A couple days ago I realized that I don’t think I’ve heard anyone preach on Revelation 12 around Advent or Christmas time. This doesn’t mean I wasn’t present for such a sermon, but I don’t remember one, and I’ve been hearing sermons in Christmas for two and a half decades.
Have you ever heard someone preach on Revelation 12 with the woman, the dragon, and the male child? It seems like it would make for a great text for Advent/Christmas!
If you preach with any regularity would you use this text?
December 14, 2011 at 8:28 am
Actually used it as a text in an Advent series a few years back. It’s a great one!
December 14, 2011 at 10:14 am
The Bible has roughly 31,124 verses. Approximately 23,210 of those verses are OT (74.57%) while the remaining 7,914 verses are NT (25.42%).
Of the 23,210 or so OT verses, approximately 6,641 of them are prophetic (28.61% of the OT).
Of the 7,914 or so NT verses, approximately 1,711 of them are prophetic 1 (21.61% of the NT).
In total, about 8,352 of the bible’s 31,124 verses are prophetic; which is just under 27% (26.83% – just over a quarter and almost a third).
With just over a quarter of the bible being prophetic, should you use them? Yes – absolutely! They’re there to be used and understood. When is it appropriate to use them then?
A reasonable answer is when they are clearly understood by the teacher, and can be clearly communicated to the flock, since pastors are held accountable for what they say [James 3:1] and the authority they use when they say it [Acts 20:28][Heb 13:7,17][2 Tim 4:1-4][1 Peter 5:2]. This is why they merit extra honour [1 Tim 5:17].
December 14, 2011 at 10:17 am
I would not ever have considered it until this year. A professor I had in Seminary who sadly passed away this past Spring wrote about it in a denominational journal. He also mentioned it in a commentary he wrote on Revelation. A person also wrote an essay regarding this text in a book of essays written in the late professors honor. It would be a good text to use and get people thinking as it is not what one expects at Advent.
December 14, 2011 at 10:22 am
The late Ernest L. Martin wrote in “The Star That Astonished the World” that that passage was a hidden clue about the date of Jesus’ birth. He posited that the passage described an astrological convergence that occurred September 21 of 3 BC (something like that).
I put the chances of that being true as extrordinarily slim, but it was an entertaining book to read, a mix of interesting historical research with giant leaps of faith.
December 14, 2011 at 11:24 am
@Clayton: Did you make a series of it or do one sermon?
@Andrew: It would be interesting to discuss that nature of so-called “prophetic” passages some time, but that is for another day. There does seem to be several factors that would go into deciding whether or not to use this passage.
@Keith: Who is your former professor?
@Bond: I’ve never heard of that study.
December 14, 2011 at 11:25 am
I have used that text for a Christmas message. Sort of a behind the scenes look at the nativity.
December 14, 2011 at 1:01 pm
@River: Indeed…apocalyptic!
December 14, 2011 at 1:06 pm
Brian, my professor was the late Dr. Robert Lowery, Professor of NT at the Seminary at Lincoln Christian University. His book is “Revelation’s Rhapsody: Listening to the Lyrics of the Lamb” and the essays in his honor is “Dragon’s, John, and Every Grain of Sand” edited by Shane J. Wood.
December 14, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Am planning on writing a Xmas sermon on Rev 12 on the weekend. Called: “The Nativity According to Stephen King”.
December 14, 2011 at 1:46 pm
@Keith: Thanks!
@Mike: Nice!
December 14, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Brian. I was a guest preacher at my church last Sunday and I preached a Christmas sermon using this text. When it’s up online, I can send it to you. I did a little blog on the topic last night also. You know my blog by now I’m sure.
December 15, 2011 at 9:40 am
@Nick: Thanks for the heads up! Yes, I’d like to hear the sermon.
December 15, 2011 at 11:15 am
My pastor preached on this exact text for Advent a few years ago. Loved it.
December 15, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Here are the sermon notes: http://www.fairviewpc.org/sermons/101003FPC_Sermonclub.pdf