Sermon Tone Analysis

The Dragon, Woman, and Child part 2 August 17

Last week we looked at part one of the Dragon, the woman and the child.

As we began to look at Revelation chapter 12, in those first five verse that we looked at, we seen that the dragon was Satan, and that the woman is Israel, and that the child is Jesus, and that the dragon wants nothing more than to destroy Jesus.

Satan’s biggest desire is to destroy Jesus, and he has always wanted to in order to have complete power and reign.

But he has not nor will he ever be able to destroy Jesus or Israel, or any of God’s people.

Tonight we will continue to look at chapter 12, picking up in verse 6 as we look at a war that will take place first in heaven then on earth, between Satan and his demons and Michael and his angels.

I. Israel’s Spiritual Fight

The first thing we see here is that the woman, who is Israel fled into the wilderness for 1,260 days, which is just roughly half of the tribulation period, or 3 and 1/2 years.

Therefore, God provided protection for Israel for the second half of the tribulation period, when Satan and his partners became very angry and actively rebellious.

Two battles are taking place in this passage: one in heaven and one on earth, and the purpose of the war is to cast Satan out of heaven.

On one side are the dreadful dragon and his demons; on the other side are Michael and his angels.

Michael is one of only two angels named in the Bible, with the other one being Gabriel.

Michael is called an archangel in Jude 1:9

Archangel is a term that refers to angels of high rank.

Michael was the chief angel of God who especially watches over Israel and leads the holy angels to protect the people of God.

Michael is only mentioned a few times in Scripture, here in Revelation, the once in Jude, and then a few times in Daniel.

The name Michael mean who is like God?

The first war we see is the war in Heaven.

A. The War in Heaven

The dragon is described as a serpent because he is so subtle.

He is also called the devil, which means accuser, and Satan, which means adversary.

We might think was not Satan already cast out of heaven?

Yes, but he still has limited access to heaven.

In the mystery, providence, and plan of God, Satan has been allowed this limited access to heaven.

Although Satan has been formally expelled, God has still allowed him to come and accuse all the saints before Him.

But now Michael and his angels are telling Satan that he does not have access to heaven any longer and will be cast down to earth.

Do you know that Satan is watching everything you do?

You know that is if you have felt the sting of his accusations, perhaps of a lustful thought, a bad temper, a selfishness.

We can be guilty of these things, but there is a difference between accusing and convicting us of our sins.

Satan comes as a prosecuting attorney and says: “Look at that Chris, he is supposed to be a pastor, but did you hear what he said?

Did you see what he thought?

God, how can you honor him?

You claim to be so righteous, You claim to be so just, why don’t you cast him into hell?

Night and day Satan accuses us, but praise God, we have a defense attorney named Jesus.

Jesus turns to the judge and says in our defense: “Yes, Father, Chris has sinned, but Father, I ask you to look at my wounds, I died for those sins, You see my shed blood on him.

And God, as judge, rules in our favor because of the shed blood of His Son.

B. The War on Earth

Revelation 12:11-12, speaks of the saints and notice what it says about them: Revelation 12:11-12

Revelation 12:11–12 (CSB)

11 They conquered him [Satan that is]

by the blood of the Lamb

and by the word of their testimony;

for they did not love their lives

to the point of death.

12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens,

and you who dwell in them!

Woe to the earth and the sea,

because the devil has come down to you

with great fury,

because he knows his time is short.

Satan , who was cast out of heaven, is now upon the earth, and he is filled with violent rage.

He is like a cornered animal that knows things are closing in on him.

He begins to fight against the saints with an intensity that he’s never shown before, and thankfully, there is a threefold formula for victory.

1.

The Believer’s Cleansing.

First, the believers overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb.

Jesus won the victory over Satan on the cross.

Looking to the cross, Jesus said in John 12:31

Satan’s back was broken at the cross.

Ever since then, Satan has been sailing a sinking ship.

He rules a doomed domain.

The blood of Jesus Christ conquers and cleanses.

Do you believe that?

How are we going to overcome Satan?

We will never have victory over Satan as long as there is sin in our heart that we have not confessed and repented of.

Is there bitterness, lust, or some habit in your life that you know is sinful, yet you are withholding it from God’s cleansing power?

Whatever it is, it is not worth it.

You can be as clean as the pure, white snow by repenting of your sin and claiming the blood of Jesus Christ to forgive you.

If you go to war against Satan, you had better make certain your heart is clean.

If there is sin in your heart, you have given the devil an unholy place to wage war on the rest of you.

Be clean.

2. The Believer’s Confession

The believers also overcame Satan by the word of their testimony.

Did you know that your testimony is a mighty power to overcome the devil?

When you testify of who Jesus is in your life, you are throwing water on Satan’s fire that is trying to devour you.

Do you know Jesus?

He is Lord, He is the Lamb who died, He is the Lion who rules.

When Satan comes against you, testify about what Jesus did at Calvary and the empty tomb.

Testify also about who you are.

Tell him that when Jesus died, you died.

You were crucified with Christ, when Jesus was buried, you were buried, when Jesus was raised, you were raised, when Jesus ascended, you ascended, and when Jesus was enthroned and seated in the heavenlies, you were also enthroned in Christ.

Tell Satan you are redeemed, accepted, and empowered by the Lord Jesus Christ, you are now a king and a priest.

3. The Believer’s Courage

The day of martyrs is not past.

More people died in the twentieth century for Jesus than have died in any other century [more than one hundred million people have given their lives for the Lord Jesus Christ].

What is the attitude of a martyr?

They kept on loving Jesus even if they died, if their testimony cost them their lives, they could say, “I am going with the Lord Jesus Christ.”

But this sounds like I could get hurt, yes, but you cannot be harmed.

There is a difference.

Remember how, in a previous week we discussed believers are sovereignly protected?

When we are in the center of God’s will, your work will never lack for God’s provision or God’s protection.

II.

Israel’s Strategic Flight

Satan realizes what has happened to him.

He no longer has access before God so he turns with intensity to the woman and begins to persecute Israel.

Remember, this is the time of the great tribulation, and Israel will be persecuted in a tremendous way.

This will be a dark time for Israel.

Let’s review what we have learned so far about the great tribulation, which begins after the rapture of the church.

In the middle of the seven-year period, the temple will be rebuilt.

And when that happens, the Antichrist will move in and declare himself to be God.

Then Israel will realize that a false Messiah has betrayed her, and she will refuse to serve him.