Revelation 12: The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon

Alice C. Linsley

My Protestant friends wonder about my veneration of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. They assume that I must be Roman Catholic since they know next to nothing about historic Anglicanism or Eastern Orthodoxy. I explain that from the earliest days, the followers of Jesus Christ have shown great reverence to our Lord's mother. To show reverence is to venerate, not worship. Protestants seem to have a difficult time making this distinction.

It is ironic that the persons who claim the Bible alone as their authority know so little about what the Bible says about Mary. She is the blessed "Woman" of Genesis 3:15 who is foretold as the one who would bring forth the "Seed" of God. This verse does not pertain to Eve since Eve is not named until Genesis 3:20.

Further, Luke's Gospel tells us that Mary is to be regarded as blessed through all generations. "For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed." (Luke 1:48)

In my experience, pointing out what the Bible teaches about Mary makes little difference. My Protestant friends merely shrug their shoulders as if this must be some foreign imposition on the Bible. Such bias against Mary has lead to strange interpretations of Revelation 12, including associating her with the whore of Babylon (Rev. 17:4-18). Here we have an example of ignorance, prejudice and very poor Bible interpretation.

A careful reading of Revelation 12 makes it clear that the Woman brings for the expected Messiah, the "Seed" of God, whose kingdom is eternal because he is eternal God. This means that Mary is the God-bearer, called Theotokos in Greek.

The Placement of the Vision

The vision of Revelation 12 comes after the proclamation of the Kingdom in Revelation 11:15 made famous by Handel’s Alleluia Chorus:  “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”  This sign serves to punctuate the rise and fall of kingdoms much as the following Messianic Psalm is used in Daniel to punctuate the rise and fall of kingdoms: “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.” (Ps. 145:13)

This vision comes between the proclamation about the eternal Kingdom of Christ and the vision of the blasphemous Beast who makes war on the Saints. This recapitulates Genesis 3:15, the first promise of Scripture concerning the Woman and her Seed. Her Seed is to crush the Serpent’s head. This was accomplished at Christ’s birth, death, resurrection and ascension (“The Christ Event”) and in the vision is a timeless event described in these words: “The woman was delivered of a boy, the son who was to rule all the nations with an iron rod, and the child was taken straight up to God and to his throne.” (Rev. 12:5)

The Church has understood Genesis 3:15 to be about the Theotokos and her Son, the only begotten of God. It is not about Eve. Eve is not named until Genesis 3:20. Further, John’s Gospel connects Jesus with the Seed on Genesis 3:15.  In John 12:24, we read that Jesus told his disciples that he was going to Jerusalem to die.  John’s vision connects the death of the Woman’s Seed with the new life or abundant fruit of the Kingdom.

Sign and Signs

St. John describes this vision as a sign or mark (Greek: σημεῖον - sēmeion). There are two signs actually. The first is the sun-clothed woman in labor and the second is the fiery red dragon. Signs are distinct from symbols in that they point to realities beyond them. The woman points to the Theotokos and the dragon points to her adversary, the devil. The dragon seeks to devour her Son (Rev. 12:4). We recall how Herod sought to slay the Child. By angelic intervention Joseph was led to take Mary and the Child into the desert and on to Egypt where they were safe.

“The woman fled to the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.” (Rev. 12:6)

One thousand two hundred and sixty days is three and a half years, a period of time used elsewhere in John’s Apocalypse. Compare to the period of time that the holy city was trampled in Revelation 11:2.  Here the wording is “forty-two months” which is also three and a half years and the period of desolation of the temple described in Daniel. Daniel 8:11-14 reads:

“He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered. Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, “How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?” And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.”

The Woman

The Woman is the Mother of Christ our God. In Christian iconography she is sometimes shown standing on the earth with the serpent beneath her foot. She brings forth the “Son who was to rule all the nations” (Rev. 12:5).

Mary and the Christ
subdue the serpent

She is also the Mother of the Church and all who through Christ subdue the serpent. The Eastern Orthodox hold that the miraculous birth of Jesus left Mary's virginity intact as a sign; therefore she did not travail in bringing forth her Son. However, as the Mother of the Church she travails in intercession for all the saints. This is evident from John’s vision. Revelation 12:17 says that when the dragon could not get to the Mother or her Child, it “went away to make war on the rest of her children who obey God’s commandments and have in themselves the witness of Jesus.”

