"Pope Benedict XVI correctly identifies the Virgin Mary as the "woman of the apocalypse"? Really...The woman in Revelation 12:1 is Israel
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Pope Benedict XVI reflected on the biblical description of a “woman clothed with the sun” in his remarks at Rome's Spanish Steps on the 2011 Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
The 12th chapter of the Biblical Apocalypse – also known as the Book of Revelation – describes the glorification and persecution of “a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”
Though not named, this woman is described as the mother of the Messiah. In poetic language akin to the Bible's other prophetic books, Saint John says she faced the threat of “a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns,” and “fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God.”
Pope Benedict, offering white roses in his traditional yearly act of Marian veneration, gave listeners his insight into the connection between the Virgin Mary and the Church – portrayed in the Apocalypse through the single image of the sun-clad woman.
“She appears 'clothed in sunlight,' that is, clothed in God,” observed the Pope. “The Virgin Mary is in fact completely surrounded by the light of God and lives in God … The 'Immaculate One' reflects with all of her person the light of the 'sun' which is God.”
“Besides representing Our Lady, this sign personifies the Church, the Christian community of all times,” he continued.
The Church, he explained, is “pregnant, in the sense that she carries Christ” and “must give birth to him to the world.”
“This is the labor of the pilgrim Church on earth, that in the midst of the consolations of God and the persecutions of the world, she must bring Christ to men.”
Because the Church continues to bring Jesus into the world, Pope Benedict said, it “finds opposition in a ferocious adversary,” symbolized in scripture by the “dragon” that has “tried in vain to devour Jesus,” and now “directs his attacks against the woman – the Church – in the desert of the world.”
“But in every age the Church is supported by the light and the strength of God,” the Pope said. “She is nurtured in the desert with the bread of his word and the Holy Eucharist.”
“And in this way, in every tribulation, through all of the trials that she finds in the course of the ages and in the different parts of the world, the Church suffers persecution, but comes out the victor.”
Pope Benedict said the Church should not fear persecution, which is bound to arise, but will be defeated.
“The only pitfall of which the Church can and must be afraid is the sin of her members,” he warned, highlighting the key difference between the Church and the woman who is its prototype.
“While in fact Mary is immaculate – free from every stain of sin – the Church is holy, but at the same time marked by our sins.”
While sinless herself, Mary remains in solidarity with the Church struggling against sin.
“That is why the people of God, pilgrims in time, turn to their heavenly mother and ask for her help,” explained Pope Benedict.
He stressed the world's need for the hope brought by the “woman clothed with the sun” – “especially in this difficult moment for Italy, for Europe and for different parts of the world.”
“May Mary help us to see that there is a light beyond the veil of fog that appears to envelop reality,” he declared.
“For this also we, especially on this day, never cease to ask with filial trust for her help: 'O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.'”
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WHO IS THE WOMAN OF REVELATION 12?
**CAVEAT LECTOR: READER BEWARE:
** “The identity of the two characters presented in Revelation 12 has been a subject of much speculation and discussion throughout the history of the church. The Dragon of course is Lucifer, Satan. As for the identity of the woman well that has been a problem. Is it the Church? Or is it Israel? Or is it both as all Israel is restored in the end-time as the Commonwealth of Israel??
Of course it was not difficult for those early Jewish Christians in the early church to see themselves as the Woman of Revelation 12. At that time in holy history the church was predominantly a Hebrew company. Throughout the Old Testament Israel was likened to a woman, the one betrothed to YHVH the God of Israel. But as the Gospel went out to the gentiles/nations/heathen and the centuries rolled on the church took on a more gentile character. So identifying the woman of Revelation 12 as the 'ekklesia', the 'congregation of God' or the 'saints' in both national Israel and in the church became increasingly difficult. Even before the Council of Nicaea the church was losing its identity in Israel. But at Nicaea it started to become as much a pagan company as it was the (Gr. ekklesia), the 'called out assembly', the 'congregation' or 'church' of God in Israel. The Jewish nation as a whole had rejected their Messiah. As a national people the Jewish House of Judah seemed unwilling to embrace the Gospel. This was as our Apostle Paul had lamented about. (Rom.11)”
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“Of course it was not difficult for those early Jewish Christians in the early church to see themselves as the Woman of Revelation 12.”
Early Jewish Christians and the early church did not exist. These people were Jews and they attended synagogue.
Jewish Christians ? - In referring to Paul’s religious association, while Paul is standing trial before Felix, is commonly translated as ‘sect.’ It’s written that Paul was ‘a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes’ (Acts 24:5).
The word ‘sect’ in Greek is hay-ray-see-ohs, and is used six times in Acts and always refers to a sect (of the Sadducees, 5:17; of the Pharisees who believe in Yeshua, 15:5; our verse in 24:5; 24:14 where Paul calls it such; 26:5 where Paul again uses it, and 28:22 where the Jews in Rome ask Paul about ‘this sect’).
Acts 17:17 He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there. ...
Acts 18:26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. - NBA
** "Be aware: Not everyone using the term Messianic Judaism is practicing the religion taught by Rebbe Y'shua. Many are Evangelical Christians hoping to make Christianity appear biblical. These missionaries merely adopt Jewish customs and pepper their teachings with a few Hebrew words hoping to convert uninformed Jews and Gentiles to their religion. This is a very common and serious misdirection that should be avoided at all cost (Genesis 12:1-3). Jews have nothing to convert to nor from! Do not assume everyone using the term Messianic Judaism is authentic (Matthew 7:23, Revelation 2:9). This is why we refer to ourselves as authentic Messianic Judaism."
