So, what does that say to us about thinking it points to one specific anti-Christ at one point in time. Remember again that 6 is the number of imperfection. Multiply it and it simply emphasizes that this is all evil.

When we look at some of the things the beasts are allowed to do, it’s not a stretch to see those things in present day world powers’ behaviours.  Russia, when at its communist height, tried to eradicate anything to do with God. The Chinese government is determined to root out Christianity and replace it again with a cult of worship of their leader, as happened before with Mao Tese-Tung. What about the language and behavior of the 45^th president of the USA? What about the sometimes-not-so subtle actions that even our so-called democratic governments (Europe, Canada, the USA) and those who support them carry out against Christians when we act and speak as we believe our Lord wants us to? 

Some refer to these beasts as the Anti-Christ. Really, any of these powers can become anti-Christ, as we have already discussed. The powers that be enforce worship of this beast. Some put forward fanciful explanations about this talk of the wounded beast being replaced by an image that could talk as if indeed resurrected.  Some even talk about this as being a very human-like robot. Well, the technology for such is probably here. Just go to Disneyland and listen to Abe Lincoln speak from his seat.

In the end, our Lord has said we are not to get caught up in these details. We are to be alert, watchful, and not fall prey to all these allurements and pressure. As we have seen, these words applied to our brothers and sisters in Roman times, during the Third Reich and when the USSR was a power. Such words of our Lord apply to all time, until Christ returns. What our Lord wants us to her form this letter is that these things will come, so we should be forewarned, and conduct ourselves accordingly. Keep the faith, endure, and we will overcome. So be it.

VII. The Visions of the Wars of Satan - part 2

Revelation 12:12b But woe to the earth and the sea because the devil has come down to you! 

He is filled with terrible anger, for he knows that he only has a little time!”

12:13 Now when the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 12:14 But the woman was given the two wings of a giant eagle so that she

could fly out into the wilderness, to the place God prepared for her, where she is taken care of – away from the presence of the serpent – for a time, times, and half a time. 12:15 Then the serpent spouted water like a river out of his mouth after the woman in an attempt to sweep her away by a flood, 12:16 but the earth came to her 

rescue; the ground opened up and swallowed the river that the dragon had spewed from his mouth. 12:17 So the dragon became enraged at the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep God’s commandments and hold to the testimony about Jesus.

 

The last section ended in 12:9 with the Devil being thrown down to earth along with his angels after his defeat by Jesus upon his resurrection. We saw how the view in heaven also portrays this as a battle with the angel Michael. In apocalyptic literature, Michael appears in our Bibles in Daniel 10:13-11:1 as an angel fighting the prince of Persia, then going on to fight the prince of Greece. Given that this information came in a vision to Daniel as did John’s vision in our text, one would gather from the context that these are cosmic wars being fought and that these princes are probably demons defending successive empires. Empires all do become evil in time, so this connection need not be surprising. 

 

Indeed, in Daniel 12:1-4, Michael is identified by the heavenly being speaking to Daniel as ‘the protector of your people, meaning the people of God, in this case Israel. The description of the battle in Daniel sounds very much like that in our text from Revelation 12. However, now we understand the people of God to include Christians. It stands to reason that, as people of God, Michael is also our protector, as seems to be the case in Revelation 12.  The only other biblical reference to Michael is in Jude 9 in the New Testament, where he is called an archangel. This is the title given angels such as Michael, and Gabriel who came to Mary and Joseph, because of the key role they play in the scriptures and apocalyptic literature as one of the few named angels.

 

After the Devil is thrown out of heaven, John hears a loud voice in heaven (12:10). Among other things, this voice is heard in 12:12b warning the inhabitants of the earth that Satan is “filled with terrible anger, for he knows that he has only a little time”. Remember, the Devil, Satan, is here described as a dragon. The serpent of Genesis 3 has morphed in apocalyptic literature into a dragon.

