“Revealing the Revelation”
Chapter 12
January 27, 2010
Revelation 12
1A great and wondrous 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 his heads. 4His 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 he might devour her child the moment it 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 desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.
7And there was war 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 Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11They overcame 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 desert, 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 make war against the rest of her offspring—those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
Wow! When I read this chapter I feel like my visual senses have an overload! A woman clothed with the sun; moon at her feet and stars around her head; a fiery dragon; angels in heaven fighting! A child being born; angels, eagles and dragons! Oh, my! With the Lord’s help, let try to understand what God is saying to us today. I think He has a lesson for us today.
First of all, let’s look at the characters.
• The woman, representing Israel
• The dragon, representing Satan
• The man-child, referring to Jesus
• The angel Michael, head of the angelic host
• The offspring of the woman, representing Christians
• The beast out of the sea, representing the antichrist
• The beast out of the earth, representing the false prophet
“A woman clothed with the sun…” John plainly says this is a sign. Consequently we don’t expect this woman to appear literally on the earth. It isn’t a literal woman. Women often represent religious systems in Revelation. Jezebel is associated with a religious system of false teaching in Revelation 2:20. The Great Harlot is associated with false religion in Revelation 17:2. The Bride is associated with the church in Revelation 19:7-8.
The woman clothed with the sun in this passage has been associated with many different religious ideas. Roman Catholics claim this woman is Mary, pictured as the “Queen of Heaven.” It is common in Roman Catholic art to represent Mary as standing on a crescent moon with twelve stars around her head. Mary Baker Eddy said she was this woman. Adam Clark identified this woman as the true Church of Christ. I think, Scripturally, this woman clothed with the sun should be identified with Israel. Joseph had a dream, as recorded in Genesis 37:9-11. In that dream, the sun represents Jacob, the moon represents Joseph’s mother Rachel, and the eleven stars are the sons of Israel which bow down to Joseph. In this sign with twelve stars, Joseph is now “among” the other tribes of Israel.
Understand that John was a good Jewish boy – or old man, at the time of this vision. But he was well versed in the Old Testament. The other disciples were Israelites and many of the early Christian people were Israelites. So I don’t think he would take something so familiar and give it another meaning. In other Old Testament passages, Israel (or Zion or Jerusalem) is often represented as a woman (Isaiah 54:1-6, Jeremiah 3:20, Ezekiel 16:8-14, and Hosea 2:19-20). So, in my mind, I feel like this magnificent female represents Israel or God’s people. I don’t think it does this passage any injustice to view it as the true Church of God, either. God makes no difference between Greek or Jew.
The woman gives birth. “Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.” (Verse 2) Later in the chapter, it is clear that this child born of Israel is Jesus “She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron.” Revelation 12:5). The pain described here probably refers to the suffering of Israel at the time of Jesus’ birth when they were under Roman occupation and oppression. Remember at that time, King Herod also had all the male babies killed that were two years old and younger. Jeremiah prophesied hundreds of years prior that event.
"A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." (Matthew 2:18; Jer. 31:15)
There was great joy at Jesus’ birth – but there was also great pain. Israel cried out with the birth of Jesus.
“And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.” ( Verse 3)
We are reminded that this is a sign. The creature here is not literally a great, fiery red dragon, but the dragon represents his nature and character. His description “symbolically suggests his fierce power and murderous nature. “It is a picture of the fullness of evil in all its hideous strength.” (Johnson)
This dragon has great power. He has seven heads and ten horns and claims royal authority, which is represented by the seven diadems. The crowns represent his claims of royal authority against the true King. He wants to be considered a king. Walvoord, comments,
“From the similar description given in 13:1 and the parallel references in Daniel 7:7-8, 2, it is clear that the revived Roman Empire is in view. The seven heads and ten horns refer to the original ten kingdoms of which three were subdued by the little horn of Daniel 7:8, who is to be identified with the world ruler of the great tribulation who reigns over the revived Roman Empire.”
