Chapter 12

Revelation’s Diamond Word for Chapter 12 – “There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs” (Mark 13:8).

Jesus continues with JP. “Don’t get lost in the ‘woman clothed with eh sun’ (Rev. 12:1). She’s an image of you, John, and every person on the face of the earth—anyone who feels birth pangs in her (or his ) life. That’s why I told Peter, James John and Andrew, ‘When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed …This is but the beginning of the birth pangs’ ( Mark 13:7-8).

“I felt these pangs myself when I first preached in my hometown, Nazareth. ‘All in the Synagogue were filled with rage. . . . They led me to the brow on the cliff on which my town was built so they could hurl me off the cliff’ (Luke 4:28-29). Nice guys! I took off for Capernaum where ‘they were astounded at my teaching , because I spoke with authority. I cast out demons there; I cured lots of people (Luke 4: 31-40). I became a new man, but first I had to go through the birth pangs of rejection and hostility from the folks in my old home town.

“There’s always a new birth in progress, John, when ‘brother betrays brother to death’ and ‘when you are hated by all because of my name’ (Mark 13:12-13). Hang in there, John; go to the end of the road with me.

“That’s the meaning of the woman clothed with the sun. My Father preserves both her and her new-born son from all the dragons the world could spew forth. She’s like the picture of God’s people in the prophet Micah --'Writhe and groan, O daughter Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you shall go forth from the city and camp in the open country; you shall go to Babylon. There you shall be rescued, there the Lord will redeem you from the hands of your enemies’ (Micah 4:10).

“John, you were writhing and groaning when you landed on Patmos’ island shores. You had been betrayed; people hated you; some wanted to kill you. So I brought you out here –to a new place. I rescued and redeemed you. Now you can begin your re-born life as ‘one who holds fast to the testimony of Jesus’ (Rev. 12:12).

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My wife died a year ago today. I’ve been in birth pangs this whole past year. They were so bad last May I heard the Lord telling me, “Get someone in here with you, John; “it’s not good for the man to be alone” Genesis 2:18). I prayed, and the Lord said, “Call Dina,” (a long-time friend of both my wife Kenne’s and mine. She used to clean our condo and take care of old people). The next day she called me!

“Hi, Mr. Lynch,” she said, “I’d like to come over. I haven’t seen you since Ms. Kenne died.” She had been laid off from two jobs because of Covid. She had no place to stay.

“Dina,” I said, “Guess what? I have a room here you’ve cleaned many times – and a bathroom to go with it. They’re yours for as long as you need them. Plus, I have an ‘old people’ you can take care of –me!”

So, my new life began. We’re spiritually connected and growing in friendship now for 8 months. We’re both the woman clothed with the sun and her child –birth pangs and new life for us both.