Many believe that when Jesus gave his mother into John’s care, he was giving Mary to be “mother” to the whole community of early believers. The title “Mother of the Church” was first used by St. Ambrose, the Bishop Milan (A.D. 330 – 397).

Historically Mary was regarded as first among the Apostles and was greatly honored in the Christian community. Such honor had the effect of stirring great animosity against her among the Jews.

The New Israel

In Revelation 12:1 we read: “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars…”

The woman clothed with the sun recalls Joseph’s dream (Gen. 37:9-11).  In that dream, Joseph’s father (Israel) is represented by the sun and Joseph’s mother is represented by the moon. Joseph’s eleven brothers are represented by the eleven stars that bow down to him.  In this sign, the woman wears a crown with twelve stars. Joseph, who was sold into slavery, is restored to his rightful place. The New Israel must mean restoration through the Theotokos and her Seed, the Son of God. The New Israel is then the Church into which the faithful ones of the Old Covenant have been brought to safety. Even so, God makes a place of protection for the Woman of Revelation 12.

The Woman represents the New Israel. She is given strength to rise above the Devil’s attacks. She flies with wings of an eagle. This is reminiscent of the promise in Isaiah 40:31: “But they that hope in the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall take wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

The Child

In Revelation 12:5 we read that the Woman brings 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.” The Woman is the Woman of Genesis 3:15 whose conception of the Divine Seed was foretold and anticipated by John’s faithful ancestors going back before the time of Abraham.

This sign speaks of the Christ event in relationship to Satan's unsuccessful attempt to thwart God's plan. God has exalted the glorified Jesus to a position of universal authority (Philippians 2:9-11). He is destined to "rule all the nations with an iron scepter" (12:5). He will shepherd the nations with loving, but absolute authority. These words identify the Child as God's anointed Messiah, destined to reign in God's kingdom over all the earth (Psalm 2:9; Revelation 19:15).

Abraham’s Horite ancestors expected a virgin from among their people to bring forth the Divine Seed. They were familiar with this text: “My wrath will be turned against the enemy of my father Osiris and I will put him beneath my feet in my name of Red Cloak." (Myth and Symbol in Ancient Egypt by R.T. Rundle Clark, p. 216)

Here we find the words of Psalm 110:1, a messianic reference: The Lord says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."

Daniel 2:44 says, "In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.”

The Woman’s Seed, as foretold in Genesis 3:15, was to crush the serpent’s head and restore Paradise. Jesus alludes to this first promise of Scripture when describing his passion and resurrection. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit" (John 12:24). He identifies himself as the "Seed" of Genesis 3:15 and the fulfillment of Messianic expectation.

Horite Hebrew belief in a deified son who would embody kindness and unite the peoples found fulfillment in Jesus Christ, a descendant of the Horite ruler-priests, the divine son of the Virgin Mary, daughter of the priest Joachim of the line of Nathan. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham's ancestors in Eden that a woman of their people would bring forth the Divine Seed. This is why Frank Moore Cross cannot avoid the conclusion that the God of Israel is the God of the Horites.

The Dragon

Revelation clearly identifies the dragon or monster. He is "that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray" (Rev. 12:9, 20:2). Since ancient mythology had many references to antagonistic dragons and sea monsters, John's readers would have recognized the dragon as a cosmic enemy.

In Christian iconography the serpent is often shown as a dragon. Many famous paintings depict the serpent's defeat by St. George or St. Michael, the Archangel.

In John's vision the serpent is associated with the serpent of Eden. However, the association goes beyond Eden to the creation narrative of Genesis 1 where the serpent is associated with chaos and the dark abyss. 

In Genesis 1 we read that the primal substance covering the earth was water and it was disordered, that is, it had no boundaries. God’s breath (Ruach/Logos) created order from the chaos, separating the waters above from the waters below, and the dry land from the seas.  The chaotic waters are called Tehom and the ordering word of God is called Tehut.  In the cosmic struggle, Tehut is victorious over Tehom. The oldest known law code is the Law of Tehut (c. 3500 B.C.) and it was said to express the wisdom of God by which boundaries were established. Among Abraham’s Nilo-Saharan ancestors boundaries were not to be violated. Such transgression carried serious consequences.

The ancient Egyptians believed the great serpent that created chaos lived south of Elephantine Island and therefore never wanted to sail that far south. There was a very ancient temple on Elephantine Island at which priests offered sacrifice and prayers daily. Their presence was seen as a restraint against the serpent. Further, Elephantine Island was known as a seat of wisdom and justice whereby divinely established boundaries were honored and enforced.