Matthew Henry, in his commentary says,
A dragon is a known emblem of Satan, and his chief agents, or those who govern for him on earth, at that time the pagan empire of Rome, the city built upon seven hills. As having ten horns, divided into ten kingdoms. Having seven crowns, representing seven forms of government.
I’m not certain what the “red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads” represent. It is a sign to us and I am confident at the proper moment and proper time – God will make it clear to us.
The fourth verse is interesting to me. “His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven…” Many believe this describes one-third of the angelic host who were in league with Satan. This army of angelic beings in league with Satan makes up the world of demonic spirits. Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven…” Luke 10:18 Most scholars believe that Satan tool a third of the angels with him. One scholar says,
“God never made an evil being; but He made angels, principalities, and powers created for mighty joys and distinctions in His glorious domain, yet with free will, implied in the very creation of moral beings, which they could exercise for their everlasting weal or woe. Many have remained steadfast, to wit, ‘Michael and his angels.’ But some abode not in the truth, but revolted against the rule of Heaven, and became unchanging enemies of God and His Kingdom.” (Seiss)
Whether this is literal, allegorical or symbolic, we don’t know with certainty. Remember this is a sign for us. Maybe it’s a warning sign. Maybe it is a sign of things to come. But the dragon positioned himself to devour the child. Again, most scholars feel this is referring to Jesus’ birth and the Enemy’s attempt to destroy Him and His ministry before it got started.
“Then the woman fled into the wilderness..” Persecuted by the dragon, the woman is protected by God in a prepared place for one thousand two hundred and sixty days. Our Scripture says, “Into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God”. Some believe this place in the wilderness is the rock city of Petra, which is south of the Dead Sea. It has been reported that Christian businessmen have stocked the place with food and evangelistic tracts written in Hebrew.
That word ‘prepared’ used here uses the same ancient Greek word Jesus used in “I go to prepare a place for you” in John 14:2-3. Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven – but we need to remember that nothing in the future is going to catch Him by surprise. He is prepared for it. He is preparing a place in the wilderness for His followers during the trying times of the tribulation.
“War broke out in heaven…” At the mid-point of the great tribulation, God will turn the tide against Satan - first in heaven, then on earth. A battle will take place that will deny Satan access to heaven. This is a dramatic scene of battle between “good” angels and “bad” angels. This is truly a battle between equals. The dragon represents Satan (Revelation 12:9), and Satan is not the counterpart of God - God has no counterpart. If anyone, Satan is the counterpart of Michael, who seems to be the chief angel opposite this chief of fallen angels. Why is the battle fought? In a previous conflict between Michael and Satan, recorded in Jude 9, Satan wanted to prevent the resurrection and glorification of Moses, because he knew God had plans for the resurrected and glorified Moses (Luke 9:30-31). Here is another occasion where Satan wants to get in the way of God’s plan for the end-times. But he never wins. Satan is a loser. God always wins. But Satan insanely continues his battle and destruction. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus comes to give life – and beyond that – ‘abundant’ life. This is but one of the battles that results in that conflict between good and evil.
But God always wins! “He was cast to the earth…” The Bible describes four different falls of Satan. Revelation 12:9 describes the second of these four falls.
From glorified to profane (Ezekiel 28:14-16)
From having access to heaven (Job 1:12, 1 Kings 22:21, Zechariah 3:1) to restriction to the earth (Revelation 12
From the earth to bondage in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years (Revelation 20)
From the pit to the lake of fire (Revelation 20)
Satan is a loser. All those that follow him are going to lose. As Satan was created as an awesome angel, perfect and holy, and then through the power of his choice, became a depraved rebel, so will many of the wonderful works of God, God’s children, choose to become rebels and become destined to an eternity in hell. He is not willing that any will perish. God does not want one to go to hell. But they will – because of the power of choice. I choose Jesus, don’t you?
Then we hear a joyful, loud statement.
