The Battle Rages

The mother of Apollo, the goddess Leto, was about to give birth, while being pursued by the dragon, Python. Python’s goal was to kill both the mother and the child. The mother was able to find safety on the tiny island of Delos, where she gave birth to the god Apollo. Four days after his birth, Apollo found Python and killed him in a cave.

Egyptian mythology provides a very similar story but with different names. It seems that in almost every culture, one can find similar stories. However, the problem with all of their stories is the fact that the gods are purely imaginary with no historical proof, plus they are simply dead.

Only in the Bible, do we find the truth about the battle between good and evil. It is only in the Bible where we are given assurance that God’s plans and purposes will be accomplished. It is also in the Bible in which we see the apparent hopelessness of living with Satan’s constant attacks.

For those who are the chosen of Christ, there is the promise of persecution and of Christ's presence.

God’s Chosen Versus the Dragon

Revelation 12:1–6 (NASB95)

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

There are several ideas as to identity of the woman in this section. Some suggest this to be Mary. However, that seems quite doubtful, since she is still being pursued by Satan after Christ has ascended.

Others believe this woman is the church. It seems that this theory would require a vivid imagination. For one thing, this woman existed prior to the Pentecost, which was when the Church actually began. Plus, we know that Christ is the Head of the Church; He did not come from the church.

What seems to be left? Most likely, this woman would represent the nation of Israel. Remember that Christ came from Israel. Throughout the Old Testament, we often see Israel portrayed as a woman. You might recall that in Joseph’s dream, found in Genesis 37, Israel is identified with the sun, moon, and stars. Even in re-reading these verses from Revelation, there is a great deal of Jewish symbolism.

Also, as we go through the Old Testament, we see references about a dragon, referring to any person or group which is against God or God’s chosen people. We could probably understand, within the context, the seven heads referring to worldly wisdom. The ten horns would simply show the great power that the dragon has. We can deduce this from knowing, that throughout the Bible, when there are multiple horns seen on any creature, it is used to describe power.

Rather than us trying to identify what each head and each horn represents, we should understand the incredible evil and power that Satan has. I believe that would be the safest and most accurate way to deal with that. The reality is that any other thoughts about this would be conjecture, and, I believe, a waste of time. There are multiple ideas and thoughts of this; the European Alliance, one-world government, etc. I would suggest using our energy on fulfilling Christ’s command to go into all the world and make disciples.

We can assume that the male child, or the son, is the Messiah. Christ is the One Who will rule all nations. The picture of this Son being snatched up to God describes the ascension of Christ.

Satan has used nations and individuals to persecute the Jewish people ever since God called them out as His own. They experienced exile and slavery in Egypt and were mistreated and abused there. The Northern Kingdom experienced exile under the rule of the Assyrians in 721 B.C. In 586 B.C., the Southern Kingdom fell to the cruel Babylonian Empire. They then found themselves spoils of war when the Medo-Persian Empire took over after that. Throughout their history, they have experienced persecution. Prior to Christ’s birth, they were under the heavy thumb of the Romans. Later, in A.D. 70, Jerusalem fell, the temple was destroyed, and God’s chosen people were scattered throughout the world. he self-righteous Hitler, used Scripture in a totally out of context manner to justify trying to exterminate the Jewish people.

Satan has been busy trying to destroy God’s chosen people, the Israelites, attempting to make it so that Christ would be unable to come to offer salvation. None of it worked. Satan even tried to turn the Jews upon the very One Who chose them.

It is during the tribulation period where Satan will persecute severely the nation of Israel in his final attempts to thwart God’s plan. Because salvation comes from the Jews, everyone who will believe in the Messiah will experience persecution, as well.

For those who are the chosen of Christ, there is the promise of persecution and of Christ's presence. It is this last part which we proclaim and praise God with all of our hearts.

God’s Chief Angel versus Satan.

Lest we think this is only about the horrible physical torture and heartache, the Bible reminds us again of the nature of the war. This is a spiritual battle.

Revelation 12:7–12 (NASB95)

And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 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. “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. “For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”

In Daniel, we read about Michael as the archangel, who is the protecter of Israel. We don’t understand exactly how battles between angels affect the outcome upon this earth. Yet, throughout the Bible, there is indication that there is cause and effect.

However, we cannot forget that the victory does not happen because Michael’s forces are more skilled or fight harder. Christ already won the victory on the cross at Mt. Golgotha. In the meantime, Satan wants to do all that he can to hurt or destroy God’s chosen. In this passage, John speaks of Jews and those who come to a saving knowledge of Christ.

We also remember that Satan has had access to the heavenlies through all time. We understand this even from the book of Job, plus the fact that the Bible tells us that he stands before God accusing the brethren. Even in Ephesians 6, we have a clear description that Satan is in the heavenly places. But this was not to be permanent, as Satan was cast out of heaven. Interestingly, in the Hebrew language, Satan literally means “accuser.”

God’s Children verses Satan

Revelation 12:13–13:1a (NASB95)

And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.

As Satan realizes that his time is drawing to a permanent end for his reign of terror, it is easier for us to understand why the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation Period is so horrible. During this period of time, not only will Israel be persecuted, but also all who have become believers in Jesus Christ during this time.

As we briefly look at this section, we see that God will clearly protect this remnant, as He did even in the Old Testament when His chosen were in captivity. It will be at this time, that the believers whom God had clearly protected are about to experience Satan’s terrible anger. This is a segue to our next section, in the next message. Once again, we are reminded that for those who are the chosen of Christ, there is the promise of persecution and of Christ's presence. It may be horrible at the time, but in the end, there will be great joy.

Conclusion

For those who are the chosen of Christ, there is the promise of persecution and of Christ's presence. Why do I keep saying this, especially in view of this passage we’ve gone through today?

For one thing, we need a reminder that we do not fight against flesh and blood. Our battle is not for buildings or finances or position. Our battle is against the prince of the power of the air. We battle against principalities and forces of darkness. We crash headlong into demonic forces. Why? Because our battle is for souls for Christ.

Although the Bible promises us Christ’s presence and empowerment during this church age, we also are going to experience severe persecution, though nothing like what will happen during the Great Tribulation. Make no mistake about the source of the persecution. It may seem like it comes from people or ideas. Yet, those things are merely willing, sometimes voluntary, pawns who are part of the spiritual battle. You might say, they are conspirators with the enemy.

When the church begins to take seriously this battle, we will stop doing those things which hinder the growth of God’s Kingdom. When the church begins to take seriously this battle, we will find ourselves doing battle in a biblical manner—on our knees, in the Word, and marching into the world to save lost souls in Jesus’ Name, and to bring back those sheep who are straying.

This is what ministry is. Equipping the saints! Restoring the wayward and weak hearted! Winning the lost!

My friends, the stakes are extremely and eternally high. Therefore, we must be willing to pay the price now. The reality is that those who enter the tribulation period will not have it as pleasant as we do today.