“THE WOMAN, THE DRAGON, AND THE CHILD” #2 (REV. 12:1-12)

INTRODUCTION:

1. There is some value in dividing the book of Revelation.

2. If we wanted to divide this book, a simple division would be Rev. 1-11 and Rev. 12-22.

3. We have covered the first part of this book.

A. In chapters 1-11 we saw a general overview of Rome and the church.

B. We examined places where God promised to protect His people.

C. Again and again we were introduced to the punishment Rome would receive.

4. Rev. 1-11 shows that Rome had the chance to repent but refused to do so.

5. The hearts of these sinners were hardened; they were not going to change.

6. This information forms a foundation for the rest of the book.

7. In chapters 12-22 John will show that God’s wrath upon Rome was coming.

8. God’s wrath would come “without delay”.

9. The coming punishment is described by graphic imagery.

I. AS THE SECOND HALF OF REVELATION BEGINS, WE ARE INTRODUCED TO A WOMAN, A DRAGON (WHO REPRESENTS SATAN), AND A CHILD (THE MESSIAH).

A. We dealt with these three things last week.

B. Other relevant matters have also been discussed in prior lessons. For example:

(1) An angel had a little book that John was told to eat.

(2) As John ate the book, it was sweet in his mouth.

(3) When the book entered his stomach, it became bitter.

(4) What John ate was information about the coming judgments.

(5) These judgments were going to be painful as we will see in chapter 12 through the rest of the book.

C. As we deal with the second half of Revelation, the pace quickens.

D. Things begin to happen very rapidly.

E. As we prepare for the rest of the book we need to know that the characters in verses 1-5 of Rev. 12 set the stage for the rest of the book.

(1) There will be many references to the woman (the saved).

(2) The dragon (Satan and his allies) will frequently be mentioned.

(3) And there will be many references to the child (Christ).

(4) We have already seen many references to these characters in chapters 1-11.

(5) They will be dealt with even more fully in this second part.

F. Tonight we are going to look at the remainder of Rev. 12. READ Rev. 12:6-17.

(1) It may help us to know what this chapter does NOT describe.

(2) Some think that Rev. 12 describes a time before creation.

(3) Before (right after) creation, there was a war in heaven.

(4) At this time Satan was cast out of heaven.

(5) Some believe that Rev. 12 describes Satan’s initial downfall.

(6) IF the Bible does describe Satan’s initial downfall, this information is not found in Rev. 12.

G. Skip back to verse 5 with me for just a moment. READ.

(1) John pictures Christ as ascending into heaven.

(2) The Lord had died, was buried and had ascended.

(3) Verse 6 says the “woman” fled into the wilderness.

(4) It has been proposed that the woman represents the saved.

(5) Since this is after the resurrection, “saved” would be the church.

(6) Because of persecution, the church is in need of safety.

(7) Now look at verse 7. “AND there was a war …”

(8) What John pictured as happening is after the resurrection.

H. Using Rev. 12 to show that Satan engaged in a war way before the first century misuses and

misapplies this passage.

I. If we know what Revelation does not mean, what does it mean?

(1) As we have said before, much of this book is symbolical.

(2) This is not a standard piece of literature.

J. Verse 7 and following is easier to explain if we consider the context.

(1) Last week we learned several things about Satan.

(2) We saw that the devil wanted to kill Christ.

(3) Satan was waiting for Jesus to be born so he could devour Him. (V. 4B)

(4) Satan tried to trip up the Lord in the wilderness.

(5) Again and again Satan tried to destroy Christ.

(6) The Bible makes it clear that Satan was unsuccessful.

(7) Even when the Lord died, the devil failed.

K. Though the devil lost again and again, John pictures him as a relentless adversary.

L. After Satan failed on earth, John pictures him entering heaven.

M. John’s picture tells us the devil refuses to quit.

N. In heaven Satan decided one more time to destroy the Lord.

O. Once again Satan was defeated. He was cast down to the earth.

P. Michael and other angels engaged Satan in this battle.

(1) Did this literally happen?

(2) Some would say “yes”; others would say “no”.

