Subscribe Daily Bible Study Mailing List Receive Daily Bible Studies directly into your email inbox.
You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
2 And [kai] she being [echo] with [en] child [gaster] cried, [krazo] travailing
in birth, [odino] and [kai] pained [basanizo] to be
delivered. [tikto] KJV-Interlinear
2 and she
was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. NASB
John continues with a
brief review of history. It should be noted quickly here, that there are but
two opinions in existence.
The first is that of
God, and the second includes all other opinions in the world, Matt. 12:30. There
is no third choice.
Second, far too many
folks concern themselves with control or mastery or improvement of the world or
the solving of its problems. Even if one were to overcome all obstacles of life
in this world, the world is still a temporary place. Therefore, even Jesus
states clearly that it is far better that your name is recorded in heaven for
all of eternity, than to have authority over this world, Lk. 10:20.
With doctrine comes responsibility
and with responsibility comes blessing. However, the course of the world is set,
and as long as Satan exists, as long as mans sin nature exists, there will
never be a utopia that so many seem to yearn for, in total disregard of God,
truth, and His plan.
Satan has tried to bring
in his world improvements for a very long time. All of the philosophies and opinions
of life are based on Satan’s defeat of Gods plan and the establishment of his
own. All of the arguments, personal opinions, politics and so forth arise out
of differing views on failed plans.
Any elimination of truth
from any discussion, makes that discussion useless.
A very long time ago,
God created the angels. They lived in happiness. Then God created the universe
and the angels were at peace when that occurred. Then the lead angel, Lucifer,
became arrogant, desiring to be like God, and rebelled against God, taking
one-third of the angels along with him in his rebellion.
Most of the details of
those events, we do not have. However, man was created in order to resolve the
angelic conflict, over which Satan stole control of the world, through his
deception of man. Man lost his position and relationship with God as a result.
Thus the plan to bring
man back into a relationship with God.
And here John is
providing a brief review of history, in a nut shell. Israel was formed, but in suffering.
The reasons for her suffering are stated in the following verses.
But for now, man has
been lost and God established a plan for helping man to find his way back.
Israel is referred to as
the woman. She is with child. And note that this is all in the past tense, for
it has already occurred. This is not a prophecy for yet another child.
The woman is with child,
referring to the long and arduous time of pregnancy, leading up to the time of
birth. This is a reference to the nation of Israel which began with the multiple
promises of God beginning with Adam, carrying on through the line of Christ
through and to Jacob and the forming of the twelve tribes of Israel, and right
on and through Mary.
All during that time,
those many centuries, the line of Christ and certainly the nation of Israel,
was under persecution and suffering.
It is referred to as the
time of labor, wherein labor pains describe the extremes of giving birth,
immediately prior to birth, through a very difficult and painful pregnancy, and
labor and birthing process.
Possibly only a mother
can understand the implications of this whole process and the many difficulties
that accompany pregnancy and birth. But nevertheless this verse describes the
suffering of Israel as a nation because of this single promise of God and
their role in that plan.
Satan opposes all that
God does, and Satan leads opposition against all that are a part of, or conform
with Gods plan. Satan is the cause of all trouble in this world. And all
trouble is reinforced when people reject truth and embrace the many opinions
that come out of this world.
No nation in all of
human history has suffered as Israel has, even though there are many groups,
cultures, even races that want to make a big deal about their suffering and
hardships, which only points to their lack of understanding of truth.
In Christ there is no
hardship, regardless of what the world tries. In Christ there is no need for
excuses to draw attention to oneself. In Christ there is no need for whining or
complaining in order to gain advantage in a world that is going to end anyway.