Page 39 - Christ in You - The Hope of Glory

The time appointed for this to occur is at the beginning of the Millennial period, the
seventh day from Adam and the third day from Christ.
In Revelation we read of a great event taking place in the heavens, and this event is a
dramatization of the firstborn sons of God coming forth in resurrection power and life.

Revelation 12:1-6
And 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; and she was with child; and
she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. And another sign appeared in
heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on
his heads were seven diadems... And the dragon stood before the woman who was
about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. 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.

What is symbolized here is the birth of the firstborn in the resurrection from the dead.
I have a number of Bibles that include notes and headings placed in the text by the
translators and editors. Some place a heading over this passage declaring that it speaks of
the birth of Jesus. This is misleading, being one more attempt of Satan to deceive the
children of God regarding the inheritance that awaits them. John is not writing in the book
of Revelation of things that have happened in the past, but of things that will happen in the
future.

Revelation 1:1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants,
the things which must shortly take place...
(NAS)

The woman in the heavens is the church. The child she is giving birth to is the elect
saints, the overcomers who attain to the first resurrection. These are caught up to the
throne of God, being called to rule with Him. This is a reference to those who will attain to
the first resurrection.

Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over
these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of
Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

As the number of the firstborn are entering into the power and preeminence due them,
the church is fleeing into the wilderness. The church must undergo a further refining, for
when the time of the first resurrection came she was not ready.

Revelation 20:5
The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.

There are firstborn sons of God, and there are the later born sons of God. The
firstborn are a remnant portion of the whole. These will be a small company in comparison