 

We see that the dragon is still bent on destroying this child but now that it is safe in heaven, where Satan is not, he turns its attention to its mother. Remember, we said this woman could represent the people of God, past, present and future. Past would include the first human group to be so identified, the Jews. One can interpret what the Jews have suffered all through history, right up to our time, as the result of Satan’s extreme hatred for them because they figure so centrally in God’s plans, and as such, gave birth to the Christ. We saw why the devil wanted to destroy him before he gave his life as the sacrificial Lamb, and so corrected what Satan had done to the world by defeating him with that death and the resurrection that followed.

 

However, we are told again, as in 12:6 that the woman had not only fled into the wilderness as stated there, but been helped to get there by being given the wings of an eagle to fly to the place in the wilderness prepared by God for her. Suddenly the dragon is again a serpent and now tries to flood the woman out of the wilderness, but fails when the earth itself comes to her aid and absorbs the flood the devil created.

 

The dragon then turns its attention away from the woman to focus his anger on her children. Now her children are not one son who was snatched up into heaven, but the many “who keep God’s commandments and hold to the testimony about Jesus.” This could refer still to the Jews, “those who keep God’s commandments”, as well now as Christians, those who “hold to the testimony about Jesus.” This testimony is, of course, that he is the long-promised Messiah, our Redeemer, Savior and risen Lord. 

 

These verses show that Jews and Christians alike will not have an easy time on earth. We see that in history and still. However, we have already been learning that we are victorious with Christ. We also know that the defeat which occurred at the cross will be finalized when Christ returns. Knowing that should encourage us, strengthen us and perhaps even allow us to experience joy in the midst of tribulation. That is one of the key aims of this book, this letter to the seven churches, and to us.

VII. The Visions of the Wars of Satan - part 1

Introduction

Blog comment: Some of you will recall that I began to write on The Revelation about a year ago on my blog. My initial efforts faded over time. However, with the lessening of other responsibilities since then, I am taking up the work again. I believe The Spirit prompted this after New Years (2021) and I am excited to dig in and learn further about The Joy of Revelation. Her is what I share about Revelation 12:1-9). My apologies for the alternating 'bold' and 'normal' font. It's a glitch I can't seem to correct, it bears no meaning on importance of sections. 

 

Now we come to some of the most dramatic and climactic portions of The Revelation. These passages recount the efforts of Satan to defeat Christ and his people all through the ages. Some of these descriptions refer to recurring situations the Church has found itself in since Christ’s resurrection. Some point to the future and what would appear to be final battles between Christ and Satan. However, these battles might not be what you have likely been taught to expect.

 

The significance of these wars is evidenced by their being covered in eight of The Revelation’s twenty-two chapters. We have by now come to understand that The Revelation is not so much a chronological account as a record of scenes played out in different settings and seen from different vantage points, as well as in varying degrees of depth and complexity. Some of the passages we will study here seem to be expansions of chapters six, eight and nine. What the seven seals of chapters 6 – 8 and seven trumpets of chapters 8 – 11 introduce, are in some ways dealt with here again, in the sometimes bizarre seven signs or symbols of chapters 12 – 14. Finally, the accounts of the ‘wars’ wrap up in the latter half of chapters 16 – 18 and the latter portions of chapters 19 – 20. 

 

Signs 1 & 2, The Woman in Heaven and The Dragon.

12:1-9

12:1 Then a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and with the moon under her feet, and on her head was a crown of twelve stars. 12:2 She was pregnant and was screaming in labor pains, struggling to give birth. 12:3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon that had seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadem crowns. 12:4 Now the dragon’s tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. 12:5 So the woman gave birth to a son, a male child, who is going to rule over all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was suddenly caught up to God and to his throne, 12:6 and she fled into the wilderness where a place had been prepared for her by God, so she could be taken care of for 1,260 days. 12:7 Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 12:8 But the dragon was not strong enough to prevail, so there was no longer any place left in heaven for him and his angels. 12:9 So that huge dragon – the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world – was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him. 

