2THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK The Seven Personages Revelation 12:1-2. “ 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.”In the “ Middle of the Week” two “Wonders” will appear in Heaven, for John is back again in Heaven. The Revised Version calls them “SIGNS,” that is, they are “SYMBOLS” of something, and must be thus interpreted. The first will be a “SUN CLOTHED WOMAN.” Who does this “ Sun Clothed Woman” represent? Some would have us believe that this “ Woman” is the Virgin Mary, others that she represents the Church. Those who say she represents the Church claim that she represents the visible or outward Church, and her “ Child” represents the “ True Church” or those who are to be “ caught out” at the Rapture. If this be true, and the “ Child” is not caught out until the “ Middle of the Week,” then the Church will have to go half way through the “ Tribulation.” The fact is, the “ Woman” is neither the Virgin Mary or the Church. She is ISRAEL. We have only to be reminded of “Joseph's Dream,” where he says--“ Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the 'SUN' and the 'MOON' and the 'ELEVEN STARS' made Obeisance to me” (Genesis 37:9), to see the Jewish character of this “ Woman.” Joseph was the “ Twelfth” star. Israel is again and again compared to a woman, and a married woman, in the Old Testament. Isaiah 54:1. And in the period of her rejection she is spoken of as a WIDOW (Isaiah 47:7-9. Luke 18:1-8), and a Woman (Isaiah 50:1), and an WIFE (Jeremiah 3:1-25, Hosea 2:1-23) but the Church is a VIRGIN, and an Virgin at that. 2 Corinthians 11:2. Ephesians 5:25-27. The “ Sun Clothed Woman” is described as being “WITH CHILD,” and “ TO BRING FORTH.” When was the Church in such a condition? To be found in such a condition would unfit her to be the Bride of Christ. Nowhere in the scriptures is it intimated that the Church is ever to be a Mother. But it is so prophesied of Israel. Speaking of the sevenfold privilege of Israel, Paul says--“ Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises, whose are the fathers, and of whom AS THE FLESH CHRIST CAME.” Romans 9:4-5. Here we see that Christ was to come from ISRAEL. Then we know that the “ SEED” was to come through ISRAEL, and the Prophet Isaiah looked forward to the time when Israel could say--“UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN.” Isaiah 9:6-7. Before the promised heir could be born Israel had to pass through many sore afflictions and judgments. These were her “TRAVAIL TIME.” There can be no question but what the “ Sun Clothed Woman” represents ISRAEL.