Revelation 12:1-2
Right away, from verse 1, we see this is a sign. In fact, it is a 'great sign' (Mega semeion). This is the 1st of 7 signs. This tells us what we are about to read is symbolic. Signs are amazing things. They offer guidance by way of direction, warning, distance and other things. Signs have one small drawback; they must read them. They are meaningless if they aren't read and understood. In fact, this word used for "sign" specifically speaks to signs from God used to authenticate His purpose.
John sees the sign appear in heaven or it could mean the sky. What is the sign?
- A woman.
- Clothed with the sun
- With the moon under her feet
- On her head is a garland of 12 stars (stephanos – a crown of victory)
- She's pregnant
- She's in labor
Now the Catholic church holds this woman to be Mary, and you can find pictures of Mary painted with Mary standing on a crescent moon with 7 stars on her head. Some claim this woman is the church. However, that presents the picture of the bride of Christ being pregnant. Mary Baker Eddy, founder of a Christian Science said she was this woman. Other religions have made other claims about this woman.
Let's continue on, we'll learn more about this woman shortly.
Revelation 12:3-6
Here's our second sign. This great, fiery red dragon has 7 heads and 10 horns. Verse 9 tells us this is Satan. The word for fiery red is pyros, meaning the color of fire. This word is only used 2 places in the bible. The other is fiery red horse of the 4 horsemen. This one took peace from the earth (Rev 6:4). That's interesting since Satan is many times pictured as being red.
This word for dragon is defined as 'a serpent of unknown size known for its piercing eyes'. This word is only used in the book of Revelation (an unlucky 13 times). Satan is pictured as a dragon that has 7 heads and there is a crown on each. These crowns are diadems, symbolic of kings or those of the highest-ranking authority in an area. We should note the contrast of crowns between this beast and the woman. She is seen in the heavens crowned with the stephanos of victory; this beast is crowned with the diadems of the temporary kingdoms of this world.
Note: In the Septuagint, the same word is used to describe the serpent that came from Moses staff as well as the crocodile of Ezekiel 29:3; the leviathan of Job 41:1 and the dragon of Jeremiah 51:34.
Seven is God's number of perfection and completeness. He has 7 heads and 7 crowns This dragon is Satan pictured as the counterfeit ruler, a false Lord, false messiah or maybe we would say a God wannabee. The 10 horns are Satan's 'God given power and authority' on the earth. Satan has no power that was not given to him or allowed for him by God. The 10 horns point us back to the fourth beast of Daniel seven.
The ten horns are ten kings
Who shall arise from this kingdom.
And another shall rise after them;
He shall be different from the first ones,
And shall subdue three kings.
25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High,
Shall persecute the saints of the Most High,
And shall intend to change times and law.
Then the saints shall be given into his hand
For a time and times and half a time. (Dan 7:24-25)
The tail of this dragon drew a third of the starts from heaven and threw them to the earth. It was common belief that the stars were gods in the first century. Some see this as Satan luring away 1/3 of gods angels, but is that not reading too much into a symbol?
And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. 10 And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. (Daniel 8:9-10)
Dragons were great mythological beasts fit for war. This shows an authority of power that God allowed this beast to have. Satan, by the fall of man, could be viewed as bringing the son of God to earth – 1/3 of the trinity. Verse 5 portrays the dragon waiting near the woman to devour her child as he was born.
In Genesis 37:9 Joseph had a dream of the sun, moon and eleven starts bowing down to him. His father knew exactly what the dream meant; it was symbolic of himself as the sun, Rachael as the moon and the stars as the tribes of Israel. This male child could be none other than Jesus, the savior, born of nation of Israel. The symbolic woman here in Revelation is Israel. And in this sign, she is about to give birth to the One who will rule the nations. The word 'rule' means 'shepherd'. The fact He would rule with a rod of iron points to Psalm 2. To rule this way to be unwavering in the application of justice and righteousness.
Satan wanted this child. Throughout history he worked to sabotage the blood line of Christ. We know this played out from Cain murdering Able to the Pharaoh killing the babies when Moses was born. We saw it in Haman working to exterminate the Jews, then Herod trying to kill Jesus by murdering all the children under 2 years old in Bethlehem and surrounding areas. In spite of Satan's efforts Jesus was born of the Jews and lived a perfect life. Satan must have thought he finally caught a break when Jesus was nailed to the cross, all his efforts finally paid off. That is until he heard Jesus say it was finished. What was finished? Jesus had fulfilled the just requirements of the law. He was the sinless lamb shedding His blood in substitutionary atonement. The cross mocked Satan. The evidence of this trinitarian plan was provided in the resurrection and subsequent ascension. He sat down a the right hand of God the Father, the work complete.
