Two Women

The Epistle on the Women of Revelation: An Exegesis and Exposition

Introduction

To the faithful seekers of truth, grace, and understanding in these prophetic times, I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. This epistle is offered as an exposition on Revelation 12 and Revelation 17, utilizing the Word of God as its foundation and guide. By comparing Scripture with Scripture, we shall discern the identity and significance of the women described in these chapters. May the Spirit of truth illuminate our study and guide us into all wisdom.

Part I: The Woman in Revelation 12

"And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth." (Revelation 12:1–2, ESV)

Exegesis and Filters

To understand the identity of this woman, we turn to Galatians 4, Hebrews 12, and Isaiah 54.

1. Galatians 4:26: "But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother."
   • Paul contrasts the earthly Jerusalem, bound under the old covenant, with the heavenly Jerusalem, representing the new covenant of grace and freedom. This identifies the woman in Revelation 12 as Heavenly Jerusalem, the spiritual mother of all believers.
2. Hebrews 12:22–23: “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.”
   • This passage affirms the heavenly and spiritual identity of the city of God. The woman’s splendor (sun, moon, and twelve stars) reflects the glory and divine authority of the heavenly Jerusalem.
3. Isaiah 54:1–5: “Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married, says the Lord. ... For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.”
   • Heavenly Jerusalem is depicted as a restored and glorious mother, fruitful in God’s covenant blessings, symbolizing the Church and the faithful.

The Birth of the Male Child

The male child is identified as the glorified Church caught up to God (Revelation 12:5): “She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne.”

This aligns with the rapture, when the Church is glorified and taken to heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17; 1 Corinthians 15:52). This identification is further affirmed by Christ’s promise to the Church of Philadelphia: “The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name” (Revelation 3:12). Additionally, Christ promises, “The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne” (Revelation 3:21).

These promises echo Daniel’s prophecy that the righteous will shine like the stars forever and will inherit the kingdom: “And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them” (Daniel 7:27). Thus, the male child’s role as a ruler over the nations aligns with the glorification and eternal reign of the faithful in Christ.

The Woman’s Travail and Refuge

The labor pains symbolize the seals' judgments and the travail of the Church amidst persecution. The woman’s flight into the wilderness (Revelation 12:6) represents God’s protection of the faithful remnant during the tribulation. This is further emphasized by Jesus' exhortation for the saints alive during the tribulation to flee to the mountains (Matthew 24:16–22), symbolizing a place of divine provision and refuge. Additionally, Revelation 11:11–12 recounts the resurrection and ascension of the two witnesses: “But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here!’ And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them.” This event prefigures God’s ultimate triumph and vindication of His servants.

Revelation 14 demonstrates that the 144,000 who were sealed are also raptured to heaven: “Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1). These faithful witnesses, preserved through the tribulation, join Christ in heaven.

Daniel 11:41 highlights a geographical aspect of God’s providence during the tribulation, stating that Moab, Ammon, and Edom (modern Jordan) will be spared from the Antichrist’s conquest: “He shall come into the glorious land. And tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites.” These regions, preserved from destruction, may serve as a place of refuge for God’s people, reflecting the broader theme of divine protection amidst judgment.

Part II: The Woman in Revelation 17

"Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, 'Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.'" (Revelation 17:1–2, ESV)

Exegesis and Filters

To discern the identity of this woman, we turn to Galatians 4, Ezekiel 16, Jeremiah 3, Hosea 4, and Isaiah 1.

1. Galatians 4:25: "Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children."
   • The earthly Jerusalem, enslaved to the law and idolatry, serves as a type of the unfaithful city.
2. Ezekiel 16:15: “But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore because of your renown and lavished your whorings on any passerby; your beauty became his.”
   • Jerusalem’s spiritual harlotry is described in vivid detail, reflecting its betrayal of God through alliances with pagan nations.
3. Jeremiah 3:8–9: “She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce. Yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but she too went and played the whore. Because she took her whoredom lightly, she polluted the land, committing adultery with stone and tree.”
   • Judah’s apostasy mirrors the woman’s spiritual unfaithfulness in Revelation 17.
4. Hosea 4:12: “My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore.”
   • Israel’s idolatry and spiritual adultery against God highlight the woman’s unfaithful character.
5. Isaiah 1:21: “How the faithful city has become a whore, she who was full of justice! Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.”
   • This accusation against Jerusalem epitomizes the corruption of a city once dedicated to God.

Identification: Apostate Jerusalem

The woman in Revelation 17 represents apostate Jerusalem as the center of spiritual and political rebellion. Her alliance with the Beast and her eventual destruction (Revelation 17:16) illustrate her judgment by God.

The Waters and the Prostitute’s Judgment

Revelation 17:15–18 states: “And the angel said to me, ‘The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.’”

This imagery of the beast and its horns turning against the prostitute parallels the actions of the little horn in Daniel 7:25 and Daniel 11:41. The little horn, representing the Antichrist, wages war against the saints and overcomes them temporarily: “He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time” (Daniel 7:25). Similarly, in Daniel 11:41, the Antichrist invades the glorious land and many fall, yet Moab, Ammon, and Edom are preserved.

Zechariah 12 and 14 provide additional context for Jerusalem’s tribulation and ultimate redemption. Zechariah 12:3 foretells that all nations will gather against Jerusalem, yet God will defend His people: “On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it.” In Zechariah 14:2, the city is captured, yet the Lord intervenes decisively: “For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city.”

This interplay between judgment and preservation underscores the dual themes of apostasy and redemption woven throughout Scripture. The prostitute’s destruction at the hands of the beast reflects divine judgment on unfaithfulness, while the righteous remnant is preserved and vindicated in God’s ultimate plan.

Reflections

In studying the two women of Revelation, we discern the dual trajectories of humanity: faithfulness versus apostasy, redemption versus judgment. The woman in Revelation 12 signifies God’s eternal covenant with His people, embodied in the heavenly Jerusalem, which nurtures and glorifies the Church. Conversely, the woman in Revelation 17 epitomizes human rebellion and idolatry, culminating in apostate Jerusalem’s tragic fall. Together, these passages reveal the unyielding faithfulness of God, who preserves a remnant and fulfills His promises of redemption and justice.

Closing Benediction

May the wisdom of God illuminate our hearts, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen our spirits, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit lead us in truth. As we await the fulfillment of all things, may we stand firm in faith, bearing witness to the glory of God’s eternal kingdom. To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever. Amen.