27 The Woman and the Dragon
Rev. 12 (NIV)

S/M Othello j
S/P Ian J

Revelation 12:1-17

1A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. 3Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. 4Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. 5She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. 6The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days. 7Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. 12Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” 13When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach. 15Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.

In middle school, I had a Social Studies teacher who gave us a particular assignment: we were to do research and find out who the various  presidents, rulers, and heads of state of the different countries of the world were. In doing this assignment, I learned that although some leadership positions passed from one person to another peacefully, like in democratic elections, other leadership positions were attained through violence, strife, chaos, and often through military attempts to overthrow the government.

In today’s passage of scripture, we see a glimpse of the beginning of the final battle between good and evil in John’s vision in Revelation 12 as Satan and his followers attempt to overthrow God and His heavenly host. The signs presented in this chapter are not literal and can difficult to understand, but they symbolically point to things that have either happened or will happen in the future, even including a brief but concise history lesson regarding Israel, Jesus, and God’s love for His people.

In the first 5 verses of this part of John’s vision, we are introduced to different signs and events that symbolize certain things:

-the pregnant woman symbolizes Israel and the crown of 12 stars symbolizes the 12 tribes of Israel

-the enormous red dragon symbolizes Satan

-the dragon’s tail and the sweeping of a 3rd of the stars from heaven is a reference to the fallen angels that followed Satan to earth after his fall from heaven

-this woman is pregnant and cries out in labor and pain. This pain symbolizes the hardship and oppression that Israel endured as the woman gives birth to a male child who would rule all nations. This male child symbolizes Jesus Christ.

-The child being caught up to God and His throne refers to Jesus’ ascension to heaven, seated at the right hand of God

These 5 verses serve as a history of the struggle of God’s people against evil. Since Genesis chapter 3, Satan has in some way shape or form been trying to usurp the power of God, by trying to change or alter God’s ultimate plan for mankind’s redemption and salvation. In this account, we see the dragon ready to devour the male child. Think about it: Herod attempted to kill Jesus as a child (Matthew 2) and Satan attacked Him directly (John 8 and Mark 4). However, the woman/ Israel, even through pain and suffering, “birthed” Jesus, whom God sent to save us. He came from the line of Judah, through 20 and 2 generations of Hebrew history. Through Jesus, God kept His promise by protecting and redeeming His people. His Son hung bled and died for you and me, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven where He in time will rule all nations!

Verse 6 goes even further to show God’s plan for protecting His people: The woman/ Israle flees to the wilderness where she would be protected by God as the future time called the Great Tribulation begins.

Vesre 7-12 describes the war between God (His angelic forces led by Michael) and Satan (symbolized by the dragon). The dragon fights but God’s angels win. Satan and his forces are hurled to earth. A loud voice proclaims victory, for Satan and his followers are permanently kicked out of heaven where he can accuse no more, but foretells of a dark and difficult time that would come for those who are still in the earth, for Satan know that his time is almost up!

Verses 13-17: Satan then turns his attention towards God’s people now that he and his forces are on earth. However, God protects and provides escape for His people during this time of Tribulation. Even though Satan will throw everything that he has at God’s people (like the water that flows from his mouth, which may symbolize armies or military forces), he will not be successful.

In the last verse, Satan tursn his anger toward those remaining who have remained true to God and kept His commandments.

Take a moment to consider the following:

-If Satan hates God and Jesus, he hates us as well (we who are part of the Church that  was established to represent God’s kingdom before Jesus returns).

-Satan will do everything in his power to keep us from loving and obeying our Heavenly Father and walking in our God-given purpose….

-In fact, his suggestions, deceptions, and demonic control have been attempts to discredit, defame, and destroy not only our connection to the power of God but also to destroy us as well.

- 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Satan will come at us and attack:

-us in our finances

-us on our jobs

-us in our homes and in our churches

-our spiritual mental and physical health (distressing and distracting us through spiritual strongholds, through errant and unclean thoughts, and through emotions)

-the ones around us that we love

-us through political systems and godless public policy

-our character, integrity, and our faith

In light of this:

-We must remember in God’s word that:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5New International Version (NIV)

3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

-We must stay vigilant, steadfast, unmovable in our faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

-We must cancel our subscription to Satan’s deceptions and distractions and learn from history, the history of God’s love, grace, and protection that we see both in the Bible as well as in our own lives:

God will take care of His children!!

• Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
• God will take care of you;
• When dangers fierce your path assail,
• God will take care of you.
• 
  
• No matter what may be the test,
• God will take care of you;
• Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
• God will take care of you.

Chorus:

God will take care of you,

Through every day, o’er all the way;

He will take care of you,

God will take care of you.

Amen!