“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them!” Rev 12:10-12
Whoever is behind this loud voice is human. It is some representative of redeemed humanity - not an angel or God. The voice speaks of the accuser of our brethren. Obviously, he is a fellow brother in the Lord. He says, “The accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” Satan’s work of accusing only ends here, when he is cast out from his access to heaven. Today, we have (and need) an intercessor and advocate. Hebrews 7:25, and 1 John 2:1 tells us who that Intercessor, Advocate, Defender is. It is Jesus defending us in heaven. He stands up for us in our behalf. Can you imagine Satan coming to the throne room to tell on you? To accuse you of sin and rebellion or some fault? I can just imagine Satan bringing out all our dirty laundry; all those things we said and did that we hate to even think about. And Jesus coming to our defense. “Yes, he did that! Yes, she did do that horrible thing. She did say that! But I have paid the penalty for it.” The price is paid in full. It is true that Satan accuses you day and night. But it is also true that you have a Friend in heaven fighting on your behalf. He has justified you! It is just as if you never did that thing. He took your punishment.
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death”
This tells us three keys to the saint’s victory over Satan.
1. “By the blood” emphasizes the death of Jesus. He did not only suffer, He died. “Of the Lamb” emphasizes the substitutionary work of His death. The Passover Lamb died as a substitute for others. We overcome because Jesus substituted Himself for us. “By HIS stripes we are healed”, Isaiah says. The great Charles Spurgeon says,
“The blood of Jesus heals our troubled conscience, because we know that by His death our sin is atoned for (Hebrews 9:14). But to only use the blood of Jesus in that way is selfish. We should be like “these saints used the doctrine of atonement, not as a pillow to rest their weariness, but as a weapon to subdue their sin.” (Spurgeon)
The blood of Jesus works because the death of Jesus on the cross as our substitute reveals the true nature of sin, and this makes us want to avoid sin. “Satan makes sin seem pleasurable, but the cross reveals its bitterness. If Jesus died because of sin, men begin to see that sin must be a murderous thing.” (Spurgeon)
The Blood of Jesus works because the death of Jesus on the cross as our substitute purchases us as God’s personal property, and this makes us want to live for God.
“If anything can make a man holy it is a firm faith in the atoning sacrifice. When a man knows that Jesus died for him, he feels that he is not his own, but bought with a price, and therefore he must live unto him that died for him and rose again.” (Spurgeon)
“The precious blood of Jesus is not meant for us merely to admire and exhibit. We must not be content to talk about it, and extol it, and do nothing with it; but we are to use it in the great crusade against unholiness and unrighteousness, till it is said of us, ‘They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb.’ This precious blood is to be used for overcoming, and consequently for holy warfare. We dishonor it if we do not use it to that end . . . The dog of hell knows the dread name which makes him lie down: we must confront him with the authority, and specially with the atonement of the Lamb of God.” (Spurgeon)
The second key to our victory is: 2. “the word of their testimony.” Our Words overcome Satan’s work. Knowing and remembering the work of God in our life protects us against Satan’s deceptions. As faithful witnesses, we have a testimony to bear - and because we know what we have seen and heard and experienced from God, we cannot be deceived by Satan’s lies telling us it isn’t true. We KNOW what we know! Our testimony overcome Satan’s lies.
The third key is “they did not love their lives to the death.” If they do not cling to their own earthly lives, then there really is no threat Satan can bring against them. If they believe “to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21), then how can Satan’s violence against them be effective? The ancient Greek word for love here is agape, which speaks of a self-sacrificing, decision-based love. It is up to each one of us to choose. Will we love our lives to the death or not? Will our physical lives be the most precious thing to us, or will we find our life by losing it for Jesus? (Mark 8:35) We overcome Satan by not loving life so much. It is a matter of faith. Paul, when he was about to die, said,
"Death has been swallowed up in victory." (Isaiah 25:8) "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:54-57
Paul was not afraid to die. Death held no fear for him. By faith, we can have that confidence; we can have that boldness. Faith is the victory!
“Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them!” Heaven rejoices at the eviction of Satan. But heaven’s gain is the earth’s loss. He knows that he has a short time left. Satan’s power is real and terrifying, but not because he is triumphant, but because he knows he is beaten and has only a little time left. He is like a wounded, cornered animal that fights ferociously. Why doesn’t he just give up? Don’t forget that Satan is utterly depraved, and probably “insane”. He may have deceived even himself into thinking that he has a chance.
