The Remnant & The Mission: The woman and the dragon.

Introduction to Revelation

Before we get started, it’s best for us to get an idea what the book of Revelation is about and why it is important?

First off, the book of Revelation was written by John a disciple of Jesus where we are told that he received this vision on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9) as he was imprisoned on the island for his faith.

Now, what many believe when reading the book of Revelation is that we usually think that this is the Revelation of John but when you read Revelation 1:1 you will see that it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Now, a revelation in Greek means a disclosure, an uncovering, or mansifestation, and the word in Greek for revelation is apokalypsis which is where we get the word in English; Apocalyse, which means in English an event of great destruction or the end of the world.

And so, the message that is found in this book, this Revelation of Jesus Christ is a message to a revealing or uncovering of things that pertains to the end of the world. In Revelation 1:3 we’re told

Revelation 1:3 NKJV

3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

And friends straight from the first chapter as well as the name of the book itself we are told the real deal of what Revelation is all about, but at the same time how much of a blessing for those that hear the words and keep what is written in it because the time is near.

You might be curious to see if you have read Revelations that there is a lot of imagry, you will notice angels and creatures that pop up every now and then. But, this is what make’s this book ever more intriguing. It is easy for us to read this book and pass it off as metaphors and imagry. But Peter tells us:

2 Peter 1:19–21 NKJV

19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Prophecy is of no private interpretation says Paul and thus the one that reveals the interpretation of prophecy is the Holy Spirit that leads us through these dark times until the return of Jesus.

Our focus for this series is looking at Revelation 12 and what does this chapter reveals to us. Especially when it comes to the message of the remnant and the mission. Tonight we will be looking at the woman and the dragon found in this chapter.

Revelation 12:1–6 NKJV

1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

So right off the bat we see three individuals, the woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars, and this woman is pregnant and about to give birth.

The second one is a red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on their heads. This dragon drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to earth and the dragon wanted to devour the Child of the woman.

Then we have the Child, the Child is male and He will be a ruler of all nations with an iron rod, and that this Child was caught up to God and have a throne for Himself.

So, what do we do with this information and how does this information help us better understand things that is to come in these dark times?

When it comes to the Bible, the first thing we need to understand is that the Bible is its own interpreter, that is to say that only the Bible alone can explain itself, and as such these imagary of these individuals and the symbols that are associated with them, only the Bible can help explain to us what is happening in these 6 verses.

Women of Revelation 12

So, first off the woman, is it an individual? Superwoman? Could it be Mary? Or a special kind of Mary? And what do the symbols that are attached to this woman? Well, let us look at the Bible and see how it can explain itself to us, so what is the woman here?

In Old Testament times, Israel or God’s faithful people have been collectively called a women, in Isaiah 54:5-6

Isaiah 54:5–6 NKJV

5 For your Maker is your husband, The Lord of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. 6 For the Lord has called you Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, Like a youthful wife when you were refused,” Says your God.

We also see in Jeremiah 6:2

Jeremiah 6:2 NKJV

2 I have likened the daughter of Zion To a lovely and delicate woman.

Paul even recognises the church as a women betrothed to Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:2 NKJV

2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

So God explains from the Old Testament that God’s faithful people is considered like a woman, Paul explains to the Corinthians that God’s people are betrothed to one Husband and that Husband is Christ, in Revelation 21 we also see the bride prepared to be married to her groom. A symbolic imagery of God’s people united in marriage to her King and Husband just like the imagery found in Isaiah 54:5.

And thus, the woman that we see in Revelation 12, in lack of a better word, a church, a community of faithful believers in Jesus Christ.

But what other evidences do we find? What do the symbols reveal to us regarding this group of people? This woman in Revelation 12. Let’s look at some of the symbols assosciated with this woman.

