The Woman and the Dragon

The Woman

Revelation 12:1-6

Revelation 12:1–6 ESV

And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.

Woman - Israel

Dragon - Satan

Child - Jesus

This is a recap of history of the war that is going to intensify now.

Satan tried to kill Christ but was unsuccessful because he was caught up to God - the ascension

Israel will be safe guarded during the first part of the tribulation

The Dragon War in Heaven

Revelation 12:7-12

Revelation 12:7–12 ESV

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And 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 brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

Satan thrown out of heaven - future event not passed see Job

This is the cause of the abomination of Desolation and the Great Rebellion

The Accuser of the brethren becomes the great deceiver of the world

A reason to rejoice for the saved

Conquered him by the blood of the lamb - the sacrifice of Christ

The word of their testimony - encouraging others

Not self-exalting

A reason to fear for the lost because the devil is angry and knows he is about to lose

The Devils War Against Israel

Revelation 12:13-17

Revelation 12:13–17 ESV

And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Satan pursues Israel but she is kept safe for the first half of the tribulation

flooding river ???

maybe an army

possible literal flood

Earth opens up and swallows the river

God overcomes

Satan seeks any and all who follow God.