The Dragon's Rage
Book of Revelation • Sermon • Submitted
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· 17 viewsThe rage of the dragon resisted on behalf of the Woman
Notes
Transcript
When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach. Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.
When the dragon saw… the Greek word is eidon, to see or recognize.
Satan accepts his predicament and turns his focus on the earth where he has provisional power. Evil is relentless in attacking the earth and Jesus’ church.
Satan (the dragon: The ancient serpent called the devil, vs.9) lost the war in heaven. He intends not to lose the war on earth with the woman, clothed with the sun, who is the believing community.
This sentence reinforces the history of Church persecution. The only time the church will not suffer persecution is when Satan is finally cast down forever.
Since the woman fled to the place prepared by God, the dragon could only pursue her. The primary function of spiritual darkness is to pursue God’s people by temptation, persecution, heresy and deception. Evil will never reach our state of acceptance before God, our level of faith in Jesus Christ or our eternal position. We are seated in heavenly places with Christ.
There are times when fleeing from evil is in God’s plan for our protection: Paul being lowered by a basket and Jesus walking through the crowd that tried to throw him off the cliff....
Note: the woman’s outcome was different than Eve’s encounter in the garden. She was subject to the serpent’s cunning craftiness; the woman here was given the means to escape swiftly, in the air, away from the dragon, where she would be protected and nourished for 3 1/2 years.
The idea of wings represents a powerful image of divine protection and deliverance.
‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
The eagle represents the power of the Holy Spirit
Is. 40:31, “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
The symbol of the eagle points to power from above.
The woman was nourished, fattened, for 3 1/2 years. The sheltering place is where God fattens his people for the next move of God. The wilderness is always a place of purging and discipline as well as development (your feet did not swell).
The wilderness represents a place of vulnerability. Jesus was tempted (attacked by Satan) in the wilderness. The Israelites met several adversaries in the desert of Sinai. Thus, the wilderness is place of trial and isolation.
Isolation is a place of divine blessing. Moses, Elijah, Jesus, the children of Israel and the church all experienced isolation and grew.
The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth. The picture is a flood of armies or a flood of lies and accusations. Out of his mouth is either a command or meaning a multitude of words (lies, slanders).
It is difficult to endure a flood of lies and slanders, but you can and will.
If armies, then this points to
Isaiah 59:19, “For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along.” The KJV says, “when the enemy shall come in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.”
The earth came to help the woman.
How can the earth come and help?
The earth is the land, meaning the people of the land. Those who stood for righteousness overwhelmed the women and covered her from the flood of evil. It speaks to times when evil and injustice are so terrible, the people themselves rise up and use all their powers to prevail.
Something in you must rise up against the devil. Together we can overwhelm any flood of wickedness, but we must fight collectively.
On occasion, the earth opened its mouth to swallow God’s enemies.
“You stretch out your right hand,
and the earth swallows your enemies.
and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. They went down alive into the realm of the dead, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!”
This is a portent of eternal judgment on Satan. He will one day be cast into the abyss,
And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Be Faithful. God will bring judgment on the work of evil.
“The dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring.”
You would think with every loss, evil, the dragon would recognize its fate; instead wickedness becomes more enraged. There is no quit in the devil, only defeat.
Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual
We are the offspring Satan is coming for.
Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says,
“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the assembly I will sing your praises.”
Everyone born into the family of God is the object of the devil’s rage.
For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Christ referred to attacks against him by the the Scribes and Pharisees (the workers of evil).
This verse points to the war against all good by the Beast, when the world will come under the power of the antichrist.
The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.
We are still required to remain faithful to Christ Jesus because we love him.
“If you love me, keep my commands.
No matter how great to war, hold fast, to your faith.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
How?
Accept we are at war against the devil.
Encourage yourself in the Lord.
Ps. 26:1, “Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.”
Walk in confidence and joy
But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.
5. Continue to do what you know is right.
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
