Contention in Heaven and on Earth

Revelation 12:1-17

 

INTRO: We come now to a very spiritually rich chapter in the Revelation. In this chapter we have:

Israel– the pregnant woman (vss 1-2)

Satan– the powerful dragon (vs 3-4)

Christ– the promised child (vs 5-6)

Michael– the prevailing angel (vs 7-17).

 

 

VSS 1-2, ISRAEL– THE PREGNANT WOMAN

Vs 1, John tells us that "there appeared a great wonder in heaven." The Greek word for "wonder" is semeion meaning "a sign or symbol of important truth."

This is a "great" wonder.

The wonder is seen in heaven, but portrays an event that takes place on earth: the woman is persecuted by Satan during the great tribulation.

The woman described in Revelation 12:1 was portrayed and described by Joseph’s dream of centuries ago (Gen 37:9-11).

"Clothed with the sun"– Israel is here pictured as the bearer of supernatural divine light. Israel was the bearer of light throughout the Old Testament, but failed to see Christ as Messiah. One day, Israel will see Him as the Sun of Righteousness, and she will than be "Israel my glory."

"The moon under her feet"– the moon has no light of its own. It gets its light from the sun. All of Israel’s glory and influence comes from the God who brought her into existence. The moon shines at night. Israel will shine, give her light, in the darkness of the tribulation.

"A crown of twelve stars"– these crowns are the twelve tribes of Israel (Gen 37:9).

Vs 2, The woman, the nation of Israel, is pictured as being in travail.

Israel is often compared to a woman and even a woman in travail (Isa 54:5; 66:7; Jere 3:6-10; Micah 4:10; 5:2-3).

The Lord Jesus Christ , in His flesh, came forth from the nation of Israel (Rom 9:4-5).

 

VSS 3-5, SATAN– THE POWERFUL DRAGON

Vs 3, The great red dragon of this verse is shown to be Satan in verse 9.

Red, color of blood, tells us of his murderous character (Jn 8:44).

Seven, the number of completion, being in Satan’s seven heads, speaks of his wisdom:

Satan "is full of wisdom" (Eze 28:12).

Satan was, "the anointed cherub (angel of God) that covereth" (Eze 28:14).

The ten horns speak of his universal power, as the ten toes of Daniel do.

He is "the God of this world" system (II Cor 4:4).

He is "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph 2:2).

He is "the prince of the world" (Jn 12:31).

Because he is not all powerful, nor omnipresent, he must use his army of fallen angels to do his bidding. This is the reason why we are not fighting flesh and blood (Eph 6:12).

Vs 4, When Satan fell, he took a third part of the angels with him (Isa 14:12-15), and he will take many men down with him during the tribulation. The past and the future are in view here.

The Devil, dragon, is seen awaiting the birth of the child so he can destroy it as soon as it is born.

Satan tried to stop the birth of the Redeemer. Wiersbe says: "There was always a dragon standing b y, waiting to destroy Israel or the ancestors of the Messiah" (99). Satan knew centuries before the birth of Christ that He would come through the nation of Israel.

Pharaoh, the punisher of Israel, is called a"dragon" in Ezekiel 29:3.

Nebuchadnezzar is called a "dragon" in Jeremiah 51:34.

When Christ Jesus was born, Satan used Herod to set out to destroy Him (Mt 2).

When Christ died on the cross, Satan thought he had won, but it is Christ who came out victorious (Rev 12:11).

 

VSS 5-6, CHRIST– THE PROMISED CHILD

Vs 5, The woman, Israel (vss 1-2), brings forth a man child who is "to rule all nations."

The man child is Christ.

He was born to rule (Gen 3:15; Psa 2:9; Rev 19:15; Dan 4:26).

He will rule; He will sit upon David’s throne.

"Her child was caught up unto God."

The resurrection and ascension are spoken of here.

Christ sits at the Father’s right hand in heaven.

Vs 6, During the great tribulation, the last 3 ½ years of the seven year tribulation, God will protect Israel. According to Jeremiah 30:7, they "shall be saved out of it."

Petra, at Mount Seir may be the place of refuge spoken of here. Petra can accommodate thousands of people.

God aids Israel in her flight.

 

VSS 7-17, MICHAEL– THE PREVAILING ANGEL

Vss 7-9, the Devil cast out of heaven by Michael the archangel.

Vs 7, the war is yet future. It is true that Satan and his angels were cast out of heaven centuries ago (Isa 14:12-15), but they still have access to it (Job 1-2).

Vs 8, the day is coming when there will no longer be any room in heaven for Satan to go before God and accuse the brethren.

Vs 9, in this verse, Satan is described in six ways.

The great dragon– cruel and hellish fiend.

Old serpent– old, all the way back to the garden; serpent, slick and subtle.

The Devil– diablos, one who throws down, slanders and tempts.

Satan– adversary

Deceiver– this is Satan’s special work, to deceive and blind the minds of people.

The accuser– he accuses the saints before God.

The day will come when he will be cast out to accuse us no more.

VSS 10-12, Satan defeated; the saints victorious.

Vs 10, the salvation that is come is not the salvation from sin but deliverance.

God gives strength to His people, the elect, during the tribulation. He will strengthen them, and He will manifest His strength.

The millennial kingdom is just around the corner. Christ will rule in power. "His Christ" same as "His anointed" (Psa 2:2).

The accuser is cast down. One day, he will be cast into hell (Rev 20:10).

Vs 11, The Devil’s accusations are made null and void by the blood of the Lamb. It is the blood that cleanses the believer from sin and puts him in right standing with God.

The testimony of the saints is that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Rom 1:16).

"They loved not their lives unto the death" speaks of faithfulness, of dedication to the task even if it means death. They know that Christ laid down His life for them, and they are willing to lay down theirs for Him(Jn 10:11, 15).

Vs 12, The Devil throws a fit because he knows his time is short. He will hurt and destroy all he can in this rampage.

Vss 13-17, Israel persecuted during the great tribulation.

Vs 13, Israel will be the object of Satan’s fury in the last 3 ½ years of the tribulation. You see many Jews will be saved in the tribulation, trusting in Christ, the man child as Messiah.

Vs 14, Eagle’s wings indicate a speedy airlift out of Jerusalem into the wilderness where God protects the elect of Israel for 3 ½ years (note Psa 124:7).

Vs 15, Satan will use everything he can to exterminate Israel: propaganda, slander, hatred, and a literal flood.

Vs 16, God in His mercy will miraculously deliver Israel. The flood will be swallowed up. This could mean armies hostile to Israel will be swallowed up.

Vs 17, The Devil is always mad with those "which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."

 

 

CONCLUSION: The only way to be victorious is through the blood (vs 11).

 

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