Q. My explanation may not be the right one. Nevertheless, here is what I submit for our

consideration.

(1) Revelation is a book filled with signs (symbols).

(2) This heavenly war was not literal; it symbolizes something.

(3) We know that Satan has always been against man.

(4) From the Garden of Eden to now this is a fact.

(5) The climax of the battle came during the time of Christ.

(6) When Jesus returned from the dead and entered into heaven, it was clear at this point that Satan would always be the loser.

(7) After the resurrection and ascension, any hopes Satan had were gone.

(8) It appears to me that this is symbolized by this war.

R. This explanation is consistent with the rest of Rev. 12.

(1) In verses 10-12 there are words of victory.

(2) In verse 13 we see things from Satan’s perspective. READ.

(3) Satan could not win; he now knows that for sure.

(4) The devil has no prospect (hope/chance) of success.

(5) Satan is like a wounded animal that will one day be permanently caged.

(6) The devil has not yet entered into his eternal cage.

(7) As long as Satan has some freedom, he is going to be active.

S. What will this creature do if he cannot win? The text tells us.

(1) In the first century, he was going to persecute the woman (saved).

(2) If Satan could not win, he would wreck as many things as he could.

(3) If he could not destroy the Lord’s body, he would damage it as much as possible.

(4) He couldn’t destroy the church; he could work on devastating it.

(5) He couldn’t conquer the church; he could create chaos.

(6) He couldn’t overcome God; he would oppose God and God’s people.

II. HERE IS A PRACTICAL POINT TO CONSIDER. SATAN CANNOT WIN AGAINST GOD. HOWEVER, GOD DOES ALLOW HIM SOME FREEDOM TO OPERATE IN THE WORLD. SATAN WILL USE THIS FREEDOM (AUTHORITY) TO PERSECUTE THE SAVED.

A. Rev. 12 gives us an idea as to how Satan uses his power.

B. Verse 6 tells us that the woman (the saved) was forced to flee.

C. This reminds me of the early chapters in the book of Acts.

(1) Christians had to leave their homes because of Christianity.

(2) Is the devil interested in causing people to lose their homes?

(3) Does he enjoy seeing people uprooted?

(4) If those brethren lost their jobs, did that make Satan happy?

(5) Does the devil thrive on the persecution of God’s people?

(6) Does he get pleasure from seeing families separated?

(7) Does Satan like to see God’s people attacked and chased?

(8) These things are fun for the devil.

(9) The more grief he can pile upon people, especially Christians, the happier he is.

(10) Satan enjoys upsetting people and tearing lives apart.

D. Someone may wonder, “Is the devil really that bad? Perhaps his wickedness is being exaggerated.”

E. You judge – verse 17 of this chapter – READ. “waxed wroth” (ASV), “war” (KJV)

F. Will the devil make war with us? Yes.

(1) None here are in the military.

(2) We believe we are living in a fairly peaceful time.

(3) We do not expect to be attacked.

(4) We are not left with the sense that someone is out to get us.

(5) In America there is a general feeling of safety.

(6) John tells us that things are not as peaceful as they appear.

(7) The devil makes war with the children of God.

(8) We discussed some of his tactics last week so they will not be repeated tonight.

(9) I will simply add this thought:

(10) All wars have a similar objective … find, destroy and kill.

(11) Since the devil is described as having “7 heads”, he knows where to find us. He works on

a regular basis to destroy and kill us spiritually.

G. The word “war” is a sufficient word to describe the devil’s attacks.

H. John did not limit himself to this word.

I. Backing up to verse 15 this is what is said. READ.

(1) We have seen the damages that rivers can do.

(2) Rivers are capable to washing away houses.

(3) People are overcome by rushing water and lose their lives.

(4) Satan’s attack on the church is compared to a river.

J. The “woman” (saved/congregations) was attacked by a torrent that was likened to a river.

K. The woman’s “seed” (individual saints) was attacked by war.

L. It says that Satan attacks congregations.

(1) He will use preachers and elders if we allow him.

(2) He can use sin in a Christian’s life to affect other members.

