Lesson 18 Revelation 12 Powers of Evil in Conflict with God

Introduction Overall structure of Revelation Not written in chronological order Written in a repeating pattern First, outcome is revealed Then, scenes from different perspectives and with different images to explain why a certain result occurs Like approach used by newspapers Could close the book after ch. 11 and know the outcome Christ and His saints would be victorious However, wouldn t know some things about underlying reasons or motivations behind various events

Lessons for Today Do we sometimes feel downtrodden by the pressures and influences of the world? Do we find our own wilderness? Let s make time for meditation and reflection. Make time for re creation. Jesus often did this going to the mountain to be alone and pray for example. Do we have the same attitude that the Christians of that day had? i.e. We do not love our lives to the death. What is our soul worth to us? Is there anything in this world we are not willing to give up?

Sign of The Woman vv. 1 2 Sign unusual event, transcends common course of nature Describe the woman in this vision. Clothed with the sun; had the moon under her feet; a garland of 12 stars on her head; was with child; cried out in labor pains. She appears to represent the people of God (the remnant) at any time 12 the number often used to represent God s people Stars, moon, and sun greater and greater revelation Stars the early patriarchal age the starlit age Moon the Mosaic period a dim reflection or foreshadowing of that to come Sun the Christian age full and complete revelation The woman is clothed with the totality of God s revelation

Sign of The Woman vv. 1 2 The woman God s people at any time Micah 4: 10 Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion V. 17 not just Israel of old, but God s people at any time The Child Christ who was brought forth from the remnant Micah 5:2 3 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel until the time that she who is in labor has given birth; then the remnant of His brethren shall return to the children of Israel. Isa. 66:7ff Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before her pain came, she delivered a male child

Sign of The Dragon vv. 3 4 How is he described? Fiery red, seven heads, seven diadems (crowns) on each head, 10 horns Red blood red color murderous character Seven heads fullness of intelligence and craftiness operating through lies and deceit (2 Cor. 11:3) Ten horns fullness of power within his realm of operation Seven diadems the headdress of royalty used metaphorically of power or rule in the realm of evil Has a great tail that gathers 1/3 of the stars of heaven and throws them to the earth Symbolizes his great power, but not full power only 1/3

Sign of The Dragon vv. 3 4 What is he waiting to do? To devour the Child as soon as the woman gives birth Who does the dragon represent? Satan, or the Devil, that serpent of old v. 9 From the time of Eden (Gen. 3:15) until this point, the Devil has waited to strike his supposed master blow Gen. 3:14 15 He has stood ready to destroy her seed when He would come

The Woman Gives Birth vv. 5 6 A male Child is born He is caught up to God and His Throne before the dragon can devour Him He was to rule all nations with a rod of iron Have seen this phrase before (2:27) harsh judgment; they will be the ones who suffer the second death Picture Christ now reigning with God in heaven Vision symbolizes the entire time from Jesus birth to His ascension into heaven, where He sat at the right hand of God Rules His spiritual kingdom with a scepter of uprightness (Psa. 45:6) Rules in the kingdoms of the world with a rod of iron (Psa. 2:6 9; 110)

The Woman Gives Birth vv. 5 6 The woman flees into the wilderness on the earth (v. 14) A place prepared by God refuge and protection Are there other instances of fleeing into the wilderness for refuge? Moses from Pharaoh, Israel from Egypt, Elijah from Jezebel, Paul into Arabia The wilderness a place of withdrawal where God s people are protected and disciplined To remain there and be fed by God for 1260 days Same period as 42 months (see 11:2 3, 13:5), and 3 1/2 years (or time, times, and half a time 1+2+1/2 v. 14) Half of 7 implying a broken time of relatively short duration; short in comparison to the 1000 years of relative peace that will follow This period also mentioned in Daniel 7 the fourth beast (kingdom) Rome (esp. v. 25) All these equivalent times appear to point to the Roman persecution; a period of oppression and trial for the saints

War in Heaven vv. 7 9 A war breaks out between Michael and his angels and the dragon and his angels Michael of higher rank than other angels (Dan. 10: 13, 20 21) The dragon is not alone angels aligned with him The dragon is defeated and cast to the earth along with his angels The Devil slanderer; Satan adversary; serpent of old an obvious allusion to the serpent in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:1 4) Some debate on when battle in Heaven occurred But appears to not be a specific battle at a specific time Instead, spiritual conflict that was behind the earthly conflict From the beginning, there was a spiritual warfare going on; it reached its climax in Christ s victory over Satan (Jn. 12:31 32)

The Voice from Heaven vv. 10 12 With Satan s defeat and downfall, God s purpose of providing salvation, of demonstrating His great power, and the establishing of His spiritual kingdom, all promised through the prophets, is now come, that is, His Word is fulfilled. (Homer Hailey) Now, all authority was Christ s (Mt. 28:18; Eph. 1:20 23) and Satan was cast down and defeated Mt. 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

The Voice from Heaven vv. 10 12 Satan being the accuser may imply the turning in of Christians to Roman authorities who then tortured and killed them Christians kept their testimony; may have given their lives (did not love their lives to the death), but now victorious with Christ This, in itself, was a defeat for Satan; not successful in influencing these Christians to renounce their faith Where is the scripture that says, He who loves his life will lose it? What does that mean? Jn. 12: 25; Mk. 8:35 37 If your physical life is more important to you than your eternal life, then you will lose eternal life with God Satan s wrath would seek to defeat the servants of God because he knew his time was short This short time is likely parallel with the 42 months and would be until the devil was bound and cast into the abyss (20:1 3) for 1000 years, but not his final end (20:10)

The Dragon Persecutes the Woman vv. 13 14 The woman is the remnant of God s people; they are being persecuted by the Devil and his servants Woman is aided by wings of a great eagle can fly to her refuge Implies the care of God for His people in the face of persecution Reminiscent of Israel: Ex. 19: 4 You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. Isa. 40: 31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. She is nourished for a time, times and half a time Doesn t suggest that the persecution is removed during this time, but God will watch over them and see them through this

The Serpent Tries to Destroy the Woman vv. 15 17 The serpent spews a great flood of water after the woman to destroy her What kinds of things might be represented by this flood of water? Delusions, false impressions of power, false religious teachings, false charges, malicious statements, seductive temptations of lust, etc. But the earth opens up and swallows the flood of waters just as the dry sands of the earth can quickly soak up any water that falls on it Might represent the world of ungodly men soak up river of lies of devil Enrages the dragon; he goes to make war with the rest of her children Who are they? Those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ So, the dragon will continue to persecute the Christians However, he can t complete destroy the woman, or the remnant of God s people They are protected and will ultimately prevail

Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10