God's Protective Power

Story of the SWAN.

Isn’t it awesome to think that God has our sixes, and there is nothing that can get past God to cause us harm?

We have arrived at the 1/2 point of the Tribulation. We have seen the seven seals of judgment, and the 7 Trumpets of judgment. For a few chapters, we will see several characters appear in the Revelation vision.

At first, some of the symbolism might seem quite confusing, but as we unpack these verses together, I think it will all make sense.

Revelation 11:19–12:12 HCSB

19 God’s sanctuary in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His sanctuary. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings of thunder, an earthquake, and severe hail. 1 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in labor and agony as she was about to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: There was a great fiery red dragon having seven heads and 10 horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4 His tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. And the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she did give birth he might devour her child. 5 But she gave birth to a Son—a male who is going to shepherd all nations with an iron scepter —and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6 The woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, to be fed there for 1,260 days. 7 Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought, 8 but he could not prevail, and there was no place for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was thrown out—the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Messiah have now come, because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown out: the one who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their lives in the face of death. 12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the earth and the sea, for the Devil has come down to you with great fury, because he knows he has a short time.

I have included the last verse of Revelation here because I think it sets the scene for what follows.

It reminds us that these scenes are in heaven, and not on earth.

It shows us that God’s presence is in heaven (ark of the Covenant) in a positive way for the who follow Him, and in a negative way for those who don’t (lightning, thunder, hail, earthquake- judgment)

God’s Protection of Israel

Revelation 12:1–2 HCSB

1 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in labor and agony as she was about to give birth.

Revelation 12:6 HCSB

6 The woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, to be fed there for 1,260 days.

God’s Protection of Messiah

Revelation 12:3–5 HCSB

3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: There was a great fiery red dragon having seven heads and 10 horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4 His tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. And the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she did give birth he might devour her child. 5 But she gave birth to a Son—a male who is going to shepherd all nations with an iron scepter —and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.

God’s Protection of His Household

Revelation 12:7–12 HCSB

7 Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought, 8 but he could not prevail, and there was no place for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was thrown out—the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Messiah have now come, because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown out: the one who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their lives in the face of death. 12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the earth and the sea, for the Devil has come down to you with great fury, because he knows he has a short time.

When I say Household, I mean God’s place- Heaven. And God’s people

War and expulsion (like kicking out all diplomats of an enemy nation in wartime)

Satan has already been cast out from his POSITION with God.

Here he is cast of of the PRESENCE of God.

(Note what verse 10 says about him. Accuses God’s people. Think about Job. Think about the High Priest Joshua. I have often compared Satan to that bratty sibling who convinces you to do wrong, and then rats you out for doing it.)

How does God’s protection come?

His people conquer Satan by the blood of Jesus.

It is Jesus, Only Jesus who saves us.

But it also says the Word of their Testimony. (Its the word we get martyr from) This is not the typical Sunday night testimony service where we stand up and share something among OTHER believers.

This is a witness to the Devil controlled world. This is a willingness to stand up and speak the Gospel no matter what. Notice that they did not love their lives in the face of death.

Heaven is called to rejoice for the Devil is removed.

But Earth is warned that the Devil is coming with a little time left and great fury.