The Bible answer is: As His wife

Throughout the Bible, God refers to His people as His bride, a chaste virgin, and a woman. Paul the Apostle refers to the members of the Church as a pure virgin promised to one husband, Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2). In prophecy, a virtuous woman represents the Church in its purity, while a vile or adulterous woman represents the Church in apostasy, corrupted with false teachings and worldliness. The woman pictured in Revelation 17:3-6 represents the Church in apostasy.

The Bible answer is: As a woman clothed with the sun

The history of God’s people through the ages is pictured here in a single verse. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament churches are seen in this prophecy, symbolized by the sun, moon, and twelve stars.

The Bible answer is: Jesus Christ

Jesus is here described as the “Sun of righteousness”. He is the Source of light and glory for His church and He came to earth to initiate the Christian, or New Testament phase of His church with the twelve Apostles as leaders, depicted by the twelve stars. This woman obviously represents God’s true people and is in stark contrast to the gaudy, vile woman, who represents the apostasy.

Answer: The moon is only a reflection of the sun, just as the Old Testament system of types and shadows were only a reflection of the coming Messiah, to which they pointed. The moon thus depicts the Old Testament era, which is the basis of the New Testament Church.

The Bible answer is: The Children of Israel

The Jews, descendants of Abraham, were God’s chosen people in ancient history. When God called Abraham and his family to leave their home and go to an unknown land, he trusted God’s call and obeyed Him. God promised to make of him a great nation and give him a land of plenty for his posterity. His descendants were called the Children of Israel.

The Bible answer is: To reveal Him to the world

The Bible answer is: The kingdom was taken from them

After centuries of failure in accomplishing God’s plan and a history of backsliding into apostasy, Israel was cut off as God’s chosen people. The kingdom was to be given to another people, who would produce the fruit, and in Acts 13:46 Paul said, “Lo, we turn to the Gentiles.”

The Bible answer is: As many as are baptized into Christ

Christ chose a remnant from among the Jews (Romans 11:5) and began the Christian Church, which was to take the Gospel to all the world. The promises of God given to the Jews through Abraham now apply to all who become Christ’s followers, who are now called the true Israel of God (Romans 9:6-8), or Spiritual Israel.

The Bible answer is: Those who keep His commandments

Satan is warring against God’s remnant at the end of time because they are the only ones left on earth who keep all of His commandments.

The Bible answer is: The testimony of Jesus Christ

This final remnant has the same characteristics as all of God’s faithful people down through the ages: (1) they are obedient to His commandments (including the fourth); and (2) they hold to the testimony of Jesus. The Bible explains that the testimony of Jesus (Revelation 19:10) is the spirit of prophecy. Jesus has continuously communicated His word through the gift of prophecy. His Word is revealed both in the Bible and through prophets who spoke and wrote messages through the centuries, even to our modern day. God’s faithful remnant have always been guided by the prophetic gift.