The Cosmic Conflict

Apocalypse… Jesus Christ

As we continue our study through Revelation we are continuing to discover more and more about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we look at chapter twelve today we will step back and observe the end times from another perspective. We begin to look closer at some of the individuals involved in the seven year period specifically the second half. We have already looked at the Two Witnesses, today we will observe several others.

Chapters 11-15 do not necessarily advance the narrative chronologically, but present events and situations that are concurrent with the soundings of the trumpets and conclude with the seven bowls. Chronological progress of events resumes in chapter 16.

Signs: … we have been approaching our study of Revelation as we do the rest of scripture in a LITERAL, GRAMMATICAL, & HISTORICAL approach.

While Revelation is Apocalyptic/Prophetic Literature we still approach it this way.

There are times however in this book and and other prophetic books where there is symbolism.

We allow the text to determine when this is… today’s passage does so…

Chapter twelve deals with what the NASB translates “SIGNS”

Signs they were symbols of something that God was about to reveal and usually contained an element of prophetic warning or special or great meaning. Though this sign in Chapter 12 was seen by John while he is in heaven, the events which followed obviously occurred on earth.

Today as we look at the scriptures I would like to:

READ… the chapter in its entirety

REFERENCE… the various characters we observe

REFLECT… briefly on the narrative John is describing

RESPOND… with some applications and implications this has for us today…

Join with me in reading from Revelation 12:1-17

Revelation 12:1–17 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. 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.” 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.

Referencing the Characters

As one reads through this chapter we come across terms and words familiar with some other scriptures. Remember Revelation is a bookend, a summation of all that God has been doing, is doing and what will be done! As we look at the various characters seen in this chapter, I want us to determine what or who they are “symbolizing” by considering scripture.

We see Three key Characters and a fourth one that helps put things in focus. (Woman, Child, Dragon… Michael )

The Dragon:

The dragon is quite simple really as scripture itself identifies him clearly

Vs 9 identifies him along with Revelation 20:1-3

Revelation 20:1–3 NASB95

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.

Next week we see this “dragon” giving his power and authority to the anti-christ

As we see him depicted with seven heads and ten horns we reflect back to Daniel’s visions and recognize this dragon as the one who empowers the man of lawlessness, who deceives nations, controls the governmental powers and armies

This enemy of God has had various titles or descriptions through the ages, satan, devil, dragon, deceiver, accuser… they point to his evil character and reveal his intent to oppose God at every corner and bring harm to those God loves dearly…

The Child:

The dragon’s portrayal in this sign to desire to harm the child and woman is very evident

The conflict between the “dragon” and “the child” goes back to the beginning in Genesis (seed)

Genesis 49:10 speaks of the scepter not departing from Judah until Shiloh come… the Messiah

Genesis 49:10 NASB95

“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

Psalm 2 is a beautiful Psalm declaring the coming Messiah… and He will “rule with a rod of iron” [possibly read]

In Bethlehem Satan did all he could to destroy the boy child through Herod

“a son”, “a male child”, “ ruling the nations” all points to this being Jesus Messiah… The Son of God … consider the verbiage in Revelation 19:11-16

Revelation 19:11–16 NASB95

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

The male Child that we see here is none other than Jesus Christ, The Lamb of God, the Lion of Judah… King of kings & Lord of lords!

The Woman:

While the first two are rather simple to identify, there are some differing views of who the woman is.

There are three main perspectives out there… (Mary mother of Jesus, The Church, or she is Israel)

As significant Mary is in scripture, this sign is much broader than her, and the section where she is feeling into the wilderness does not fit with this being her

As for the church, we can see where one might observe this, yet remember… the church has been “caught up” to Christ in the clouds 1 Thessalonians 4:17...

The church has been removed with the Holy Spirit as the One who restrains 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10 …

Since the church has been caught up to the bride groom, she cannot be present in the 3 1/2 years of the tribulation indicated in our passage

Many of the events we observe in chapter 12 are taking place in this seven year tribulation period

The other thing is that we do not see in scripture where the church gives birth or brings in the Child or Messiah… the church came after Christ had ascended to Heaven to God on His Throne!

It is the view of this church, myself, and many theologians that the Woman here is representative of Israel…

You go back to Genesis 47 ,where Joseph has a dream… His mother and father “Jacob /Israel” are identified as the sun and moon, and his brothers as stars… representative of the twelve tribes of Israel

Even before the Messiah would come, Satan has opposed and sought to destroy Israel to prevent the promised coming of the Messiah… the seed of the woman, the anointed One, Shiloh

Daniel would prophecy that Satan would seek to destroy his own people (Israel) in times to come in the end

We see in Genesis, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Romans… and other places where God will always preserve a remnant of His people Israel!

