Where Was the "Woman" When She Gave Birth to the "Male Child," Heaven or Earth?
(Revelation 12:5-6, 13-14)
See blog with full-color graphics covering similar topic here: www.yorww.com/rev12.htm
See blog with full-color graphics covering same topic here: www.yorww.com/stairway2.htm
Rev. 12:5 And she gave birth to a son, a male, who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod. And her child was caught [or "snatched" 2013 NWT] away to God and to his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and sixty days. (Revelation 12:5-6)
13 Now when the dragon saw that it was hurled down to the earth, it persecuted the woman that gave birth to the male child. 14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place; there is where she is fed for a time and times and half a
time away from the face of the serpent. (Revelation 12:13-14)
Most bible translations render the Greek word harpazo as being "caught up" to heaven instead of "caught away" or "snatched away" as the New World Translation renders it. This makes the New World Translation's rendering of this verse a unique rendering in itself. (Verse 5)
Here are a few examples of other bible translations rendering of Revelation 12:5:
(ASV) And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne.
(Darby) And she brought forth a male son, who shall shepherd all the nations with an iron rod; and her child was caught up to God and to his throne.
(ESV) 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,
(KJV) 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.
(MKJV) And she bore a son, a male, who is going to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.
(Murdock) And she brought forth a male child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her child was caught up to God and to his throne.
(NASB) And she gave birth to a Son, a male, who is going to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne.
(NIV) 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.
(NKJV) She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
(RV) And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne.
(TPT) She gave birth to a man-child who is about to rule and shepherd every nation with an iron scepter, and her son was caught up to God and to his throne.
(WEB) She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up to God, and to his throne.
If the New World Translation Committee had decided to render that Greek word: harpazo, as being "caught up" to God and His Throne instead of "caught away" to God and His Throne, then this could have given us (Jehovah's Witnesses) an entirely different way to look at the woman and the Male Child as to where the birth occurred, ON EARTH instead of heaven.
The same could be said for Revelation 5:10, where many translations tell us the kingdom of God is ruling or reigning continues "UPON EARTH" instead of "over earth." (See New World Translation Interlinear showing the literal rendering to be "UPON EARTH.")
Therefore, proper bible scholarship could have well shown that the woman gave Birth to the Male Child ON EARTH and not in heaven.
Let's show a few translations that tell us this great truth that God's Messianic Kingdom is actually ruling or reigning upon earth.
Revelation 5:10:
(ASV) and madest them to be unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon the earth.
(BBE) And have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are ruling on the earth.
(CEV) You let them become kings and serve God as priests, and they will rule on earth.
(DRB) And hast made us to our God a kingdom and priests, and we shall reign on the earth.
(ESV) and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
(ISV) You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on the earth."
(KJV) And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
(NASB) You have made them into a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”
(NIV) You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."
So to answer the question posed above, we can see that it is more reasonable to believe the woman gave birth to the child ON EARTH and not in heaven. This would mean the child would be born on earth, then caught up to God and His Throne, leaving the woman to battle Satan--the dragon on earth. This would mean the Male Child would now enjoy a special close heavenly relationship with Almighty God. This relationship is very similar to what Paul referred to as the "THIRD HEAVEN" in 2 Corinthians 12:2.
Good points!
In the Revelation Its Grand Climax At Hand book, page 183 paragraph 23 it states:
"...We may wonder how the dragon can persecute the woman, since she is in heaven and the dragon has now been cast down to the earth..."
Yes, how is that possible?
Page 179 paragraph 10, of the same publication, shows us the "woman" actually pictures Jehovah's Heavenly Organization, made up of myriads of angels, which gave birth to the Messianic Heavenly Government or the "Male Child."
But now, verse 13 suddenly shows us the same "woman" is now UPON EARTH and not in heaven, where she supposedly gave birth to the "Child." No, but she is now on earth suddenly being "persecuted" by Satan.
So now the "woman" is no longer Jehovah's Heavenly Organization, but suddenly pictures God's servants who live on earth. She is no longer a Heavenly woman, but an earthly one. Does this make sense to you?
Take a closer look at the verse again. It states:
3 Now when the dragon saw that it was hurled down to the earth, it persecuted the woman that gave birth to the male child. 14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place; there is where she is fed for a time and times and half a time away from the face of the serpent. (Revelation 12:13-14 NWT)
Let's think a little bit.
WOMAN = large body of humans on earth which gives birth to new movement on earth.
Male Child = small group of individuals on earth which will break from the woman and comprise God's Messianic Kingdom on earth, which fulfill Jesus' words at Matthew 6:10.
Fiery-colored Dragon = Tremendous Satan-inspired warfare on the earth. (Revelation 12:3)
"Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth." (Matthew 6:10)
Conclusion:
Soon we can expect a small group of sincere Jehovah's Witnesses will recognize the Governing Body to be the Man of Lawlessness who lords over and dominates 8.7 million Jehovah's Witnesses and in disgust will leave this organization to form a special Kingdom for God's name on earth. (Revelation 5:10)
During the time of the formation of the Messianic Kingdom on earth Satan will start a Great War (Rev. 6:4) upon the earth out of anger "because he knows his time is short." (Revelation 12:12) It will be during this time that Jehovah sets up His earthly Kingdom. (Daniel 2:44, 45)
Article written by: Donald C.Burney
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