What, then, does the man-child signify?  It symbolizes the mighty host of new converts or children that the early church by her earnest travail brought forth.  The seeming incongruity that the church, or mother, and her children are alike only serves to establish the point in question when rightly understood.  A child is of the same substance as its mother and is designed to perpetuate the race.  So, also, the new-born babes in the church are just the same spiritually as those who are older, and are intended to perpetuate the church of God on earth.  But this explanation of itself is not sufficient to entirely satisfy an inquiring mind, and the question is sure to be asked, Why was it necessary that the church of God in this dispensation should be represented by two individuals—­a woman and her son?  I also will ask a question—­Why, on the other hand, was it necessary that the great apostasy of this dispensation should be represented by the double-figure of a woman and her daughters?  The answer to the latter question would readily be given—­to symbolize two distinct phases of apostasy.  So, also, it was necessary that a double-symbol, such as a woman and her son, should be chosen to set forth two phases of the church brought to view in this chapter.  If but a single symbol were used, how could the church be thereby represented as continuing on earth and fleeing into the wilderness and at the same time be represented as “overcome,” persecuted to the death, and “caught up unto God and to his throne”?  This double-phase of the church—­the experience of the saints on earth and the reign of the martyrs in Paradise—­will be made very clear to the reader hereafter.  But it would be impossible to set forth these two phases under one symbol, and therefore two are chosen.

There is also direct Scripture testimony on this point.  “Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man-child. Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things?  Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once?  For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.”  Isa. 66:7, 8.  According to Heb. 12:22, 23, this Zion, or Sion, referred to is the New Testament church, and the man-child that she is said to bring forth is interpreted by Isaiah as “a nation born at once.”  Such language perfectly describes the rapid increase in the Christian church on Pentecost and shortly afterward, when thousands were added in one day.  According to the apostle Paul, the host of Jews and Gentiles reconciled unto God through Jesus Christ constituted “one new man” in Christ.  Eph. 2:15.  See also Gal. 3:28.  R.V.  This man-child was to rule all nations with a rod of iron.  For an explanation of this rule see remarks on chapter 2:26, 27.  The twelve hundred and sixty days will be referred to later.

    7.  And there was war in heaven:  Michael and his angels fought
    against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,