Revelation 12:7-17

There is a war in heaven that spills over onto the earth.  The end of this war will mean salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come.  It is one of the culminations of the days of the seventh angel.  Today’s passage speaks of each major movement in this war.  

·        12:4, Stage 1: Satan, the most powerful and beautiful of angels became filled with pride and sought to be worshiped (Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:11-19).  He was cast from heaven, taking one-third of the angels with him in the rebellion.  There was no place for him to dwell in heaven although he still appeared before God to report (Job 1-2).

·        12:7-8, Stage 2: He became, and is now, the prince of the power of the air who works in those who disobey God (Eph. 2:2).  The war in heaven is raging and affects earth through Satan’s temptations, keeping people in the bondage of the fear of death, doing all he can to defeat God’s purpose to exalt Christ.  This showed up in attempts to destroy Israel and the Davidic lineage as you read of often in the Scriptures.

·        12:9-17, Stage 3: Having lost the war in heaven Satan is now cast to the earth.  Realizing that his time is short he brings great wrath on the earth in his attempt to destroy Israel (the woman).  God’s miraculous protection of Israel (for three and a half years: 1260 days in v6 and time, times and half a time in v14) involves her flight to the desert (prophesied in Jer. 31:2) after which the Dragon pursues the rest of her offspring, other believers who have trusted in the Male Child.

Let us conclude with two thoughts.  First, you might find this chapter challenging and frustrating because it is so complicated.  We have sought to give helpful guidance, using pertinent Scriptures to explain some of the strange or difficult things John saw.  Let us not forget the promise at both ends of the book (1:3; 22:7).  There is a blessing in reading and keeping what is in Revelation.

And speaking of keeping, did you notice the victory of God’s people during this time in 12:11?  The saints overcome the Dragon, not by the fact that they live through it all; martyrdom is the norm in the face of his wrath.  But they overcome as we overcome: by the blood of the Lamb (our victory is tied to His victory) and by the word of their testimony (they are faithful, even unto death).  A recent event in southern Oregon (October 2015 in Roseburg) involved shootings at a college where the shooter reportedly demanded people to answer whether or not they were Christians.  If they said yes, he killed them.  Several were killed because they were true to their testimony.  Paul had this same attitude (Acts 20:24; 2 Tim. 4:6-8).  Do we?!  In the face of death?  In the face of contempt or inconvenience?