(3) He can promote hard feelings in our hearts towards others – bitterness and resentment.

(4) He can promote hard feelings towards other congregations.

(5) He can help sow seeds of division, rivalry, and bitterness.

(6) The devil attacks congregations.

(7) He enjoys coming against the church of Christ.

(8) By attacking Christ’s body, Satan attacks Christ.

(9) How many times when we see a church problem do we ask, “Is this the work of Satan?”

(10) That question is rarely, if ever, asked.

(11) The blame is put on some human being. Satan shares in the blame in at least some cases.

M. The devil is not satisfied with attacking congregations.

(1) He also comes against the church member by member.

(2) The devil takes the time to deal with us one by one.

(3) No enemy is as vicious and heartless as the devil.

(4) He would like to wash the Lord’s church away from the earth.

(5) Great pleasure would come from destroying every Christian.

III. GOD IS AWARE OF THIS. HE HAS PUT SOME RESTRAINTS ON THE DEVIL.

A. These restraints are mentioned in this chapter.

B. Backing up to verse 6, the woman “fled into the wilderness”.

C. The river Satan created was stopped.

(1) Look at verse 16 – READ.

(2) Satan created a river to wash away God’s people.

(3) God said that was too much.

(4) God limited the devil’s assault.

D. God has offered His people protection throughout history.

(1) Mary and Joseph were able to flee to Egypt.

(2) Moses was able to flee from Pharaoh.

(3) Elijah was able to escape from Ahab and Jezebel.

(4) Israel was able to get away from Egyptian bondage.

(5) God provided young Joseph a place to go. Joseph’s safe spot was prison; it was not the most pleasant place. God provided a place where Joseph could avoid Satan.

E. Protection for the saved is seen again in verse 14. READ.

F. Another example of protection is found in verse 4.

(1) If Satan had wanted to kill Jesus, the easiest way would have been for him to kill Mary.

(2) Kill the mother and the child dies.

(3) Verse 4 indicates that Mary was protected.

(4) Satan could only sit by and wait for the Messiah to be born.

(5) That must have been a bitter pill for the devil to swallow.

G. Rev. 12 shows that it is possible to overcome the devil.

(1) We can withstand the assaults of Satan.

(2) Though the devil is smarter and craftier than we are, we do not need to surrender our souls to him.

(3) This enemy is one that we can beat.

(4) The war he wages against us is one that we can win.

H. Someone may be wondering, “How do we do that?”

I. We do it in the way God describes in this chapter.

(1) Notice these points from this chapter – verse 17B – READ.

(2) To overcome the devil, we must “keep the commands of God.”

(3) Are there commands to be kept? Yes.

(4) What value is there in doing what God says?

(5) We save our soul; we escape from the clutches of the devil.

J. Doing what God’s word says is essential to our beating the devil.

(1) This is not the only thing that is said.

(2) These brethren “held to the testimony of Jesus.”

(3) What does this mean?

(4) Listen to 1 Cor. 2:1 – QUOTE/READ.

(5) This “testimony” was what Paul preached to the Corinthians.

(6) This is a reference to the faith, the gospel.

(7) These people became saved and they held to their convictions.

K. This is not easy and it is not always done.

(1) Some in this book were baptized but they let their faith slide.

(2) Many Christians kept the faith. Look back to verse 11. READ.

(3) These people “loved not their own life unto death.”

L. These brethren said, “God is number 1 in our life.” They reasoned,

(1) “Satan can try to destroy us; he can persecute us;

(2) We may have to flee; we may die. We will not renounce Christ.”

(3) “The blood of the Lamb” is the way to eternal life.

(4) “We will not abandon the system that allows us access to salvation no matter what the

cost.”

CONCLUSION:

1. What a great attitude.

2. What a great plan John gave for meeting and beating the devil.

3. This plan still works.

4. We need to contact the benefits of Christ’s blood.

5. Once we do that, the devil has an extra special interest in us.

6. He will assault us until our dying day.

7. We need to hold faithful to God no matter what the cost.

8. No price is too high to save our soul from Satan.

9. Tonight someone may be fully assured that they belong to Satan.