May 3

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11
 
​Memorize this Verse: (Cover the verse text and using just the first letters of each word try to recite the entire passage.)
11. A T O H B T B O T L A B T W O T T A T L N T L U T D

Notes on verse:

“Wonder”: A symbol pointing to something else. This is the first of 7 signs in the last half of the Great Revelation (compare verses 3; 13:13-14; 15:1; 16:14; 19:20).

“A woman”: Not an actual woman, but a symbolic representation of Israel, pictured in the Old Testament as the wife of God (Isa. 54:5-6; Jer. 3:6-8; 31:32; Ezek. 16:32; Hosea 2:16). Three other symbolic women appear in Revelation:

      (1)   Jezebel, who represents paganism (2:20);

      (2)   The scarlet woman (17:3-6), symbolizing the apostate church; and

      (3)   The wife of the Lamb (19:7), symbolizing the true church.

The woman represents Israel, and her child is Christ; the Messiah (12:5; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 66:7-8; Micah 5:2; Romans 9:4-5).

“Clothed with the sun … moon under her feet … twelve stars” (compare Gen. 37:9-11). Being clothed with the sun speaks of the glory, dignity, and exalted status of Israel, the people of promise who will be saved and given a kingdom. The picture of the moon under her feet possibly describes God’s covenant relationship with Israel, since new moons were associated with worship (1 Chron. 23:31; 2 Chron. 2:4; 8:13; Ezra 3:5; Psalm 81:3). The 12 stars represent the 12 tribes of Israel.

The sun reflects redeemed Israel’s unique glory, brilliance and dignity because of her exulted status and shows her as God’s chosen nation.

The moon under her feet alludes to God’s promise of dominion, and the crown of twelve stars’ pictures royalty and relates to the 12 tribes of Israel. Go to (Genesis 37:9-11), and read about the dream Joseph had about the sun, moon and 11 stars which were bowing down to Joseph (who was the 12th).

Though this scene opens in heaven, it will quickly move to the earth.

TODAY'S BIBLE READING

May 3
Today's Bible Reading Plan selections can be found below. If you don't have a Bible with you, just click the references to read each passage online:

Old Testament
1 Samuel 6-8  —  8.0 minutes
Psalms 97  —  2.0 minutes

New Testament
Mark 10:17-34  —  5.0 minutes
2 Corinthians 2  —  4.5 minutes

Total Average Read Time — 19.5 minutes