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

INTRODUCTION:

1. One of the better-known chapters in Revelation is Chapter 12.

2. This chapter describes a woman, a child and a dragon.

I. TONIGHT WE ARE NOT GOING TO VENTURE VERY FAR INTO THIS CHAPTER; WE WILL DEAL WITH JUST A FEW VERSES.

A. Let’s begin by looking at the first two verses. READ Rev. 12:1-2.

B. John saw a “sign”.

C. He indicates that this was not literal; it was a sign/symbol.

D. What the apostle saw represented something. He said what he saw was “great”. What did he see?

E. One of the things he saw was a woman.

(1) The Bible does not demote women.

(2) In places like Rev. 12, women are put on a pedestal.

(3) This woman was especially significant and special.

(4) Great importance is attached to her.

F. Many are quick to say who or what this woman represents.

(1) One religious group says this woman is Mary, the mother of Jesus.

(2) Others say she represents the nation of Israel and the “12 stars” represent the 12 tribes of the OT.

(3) Others argue that she represents the church.

G. John does not say who or what this woman represents.

H. Perhaps the best explanation is that she represents the saved.

I. She may stand for all the saved.

J. There does seem to be the hint that this woman includes OT Jews.

K. Verse 2 says this woman was pregnant; verse 5 tells us about the child she was carrying. READ.

(1) This is a reference to the Messiah.

(2) Jesus is being described.

L. In just a few verses, John covers a lot of Biblical history.

M. He jumps from a pregnant woman (Messiah was not yet in the world) to the time when Jesus ascended into heaven.

N. Based upon what John did, we can learn something.

(1) Some of our brethren have spent much time speaking about periods of time.

(2) There was the time of the patriarchs.

(3) There was the OT era and the NT era.

(4) Noting these different periods is right and good. This needs to be done.

O. Circles have been used in describing these periods.

P. The circles may leave us with the impression that the periods are connected.

Q. Circles may also express a lack of connection from one period to the next.

R. John’s presentation of Bible history is a continuous line.

S. There were changes along this line.

T. The history of God and His dealings with man was a steady progression.

U. This is one point to be gleaned from the text.

II. ANOTHER POINT TO BE NOTED AND APPRECIATED COMES FROM THE DRAGON. THE REMAINDER OF OUR TIME WILL BE SPENT LOOKING AT THIS DRAGON.

A. The pregnant woman wanted to give birth.

B. Verse 2 uses words like “cried out; travailing; being in labor and in pain to be delivered”.

C. This woman with the child to be born represents time for the Messiah would come and has come.

D. John records that someone was watching the pregnant woman.

E. This being is described in verses 3-4. READ.

(1) John describes the devil.

(2) The apostle used strong words to describe our enemy.

(3) Look at verse 3 – the word “great” is used.

(4) The devil is not weak, powerless, or impotent. He has substantial power.

(5) John says the devil was “red”.

(6) Remember that Revelation is filled with symbols.

(7) The color “red” is suggestive of many things.

(8) This color reminds us of blood; slaughter; murder, and death.

(9) Jesus said the devil is a murderer. (Jno. 8:44)

F. Not only did John indicate the devil is a great murderer, he said the devil has 7 heads, 10 horns and

7 diadems.

(1) The word “head” is associated with intelligence/wisdom.

(2) If the devil has “7 heads” then he is wise; intelligent; crafty and sharp.

(3) He can be shrewd; cunning; sly; tricky and skillful.

(4) The “10 horns” suggest great power is at his disposal.

(5) The “diadems” indicate rule and authority over many realms.

G. According to 4B, the devil was waiting to devour the child.

(1) If there is a practical point in Rev. 12 it is this: The devil is a creature who knows no

mercy.

(2) Satan has no good thoughts or intentions.

(a) When the Son of God was on the way, the devil wanted to kill Him right away.

(b) When this didn’t work, he didn’t stop.

(d) The Bible says that Satan left the Lord for a “season”.

(3) God’s word gives us concrete information about Satan:

(a) Any home he can wreck;

(b) Any murder he can promote;

(d) Any addiction he can involve people in;

(e) Any life he can ruin through drugs, alcohol, sex,

(f) He will.

H. The devil is like a giant wrecking ball.

(1) His mission is to destroy the lives and souls of people.

(2) If a person is young or old, rich or poor, cultured or uncultured – no matter what the race … Satan wants to create havoc and chaos.

(3) The meaner and more vicious he can be, the happier he is.

I. This is true in general but it is especially true for Christians.

(1) If we are children of God, Satan knows who we are.

(a) Christians are not hidden from Satan.

(b) The devil knows who we are and where we are.

(d) It would appear that he and his helpers watch us.

(2) John says that Satan has “7 heads”.

(3) I am inclined to conclude that Satan’s intelligence is above normal.

(4) This is a sobering thought.

(5) What if we are told tomorrow that:

(a) Someone on the earth has it out for us.

(b) This person wants to wreck and wholly ruin our lives.

ethics.

(d) This person has made it his mission in life to destroy us.

(e) He wants to demolish us, our families, the church, our jobs … he wants to rob us

of every ounce of joy we have.

(f) We are further told that this person has more than sufficient force to do the job.

