Revelation 12

Translation

The temple of God was opened in Heaven, and his ark of the covenant was seen in his temple. There came lightning, rumblings, thunder, earthquakes and great hailstones.

A great constellation was seen in heaven: a woman dressed with the sun, the moon beneath her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant, and she cried out with birth pains, because she was in agony from giving birth.

Another constellation was seen in heaven. Look: A great red dragon that has seven heads, ten horns, and seven diadems on its heads. Its tail pulled down a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, so that when she gave birth to her child he could eat it. She gave birth to a son, a male, who is going to shepherd all the nations with an iron staff. Her child was taken away to God and to his throne. The woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, so that she would be nourished there for 1,260 days.

There was a war in heaven. Michael and his angels warred against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels warred back. He was not able to prevail, and there was no place to be found for him in heaven anymore. The great dragon was cast out, the serpent of old, the one called “Devil” and “Satan”, the deceiver of the whole living world, was cast out to earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

I heard a loud voice in heaven saying,

“Now have come the salvation, power, and reign of our God

and the authority of his Christ.

For the accuser of our brothers was cast out,

that is the one accusing our brothers before God day and night.

They have victory over him because of the blood of the lamb,

and because of the word of their testimony,

and they did not love their lives even to the point of death.

Because of this, Rejoice O Heavens and those who live there!

But woe to you, Earth and Sea,

because the Devil has come down to you,

and he has immense fury.

He knows that he has little time.”

And when the dragon saw that he had been cast down to earth, he pursued the woman who gave birth to the male. The woman was given two wings of the great eagle, so that she flew into the wilderness, to her place where she would be nourished for a time, a time, and half a time from the presence of the serpent. The serpent vomited water like a river from his mouth after the woman, so that he might sweep her away. But the earth came to the woman’s aid. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon had spewed out from his mouth.

The dragon was infuriated because of the woman, and he left to make war against he rest of her offspring, the ones who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus.

The Accuser

What does it mean for the enemy to be “the accuser”, “the satan”, “the devil”?

Devil vs. Jesus

The Devil attacks Jesus in his life, but Jesus was victorious

Victory in Heaven

No more accuser in the heavens, now we have an intercessor

Hebrews 7:24-25

The New Revised Standard Version Another Priest, Like Melchizedek

Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Rom 8:31-39

The New Revised Standard Version God’s Love in Christ Jesus

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.

The New Revised Standard Version God’s Love in Christ Jesus

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 2:1

The New Revised Standard Version Christ Our Advocate

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Satan’s War Against the Church

Satan attacks us just as he attacked Jesus

He can attack us on earth but not in heaven

Just as Jesus was victorious, we will be victorious

John 16.33

The New Revised Standard Version Peace for the Disciples

I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!”