Revelation 12 B The Conclusion Introduction and review A. Review 12:1-5 B. This is really the story of the Woman and the Dragon II. The War in heaven [12:7-12] A. When does this happen in history B. There was a prior war in which Satan was deposed as the Anointed Cherub Who Covers 1. Ezekiel 28:12-17 Thus says the Lord GOD, "You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 "You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, Was in you. On the day that you were created They were prepared. 14 "You were the anointed cherub who covers, And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 "You were blameless in your ways From the day you were created Until unrighteousness was found in you. 16 "By the abundance of your trade You were internally filled with violence, And you sinned; Therefore I have cast you as profane From the mountain of God. And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the stones of fire. 17 "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; 2. Luke 10:17-18 17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." 18 And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 3. 12:4 when a of the stars were swept away C. Earth was not the first thing created B heaven [the abode of God and the angelic beings] 1. List of creation order 2. Gen. 1:1 Ain a beginning@ 1 5
3. Job 38:1-7 and said, knowledge? 1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind 2 "Who is this that darkens counsel By words without you, and you instruct Me! 3 "Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask 4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it? cornerstone, 6 "On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its 7 When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy? D. Why is Satan thrown out of heaven then? 1. Removed as the AAnointed Cherub Who Covers@ 2. Still had access to heaven a. Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. b. Job 2:1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. c. Zechariah 3:1 Then He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. d. Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. E. Wasn=t Lucifer the most powerful created being there was? [Yes] F. Then how was he defeated by Michael? 1. Who is Michael a. Archangel b. Dan. 12:1 (1) position (2) assignment (3) Awill arise@ during the last days or latter times (a) has been translated as appointed, raised, presented, 5 2 5
confirmed c. Prior power [Jude 8-10] d. He must have been elevated in power e. For he and the armies he leads now defeat Satan G. There is rejoicing in heaven on account of Satan=s defeat and the end to his accusations 1. How would Satan respond to these events in your way of thinking III. The Woman and the Dragon [12:5-6, 13-17] A. Key events after birth and ascension 1. She flees 2. To the wilderness 3. To a place prepared for her a. Referred to at one point as: Aher place@ 4. The serpent gave chase 5. He couldn t catch her 6. So she was safe B. How can that be [that is that she was safe] 1. Consider Matthew 24:15-21 & 23-26 a. 15 "Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 "Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. 18 "Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 "But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. 21 "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. b. 23 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'There He is,' do not believe him. 24 "For false Christ s and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25 "Behold, I have told you in advance. 26 "So if they say to you, 'Behold, He is in the wilderness,' do not go out, or, 'Behold, He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe them. c. ADo not go out@ B out from where? (1) their place of refuge 3 5
(2) the place where they ran to C. Where is this place? 1. Some consider Petra 2. Others says we can t know 3. Consider Dan. 11:40-41 D. What is this place? 1. Again how can they be safe there when we are talking about Satan? 2. For some reason Satan can t get them there 3. Why? E. The cities of refuge [Jos. 20:1-6] 1. Manslayer would run 2. The avenger of blood would give chase 3. If he made it to a city of refuge he was safe 4. If he left he was subject to being killed 5. Except for trial, if not guilty of murder could safely return 6. Upon the coming of the new High Priest he was free to emerge without guilt F. Is Israel a manslayer 1. She killed the Messiah a. Matthew 27:24-25 4 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this Man's blood; see to that yourselves." on us and on our children!" b. Then it would be murder would it not? 2. Consider one of the victim=s last statements a. Luke 23:34 25 And all the people said, "His blood shall be 34 But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." G. Then Israel will have fled to her city of refuge and as long as she stays there she is safe H. Who is the avenger of blood 1. The beast 2. 13:1 B Satan is there at his arrival 3. He would have to be the leading male member of the deceased=s family, i.e. Jesus= family 4 5
a. Mark 6:1-3 1 Jesus went out from there and came into His hometown; and His disciples followed Him. 2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, "Where did this man ge these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? 3 "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?" And they took offense at Him. b. Genesis 3:15 5 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel. 5 5