Revelation 12: The Woman and the Dragon

Key Verse
17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.
 
Meditation
God's truth steadies believers in times of trouble and trial. Revelation helps believers see that what appears chaotic on earth is actually under the authority of heaven.
 
The woman (v. 1), the dragon (v. 3), and their conflict (vv. 7-17) portray the cosmic struggle between God’s covenant people and Satan. The woman represents the people of God through whom the promised King comes, Jesus Christ (v. 5). The dragon is identified as “that ancient serpent… the devil and Satan” (v. 9), who deceives, accuses, devours, and makes war against the Church. The imagery echoes the Old Testament portrayal of beastly kingdoms opposing God’s people. Pharaoh and Egypt, Babylon, and other persecuting powers rise and fall, but behind them stands the ancient serpent, and above them all stands the sovereign God. 

The decisive victory has already been won through the death, resurrection, and exaltation of Jesus. Satan is cast down, and the saints conquer “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (v. 11). The devil operates with “great wrath” precisely because “he knows that his time is short” (v. 12). His rage is not evidence that he is winning but that he has been defeated. God repeatedly provides for His people (vv. 6, 14-16), preserving them even while the dragon continues to make war against the Church (v. 17). Satan’s power is real, but limited; Christ’s victory is decisive and eternal.

Suffering and struggle are not the end of the story. God will preserve His people, Jesus will consummate His victory, and all things will be made new.
 
Today’s Reading
 
And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth.3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.

Satan Thrown Down to Earth
7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. 17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

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Richly Dwelling
-Which part of the vision stands out to you the most? Why?
 
-Are you more intimidated by the warring of the dragon and his effectiveness to deceive, destroy, and devour? Or inspired by the promise of protection for the woman, the Church?
 
-Jesus has conquered the grave after paying the ransom owed for our sin. Satan has no authority. Where (specifically) in your life do you need to stop giving Satan permission to rule and start living in the victory accomplished by Christ?
 
Key Verse
17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.