Rev 12- Victory in what looks like apparent defeat

Revelation 12:1–6 ESV

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. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 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. 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, 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.

A sign appears in heaven and it is that of woman

I think this woman is symbolic not necessarily of Jesus mother, Mary but more so of the True Israel

Its from the faithful of Israel the Messiah will come

Her attributes are that the world and the soon to mention dragon may not esteem, but from Gods viewpoint she is a radiant bride

One scholar said the moon at her feet represented dominion and 12 stars equal royalty

Vs 2- she is pregnant, in labor pains having a baby

-This is symbolic, no one is literally expecting this after chapter 11

VS 3-5- a new sign appears

A red dragon, 7 heads, 10 horns, 7 diadems

-his tail swipes down the stars of heaven--- all of which depict his power

But more than that, this mighty dragon stands in front of the woman waiting to devour the baby

Nothing more sinister and evil than that

Also, i cant imagine a more helpless scenario

Vs5- a boy is born and he is to rule with a rod of iron but was caught up to God and his throne

Vs6- provisions are made for the woman while the time draws near (1260 days)

I think the best way to interpret this woman will represent True Israel and the baby being the Messiah

The dragon is easily identified (vs 9) to be Satan

What we see is the cosmic battle that took place while Jesus was on earth

It looked utterly insurmountable but yet it God who brought the Great Redeemer from a baby

Genesis 3:15 ESV

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Set the table for what was to come- an offspring of the Woman would be the great serpent crusher- Messiah

Psalm 8:2 ESV

Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.

We see this somewhat physically played out in Herods attempt to kill Jesus at his birth

All throughout Jesus life Satan has put death threats and traps in front of him but nothing could stop Gods plan

Jesus life, death, and ascension is summed up on one verse

Psalm 2:9 ESV

You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

But clearly he is one in sight and the church is the one who is left with Gods provisions as Satan seeks to destroy them

Satan hates Gods people- in man is something no other creature has- Imago Dei

Satan plan has been to destroy all things God loves but Gods plan has always been to preserve his people

Revelation 12:7–12 ESV

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 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. 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. 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. 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!”

We see conflict arise in heaven stemming from Satans accusing of the saints and Jesus conquering of him

This could be one primary point in time John is given glimpse over or this is symbolic of all of Satans accusations of Gods people

Again we see a heavenly battle going on around that we dont typically see

But in this passage the main point is Satan comes accusing Gods people

Job 1:9 ESV

Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?

Zechariah 3:1 ESV

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.

So I dont undertand the entire ramifications of Satans initial fall- in that- where could he go and where did he stay

But these passages show us clearly he had access to heaven and was there quite often accusing Gods people

VS10- says day and night

But vs11- tells why that no longer is possible and why the battle occured

-The blood of the Lamb has conquered- no more accusations in heaven

I believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus- we have the overthrow of power

John 12:31–32 ESV

Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

Luke 10:18 ESV

And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

this is in prophetically spoken in response to the 72 coming back and telling Jesus of their power overt he demonic world

So we dont think this is actually happening in Rev 12 but that this is what has happened through Jesus sacrifical death

Romans 8:33 ESV

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

His time of accusing the saints is over, because he is a defeated foe

The dragon has been defanged

1 Corinthians 15:55–56 ESV

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

But for the saints in Vs 11- how did we know they have no accuser?- They persevered and loved Jesus more than their lives

Vs 12- describes the devils assault on Gods people and all really all of Gods creation

-He hates all that God loves and gets glory from

-He will be going out in fury, because he knows his time is short

-He doesnt know his time but yet he its short

-The sand is trickling from the hour glass with every passing moment

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Just because his fangs dont have eternal power anymore against Gods people doesnt mean he wont bite

He has and will continue- martrys left and right, maimed ineffective believers left and right

Revelation 12:13–17 ESV

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. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

So the symbolism leads to Satan, knowing his time is short and his accusing has been thwarted, turns all of his attention to destroying Gods church

In the same way

Isaiah 40:31 ESV

but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

So every believer is secure in the hands of God

That may not mean absolute physical protection but a soul that cannot be apprehended

Every attempt Satan tries to wipe out the remnant of Gods people has been thwarted by the blood of Jesus

Exodus 19:4 ESV

‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

Vs 17- The dragon rages with furious foolishness- in the same way the men of Sodom and Gomorrah blinded groped the wall till exhaustion trying to get in the house of Lot

But the better news is this

Jesus isnt Lot

Jesus has conquered and offer life to all who will come and living water to all who will drink

His plans will never be stopped and promise is sure

In the time between His comings, the faithful are those who keep his commandment and hold to Jesus

God wins, the church is called to persevere- thats the end game.