Elephantine Island was the center of Nubia's international power. Pepinakht-Heqaib (third millenium BC) rendered judgment from Elephantine and waged wars. He claimed that when judging between two brothers, presumably first-born sons, he never deprived a rightful heir of his inheritance. Since he lived before the time of Joseph's rule in Egypt, it appears that he was honoring a long-standing custom among his Nubian/Kushite people.

The practice of Kushite rulers having two first born sons by two wives, as was customary among Abraham’s people, clearly predates the domination of Egypt by the Asiatic Hyksos.

Revelation 12:17 we are told that “the dragon was angry with the Woman and with her Seed, those who keep the commandments of God and have the witness of Jesus.” Here the Woman’s Seed is not only the Son of God but also all who are “in Christ”, the Church.

When the dragon failed to destroy the Woman and her Seed, it called forth an assistant from the deep. “And he [the dragon] stood upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast coming up from the sea, having ten horns and seven heads…and upon its heads were the names of blasphemy… And the dragon gave it his power and his throne and great authority.” (Rev. 12:18-13:2)

The Beast is the Dragon’s first assistant. Others are mentioned in Revelation 16:12-14: “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.”

The Serpent and the Tree of Life

There are two trees in Garden, and the serpent led Eve from the right choice - to eat of the Tree of Life - to the wrong choice - to eat of the Tree by which she hoped to become like God. This has been the Devil's approach throughout history. He attempts to lead us away from life by promising what he cannot give - divinity and immortality.

The Church Fathers understood the Tree of Life in Eden as representing the Cross. Satan employs many methods to distract us from the Cross, and today there are more distractions than ever. The Kaiser Family Foundation found that young Americans on average spend over seven and one-half hours a day on entertainment media. This translates into more than 53 hours a week as compared to 30 hours a week in school. Cell phones are used to listen to music, play games, text friends, take photos, and watch TV, even in schools where cell phone use is prohibited during the school day.

Conclusion

The imagery of the Woman, her Son and the Beast, draws on very ancient symbolism that can be traced back to Abraham’s Nilo-Saharan ancestors. The Son’s victory over the beast was foretold from the beginning (Gen. 3:15) and John’s apocalyptic vision makes it clear how things will end. “And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet, who in his presence performed signs (sēmeia) by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur” (Rev. 21:8).

“The Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). Thanks be to God!

Related reading: The Dragon and the Beast of Revelation; The Seventh Seal and Silence in Heaven; Serpent Symbolism; The Cosmic Serpent Exposed; The Seven Bowls of Revelation 16

Christ's Message to the Seven Churches

Alice C. Linsley


The purpose of the Apocalypse of St. John is to encourage the followers of Jesus Christ at a time of great trial and persecution. The central message is that Christ is victorious over sin and death and is the sovereign ruler over all things. Those persecuted by earthly rulers, even emperors who claim to be divine, have nothing to fear if they remain faithful to Christ. John says concerning Christ that he is "the ruler over the kings of earth." (Rev. 1:5) All earthly rulers will perish, but Christ died and is risen "the firstborn" from the dead, proving to be the Immortal One whose coming was long expected.

The oracles to the seven churches stress Christ's ultimate victory and his eternal rule. Those found faithful among the churches will reign with Christ in his eternal kingdom. The Apostle Paul elaborates on this when he speaks of how we will be joint heirs with Christ. The term "joint heir" is a legal term which means that we will share all things together. Those who endure, holding fast to the faith of Jesus Christ, will have their names preserved in the Book of Life and they will not experience the second death.

The directness of Christ's message is expressed in the phrase "I know...", emphasizing that nothing is hidden from the Risen Lord. The Lord appeared to John on the Lord's Day while he is standing in worship, possibly with his back to the East. John heard the Lord's voice behind him "as a trumpet" (Rev. 1:10) and turned to behold One like the Son of Man and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword. (Rev. 1:16)

Christ told John to write what he sees in a book and send it to the seven churches of Asia Minor. Each of the churches is given an oracle directly from Christ. Each oracle ends with the exhortation to hear and listen to what the Spirit says to the churches for the Spirit gives understanding.


