The Man Child
I felt the Lord wanted me to put together this article to go along with my article on the rapture. This should bring greater clarity in regard to those who are “caught up” to the throne of God in Revelation Chapter 12 at the beginning of the great tribulation.
The rapture or ‘catching up’ to the throne of God, is approaching for mature sons of God, or ‘The Man Child’. This event will take place three and a half years before Christ returns. Only a small remnant of the Lord’s chosen vessels will participate in this rapture. Most of the church will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and gathered by the angels on the very last day of the age, as Jesus taught (Matthew 24:29-31, John 6:40, John 11:24, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). This article will discuss the small remnant known as ‘The Man Child’ that will be caught up three and a half years prior to the end of the age.
It should be stated that the following scripture reference in Revelation Chapter 12, has not yet come to pass. Some scholars have said this scripture is referring to Jesus. This, however, cannot be true because John was told by Jesus, “I will show you what must take place after these things” (Revelation 4:1). In other words, John was shown what would happen in the future, not the past. John was given this revelation around the year 90 A.D.
Revelation Chapter 12 shows that the man child is caught up to the throne during the time of the 10 kings ruling the world (from which the anti-christ arises). This was not the time that Jesus was on earth, but in fact, this is our time. The scripture in Revelation Chapter 12 makes it clear that Satan and His angels (fallen stars) will be confined to the earth for the final three and a half years of the age, which is termed “the great tribulation.” Therefore, when we consider the proper context of Revelation Chapter 12, we understand that these events are future events and have not happened. However, these events will soon come to pass because the ‘signs of the times’ are pointing to them.
Please note that in the following paragraph of scripture, the words in parenthesis have been added by me. The parenthesized words are how the words in bold can be translated, and I believe this is how they should be translated. The following should clarify what the Holy Spirit is showing us about the man-child:
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child (children) as soon as it was (they were) born. And she brought forth a man child (male sons), who were to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child (children) were caught up unto God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days (3 1/2 years). (Revelation 12:1-6 KJV)
The first thing I will note is that the Greek word used here for ‘caught up,’ is speaking of a rapture. To contrast, in Matthew 24:40, Jesus describes two people in the field, and one is ‘taken’. This description in Matthew is not discussing a rapture, as the Greek word meaning rapture is not used. Matthew 24:40 is referring to the wicked that will be taken away and be found in the place of the dead, in which vultures gather to feast upon dead bodies (Luke 17:37). Again, the Greek word for ‘taken’ in Matthew 24:40 and Luke 17:36, does not mean ‘caught up’ or raptured. Many confuse these passages as the rapture, but that is not accurate. The Greek words used provide clarification.
The second point I will make in regards to Revelation Chapter 12 is that we don’t know if these male sons, or sons of God, will remain ‘caught up’ in heaven or not. For example, John was caught up to heaven and returned to earth (Revelation 4:1). Paul was also raptured to heaven and then retuned. He didn’t even know if his body went to heaven or not, so therefore his body could have been in heaven with his spirit.
“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven.” (II Corinthians 12:2 NKJV)
So if God wants to catch someone up to heaven or rapture them and then bring them back to earth, He can do it. I think we should all be cautious when trying to understand exactly how certain events are going to unfold. The Lord could choose to rapture the mature sons, transfigure them, and then send them back during the great tribulation to minister to believers. I believe this is the case.
The woman who is giving birth to these male children is believed to be the church or Zion (Hebrews 12:22-24). The sons of God will come forth suddenly from the church when they are ready.
“Before she was in labor, she gave birth; Before her pain came, She delivered a male child. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children (sons). Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the Lord. “Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb? ” says your God. (Isaiah 66:7-9 NKJV)
Three and a half years from the end of this age, Satan and his fallen angels will be cast down to the earth, and confined to it. All-out war will occur as Satan will use the Antichrist and the false prophet to wage war against the saints and attempt to dominate the world. Revelation 12 shows us that Satan will try to destroy the mature sons of God as soon as they are born (come forth). By being born, it means that a select remnant will come to full maturity (the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ). These male sons (and daughters) will grow to the ‘perfect man’ as Enoch did, as their fullness is birthed from the church (bride). This is part of the bride's assignment: to bring believers to fullness (Ephesians 4:11-13).
When believers come to the status of the ‘perfect man,’ then the mature crop that they are will be harvested by being caught up to heaven. This is what happened with Enoch. He walked with God and became transformed into His image, so God took him. I believe the ‘Man Child’ will be a small company. This is because there are only relatively few believers in the world who are anywhere close to the ‘perfect man.’ Paul did not even consider that he had already attained perfection in Christ (Philippians 3:12-14). Obviously, God can do it and will do it with some.
