Bible Wars

Rev. 12:1-12

Thursday 62625

Introduction:  In our study on Revelation, we learned the book is divided into three basic sections:  Chapters 1-3: church age, chapter 4-19: the Tribulation Period, and chapters 20-22 the millennium, and new heavens and new earth.  Heaven opened twice: going up in chapter 4 and somebody coming down in chapter 19.  In chapter 4:1-2 the body of Christ is taken out and the Tribulation begins.  It is called the seventieth week of Daniel or time of Jacob’s trouble. 

The book has four successive accounts of the events that take place as there are four gospels.  Four accounts in Revelation are divided one ends in chapter 6, one ends in chapter 11, one ends in chapter 14, and one ends in chapter 19.  The first account is under the seals  chapters 4-5, the second account is under the trumpets chapters 7-11, the third account is the work of the Antichrist chapters 12-14, and the fourth is under the vials chapters 16-19.

In this chapter we will learn about the wars that are discussed here and the work of the antichrist.  Scofield divides this section in seven personages.  1.  The woman: Israel 2. Dragon: Satan 3. The child: Christ 4. The archangel 5. The Jewish remnant 6: The beast 13:1 ff and 7. Beast out of the earth 13:11ff

There are three wars mentioned here: 1.  War on earth vv. 1-6 2. War in heaven vv. 7-12, and 3. Second war on earth vv. 13-17.

I. War on earth vv. 1-6

A. The wonder of the woman vv. 1-2

1. Some believe the woman is Mary-RCC-painted pictures with Mary standing on the moon with the sun around her and stars over her head.

2. The woman here is clearly Israel Gen. 37:9-10

a.  Sun-Israel

b Moon-Rachel the mother of Josep

c. Stars stand for the 11 brothers of Jacob

3.  The wilderness deals with Hosea 2:14-15 where Israel is prophesied to go

       back into the wilderness.

3. Israel brings forth Jesus Christ-the son of David Romans 1:1-6 (turn)

4. Michael is the great prince who stands for Israel and the only one named archangel.

B. The wonder of the dragon vv. 3-4a

1.  This dragon is identified in v. 9-clearly as the devil himself.

2. The devil was an anointed cherub who fell and became a red dragon with wings.

3. He is described in Job 41:1 as a strange creature called Leviathan-here with seven heads.

4. The seven head probably refer to the kingdoms controlled by Satan

a.  Nimrod-King of Babel 2400 BC

b. Pharoah King of Egypt 800 BC

c. Sennacherib-King of Assyria

d. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon 536 BC

e. Medo Persona Empire 330 BC

f. Alexander the Great-King of Greece unto 100 BC

g. Roman Empire 346 AD

5. The third part of the stars seem to refer to the angels during the revolt in heaven Jude 6

“ And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.[1]

C. The wonder of the plan vv.4b-6

1.  There is the warfare going on here which goes back to the beginning of time.

2. The devil has been actively trying to stop the birth of Jesus because of God’s plan of salvation.

a.  Satan tried to destroy Israel

b. Pharoah was called the dragon Ezek. 29:3

c. Nebuchadnezzar is called the dragon

d. When Christ was born Satan tried to use Herod to destroy Him,

3. The reason we see this mentioned is because the devil will do all that he can in the Tribulation Period to destroy Israel again.

4. The child is described as the Messiah Psalm 2:2-the Christ of God

5. The flight to Egypt after Christ’s birth is seen here as also Israel’s need to flee persecution in the Tribulation Period.

II. War in heaven vv. 7-12

A. The sides v. 7

1.  Michael and his angels-only angel specifically called an arch angel-Jude 9

2. Devil and his angels-clearly two leaders in heaven.

3. Satan presently has access to the throne of God in heaven Job. 1-2.  When he rebelled, he was cast down.

4. Ultimately one day-here Satan will be cast out of the heaven and into hell Rev. 20:10.

B. The subjection vv. 8-9

1.  He makes one final assault on the throne of God-it is inspired by his hatred for Israel and God’s people (the church)

2. Cast down out of heaven Luke 10:18 “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.”

3. Satan the accuser of God’s people will be overcome by the blood of the Lamb-Satan is powerless by the blood of the Lamb.

4. When he sees that his accusation will not avail, he will threaten the peace of heaven by this final conflict.

5. The enemy is marked here in verse 9.

a. Old serpent-goes back to the Garden of Edn-John 8:44

b. Devil-means slanderer or accuser v. 10

c. Satan-adversary of both God and His people.

d. Deceiver-one who lies about the church and the people of God.  He is the inspiration behind the rebellion to God and God’s people.

NOTE;  Do not think it strange for the world is becoming more and more angry at the people of God.  Consider how clearly the lines are being drawn to those who are true to God’s Word and those who oppose God and His Word.

C. The strength vv. 10-12

1.  We are strengthened as God’s people by the following v. 10.

a.  Salvation-we ultimately are conquerors through Christ at salvation.

b. Power of Christ-Satan’s accusations will not prevail against Christ.

2.  There are two powers that God’s people have which defeat Satan

a.  Blood of the Lamb

b. Word of their testimony-true martyrs who were and are testimonies to the power of God.

3.  The devil has come to earth to muster the last war on the earth against all of his enemies v. 12.

Conclusion:  As God’s people we have power over sin through the blood of the Lamb.  While we are presently being accused, the power of God will defeat any accusation against us.  We have an advocate in heaven in our behalf to prove us innocent of all charges.  BE CAREFUL what you say about others, lest you become guilty of slander.  If you say things about others, maybe your father is not God the Father.