THE MAN-CHILD, FIRST-FRUITS, OFFERING 

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” [Matthew 24:21] This Great Tribulation is within a 7 year Period in the last days which immediately precedes Jesus Christ, the Messiah’s Return to Earth to take possession of His Kingdom here and restore Israel to glory. This time frame comes from Daniel having “understood by books the number of years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.” That 70 years’ judgment of God on Israel was nearly complete when Daniel humbly and fervently contemplated Israel’s restoration, for which God gave him “…skill and understanding”.  But the visions were not only of the limited restoration, but of the last days’ great restoration, with its players and events. They touched on the Messiah’s first Coming, and skipped over 2000 years until His Second Coming, with Israel’s complete restoration following. This is specifically to be understood in 70 weeks of seven years each, and that after the last 7 year period, with the determined desolation, then only would Israel finally be restored in earthly preeminence. (Daniel 9:2,22,24)  

That last 7 year period, wherein is desolation, starts with a covenant or pact between Israel and the great influential End Time prince discovered later to be the Anti-Christ. He is seen in Daniel 9:27 & 12:11. “And he (the last days’ prince) shall confirm the (7 year) covenant…” This prophetic word of that last days’ covenant with this prince/beast is in harmony with Isaiah’s prophetic word, “Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people (in the last days) which is in Jerusalem. Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; (a pact with those who are supernaturally connected with Death and Hades, as they come up from Hades/the bottomless pit) when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves.…” [Isaiah 28:14–15] Now returning again and finishing Daniel 9:27… “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.…”  Christ says the last days’ great tribulation like never before then comes on Jerusalem. This is in the midst, that is to say 3 ½ years from the beginning of the covenant, and will last 3 ½ years, which corresponds with Revelation 11:1–2. “And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles (Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled Luke 21:24): and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months (3½ yrs).” 

Daniel’s prophecies lay the groundwork for all Scriptural last days’ prophetic understanding. As Jesus confirms in that same discourse of Matthew 24 in the signs of His Return, He refers to Daniel’s recording of the last days event… “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of (or leading to desolation (destruction), spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place…” [Matthew 24:15] Abomination followed by destruction on Jerusalem is a signal of His imminent Return. Scripture repeatedly establishes this event occurring at the 3 ½ year period of Daniel’s last 7year period. The Book of Revelation expounds that last 7 year period from the 4th Chapter to the first of the 20th Chapter. And as Daniel defines that period as two 3 ½ year time frames divided by the prince’s breaking of that covenant, so John, being of the same Spirit, amplifies it, in that he connects the first 3 ½ years with the ministry of the Two Prophets. “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.” (3 1/2 years) So it will be that when the covenant prince/anti-Christ emerges and breaks the covenant, he kills the Two Witnesses. “And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them and kill them.” [Revelation 11:3,7) And since “…power was given unto him (the prince) to continue forty and two months” (3 ½ yrs), [Revelation 13:5] This then defines the last 3 ½ yrs from the first 3 ½ yrs. In that the two periods ultimately give us the 7 year time line of Daniel’s 70th week. And when completed, “…he (the prince) shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” [Daniel 8:25] With Revelation 19:19…. “And I saw the beast (the prince of Daniel’s prophecy) …..gathered together to make war against him (the Messiah) that sat on the horse…. And the beast was taken (without human hand) …and cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”   

This overview sets us up for our subject; THE CATCHING UP OF THE MANCHILD of Revelation 12:5. “And she (the Church of God as a whole) 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.” (This event also being the First Fruits offering. “These were redeemed (brought) from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” [Revelation 14:4b] 

We have spoken about God’s two redeemed people (that generally make up the symbolic Woman of Chapter 12) being Jews and Christians. They both have a form of “delivery” from the Tribulation Period, and are distinguished one from another in Revelation Chapter 7. In the first 8 verses, we have the Jewish contingent sealed for the Millennial Earthly Kingdom of Christ and in the last verses we have those who are shown to be found in the heavens above the earth, to Tabernacle and rule with Christ, in the Millennial Heavenly Kingdom. The heavenly kingdom people pictured there consist; first of the last days’ First Fruits and then later the Harvest offering. Where Revelation 7 distinguishes the Jewish contingent of God’s Church from the New Man contingent, the 12th Chapter verse 5 further distinguishes a minority sub–group. This is the Man-Child within the “New Man” contingent, who are the early ripened First–Fruits offering to God. The Harvest are all faithful who have been left in the field to ripen in the summer heat, and having endured the Tribulation, are raised up into the “air”, along with all the faithful dead out from among the dead, in Hades/Sheol in the center of the Earth, to join the First–Fruits offering of the Man-Child. These answer to the promise of Jesus Christ to those living overcoming Christians… “Because thou hast kept the word of my  patience, I also will keep thee (thus were the first to be caught up unto the throne of God) …. from the hour of temptation, (the great tribulation) which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” [Revelation 3:10] (This is a sister Scripture to Matthew 24:21.) These of the Man-child being the First Fruits offering, “redeemed from the earth” unto the Father and the Lamb. (Revelation 14:1-5) These faithful overcoming ones are that qualified part of the Christian flock that are kept from the hour of great temptation; the last 3 ½ years of the Great Tribulation/Jacob’s Trouble. 