She is clothed with the sun. (Rev 12:1)

Moon under her feet. (Rev 12:1)

Her head has a crown of twelve stars. (Rev 12:1)

She’s pregnant. (Rev 12:2)

She fled into the wilderness to a place God prepared (Rev 12:6)

She is fed there for 1260 days (Rev 12:6)

So, using the same line of thinking by having the Bible explain itself. When we look at the woman/church that is clothed with the sun, she isn’t wearing ‘the sun’ but wearing the glory of God that shrouds and clothes her. In Revelation 19:8 it is revealed that this same woman is clothed in fine linen which is the righteous acts of the saints.

This clothing made of fire, isn’t some sort of heat source that burns things but rather God’s Shekinah bright glory, in Revelation 1:16 it is revealed that Jesus’ countenance was like the sun shining in its strength, when Moses came down from the mountain to meet with the Israelites after Moses had spent some time with God, His face glowed with the glory of God and those that was to receive of Moses couldn’t withstand that glory. In Revelation 1:17, John himself couldn’t stand the bright glory of Jesus.

Regarding the moon, the moon does not produce light but rather reflects light, it borrows light, and thus the foundation of this woman, or this church, is a reflection of God’s glory and brightness.

Regarding the 12 stars, understanding the Bible, 12 tribes, 12 apostles, the Hebrew tradition and the Bible have considered the number 12 to represent completeness, divine order and perfect government and thus it is fitting for the woman to bear the crown of 12 stars on her head for this princess is soon to marry her King and co-reign with her Husband when all is complete.

The fiery red dragon

Now the next individual or being is the fiery red dragon, what are the characteristics that we are given in these 6 verses of Revelation 12?

Fiery red dragon with seven heads and ten horns. (Rev 12:3)

Seven crowns on his head. (Rev 12:3)

His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. (Rev 12:4)

The dragon stood before the woman as she was ready to give birth to devour her Child. (Rev 12:4)

This dragon should be easy to identify as we’re told in a few verses down who this dragon is in Revelation 12:9

Revelation 12:9 NKJV

9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

But what do the other characteristics of this dragon say about Satan? Why does he have seven heads and ten horns? Why does he have seven crowns? What does his tail and a third of the stars have to do with anything?

All this will be revealed in our next talk but I want to point out is that the dragon has hoped to devour the Child from the woman, why is that? Was he hungry?

Well, let’s quickly look at the future of this Child in what He is to be given, a rod of iron to rule all nations, the Child is caught up to God and His throne. What imagery do you see here? A future King or a King.

The very fact that the dragon wanted to devour this child what is that saying? What does the dragon want from this Child?

One things for certain, the dragon fails and God ultimately wins. So, naturally, our next question should be is, who is this Child? Why is He important?

The Child

We’re only given a bit of description of who this Child would be, we know that He will be a future King, that He would rule all nations with a rod of iron, God takes Him and His throne.

And the answer to who this Child is, is very simple, for we know this to be Jesus. We know this to be the one that is to rule all nations and that He was taken up by God to sit at the right hand of the Father.

So, in these 6 verses we are given a glimpse of the beginning and the end of what is to become of this world from the beginning of time to the end of time.

Our part

So, what do we do with this little information that we have at hand? Do we say that’s great and move on? Do we keep it to ourselves and do nothing?

Friends, I want to share to you a quick story, one day I was riding on the bus from school as I was making my way back home. I get off the bus and there is about a 20 minute walk to get back home.

On my way home, I witnessed two men in balaclavas, sussing out a house in the backyard, the owner of the property however, was gardening outside in the front yard.

Now as a witness to what is to happen, what should a witness do? I have a few options to take:

I could just walk on and keep an eye out next time when it comes to my home and protect myself.

I could call the police and let them know what is happening.

I could inform the owner of what is happening to his home.

I could be the hero and bicycle kick the intruders.

Friends, we’re a witness to what is about to happen to this world, we are the church and as we progress through this series, we will learn more on what is going to happen until Jesus comes.

But we are witnesses, and we have a duty or should I say a ‘Mission’ to alert the world of what is about to happen. We’ve only skimmed the surface of this one chapter but all will be uncovered in the next few days.

But as you watch, my question I ask of you this evening is are you willing to be a witness and to take part in doing your bit as a witness?