I hesitate to estimate the number of mature sons of God who will be caught up, since the Lord leaves it out of the scriptures for a reason. The 144,000 could be this company. It's possible that the 144,000 are spiritual Israel, which is the church (Revelation 7:4-8) since most Jews will not be saved until Christ returns. The following scripture gives us some insight into the 144,000:
“These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.” (Revelation 14:4-5 NKJV)
The mature sons will be those who are not defiled by the woman, the Great Harlot, Mystery Babylon. They are sons who have not allowed her to defile them, and they have been cleansed from her wickedness. This elect group will be chosen in a first-fruits rapture because they have chosen not to be defiled. These sons of God will allow Christ to crucify their souls to the world, so that they are only living for Christ (Galatians 6:14). They are spiritual virgins because they are pure in the eyes of Christ and have not committed adultery with Babylon.
The believers raptured in Revelation Chapter 12 are part of the overcomers, since they are called to rule the nations with a rod of iron (Revelation 2:26-28). It will not be the full company of the overcomers, as some will be chosen by God to stay on earth and die in the great tribulation (Revelation 20:4-6, Revelation 7:9,14-15). The third group of overcomers will survive the tribulation and be caught up to meet the Lord in the air after the tribulation (Matthew 24:29-30, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). We can only receive what we have been given from God. It’s not about our will, but His will being done. Whatever He chooses for us, we must learn to accept and embrace it.
It would be an honor to be caught up with the ‘Man Child,’ and it would be an honor to overcome by being martyred as Paul was. Either way is overcoming, and God will give grace to fulfill His call. I desire to be apart of the ‘Man Child,’ but I am not seeking to escape what is coming at the end of this age. Paul and Peter did not seek to escape through their own man-made rapture theologies. Like real men of God, they stood against the forces of Satan and were killed for it (like many others have been as well). We must follow their example and not shrink back in fear, attempting to escape the fate that the Lord has destined for our chosen generation. We must complete our course with honor as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. We can be used as burning lamps of the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of deep darkness.
After the male sons are caught up to the throne, the bride will be given a place in the wilderness so that she can be protected from Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet. This great persecution will last for a period of three and a half years (Revelation 12:7-17). Obviously, the church will go through the three and a half-year tribulation. If she wasn’t going through the great tribulation, Revelation 12:6, 14-16 would not need to mention that the woman (church) would be protected in the wilderness. If the church was already raptured, she wouldn’t need any protection.
When the bride is hidden in places of refuge throughout the earth, Satan will attack the rest of the church, which does not have the same level of intimacy with Jesus as His bride. The remainder of the church is obviously saved but has not been fully devoted to following Christ as His disciples. These believers will not be given the same protection as the bride, and many will be trampled by the beast (Revelation 11:1-2):
So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went off to wage war on the rest of her children (seed), those who keep and obey the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus [holding firmly to it and bearing witness to Him]. (Revelation 12:17 AMP)
My prayer is that America and other nations will become refuge nations for the church in the end times. We need to pray for the Lord to position us in nations of refuge. Also, we need to pray that those refuge nations will be protected from the control of Mystery Babylon (global elites) and the Antichrist’s government. Pray that the armies of the Antichrist will not be able to subdue the Lord’s chosen refuge nations. The time is near, and the mature sons of God known as 'The Man Child’ are coming forth soon:
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. (Romans 8:19-22 NKJV)
2023 Edition
The Lord has recently given me additional insight in regard to the man-child. The man-child has a direct relationship to those called to minister in the spirit and power of Elijah. This company will carry a similar calling as the two witnesses in Revelation Chapter 11. They will be caught up to God and His throne, where they will be given power and authority from the most high God. The Lord will then send these messengers into all the earth to strengthen and further prepare His bride. They will minister encouragement, warnings, healing, supernatural food provision, and strategies to the bride. The Lord will protect and care for His bride through these messengers.
These messengers moving in the spirit and power of Elijah will also stand against and confront the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet (and all their minions). Like the two witnesses in Revelation Chapter 11, this company will be used by the Lord to release His judgments upon the wicked. Those who resist the King and His coming kingdom will face fire, famine, and other judgments. The judgments released will be similar to those released through Moses and Elijah. The Lord will once again pour out His righteous judgment on the wicked to set His people free from the control of evil rulers, just as He did with Pharaoh during the time of Moses. The Lord hates evil dictators controlling His people and will not tolerate it.
We must see the signs of the times. The sign of the dragon is appearing in the sky. The seals of Revelation Chapter 6 are beginning to open. Satan being confined to the earth and waging war on the church is near. The catching up of the man-child and full empowerment of these messengers are at hand.
-Ty Unruh (2021)