The travail of the Woman speaks to the coming to the end of this Church Age, in that, what was appointed in her has been completed. The Day of the 7 Churches is over, the mystery of the heavenly kingdom is realized. Satan’s works in religious craftiness is no longer consequential, in that being stealth no longer matters. At this point, he no longer attempts to deceive. Those tactics are abandoned in the catching up of the Man-child. (He now openly demands worship under threat of death.) The old system of his accusing day and night are then gone, as he no longer has a voice, for the days of the throne of Mercy and Grace as it relates to heavenly kingdom ruling are closed, and the days of retribution in Justice have set in. There are only 3 ½ years till Jesus Christ literally returns to the Earth.   

The birth of the Man-child has glory–filled translating change in view. Being begotten by the Holy Spirit, finally discovers unto all, the standard for which the Holy Spirit now labors in Christians. A standard of great daily dying unto selflessness, courage to wrestle with the supernatural unto death, to obtain virtue and heroic characteristics, resisting end times’ coldness in loving Christ and others, altogether being formed into Christ-likeness by upholding His doctrines as witnesses. They are imperfect overcomers, conquerors in Christ’s Blood, defeating satanic forces, the fallen nature within, and the World influences All these are aligned in malicious purpose; to abort that unique development of those who would make up the Man-child. The birth is the consummation of the conflict, the selection decision having been rendered. (Luke 21:34-36) “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and stand before the Son of man.” Their success is the serpent’s failure. Thwarting and stopping the Man-child’s ascent into the heavens is satan’s greatest objective, being the prince of the power of the air and knowing that the Man-child is the first of those chosen and appointed in his replacement to continue to rule in the heaven over this earthly realm.  

The Man-Child represents the beginning of the “manifestation of the sons of God”. (Romans 8:19, Hebrews 2:10) They are men and women who won the race of faith (1st Corinthians 9:24) and “…receiveth the prize.” They are the first to inherit “…the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”, (Philippians 3:14) to victoriously be caught up to sit in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. Their crosses are now turned to crowns.  

They are watchful praying Christians who are yet alive on the earth at the setting up of that great heavenly judgment assize that corresponds with the last days’ 7 year period. (Revelation 4:2, Daniel 7:9) They have shown great faith in persistence and consecrated discipleship to Jesus their Lord, who loved not their Worldly lives in the most leavened time. These, being the most noblest of all mankind, having been formed now in the womb of the Spirit, are brought forth out of the World into the tabernacles of the heavens in the upper regions of the earth, now perfectly formed into the image of their Father (Genesis 1:27) Christ, having just received His investiture as the only Worthy to judge and rule. Now these follow in His footsteps, irrefutably joint–heirs, fit to shepherdize all nations of earth, and that with a rod of iron in the Millennial reign of Christ. 

The 12th chapter of Revelation is the pivotal point for interpretation of the whole Book, and the Last Days’ people of God. In that it makes clear to the sincerely minded that those two popular modern–day rapture teachings are false, in saying that “all Christians must be taken before the Tribulation” or the other that says “all Christians must pass through the Tribulation.” Neither reconcile with this Chapter.  Chapter 12 can be divided up into three parts. The first 6 verses give the vision of the Woman; who is representative of the Church of God in its whole. The Church of God is the called out ones of God since Adam, having taken the form of 2 flocks; Christians and Jews. Whose callings are distinguished by two realms; the heavenly and earthly…and then the Serpent/satan in relation to the Woman/Church. The second part, from verse 7 to the 12th , describes satan’s last days’ special enmity, his tenaciousness as both accuser and roaring lion and his failing results against those Christians, realizing the calling to the heavens in the birth of the Man-child. The third part to the end of the chapter deals with satan’s now focused annihilation of those of the Church, (both flocks of Christians and Jews) remaining on the Earth. 

Identifying the Man-child of verse 5 is simple enough. “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron.…”  This is clearly a reference to Revelation 2:26–27 where we read Christ’s Words of exhortation to his living followers to overcome. “And he that overcometh, and keepteth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my father.”  Revelation 12:5’s fulfillment is confirmation of the necessity of overcoming worthiness, (declared in this and multiple Scriptures throughout the New Testament) in order to receive the reward of being caught up into the heavenly realm and to rule with Christ in His Millennial Kingdom. The Man-child being caught up to the heavens answers to the war in the first heaven resulting in the serpent being cast out of that realm. Revelation 12:7-12….“And there arose war in heaven… (in the first heaven; not the Heaven of heavens. This war that arises in the first heaven is like that of Sihon and Og who went out to resist Israel from their inheritance seen in Numbers 21:23-35) ….Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; (Holy Angels willingly submit, satan and his angels refuse the appointment of the Man-child to take their place in authority)…. and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place fond any more in heaven. (Michael is no longer under the restraints of “the Lord rebuke you”, (Zechariah 3:2) but turns to blows as Satan reverts to combat in the first heaven and satan is cast out and down to the Earth.) And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. This is the first act of power against the evil forces set against Christ, as He now begins to secure His Kingdom, having purchased with His death long ago, now suspended for 2000 years, as the defeated incumbent is removed from his high office. He dared to use force to resist, and the just blow of Christ dropped him upon the earth; his wings are clipped, unable to ascend again.  

