Revelation 12:5 (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.
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Revelation 12:5 (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.
Key words
- υἱὸν ἄρσενhuion arsen · Greek
- 'a man child' — literally 'a son, a male'; Isaiah 66:7 LXX has 'she bore a male' (eteken arsen).
- ποιμαίνειν… ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷpoimainein… en rhabdō sidēra · Greek
- 'rule… with a rod of iron' — the Davidic Messiah of Psalm 2:9.
- ἡρπάσθηhērpasthē · Greek
- 'was caught up' to God and his throne — no infancy or ministry is described; the child's birth passes straight to his enthronement.
Why it matters
The Woman's son is the Messiah of Psalm 2, and he is caught up to God's throne the moment he is born. Pitre uses the verse three ways: the child is an individual, Jesus, so the Woman is an individual too (pp 33–34); the immediate 'catching up' shows the birth is a symbol of death, resurrection and ascension, so the Woman's pangs are Calvary, not Bethlehem (pp 126–127); and a Son enthroned in heaven implies a mother who is a heavenly queen (pp 80–81).