“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” – Revelation 12:5
Merry Christmas, Revelation-style! Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus the Christ is this child Who rules the nations with a rod of iron (see Psalm 2, Revelation 2, etc.). He alone is King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Here in the midst of the complex imagery of Revelation we have this one-line summary of the earthly life of the eternal Son of God.
The divine took on humanity. Jesus was born of a virgin in Bethlehem, grew up and lived a sinless life, taught the truth and wisdom of God, and worked the works of God come in the flesh. Then He gave His life as a perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins. Jesus took upon Himself the righteous wrath of God we deserve, suffering in agony on the cross before His death. He was buried and on the third day He rose from the dead. After 40 days, Jesus ascended up to Heaven where He sits at the right hand of God the Father, ruling, reigning, and making intercession for His people.
This tiny verse in Revelation sets the stage for the coming triumph of King Jesus that unfolds in the later chapters. One day, Jesus will return to this earth and defeat all His enemies. He will cast the Devil into the lake of fire and judge every person who has ever lived before renewing creation for the glory of God and the delight of those who have been made righteous as a gift of grace through faith in Him. When the days are dark and the news is bad, never forget that Jesus has already won the victory at the cross and sits on His throne waiting for the perfect moment to return and complete His Kingdom on earth. #FollowJesus