Christ’s mysterious Kingdom of the heavens begins. Christian wrestling with wicked spirits in heavenly places has come to an end. (Ephesians 6:12) Christ’s instructive vision, in the manifested greater spiritual reality, that was represented in the 70 who were casting out demons, is now realized. “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Now Michael, then having secured the heavens above the earth for the Seed of Christ, this great prince of Israel turns to the Earth to secure the seed of Abraham in deliverance. Daniel 12:1…. “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” 

Now picking up again in Revelation 12:10…. “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now (at the catching up of the Man-child; of the faithful living Christian into that heavenly realm, satan is cast out to the earth) …. is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they (the Man-child) overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony: and they loved not their lives unto the death (in contrast with the presumptuous Laodicean–type Christians left on the earth). Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, (note the plurality) and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down to you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” He shall now crawl and eat the dust of the earth. This is the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Garden’s seed in Genesis 3:14–15 (see also Ezekiel 28:17). “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and it shall bruise thy head.…” The time of the Serpent’s curse has finally come; as Adam now rises in recovered dominion. The Serpent is relegated to the earth, his head to be crushed; he will not rise up in the first heavens nor its authority ever again. There the Court has made its decision; the relentless malicious Accuser is overcome and is barred from any further access.  

He now knows he hath but a short time, precisely 3 ½ years, before… “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled….” And so, in great enmity he pursues the Woman’s remaining seed. In type, as the avenger of blood, “Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him…and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he (had no malice aforethought) in time past.”  Blood for blood is the law of the great tribulation. “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” [Deuteronomy 19:6, Genesis 9:6] 

Revelation 12:3 “And there appeared another wonder in heaven…” Satan is the other sign, besides the symbolic Woman, that was seen having both a presence on earth and in the first heaven, showing his current presence there and his special angst against the birth of another into his realm. His realm being that special place where Scripture reveals is his place until the catching up of the Man-child and then his casting down. He is the prince of this World; “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2) that place where spiritual wicked forces now reside and where the Christian is called in unavoidable wrestling in order to overcome ….against spiritual wickedness (wicked spirits) in high (heavenly) places”. (Ephesians 6:12) The time is for the manifestation of the Man-Child, it is the fulfillment of being literally under the shadow of the Almighty…and “the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.” [Psalm 91:13] 

Satan, having been cast out of heaven at the time of the catching up of the Man-child, and now being relegated to the earth to battle, calls and raises up that One especially dead in him; “the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit”. [Revelation 11:7] Who emerges in his father’s unholy image, being granted his father’s supernatural power and authority. As God did with Adam before, now satan invests in the prince of Daniel 9:26–27, giving him dominion over all on earth (Revelation 13:2)…. “and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority.” Now is the time of the Anti-Christ’s investiture, and the charge and power received being to destroy the remaining seed of the Woman on the earth. “And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall proper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.” [Daniel 8:24] It is in this that the closeness of God’s two peoples and two covenants are seen. In that there are two who escape from this mighty Anti-Christ; one unto the heavens and the throne of God and one into the wilderness. Revelation 12:13–14…. “And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.”  

These are those two groups Christ refers to that are alive, and that He owns, just before His Return in Matthew 24. The first group being warned in Matthew 24:15-20 …. “When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand) Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains.…” Here the emphasis is on fleeing. These are those of Revelation 12:13–14…. “And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman (those left of her seed) which brought forth the man child. And to the woman (the Jewish contingent) were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, (Mt. Sinai?) where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent….” Here again we have the testimony of Scripture of the 3 ½ years, a clear division of a 7 year period. It is Written to be those 3 ½ years that immediately follow satan’s being cast out of the heavens to the earth. And the 3 ½ years of supernatural protection corresponds to that from the blasphemous prince of Daniel breaking the covenant in the midst of the 7 year agreement with the abomination prophesied. This begins the great persecution/Jacob’s Trouble that must correspond with the limited 3 ½ years of the beast’s reign of terror. Greatly suggesting that satan’s casting out of the first heaven corresponds with the time he raises up the Anti-Christ from the Pit, and his act; the abomination that brings desolation, and the killing of the Two Witnesses.   

The second group Jesus Christ speaks of in Matthew 24 is an exhortation in being ready to be supernaturally caught away, in the new man contingent of the Woman.… “Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”  So it is, we of the new man are there warned to be on faithful watch, always in hope of being “taken” as a part of the Man-child/First Fruits offering to God, that group which is in view in Matthew 24:40-47. The one group kept as was Noah and the other like Enoch were taken away.  Correspondingly then are the two wars, first one in heavens, and the second one upon the Earth.