Note: I used many sources to study this book, one of my favorites is Revelation: God’s Word for the Biblically-Inept by Daymond Duck and some out of different study bibles.
Title: The coming battle
Theme: To show God's triumph
Text: Rev 12:1-17
1 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:
Four women of Revelation
1) Jezebel in Rev 2:20 probably a symbol of the papal system
2) the great whore 17:1-apostate religious system
3) the wife-19:7-the church
4) woman-Rev 12:1
Who is the woman?
1) virgin Mary
2) the church-problem is that she gives birth to Christ so how could this be the church
3) early beginnings of Israel-Is 9:6; 66:7-8; Micah 5:2
And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. (Genesis 37:9 AV)
the woman may seem sometimes to get the short end of the stick from the scripture perspective but in reality she is exhalted and lifted up she is to be the one to carry the savior.
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
Here we see the plight of this woman who is a mother.
Israel was persecuted and still is persecuted. There is no race of people that has ever been persecuted as much as the Israelites. Before the birth of Jesus Israel was under captivity of the Roman people. It would be many years before they were again a free nation. 1948
I believe it can also symbolically represent the pains of Israel with the sacrificial system. It would do them no good. They still had to sacrifice the animals until Christ came and made a New Covenant. One day they will truly realize it.
3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
great-Satan is great, some people underestimate him but he is great
red-the multitudes of blood that is on his hand
dragon-fierce nature
seven-Satan was made perfect seven heads-(Rev 17:10) some say it is the seven great kingdoms but also could represent wise, craftiness
horns-sign of power (1 Sam 2:1; Zech 1:18-21; Dan 7:7-8,24-25; Rev 13,17:3,12-16)
ten is the number of universality-an accomplishment that is tring to be reached even until this day, we will soon see the rulership of 10 kingdoms who hand over their reign to the Anti-Christ.
7 gentile world governments
1) Assyrian
2) Egyptian
3) Bablonian
4) Medo-Persian
5) Greek
6) Roman
7) The current European Community
4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
his tail-Satan deceived 1/3 part of the angels to follow him. Jude 6, 2 Peter 2:4, Daniel 8:10
Here we see his goal is to devor the child. To take and kill him. Did he try to accomplish this? He used a king-King Herod, a crowd, the Roman government
Satan has tried to kill Jesus many times and or destroy his mission
1) His birth when Herod authorized the killing of children 2 and under.
2) Trying to get him to bow down
3) tried through peter to get him to bypass the cross
4) during his prayer at Mt. Olives when he needed angels to comfort him
5) On the cross when he was mocked by many to come down off the cross
6) Even the thieves did this
5 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.
Here we see a better look as to the identify of this man child.
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. (Psalms 2:7-9 AV)
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (Revelation 19:15 AV)
other-Ps 8, Daniel 7:13-14
Notice there is not much history given here. Actually in dealing with the Israelites they did not believe he was the Christ. But they will soon know
6 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.
woman fled-woman is the faithful of Israel who ran but is protected by God because of their acceptance of the Messiah after reading and studying scripture. Dt 4:30-31; Zech 13;8,9
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet (Daniel 9:27), stand in the holy place, Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: (Matthew 24:15-16 AV)
I believe this skips to the tribulation. Here we see an idea of what is going to happen. Israel will come under persecution and will flee. But the protecting hand of God will help them and build a place. This may be even a literal wilderness. Some say this is a place called Petra. A city with only one entrance.
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
war in heaven-between Satan and the forces of God
Charatericts:
1) Michael-Who is like God? the uniqueness of the God that he serves
2) the archangel (Jude 9)
3) the great prince (Dan 12:1)
4) He has power to challenge Satan (Jude 9)
5) He has angels at his command (12:7)
6) He will be present at the raptured church 1 Thes 4:16
7) He is the champion of Israel and the espouser of their cause (12:7; Dan 12:1)
So if we see him it should immediately alert us to events relating to Israel and its enemies.
Three steps in Satan's demise
1) 12:9 2) 20:3 3) 20:10
Names of Satan
1) the prince Matthew 9:34
2) the prince of this world John 12:31
3) the prince of the power of the air Eph 2;2
4) the god of this world 2 Cor 4:4
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
great dragon
old serpent-master of cunning
the devil-slander and false accuser
Satan-adversary or opposser
He lost. A second time he loses and loses his place in heaven forever. Maybe it was a right to heaven to talk to God as he did in the case of Job.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
accuser of the brethren-Satan accuses us before God as we see in Job 1:6-11; Zech 3:1
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: (Luke 22:31 AV)
He is an accuser of the brethren at the throne of God but we have something greater.
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1 AV)
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death
blood of the lamb-justification before God on that basis)
word of their testimony-(faithful witness) verbal and physical
loved not their lives-willing to be a martyr
If we acknowledge Jesus before God he will acknowledge us before men but it is also vice versa.
I was talking to a man the other day. I told him that if you don’t trust my decisions that when I stand behind that pulpit then you cannot trust what I say. Oh how true that is.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Here we see the wrath of Satan who knows his fate. It will finally come to pass.
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
Those who accept Christ during this time will be hunted and persecuted Mt 24:15-21
14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
eagles wings are strong. given by God. The grace of God.
Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. (Exodus 19:4 AV)
nourished for a time- some say that these two things that seem to be symbolical could represent friendly persons or a nation to step in and be the protector
15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
he doesn’t give up easy
And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:1-17 AV)
No matter how hard he tries Satan cannot destroy God’s chosen people. God will intervene. Hitlar could not do it. Nero could not do it. Haman could not do it. No one.
closing
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:11 AV)
Let us also make a vow to stand against the Devil. He has been defeated and will be defeated. By the blood, by our living testimony and by our perseverance.
