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Commentary on "The Gift of Prophecy and
God's Remnant Church"
Day 2: Sunday, January 18, 2009
The text for today is Revelation 12:1-6 Notice the many images and symbols:
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2 and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4 And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. 5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
As one reads this, it becomes quite evident that some of these symbols are open to more than one interpretation. For example, some teach that the one third of the “stars” represent one third of the angels of heaven. If “stars” refer to angels, then are the twelve “stars” on the woman’s head symbolic of 12 angels of heaven? Do we understand the 1260 days to represent 1260 years? If so, where is there evidence for the year/day interpretation of prophecy? These are just a few comments to show that one must be very tentative in his/her interpretation of apocalyptic imagery. Apocalyptic passages are not suitable for a foundation of central doctrines.
Summary:
- The day’s Scripture, Revelation 12:1-6, is highly symbolic with figurative language that can be interpreted more than one way.
- There is no Biblical source to validate Adventism’s interpretation of this passage.
- Apocalyptic passages are not suitable for the foundation of doctrines.
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