Even though he was defeated, Satan continues to try disrupting God's plan. It still goes on today. Satan can't touch Jesus any longer but he thinks if he can destroy Israel, he can destroy or interrupt God's plan. Hitler tried to assist in this by killing 6 million Jews. Much of the Arab world is bent on destroying Israel. And the rest of the world is starting to fall in line. Even the US that has nearly always stood with Israel is now beginning to distance itself. Yet, in spite of it all this country still exists. It still thrives and it will until the end.
As is common in prophecy we jump forward a few thousand years between a period and the beginning of the next sentence. In a few verses we had the birth, death and ascension of Jesus and now we are in the end times. We were zoomed out, now we're zooming in again showing the relationship of the large picture to the end times.
This woman Israel will flee to the wilderness from the persecution of the dragon. This place in the wilderness is a place prepared by God. She will be fed there for 1260 days or 3-1/2 years.
Daniel said (9:27):
27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
The covenant will be broken when the temple is defiled and the AntiChrist set himself up as God. To the Jews it will be clear they are in trouble. It says, this will happen°....
Even until the consummation, which is determined,Is poured out on the desolate."
This basically says this is going to happen for a time. It's already been determined; the time of Jacobs's trouble. A time like which the Jews had never seen.
Here's what Jesus said (Matthew):
15 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,'spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.
The woman Israel will flee to the wilderness after the Abomination. They will see this world ruler set himself up as God and begin to make war with them.
Where will they flee? Many bible scholars believe they will flee to Petra. This comes from Isaiah 16:1-4:
Send the lamb to the ruler of the land,
From Sela (the Rock) to the wilderness,
To the mount of the daughter of Zion.
2 For it shall be as a wandering bird thrown out of the nest;
So shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon.
3 "Take counsel, execute judgment;
Make your shadow like the night in the middle of the day;
Hide the outcasts,
Do not betray him who escapes.
4 Let My outcasts dwell with you, O Moab;
Be a shelter to them from the face of the spoiler.
For the extortioner is at an end,
Devastation ceases,
The oppressors are consumed out of the land.
Petra is an ancient Rock city in Jordan near the border in the southern part of Israel. This rock city is pretty spectacular if you haven't seen it. And it's only accessible through a narrow passage in the mountains.
It is most fascinating that Jordan maintains a diplomatic relationship with Israel today. This is the only neighbor of Israel that doesn't want to wipe them off the map.
Revelation 12:7-9
Satan is often portrayed as living in hell; as if that were his home, as if he liked the climate there and had it set up for his comfort. Satan isn't going to be sitting back enjoying the torture of those he deceived and led there. God is the manager of hell, not Satan. Hell was created for Satan and those who joined him in his rebellion. Satan will experience the greatest torment in hell. This will be quite a contrast to the heaven he was created to serve in.
Satan has always had some sort of access to heaven. It appears he maintained his seat on the divine council playing the part of the accuser of the brethren. He was a divine prosecuting attorney. We see a small picture of Satan's access in Job. Satan reported in to God.
7 And the Lord said to Satan, "From where do you come?"
So Satan answered the Lord and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it."
That access has always been granted by God, for His purpose. Every time Satan enters heaven, he gets to wonder if it is his last. Satan provides the dark contrast that makes the Glory of God shine brighter.
Things will be bad on earth in these last days. How much worse when there is war in heaven. However, this isn't a war of equal sides engaging each other to see who is strongest. God remains sovereign, always has been and will be. Satan is no threat to the throne of God. No, this war seems to be a purging of heaven. It will be the faithful angels verses the fallen. The fallen are led by their leader, the devil; the faithful by Michael. What a battle that will be! The end result is that Satan and all his fallen are cast to earth. New boundaries are being established. The temple has been opened; the accuser is no longer allowed in Heaven.
"At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
And there shall be a time of trouble,
Such as never was since there was a nation, (Daniel 12:1)
This is part of God's plan. There's a change coming. What appears as chaotic, out of control and out of focus isn't at all. We have to zoom out to see it. Daniel was told the purpose of this 70th week was to:
To finish the transgression,
To make an end of sins,
To make reconciliation for iniquity,
To bring in everlasting righteousness,
To seal up vision and prophecy,
And to anoint the Most Holy....(Dan 9:24)
The temple is open. God is moving his plan along. Satan, the great deceiver, has seen his last of heaven.
