Conflict of the Ages

 

Revelation Chapter 12                 

Battle Between Woman’s Seed and Satan’s Seed

The seventh trumpet (11:15) ushers in the bowl judgments (15:1 – 16:21), but in the intervening chapters (12-14), John sees the conflict between God and Satan. He sees the source of all sin, evil, persecution, and suffering on the earth, and he understands why the great battle between the forces of God and Satan must soon take place.

In these chapters the nature of evil is exposed, and Satan is seen in all his wickedness.

Revelation 12 serves to be the pivotal chapter of the entire book of Revelation. The author has clearly revealed to us from here onwards, that the devil and his adherents are the source of all conflicts and sufferings on earth.

However, they are already defeated by Christ on the cross, and they are right now in their deathbed struggles, and soon and very soon they will be destroyed completely.

Chapter 12 depicts three characters: a pregnant woman, the male child she gave birth to, and the great fiery Red Dragon which threatened to devour her baby (through Herod). The great fiery Red Dragon is the serpent, also known as the devil, or Satan. Satan has seven heads, ten horns and seven crowns, representing his power and the kingdoms of the world over which he rules.

The pregnant woman signifies the community of God, and the male child is the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Christ’ lowly birth in the town of Bethlehem had cosmic significance. The boy will grow up to defeat the devil and to rule over the nations.

The great fiery red dragon seeks to kill the woman and her son, but God protects and saves them. And her child was snatched away from the dragon and was caught up to God and to his throne (resurrection and ascension).

And the woman fled into wilderness, where God had prepared a place to care for her for 1,260 days (3.5 years – a short period of suffering time). Because God aided the woman’s escape into the wilderness, we can be sure that he offers security to all true believers. When Satan’s attacks seem overpowering, remember that God is ruler over all. Trust him.

Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. The dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven, thrown down to the earth.

Falling from heaven signifies the loss of ultimate command. The heavenly realm dominates the earth scene, so no matter what may happen on earth, despite persecution and suffering of the righteous, the devil had already been defeated and God is in control. There is nothing that can separate men from the love of Christ, not even hardship and persecution.

So, the battle against Satan had been won at Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection. The accuser of our brothers and sisters had been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses them before our God, day and night. But now instead, Christ, in heaven at the right hand of God, intercedes for us unceasingly.

When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman and the rest of her children who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus. This implies that members of the Messianic community will be involved in the fight.

Then the dragon took his stand on the shore beside the sea (12:18). The dragon stands on a shaky ground (alluded to the Roman domination of sea route).

Satan rebels against God and entices people to rebel against God too. He likes to purse believers who are vulnerable in their faith, who are spiritually weak, or who are isolated from other believers.

His attack involves both oppression and temptation, and are not merely spiritual, but also present in the social economic and political institutes. By temptations and coercion, Satan makes the children of God and the world become his followers or swayed from doing God’s will.

If the people of God are faithful, as Christ was to God, they will be inevitably attacked by the evil one as he did to Christ. However, the power and forces of Satan are temporal and limited (represented by three and a half years) and it will collapse ultimately. One day Satan will be bound forever, never again to do his evil work (20:10).

The blood of Christ has redeemed people of all nations and make them the children of God. This Messianic community (the seed of woman in corporate sense) follow the footsteps of Christ to battle with the Satan, and they will overcome their sufferings with their perseverance and testimonies.

And they do not love their lives so much that they are afraid to die. They have relied on the blood of the Lamb and the Word of their testimony – i.e., the Gospel.

The fact that God’s salvation through Christ is achieved through sufferings – crucified on the cross, makes all kinds of sufferings meaningful for us. It does not mean that our sufferings will be lessened, but it does mean that God identifies with the pains of all people on earth. God meets us through our sufferings.

Those who belong to Christ have gone into battle on God’s side, and he has guaranteed them victory. God will not lose the war, but we must make certain not to lose the battle for own souls. Don’t waver in your commitment to Christ. A great spiritual battle is being fought, and there is no time for indecision.

Now, as we face the battle with Satan, we should not fear it or try to escape from it, but we should loyally serve Christ, who alone brings victory. We ought not give in to the temptation and coercion of the devil.

Instead, we ought to endure hardships, and serve and worship God faithfully in keeping God’s commandments and maintaining our testimony for Jesus.

All honor or hardship in this life is temporal and limited (three and a half year).  We desire to be in Christ’s presence in eternity.