Day 143: Our angry enemy! - Revelation 12 vs 1 – 12

1-2 Then I witnessed in heaven an event of great significance. I saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant, and she cried out because of her labour pains and the agony of giving birth.

3-4 Then I witnessed in heaven another significant event. I saw a large red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, with seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept away one-third of the stars in the sky, and he threw them to the earth. He stood in front of the woman as she was about to give birth, ready to devour her baby as soon as it was born. 5-6 She gave birth to a son who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her child was snatched away from the dragon and was caught up to God and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place to care for her for 1,260 days.

7-9 Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon - the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world, was thrown down to the earth with all his angels. 10 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last - salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down to earth - the one who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens!  And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.” Revelation 12:1-12 from the New Living Translation. (Link to English Standard Version)

Having been shown what happens when God's trumpets of warning were sounded, John now sees a sweeping view of Satan's attempt to crush the promised Messiah and his rage at being cast out of heaven and losing his authority over the world. As mentioned before, true followers of Christ have had different opinions as to how the various visions John was given should be explained. But even though they may disagree on some details, there's usually much agreement on the essential truths that emerge.

Most would agree that vs 1-2 speak of the nation of Israel and the imminent birth of the Messiah. Can you see then how vs 3-4 tie in with King Herod's attempt to kill Jesus, and how vs 5-6 are a 'nutshell' summary of how God protected Christ throughout his ministry and then took him to Heaven in the ascension?

What do vs 7-9 tell us was the 'cosmic' result of Christ's life, death, resurrection and ascension?

We see that Satan now had no standing in heaven. His rebellion against God was crushed and he and his demonic followers were banished to the earth. What is the wonderful outcome this has for all those who have loved God through the ages, and especially for those who have lived and died for Christ? (vs 10-11)

Satan can no longer appear in heaven to point out our sins to God and demand that He condemn us and damn us to hell! The case for the prosecution has been shattered because Jesus Christ shed his innocent blood for our sins! Hallelujah! But what was the outcome of Satan's defeat for the people of the world who don't love God? (vs 12).

Satan knows his days are numbered and so he vents his fury upon the world. He who had deceived the nations could deceive them no more. The message of a risen Saviour and the Kingdom of God would spread all over the earth, sinners would be saved, and Christ would receive the glory that I suspect Satan had coveted. But that means that the world has an angry enemy on the prowl. Remember though how Christians can defeat him. (vs 11)