Symbolism of the Apocalypse

The Apocalypse of Saint John is rich in symbolism. Besides the symbolism of numbers, there are symbols that spoke directly to the communities to which the oracles were directed. These include sacred mountains, crowns, the two-edged sword, the open door, sacred banquets, and sacred scrolls. The scroll with the seven seals expresses the ancient three-tier cosmology. "But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it." (Rev. 5:3)

Much of the symbolism is rooted in ancient cosmological perceptions of seven stars/planets as celestial messengers or angels. One of these is the "morning star" or Venus (Rev. 2:28). The other "stars" of the ancient world were Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, and the Sun and the Moon. All can be seen by the naked eye near the ecliptic.

In the ancient world these seven celestial bodies were referred to as bowls. They were perceived to hold both blessings and curses. In Revelation 16:1-21 the bowls pour out curses that resemble the plagues of Egypt. 

Likewise the seven churches, represented by the seven lampstands, have a cosmic dimension. Jesus Christ who stands at the sacred center of the cosmos is also at sacred center of the churches. The sacred center in Biblical theology is both temporal and spatial, both in time and outside of time, and this is critical to understanding the meta-historical aspect of the Apocalypse. Revelation 1:12 states the Christ is in “the midst” of the seven golden lampstands. This is the same wording found in Genesis to describe the Tree of Life at the sacred center of the Garden. Note that the Tree of Life was never forbidden to Adam, only the tree of the knowledge of good and evil by which Man hoped to become like God, knowing all things.

The Seven Churches

“The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.” (Rev.1:20)

The seven churches are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. All were located on a commercial highway and Hebrews (Habiru) had lived in these towns for many generations. It is to these mostly Jewish communities that Christ directs his warnings. He knows the spiritual condition of each community and the consequences of their condition unless they repent and persevere in the Faith.

Besides the seven churches (lamp stands), there are seven stars (celestial messengers), seven oracles, seven seals and seven bowls. The number seven speaks of perfection in the sense of cosmic wholeness and parallels the seven days of creation. In Revelation, the number seven symbolizes the new creation, the restoration of Paradise, or the eternal Sabbath to be enjoyed by the Redeemed.


Ephesus

Message to Ephesus
Icon drawn by Constantina
(Apocalypse Icons)

The population of Ephesus in Paul's time was about 350,000. Paul planted the church here around 53-56 A.D. In addition to Paul, the church received help from Priscilla and Aquila, Apollos, Tychicus, and Timothy. According to Tradition, the Virgin Mary lived here with John. When St. John penned The Apocalypse the church was about 41-42 years old and was comprised of both Jews and Gentiles.

Christ praises the church at Ephesus for discerning false prophets and for resisting the Nicolaitans. St. Ignatius of Antioch commended the Ephesian Christians for their continuing resistance to Gnosticism and heresy. Nevertheless, Christ admonishes his followers to repent and "do the first works" and to return to their "first love."

From this church, those "who overcome are granted to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." (Rev. 2:1) Christ says, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." (Rev. 2:7) Verse 7 recapitulates verse 1. The Tree of Life alludes to Genesis 2 and speaks of Christ who, like the Tree in the center of the Garden, is the sacred center for the Church universal.

Smyrna

Message to Smyrna
Icon drawn by Constantina
(Apocalypse Icons)

Smyrna (modern Ismir in Turkey) was known as "the Crown City" because the temples encircling the top of Mt. Pagus resembled a crown when viewed from the city. The city took pride in this, but Christ directs them to an everlasting crown. To this church he declares, "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Rev. 2:10) It is his to give because he alone is "the First and the Last, who was dead and came to life." (Rev. 2:8) 

Christ knows the blasphemy of the Jews in Smyrna. Apparently they were responsible for the persecution of the faithful. Likely, they used the same strategy against Messianic Jews that the Sanhedrin had used against Jesus and his followers in Jerusalem. They turned them over to the Roman authorities on false charges. Christ admonishes them not to fear the "synagogue of Satan" nor the time of trial, but to persevere and win the crown of life. 

The blessed Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, testified, “He will raise us from the dead … we shall … reign with Him.” When brought before the Roman governor and commanded to curse Christ's name, he replied: “Eighty and six years have I served him, and he has done me nothing but good; and how could I curse him, my Lord and Savior?” He was burned alive in 155 A.D.

The Lord declares the church at Smyrna spiritually rich: “I know your affliction and your poverty, even though you are rich. I know the slander on the part of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev.2:8-11).

