Who is the "man child" of Revelation 12:1-5 ?

"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 the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was 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."

Everyone says the "man child" is Jesus Christ, which may be true.

However, I'm not so sure any more. This is because the events of Jesus' life are all past, and do not have anything to do with what happens in the tribulation. For example, he was "caught up unto God" 2,000 years ago, not during the tribulation.

I'll suggest that Moses is being described.

1. The "woman" described with the twelve stars is not Mary, but is definitely Israel (see, Genesis 37:9).
2. Pharaoh tried to kill Moses as soon as he was born (Exd 1:22)
3. Moses and Elijah are the prophets described in Revelation chapter 11, because they are the two persons who the Bible says "stand by" God as described in Zec 4:14  (Elijah in 1Kings 17:1; and Moses Exd 33:21) and who stood by Jesus on the mountain top -
4. See Revelation 11:4 "These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth."
5. Moses will again feed Israel 3.5 years in the wilderness of Arabia (Petra), while Elijah again causes it not to rain for 3.5 years.
6. Moses' disappearance at his rapture (chapter 11) causes the Jews to lose hope again (Lamantaions 4:20)
7. Moses is described as a king in Deu 33:5 "And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together." and he carries the rod of God: Exd 4:20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.
8. The Mosaic law shall rule the world during the millennial period: Mic 4:2 "And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." and Isa 2:3.


So Moses will return, and his role is going to be very important in the future of Israel, and the world.

- M