(g) He has gathered all the necessary information about us … we are told he knows

who we are and where we are. He knows our weak points and he knows the best

way to destroy us.

(h) We are warned that this person is now on the way to get us.

J. What would we do? What would be our response?

K. Most would be in a state of panic.

L. Most would request some kind of protection from the authorities.

M. Most would fear for their lives, wondering if each day would be their last.

N. Who do we know that would say, “Oh, well, it’s no big deal. I’m not worried.” ?

(1) If this kind of physical threat needs to be taken seriously, what can we say about the

spiritual?

(2) I know of no clearer picture of Satan than what is in Rev. 12.

(3) Satan is like a lion that knows all the tricks.

(4) He can play any game that needs to be played to get us.

(5) He can outsmart people of all ages and intellect.

(6) He is so dangerous that God says we need armor. (Eph. 6)

O. Let’s leave Rev. 12 for just a minute. I want to note something that some here may have missed.

P. Look at James 4 with me.

Q. We know how Jas. 4:7 reads – “resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

R. Have we ever tied this statement in with what follows? V. 8 – READ.

S. If we are going to beat the devil, we must be close to God.

(1) We cannot win against Satan by ourselves.

(2) He is too clever and powerful.

(3) Some think they can outsmart him.

(4) People think they are strong enough to withstand him.

(5) Bear in mind the picture found in Rev. 12.

T. The devil was standing by … he was just waiting for an opportunity to attack Christ.

(1) If the devil would not hesitate to attack Jesus Christ, do we believe he will hesitate to

attack us?

(2) If the devil was waiting for this child to be born … a child who was under divine

protection … what do we think the devil is doing with those who are not close to God?

(3) Satan is clever.

(4) He may allow people to feel that they are close to God.

(5) He may allow people to think they are right.

(6) He can have people feeling good about themselves/life.

(7) Many people in Matt. 7 felt exactly this same way.

(8) When these people come before the Lord, Jesus will say, “Depart from me.”

(9) These people are in the arms of the devil but they don’t know it.

(10) Satan lets people feel they are close to God, doing heaven’s will … for many the truth

will be realized at a time when it is too late.

T. We think modern advertisements are slick and clever.

U. We may refer to sales people as sneaky; tricky; devious or deceitful.

V. What we see does not begin to compare with Satan’s shenanigans.

W. Paul said the devil could appear as an angel of light.

(1) Satan can disguise things in a way where we never suspect that something is wrong.

(2) He can take sin and make it look like righteousness.

(3) He can take the foulest kind of evil, repackage it, and people will say, “This is wonderful.”

(4) Satan can convince people they are saved when they aren’t.

(5) The devil can offer peace when none exists.

X. The devil can split churches but never be blamed for it.

Y. Some do not think Satan might be behind a church split.

Z. Satan can lure people into sexual sin. Those involved never realize that Satan helped them

A. People can be drawn into drugs and alcohol. They never realize the devil opened these doors.

B. Brethren leave the church. They never understand that Satan has been working against them.

C. Some brethren are uniting with denominations.

(1) These saints speak about the wonderful fellowship.

(2) They describe the beauty of togetherness.

(3) Doctrine is put aside for the hope of unity.

(4) None remember that Satan can and does disguise himself as an angel of light.

(a) Satan can cover himself with religious clothing.

(b) He can use God, Christianity, and the church as a cover.

(d) He is not above using schools (even Christian schools) to attack our young people.

(e) He will use marriage and family problems against us.

(f) He is capable of using money problems to win us over.

(g) He can work on us through our places of employment.

(h) He can use our mother, our father, or our children .

(i) Our emotions may be used against us.

(j) Satan can use our intellect (or lack of it) against us.

(k) He can use our past or our present situation.

D. Our government is a potential tool for him to use.

E. He can use skeptics and scholars to voice contempt for the word of God.

F. Television is a medium for him to use against us.

G. Books and newspapers are possible sources for him to use.

H. Satan has no respect for anything or anybody.

I. This demonic being Satan is looking for every means possible to destroy people.

J. This we know for sure. In 1 Cor. 7:5 , Paul wrote to men and women.

(1) He spoke about husbands and wives ceasing to be sexually intimate with each other.

(2) He said, “Do not refrain from sexual activity unless both parties agree to for a time…”

(3) Why, Paul?

(4) The apostle said, “that Satan tempt you not.”

K. Based upon what Paul wrote, have we considered that the devil knows about the sexual relationship

between husbands and wives? He is well informed.

L. Not only is the devil aware of what occurs in bedrooms, he will use this information to destroy our

souls.

M. This creature will take the most intimate information, or our closest friends, and use them against us.

CONCLUSION:

1. If we came here tonight with a casual attitude towards Satan, we need to leave with a changed heart.

2. There is a powerful being that knows who we are.

3. His mission … his priority … is to send us to an eternal hell.

4. He will use every tool at his disposal to do that.

5. Every day that we live we are targets for his assaults.

6. Our only means of escape is to draw close to God, using the Christian armor, resisting Satan’s

advances.

7. If the devil were a physical enemy, we would go to the police tonight. We would make the call right

now.

8. The devil is a worse spiritual enemy by far.

9. If you need to come to God, now is the time.