Pergamon/Pergamos

Message to Pergamum
Icon drawn by Constantina
(Apocalypse Icons)

Pergamon was the first city in Asia Minor to build a temple to Caesar and as such is called "Satan's throne" (Rev. 2:13). Here it was common for people to eat food offered to Caesar. The city had many street sanctuaries dedicated to the different cults.

Pergamon was the seat of Rome's Proconsul who had authority to issue edicts for the whole of Asia Minor. He held an upright sword as the sign of his authority. When the sword was lowered, it meant that someone was about to be beheaded. Antipas, one of the leaders of the church, had been martyred, probably by beheading.

Until 190 B.C. Pergamon was under the control of the Syrian king Antiochus III and many Jews lived in the city. The Apostle Paul probably evangelized among the Jews of Pergamon during his third missionary journey.

Ancient Pergamon was built at a high elevation (shown below). The modern city of Bergama, Turkey rests below the high place. As was true of ancient high places, Pergamon had a permanent water source. The sacred springs were visited by the Roman emperor and the philosopher Marcus Aurelius.

To the church at Pergamon the meaning of Christ with a two-edged sword (Rev. 1:16) would have been obvious. The sword represents Christ's authority and the Word of God. This sword comes from the mouth of the One who holds the seven stars; the God who shines brighter than the sun, whose authority is cosmic.

Warning against the Nicolaitan teachings, Christ reminds the church at Peragmon that he has the two-edged sword (Rev. 2:12) and says, "Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." (Rev. 2:16)

Besides heeding false prophets, typified by Balaam, some of the Christians ate food offered to idols. To those who refused to eat such food, the Lord promised the hidden manna. (Rev. 2:12-17)

Thyatira

Message to Thyatira
Icon drawn by Constantina
(Apocalypse Icons)

The church at Thyatira was the smallest of the seven churches and yet it received the longest of the seven oracles. From this we understand that the smallest mission is not the least in importance to the Lord.

The church had numerous problems, including a false prophetess who is typified by Jezebel who introduced idolatry to Israel during the reign of her husband King Ahab (869–850 BC). The church is admonished to repent for allowing this woman who promoted sexual immorality and the consumption of foods offered to idols. The church was also troubled by the Nicolaitans, whose teachings are described as "the deep things of Satan" (Rev. 2:24).

The faithful at Thyatira are praised for their works, love, service, faith, and patience. Christ knows the trials and challenges facing these faithful ones and tells them, "I cast no other burden on you. But what you have, hold onto until I come." (Rev. 2:24, 25)

From this church those who persevere to the end will be given power over the nations and the "morning star" (Venus, the brightest starlike object in the morning sky.)

Sardis

Message to Sardis
Icon drawn by Constantina
(Apocalyspe Icons)

Sardis was one of the most ancient and renowned cities of Asia Minor. Ancient Sardis was built on top of a 1500 foot high precipice on the northern side of Mt. Timolus. The sides of the hill were perpendicular and impossible to scale. The citadel was accessible only through a narrow passage that was easily defended from above. 

Although considered impregnable, Sardis was captured twice; first in 549 B.C. by Cyrus, and later in 218 B.C. by Antiochus the Great. On both occasions the citadel fell at night due to failure of the tower watchmen. This is why Christ admonishes the faithful to wake up and be watchful lest he comes as a thief in the night. (Rev. 3:3)

From this church, those who overcome will be clothed in white garments, and their names will be confessed before the Father and His angels. (Rev. 3:1-6)

Philadelphia

Message to Philadelphia
Icon drawn by Constantina
(Apocalypse Icons)

Amman, Jordan was named Philadelphia during the time of the Apostles. It was originally built on seven hills. It received its named from Ptolemy II Philadelphus, the Macedonian ruler of Egypt.

Philadelphia was culturally Nabataean until 106 A.D. when it came under Roman control and joined the Decapolis. Petra was the principal city of the Nabataeans and it rivaled Jerusalem in grandeur. Petra reflects the Horite architecture of the Edomites mentioned in Genesis 36.

To the church at Philadelphia the Lord says: “Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. If you conquer, I will make you a pillar in the temple of my God; you will never go out of it. I will write on you the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name” (Rev.3:10-13).

This church is to the Kingdom of God what Heliopolis was to the ancient Horites. It is the place of true worship, characterized by many pillars (iunu) in the temple. Iunu refers to the pillared temple of Heliopolis (Biblical On). The pillars represented the righteous ones in the temple of God. Exodus 24:4 explains that the twelve pillars in God's house represent the twelve tribes upon which God has inscribed the holy Name.

