Revelation 12:1-2, 5, 17 NIV “A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth….She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne…..Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.” https://bible.com/bible/111/rev.12.17.NIV

I call Revelation chapter 12 the spiritual Christmas story. It is the behind-the-scenes recording of what the gospels tell us happened on Earth. A woman is chosen to carry the embryo of God until He is birthed a man on Earth, like the rest of us, looking like all of us. God’s entry into our world signified the significance He places upon human creation. God came to Earth to save the world, restore His rule, and reign over all creation. Those who love Him, those who have humbled themselves before Him admitting their rebellion against Him, those who believe Jesus is God, the sacrifice for the sins of all humanity and that He rose from the dead to prove His sacrifice was accepted, and His promise of eternal life for all of us, certain. All who do these things are adopted by God as sons and daughters of God to live forever in His new kingdom upon Earth when He finally returns to live with His creation forever. These children of God are marked by living as Jesus did. They obey Jesus’ commands and testify to His life, death, and resurrection to all people so that all people might likewise repent, believe, and obey Jesus on Earth as is done in heaven. Are we children of God? Are our lives marked by persistent effort toward absolute obedience to everything Jesus commanded? Are we constantly praying for and sharing with people the need to repent, believe, and obey Jesus as Savior and Lord? If we are,  continue on for great is your reward. If not, take stock. You have no reason to believe you are truly a child of God, for you are not living as the Son of God, Who was perfect in all His ways, while preaching for all people to repent for the kingdom of God is here.