The Dragon's Furry
Notes
Transcript
13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. 1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
Introduction:
After being cast down to the earth, the Dragon takes out his frustration and anger upon the woman (Israel).
Anti-Semitism will reach a fevered height during this time (the last half of the seven year Tribulation period).
The language is extremely figurative, and those that have tried to find literal equivalences run into many interpretational problems.
Yet, just as Jesus while on earth spoke in parables at times, the point of this passage is what we need to ascertain.
As we have already concluded -
The dragon is the devil
The woman represents Israel
The Dragon throws everything he has at the Jews, hence, a “flood spewing from his mouth”. His wrath has never been as elevated as at this time.
Hitler’s master plan of extermination will pale in comparison to what’s in store for these people.
In fact, in prophetic utterance, Zechariah says…
8 And it shall come to pass in all the land,” Says the Lord, “That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one-third shall be left in it:
The woman is carried away into the wilderness (with eagle’s wings, a sign of God’s divine protection and intercession), where she is protected for 3.5 years.
The Dragon’s rage is also turned against the offspring of the woman (i.e. all those that turn to the Christ at this time).
So let us look at the Dragon’s Furry...
I. It is Temporal.
I. It is Temporal.
A. In contradistinction to God’s judgment.
God’s judgments are divine and eternal.
The Devils Wrath has confines to this world. He has no influence in the world to come.
B. It is temporal because it is earthly.
4 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
C. He cannot persecute beyond this world.
Such ideas as portrayed in Dante’s Inferno, that the devil and demons torture people in Hell, is a myth.
They do not rule in Hell and will have their pert in the lake of fire.
II. It is Temporary.
II. It is Temporary.
A. Our life spans are but a drop in the bucket.
Human beings will spend many anxious hours concerned about this life, giving little consideration for eternity.
B. even the severest of persecution has an end.
Remembering that Jesus told the church of Smyrna to remain faithful:
10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
III. It is Tempered by the Cross.
III. It is Tempered by the Cross.
A. The cross has crushed his head.
15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”
B. The cross is the glory of the church.
14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
C. The cross removes the sting of death.
55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I have said this a lot throughout this series, but I will repeat myself again, as I believe we need constant reminders:
Why do we live in fear of anything in this present world, when we are loved and treasured and provided for in the body of Christ?
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.