 

This is a cosmic description of what began with the birth of Jesus and ended with his resurrection. As with many apocalyptic images, these pictures are drawn from different sources and thus combine different elements. To begin with, the first symbol, the woman, would appear to be Mary of Nazareth. We’ll come back to her description and its meaning later. She is pregnant and about to give birth. She does gives birth to a male child, a son, who is to rule all the enations with a rod of iron. This child must be Jesus.

 

The second symbol, the dragon is none other than Satan. This is the moment he has been waiting for. He knew God had a plan to rectify the damage Satan began to wreak on God’s good creation from the beginning. He sees that this child, the description of which would line up with the human, Jewish, Messianic expectations of the time of Jesus’ birth, has a key part in that plan. So, Satan wants to kill this child. We know he tried unsuccessfully to accomplish this through King Herod, as described in the tragic account in the Gospel According to Matthew, 2:1-18. This killing of all male children in the area of Bethlehem under the age of two is referred to in Church History as The Slaughter of the Innocents. It is still remembered much more in the Eastern churches of our faith family. If you go to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, you will see it memorialized below the complex on which this Church stands.

 

Not to be deterred, Satan tries again and this time succeeds in killing this Son, not through Herod but through the efforts of the Jewish people themselves, with the aid of their Roman overlords, and Jesus is killed, crucified on Calvary. The Child is snatched up into heaven, to God and to his throne. This refers to Christ’s resurrection, his vindication and his exaltation to sit at the right hand of God, as described on numerous occasions throughout the New Testament. Satan is foiled again. 

 

The woman meanwhile, flees to “the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God”. How many times have those who were part of God’s plan not had to spend time in the wilderness. Indeed, sometimes we all feel as though that’s where we sometimes are. However, here this is seen as a place of security. It is prepared by God to protect the woman from Satan. We do well to remember that when we feel we are in the wilderness, God is still there with us. He can still protect us and see us through whatever our wilderness experience is.

 

Indeed, this brings us to see this symbol in another light, referring it would seem, to a different, later period of time. This woman can also be seen on another level as Christ himself, symbolized as a woman, the Mother of The Church. We can now turn to the description of this figure. We know Christ is described as Light. When he showed himself as he really was to his three closest disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration he was so bright they could not look at him. He would be the one entitled to wear a crown with twelve stars, which could stand for his rule over the twelve tribes of Israel as King David’s successor, or, following that, the twelve Apostles representing The Church. The moon is sometimes understood in biblical times as having evil aspects, so it is under the feet of this portent, indicating evil’s subjection (Psalm 121:6: “The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.”).

 

Now, we can see how the comments in the paragraph preceding this last really can apply to us as Christ’s children. The Church is not really fully at home in this world. We can be said to be in a wilderness. We are not lost but we are pilgrims, wanderers, looking for our future home when the Kingdom of God, of which we are already citizens, will fully come into being.  God is looking after us though, just as he did look after Israel those forty years in the wilderness of the Old Testament. Our wandering will end, as did Israel’s.

 

Satan is furious. The war he waged on earth against the Christ is now seen as it appeared from a heavenly vantage point. Satan wages war on a cosmic scale, in heaven itself, with Michael and his forces. Satan loses and is thrown – not the to his eternal punishment, but to the earth with his angels, which we sometimes refer to as demons. This tells us that Satan and his forces are already weakened by the death and resurrection of Jesus. This was meant to comfort and encourage Jesus’ followers at the time this was written. The text is reminding them that although they might be facing hostility, persecution and even death now, they are on the winning side with Jesus, and their vindication and reward will come, as did Christ’s. 

 

We today, in the face of all we as believers see and experience in today’s world, should be likewise heartened and able to feel joy in the knowledge that we too shall overcome through Christ our Lord. As the Apostle Paul writes, we are baptized into his body, so we die and rise with Christ (Romans 6:3-11). Praise be to God!