Laodicea

Message to Laodicea
Icon drawn by Constantina
(Apocalypse Icons)

Laodicea is the only church among the seven which receives no commendation from the Lord. In the Lord's sight this church is naked. Therefore Christ instructs the church to buy white garments that their shame might be covered. (Rev. 3:18)

Laodicea was situated in an area known for its hot springs, especially those at Hieropolis, only six miles from Laodicea. These hot springs brought people from great distances to the area. The church at Laodicea was lukewarm and not likely to attract anyone. Therefore Christ admonishes the church to repent from being lukewarm and to be zealous for the Lord.

In Laodicea there was a school of medicine famous for its production of Phrygian powder, an eye salve. Christ urges the Christians at Laodicea to buy His ointment that they may see.

Christ is described as "the Amen" because he is the fulfillment of all the Father's promises from Genesis to the Apocalpse. St. Paul explains, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God." (2 Cor. 1:20)

From this church, those who overcome will be granted the opportunity to sit with the Son of God on His throne. (3:14-22)

Related reading: The Seven Bowls of Revelation 16; The Seventh Seal and Silence in Heaven; Number Symbolism in Revelation; The Sacred Center in Biblical Theology

Number Symbolism in Revelation

“Numbers are the universal language offered by the Deity to humans as confirmation of the truth.”--St. Augustine (A.D. 354-430)


Alice C. Linsley


The Apocalypse of Saint John is rich in number symbolism. The symbolism is rooted in ancient cosmological perceptions of seven stars/planets as celestial messengers or angels. One of these is the "morning star" or Venus (Rev. 2:28). The other "stars" of the ancient world were Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, and the Sun and the Moon. All can be seen by the naked eye near the ecliptic.

In the ancient world these seven celestial bodies were referred to as bowls. They were perceived to hold both blessings and curses. In Revelation 16:1-21 the bowls pour out curses that resemble the plagues of Egypt.

5000 year Egyptian cursing bowl

The Sun was recognized to be at the sacred center of the cosmos, just as the Tree of Life was at the sacred center of the Garden in Genesis, and Christ is at the sacred center of the churches (Rev. 1:12), represented by the seven lampstands (Rev. 1: 20). The Tree of Life motif is taken up again in conjunction with the number 12 in Revelation 22:2: “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bear twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

Besides the symbolism of numbers there are other signs and symbols that spoke to the people to whom the oracles were directed. These include sacred mountains, the two-edged sword, the open door, the dragon-like beast, blood, fire and sacred scrolls. The scroll with the seven seals that none can open expresses the ancient three-tier cosmology. "But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it." (Rev. 5:3)

The purpose of this apocalyptic work is to encourage followers of Jesus Christ at a time of great trial and persecution. The oracles to the churches center on the ultimate victory of Christ and the eternal nature of his Kingdom.

In the opening of the Apocalypse, Christ stands at the sacred center of seven golden lampstands holding seven stars in his right hand. He explains, “The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches” (Rev.1:20).

The seven churches are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. All were located on a commercial highway and Hebrews (ha-biru) had lived in these towns for many generations.

There are seven stars (celestial messengers), seven churches (lampstands), seven oracles and seven bowls. The number seven speaks of perfection in the sense of cosmic wholeness and parallels the seven days of creation in Genesis. Here the number symbolizes a new creation.

The churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia most reflect the Divine image, as did the first Man and Woman. These are declared good while the other churches are declared lacking or deficient.

The blessed Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, testified, “He will raise us from the dead … we shall … reign with Him.” When brought before the Roman governor and commanded to curse Christ's name, he replied: “Eighty and six years have I served him, and he has done me nothing but good; and how could I curse him, my Lord and Savior?” He was burned alive in 155 A.D.

The Lord says of Smyrna: “I know your affliction and your poverty, even though you are rich. I know the slander on the part of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev.2:9-10).

Notice that it is Jews who persecuted the faithful Hebrews in Smyrna. They apparently used the same strategy against Messianic Jews that the Sanhedrin had used against Jesus in Jerusalem. They turned them over to the Roman authorities on false charges.

To the church at Philadelphia the Lord says: “Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. If you conquer, I will make you a pillar in the temple of my God; you will never go out of it. I will write on you the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name” (Rev.3:10-13).