A better question is “Why don’t we give up?” Our rebellion against God makes even less sense than Satan’s rebellion does. Is there any area in your life you are rebelling against God in? Is there an act; and attitude; a habit that you know is not God’s will? Why not stop it? Give it up. Surrender it to Jesus. As an expression of love and commitment – lay that thing at Jesus feet. I promise you – you will rejoice – and all heaven with you.
Well, Satan gets cast down to the earth. Heaven is relieved. They rejoice. But the earth is in trouble. Israel is in trouble. The Enemy turns his attention to God’s beloved. Why does Satan attack the Jewish people? This is a question for all history, not only for the Great Tribulation. The reason is because Israel, from the time of Abraham, has had a critical role in God’s salvation plan. First, it was in bringing forth the Redeemer. Then, it was in the fulfillment of His plan, because Jesus promised that the Jewish people would exist and welcome Him when He returns in glory to this world (Matthew 23:39). If Satan succeeds in destroying the Jewish people, then God’s eternal plan is thwarted.
“The persecution of Israel is part of the satanic program to thwart and hinder the work of God . . . Israel is hated by Satan not because of any of its own characteristics but because she is the chosen of God and essential to the overall purpose of God for time and eternity.” (Walvoord)
Notice that God is taking care of her once again. God will not abandon His own. Jesus said He would never NEVER leave us. He promised to be with us to the end of the age. So the woman is given two wings that take her to the place God prepared for her. Those two wings are interesting. In Exodus 19 God describes his deliverance as on “eagles wings’. Some people have speculated that the wings may be referring to an airplane. Could it be the army airborne? We don’t know, but we know God provided a way for his people to get to the place in the wilderness that was prepared for them. And she is nourished for 3 ½ half years – or the rest of the tribulation. Those that believe in a pretribulation rapture or mid-tribulation rapture believe these are those who come to Christ after the Church is raptured out. Post tribulationist believe these are the Christians surviving the tribulations of the seven years. Whoever they are – God takes care of them. And the result?
“So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman”
The fury poured out against Israel after the abomination of desolation (marking the half-way point of 70th week of Daniel) was spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24:15-22. This passage in Revelation may describe the fury that Jesus told them to flee. Then, “The earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth” This passage also describes God’s ultimate protection of His people from the fury of Satan and his antichrist in the great tribulation. But something stuck me that I haven’t read in any of the commentaries. Last week, when we talked about the two witnesses, “FIRE” came out of their mouths and devoured their enemies. What comes out of the dragon’s mouth? Water. And it isn’t very effective. The earth swallows it up before it can harm anyone. That tells me GOD has the power. As it says in Isaiah 59:19, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.”
Then the wrath of the dragon is focused against God’s people.
“The dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring”
This may refer to Israel, the woman, and Gentiles, the rest of her offspring, who come to faith in Jesus during the Great Tribulation. These two groups are the targets of Satan and his antichrist’s persecution in the last days.
Folks, we are in a war. We have an enemy that wants to destroy us for no more reason that we are loved by God. Because God places so much value on us; because He loves us so much – Satan is out to get us. His first plan is to get us to rebel against the One who loves us so much. Imagine if you are a mother or father and your child turns against you and hates you. Just ignoring us or avoiding us or not having time for us just kills us parents. But a child choosing to hate their parent – what pain that would bring.
Satan wants to do that with us. Failing that He wants to harm us. How a parent suffers when his child suffers! If you want to hurt a parent – you simply have to hurt the one he loves. God feels every hurt we have. He not only sees every tear we shed, but saves them. He collects them and values them. He cares about you more than you can imagine. And that is why Satan hates you so much and why he wants to kill you and steal your soul. Don’t fall for his tricks.
God made it so easy to come to Him. Jesus said He stand at the door of our heart and knocks. All we have to do is open our hearts to Him and let Him in. Will you do that today? All it takes a simple prayer like this.
"Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life. I ask you into my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior. I want to serve you always."