Charles Swindoll stated this concerning Israel…

Throughout history the Jews have been the special object of hatred, ridicule, and persecution. During the Middle Ages, they were looked on with suspicion and treated as outcasts in a world dominated by a form of political Christianity that viewed all Jews as Christ-killers. During World War II, the Nazis attempted to obliterate the Jewish people in a holocaust driven by absolute evil. Even after the birth of the modern nation of Israel in 1948, neighboring nations in the Middle East have often talked of driving the Jews into the sea and retaking the land. Anti-Semitism has a long and sordid history. Satan has inspired countless attempts at destroying God’s special covenant people. Yet God has continued to fulfill His promise to preserve Israel even in her spiritually blind condition of rejecting Jesus as her Messiah

As we see this woman… the nation of Israel struggling it is no surprise we see…

Michael The Archangel

Angelically speaking he is Satan's counterpart, both are powerful angels

Michael has been described in Daniel as “the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people” speaking to Daniel (an Israelite)

It is this angel who leads this cosmic battle in Heaven… what a great reminder that our battle is not against flesh and blood as Ephesians 6 points out beautifully!

With these characters in view briefly consider the narrative John has written out for us as we are given a unique seat to this COSMIC CONFLICT…

Reflection on Narrative

We see God hold true to His word in sending forth His Son… the promised Messiah

We see Satan’s desire to conquer, consume, and “devour”

The third of the “stars” swept away indicate the third of angelic host that followed Satan

There is a great evil force that is powerful following this “dragon”

The labor pains indicative of the desire and attempts even before the Messiah arrived as the “woman Israel” endures labor and pain prior

We see in the scriptures Satan's multiple attempts to defeat Jesus Christ, the Son of God

At Calvary he may have thought he found his victory as Jesus died on the cross and was buried… but three days later!!!

Jesus risen from the dead, conquering sin and death!

“The Son” Ascends to Heaven and sits on the throne of God, interceding for the saints

Verses 5 & 6… as with other prophecy in scripture have a time gap… we jump from the ascension of Christ to the final seven year tribulation…

The woman (Israel) is provided for nourished (such caring words) in the wilderness 3 1/2 years

I love that as we observe this war that takes place in Heaven… we observe that the dragon and his angels… “were not strong enough”

This victory in Heaven cast Satan down to earth never to be in Heaven again

YES… Satan has access to Heaven as he accuses the saints

There will be a point (many think towards the beginning to about half way through the tribulation period) that he will be kicked out of heaven for good.

At this point… Satan will be filled with “great wrath” NOTICE WHY… he “knows that he has only a short time”

His wrath will be directed at the woman Israel

God miraculously saves her and nourishes her in the wilderness for 3 1/2 years

time = 1 year… times = 2 years… & half a time =1/2 a year

God is the One who preserves her, protects her, nourishes her… despite the attempts of Satan, the anti-christ, the false prophet, the world!!!

Enraged Satan attacks the other tribulation saints who place their faith in Christ

What is the implication in all of this for us today as we look back on what Christ has done and look ahead at what He will do…

Responding to Implications

As we close today the implications of this passage are vast as we look at and reflect on this cosmic struggle over the ages almost as old as time itself.

APOCALYPSE JESUS CHRIST… the revealing or making fully known!

I see three IMPLICATIONS as I desire to fully know my Jesus Christ…

As the sea of turmoil rages around you and I as this cosmic conflict continues, my soul finds comfort in these three truths so I can join the hymn writer in declaring that it is well with my soul…

I See Fuller Now His Faithfulness

He is a promise keeper, He remembered His people Israel and keeps His promise to them

He will keep His promises made to you and I as His bride

I See Fuller Now His Victory

We cannot underestimate the power of our adversary, yet we MUST realize the POWER & VICTORY of our Savior!

Oh what a victory at Calvary! SALVATION

You and I share in this victory it says in Verse 11 because of the “Blood of the Lamb”

I See Fuller Now His Provisions

We may be the targets of the enemy, yet God is the One who can

Sustain us through the attacks

Provide for our needs

Protect as He see fit

Nourish and comfort our souls through it all

HE IS and REMAINS: Faithful, Victorious, and cares enough to Provide what we need when we need it… These things comfort my soul!