This church is to the Kingdom of God what Heliopolis was to the ancient Horites. It is the place of true worship, characterized by many pillars (iunu) in the temple. Iunu refers to the pillared temple of Heliopolis (Biblical On). The pillars represented the righteous ones in the temple of God. Exodus 24:4 explains that the twelve pillars in God's house represent the twelve tribes upon which God has inscribed the holy Name.

Philadelphia is the site of the modern city of Amman in Jordan. It was originally built on seven hills. It received its named from Ptolemy II Philadelphus, the Macedonian ruler of Egypt. The city was culturally Nabataean until 106 AD when it came under Roman control and joined the Decapolis. Petra was the principal city of Edom and it rivaled Jerusalem in grandeur. Petra reflects Horite beliefs.

The Nilotic Context of the Number Symbolism

The Nilotic context of Revelation is evident in the use of the papyrus reed to measure (Rev. 21:15). These reeds grew with great uniformity, the segments being the exact distance apart. The golden reed was a symbol of the ruler's authority. The crook and flail of the Kushite and Egyptian rulers were segmented like Nile reeds and represented their authority to determine weights and measurements. They alone had the authority of Horus to determine boundaries of time, measurements and direction (horologion/horimos/horizon).

The 24 Elders (Rev. 19:4) represent the whole community of the redeemed, both those who lived in expectation of the Incarnation and those who believe in the Son of God after his appearing in the flesh. This is suggested by the number 24 or 2 groups of 12. The number 12 can be traced to the oldest counting devices and corresponds to the 12 lunar cycles.

John's number departs from Jewish and Quranic tradition in which there are 70 or 72 elders who rule as judges. In the Quran they are called "Houris" and the Arabic word means "beings of distinction" or deified rulers. Horite ruler-priests were regarded as deified “sons” of God. They are often called “gods” (elohiym), as in Exodus 22:28: “Thou shalt not revile the gods (elohiym), nor curse the ruler of thy people.”

The 12 foundations of the New Jerusalem represent the 12 elders who are like the precious gems in the breastplate of Harun (Aaron). "And the foundations of the wall of the city [were] garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation [was] jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst." (Rev. 21:19-20)

The Egyptians marked time by 36 ten-day increments (half of 72) and each increment was ruled by a different righteous ruler or rising star. This is based on the number of "decan" stars which were seen to rise during summer nights in Ancient Egypt. A "decan" star was a star that rose just before sunrise at the beginning of a 10-day "decade" in Ancient Egypt. The Egyptian year was marked by 36 decan stars or 36 ten-day periods. During summer nights, 12 decan stars rose; one for each hour. This is the apparent basis for the appointment of the 12 Apostles as rulers. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Matt.19:28)

The numbers 12 and 72 both represents councils to whom authority has been given by God. The number 72 is 3 sets of 12. Luke 10:1-20 which speaks of 72 appointed to proclaim the Kingdom.

Those to whom Christ gives authority in the Kingdom are our spiritual Horim (Fathers). The English equivalent of the word Horim is Horites. St. Paul explains that those who are not of Abraham's blood have been grafted into Abraham's Horite Hebrew line through Jesus Christ. Jesus is a blood descendant of the Horite ruler-priest lines through Mary, Joseph's cousin bride. Mary is the "Woman" of Genesis 3:15. The Son of God came into the world to save sinners, to crush the head of the serpent, and to restore Paradise, according to this Edenic Promise.

The righteous who have died can expect to escape the second death (Rev.2:11). The ancient Egyptian priests taught that the dead person continues as a shadow and they considered the blessed dead “the living ones.” The word Sheol is derived from the Egyptian word Sheut (šwt), meaning shadow. Statues or ancestor figurines of deified rulers were painted black to convey their continued existence as shadows. On the final day, some in shadow land will be granted eternal life and others will die the second death.

The Apostle Paul explains that those who die with Christ in baptism will rise in Him on the Last Day. These will not die the "second death" of which John speaks in Revelation 2:11 - "The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death."

The Apocalypse of St. John recapitulates the ancient expectation of the Kingdom being delivered to the Son by the Father and reassures those who suffer that their righteous suffering will be rewarded. The work is as timely today as when it was first written.

Related reading: The Seventh Seal and Silence in Heaven; Theories of Change and Constancy; Horite Expectation and the Star of Bethlehem; The Kingdom of God in Genesis; The Christ in Nilotic Mythology; The "Begats" Speak of Archaic Rulers and Jesus Christ; Symbols of Authority Linked to Cain and Seth; Sheol and the Second Death; The Fig Tree in Biblical Symbolism