My Notes For Home Bible Study Tonite, January 21

Jan. 21

His 72 Steps from Glory to Glory

Step 1

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14 NKJV

From Glory to Bethlehem

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” Therefore He shall give them up, Until the time that she who is in labor has given birth; Then the remnant of His brethren Shall return to the children of Israel. And He shall stand and feed His flock In the strength of the Lord, In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God; And they shall abide, For now He shall be great To the ends of the earth; And this One shall be peace.

Micah 5:2-5 NKJV

The name Bethlehem means “house of bread,” and in Bethlehem, the Bread of Life was born.  Bethlehem sits on top of a mountain about six miles from Jerusalem. It was here that a heartbroken Jacob buried Rachel, the love of his life. It was here that Ruth the Moabitess fell in love with Boaz, the Lord of the Harvest. It was in this little village that the prophet Samuel anointed the shepherd boy David as king.  And hundreds of years before the coming of Christ, Micah prophesied that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of the Messiah.  Modern-day Bethlehem is located in the Palestinian-controlled West Bank, a part of Israel. In those days, just as today, Bethlehem was home to people who were prone to armed revolt and violence. And yet, God chose Bethlehem to be the birthplace of the Prince of Peace.

We know the story of Jesus’ birth mostly from Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2. But it is actually taught from many places in the Bible.  For Instance:

• For the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”   Isaiah 7:14 NKJV

• “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”  Isaiah 9:6-7 NKJV

•  “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”    Genesis 3:15 NKJV

• Revelation 12  describes Jesus’ birth symbolically through a vision of a pregnant woman (likely Israel) about to give birth to a male child (Jesus) who will “rule all nations with an iron rod,” as a great red dragon (Satan) waits to devour the child, highlighting the cosmic battle from the beginning, culminating in the child’s ascent to God’s throne after his earthly mission. This isn’t a literal nativity but a cosmic drama showing Satan’s ancient opposition to the Messiah from His birth through His ascension, representing the struggle between good and evil.  

The Vision in Revelation 12

• The Woman:  Clothed with the sun, moon under her feet, and a crown of 12 stars, symbolizing Israel, the nation from which the Messiah came, potentially incorporating imagery from Joseph’s dream (Genesis 37). 
• The Child:  A male child destined to rule all nations with an iron rod, clearly representing Jesus Christ, who was born into Israel and ascended to heaven. 
• The Dragon:  A great red dragon (Satan) with seven heads and ten horns, poised to destroy the child at birth, showing Satan’s immediate opposition to Jesus. 
• The Snatching Away: The child is “snatched up to God and to his throne,” symbolizing Jesus’ ascension after His resurrection, securing His divine protection and future rule. 

Significance of the Passage

• Cosmic Conflict:  It portrays the birth of Jesus not just as a historical event but as the pivotal moment in the age-old conflict between God and Satan. 
• Satan’s Intent:  The dragon’s presence shows Satan’s relentless effort to thwart God’s plan for salvation from the very beginning. 
• Promise Fulfilled:  It connects the Old Testament prophecies (like Genesis 3:15) to the coming of the Messiah and His ultimate victory, as described in the Gospels and beyond.

More

1.  The Birth: The Child is born in the shadow of the dragon’s threat.
2. The Ascension: Unlike the Gospels, which detail Jesus’ life and ministry, Revelation 12:5 immediately moves from His birth to His exaltation: “And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne”.
3. The Woman’s Flight: After the birth, the woman flees into the wilderness to a place prepared by God, where she is protected for 1,260 days.
4. War in Heaven: The birth triggers a war in heaven between the archangel Michael and the dragon, resulting in the dragon being cast down to earth. 

Theological Significance

This account provides a “heavenly vantage point” on the birth of Christ, framing it as a decisive strike in a spiritual war. While the Gospels focus on the humility of the incarnation in a stable, Revelation emphasizes the sovereignty and victory of the Son over the powers of darkness.

Additional Thoughts

1.“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”  Galatians 4:4-5 NKJV

 The Birth of Jesus happened at the Fullness of Time, or the perfect time. The earth was pregnant with a need for salvation, and the pregnancy was full term. 

        1.It was a time of increased demonic activity.

        2. The fact that Rome ruled over the known world made this the prime time for His birth.  

        *  Rome brought world peace that made the spread of news easier.

        *  Rome mostly allowed freedom of religion

        *  Rome had built a system of roads that made travel easier.

The first time Jesus came in the Fullness of time. When He comes back it will also be the Fullness of time.

2. “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Luke 2:7 NKJV

“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

John 14:2 NKJV

Both of these scriptures refer to a place of rest. A place to lay your head.  When Jesus came the first time, there was no where for Him to lay His Head.

 BUT He has promised us that in Heaven there is a place for you and I to find Eternal rest.