Revelation 12:10-11
Satan's role as the accuser of our brethren is seen in Zechariah:
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. (Zechariah 3:1)
As Satan is cast down, the voice from heaven speaks of the victory:
- Salvation is declared
- Strength (dynamis)
- The Kingdom of God
- The Power (exousia) of Jesus (His ruling authority)
Jesus won the victory on the cross when He said, "It is finished!" Jesus won the redemption for those who repented and trust in him. The Lord takes possession of that which He won. However, in doing so, we also win. Those who are redeemed by Christ are blessed with victory also, by grace. Satan's efforts of making accusations had no effect on those who have salvation. By the work of Jesus those accusations hold no weight. Satan accuses us. Jesus says, "No, no, I paid for that." Satan accuses again, "What about that other thing?" Jesus says, "No, I paid for that too." "But, but it was really bad" says Satan. Jesus said: "PAID IN FULL!"
Imagine how encouraging this must have been to the first century Christians who were being persecuted and under constant pressure to compromise. They can see that Satan is defeated by:
- Faith in the blood of the lamb.
- Salvation comes by faith in Jesus. By grace we have been saved, through faith. It is by faith we die to ourselves, identify with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Sin if forgiven, death is defeated.
- Witness (martyria – related to martyrdom)
- This is the public proclamation or testimony of Salvation. What an encouragement to others when they hear of the work the Lord did in their life.
He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2:13-15)
- Perseverance – (NIV: "they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.)
- They were willing to be martyred to remain faithful.
- Satan accuses us and threatens to take our life. If we are holding onto this life we give him power and authority he doesn't deserve. We'll end up with a spirit of fear.
Jesus said, do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28).
26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:26)
The only victory Satan gets is when we believe his accusations, as we often do. We are deceived into thinking his accusations of our sin are more than Jesus could possibly pay for and forgive us for. We find ourselves broken, lost, and lonely thinking "yes, I know Jesus forgave my sin but this one is awful, He surely can't forgive this one. But He can and does. In fact, it's already done. We have no right (or reason) to add qualifiers or legalisms to our salvation.
As the first century Christians were encouraged, we can draw encouragement also. Our situation is different but our sin is the same. However, just as our sin is the same, so is our Savior. When Satan accuses you:
- Speak to yourself of the blood of the lamb. Remind yourself of your accuser's future.
- Tell yourself and someone else your testimony. Tell yourself how Jesus pulled you from the pit, from the bondage of your sin. Jesus lifted you up and exalted Himself in saving a wretch like you. Remember your former and how you now see.
- Remember how Jesus purchased you. How you died to yourself and daily you pick up your cross daily and follow Jesus.
God didn't save you for your awesome potential to be a shining beacon of his goodness. He saved you in spite of your great tarnish, black and disgusting sin and constant proclivity to run back and wallow in it. That's your testimony. You're not amazing, but Jesus is. Satan must take his accusation to your owner, but he won't do that. Satan accuses you, "You wretched sinner, you are undeserving of salvation!!" You say, "Your right, I don't get it but, it's a Jesus thing. Isn't it awesome!"
Now as Satan is cast from heaven, you might think a sane response would be not to offend the Creator. Instead, Satan who has been free to roam the cosmos is now restricted to earth and his days are numbered. His insane response is to take as many with him as he can. Satan is cast from heaven to the earth. Soon after, he will be cast from the earth to the abyss; the bottomless pit. He will be released one more time to the earth for a final rebellion after the millennium and then he will be forever cast into the lake of fire. That's his future.
Revelation 12:13-14
Satan will bring wrath against Israel. What are the two wings of the great eagle they will use to escape? Speculations range from "the United States" to "a massive airlift" and every other thing imaginable. When God delivered Israel out of Egypt in the Exodus, He said:
You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. (Exodus 19:4)
The eagle's wings are freedom from persecution and bondage. There's a providential aspect of this. The escape of Israel from the persecution will be a providential and supernatural act of God. Israel will escape to the wilderness and be taken care of for the last 3-1/2 years of the Tribulation.
What is the flood that Satan brings against Israel? The enemies of Israel were pictured as a great flood coming down on them. This great flood might be an army that attempts to intercept and annihilate Israel. It may also be a metaphor for the extensive effort by Satan to steal, kill, destroy or harm every Jew he can.
The earth helps Israel is some way by thwarting the plans of the devil. You can almost picture an earthquake here; the earth opening and devouring this army.
Revelation 12:17
God will intervene on behalf of Israel. Satan will respond in rage and turn away from Israel in the wilderness and goes after any Jew or Gentile believer he can find. Anyone having a testimony of Jesus Christ will be attacked and likely killed.
Satan's says your testimony will cost you your life. But remember, the voice of heaven says, it's by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. That's how we overcome the accuser. Satan's says your testimony will cost you your life. Jesus said, Your testimony is proof of Life. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
You must have the blood of the lamb. If you do, you also have a testimony. Your testimony will then reveal that you no longer love this life unto death but that you died to yourself and are raised to new life in Jesus Christ.
The temple is open.
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