The Dragon and the Manger

Revelation 12:1–6 (ESV) 1 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. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 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. 5 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, 6 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.

Revelation 12:7–13 (ESV) 7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 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. 10 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. 11 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. 12 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!” 13 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.

Luke 2:1–20 (ESV) 1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Introduction: The Christmas We Don’t Talk About

Christmas was not a silent night in heaven. It was a declaration of war — the birth of the Messiah marked the invasion of God’s kingdom into a world held hostage by darkness.

When we think of Christmas, we picture a peaceful manger scene — shepherds, angels, Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. But Revelation 12 pulls back the curtain of heaven and shows us another side of that night: a dragon waiting to devour the Child as soon as He’s born.

Christmas was not just the story of a baby in a manger. It was the story of a battle.

Revelation 12:1–13 ESV

1 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. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 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. 5 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, 6 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. 7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 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. 10 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. 11 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. 12 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!” 13 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.

Revelation 12:4 ESV

4 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.

While shepherds were keeping watch on earth, angels were waging war in heaven.

While Mary wrapped her baby in cloth, Satan was plotting destruction.

Christmas was D-Day in the spiritual war for the souls of men.

Point 1: The Woman and the War

Revelation 12 describes a woman clothed with the sun — representing Israel, God’s people through whom the Messiah would come. The red dragon symbolizes Satan, who throughout history tried to destroy the line that would bring the Savior:

Pharaoh killing Hebrew boys.

Herod slaughtering the infants in Bethlehem.

Temptations in the wilderness.

The cross itself.

But in every attack, God preserved the plan.

Takeaway: God’s promises are unstoppable. No matter how fierce the enemy, His plan will prevail.

Revelation 12:5 ESV

5 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,

Point 2: The Manger Was a Battlefield

We tend to romanticize the manger, but it was a war zone.

The King of Kings entered enemy territory, not with an army, but with humility.

He came not to crush Rome, but to crush the serpent’s head.

Luke 2 gives the earthly view — peace and shepherds.

Revelation 12 gives the heavenly view — war and a dragon.

Revelation 12:7 ESV

7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,

Every angelic song of “Glory to God in the highest” was a victory cry.

Every step Joseph and Mary took toward Bethlehem was part of a divine invasion plan.

The manger was the front line of redemption.

Point 3: The Baby Who Brought the War to an End

Jesus’ birth marked the beginning of the end for the dragon.

Through His death and resurrection, Satan was defeated, disarmed, and dethroned.

1 John 3:8 ESV

8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

What began in the manger was finished at the cross and confirmed by the empty tomb.

The dragon raged, but the Lamb triumphed.

Takeaway: Christmas reminds us that evil will not win. The child in the manger became the Savior on the cross, and He will return as the King on the throne.

Application: Living Victoriously in the Shadow of the Manger

Revelation 12:12 ESV

12 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!”

Revelation 12:11 ESV

11 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.

The same victory that began at Christmas continues in us today.

When you feel attacked, remember — the dragon was defeated the moment Christ was born.

When the world feels dark, remember — the Light of the World has already invaded the darkness.

When life feels like a battle, remember — Christmas proves that God wins.

Conclusion: The Dragon Still Rages, but the Child Still Reigns

Satan still fights, but his doom is sure.

Every Christmas carol is a battle cry of victory.

Every candle lit in the darkness reminds us that the Light has come.

John 1:5 ESV

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

So when you see the manger this year, remember — it’s more than a nativity scene.

It’s a declaration that the King has come, the dragon is defeated, and the war has already been won.

“The dragon may rage, but the Child still reigns.”