WAR IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTHLesson 7

Revelation 12

WELCOME Sometimesweexperiencetheconsequencesofsomeoneelse’swordsoractions.Recallatimethathappenedtoyou,whetherpositiveornegative.

INTRODUCTIONEveryverseofRevelation12isfullofdramaandsymbolism.Theydescribeaveryrealanddramatictragedyinheaven—acosmicwarbetweengoodandevil,betweenGodandSatan—awarthatwouldhavesevereconsequencesonearth.Thischapterpullsbackthecurtainsofheavenandexposeswhatcausedthehorrificwarthatwaspartiallydescribedinpreviouschapters.

Tips for meaningful engagement with the Word:• “Inthischapter,Johnsawthesourceofallsin,evil,persecutionand

sufferingonearth,andheunderstoodwhythegreatbattlebetweentheforcesofGodandSatanmustsoontakeplace.”1HereisJohn’stheologicalexplanation:Satan’sdefeatintheheavenlyrealmsbytherisenLambwouldleadtoSatanwagingrelentlesswaragainstthoseonearthwhobelongtotheLamb.2DespiteSatan’srageonearth,JohnprophesiedthatChristianswouldovercomebecauseofthecrossofChristandtheirfaithfulnesstoJesus,evenasthewarrageson.

• TherearethreescenesinRevelation12,andthislessonwillbedividedaccordingly:rebellioninheaven(12:1–6);warinheaven(12:7–12);waronearth(12:13–18).TheversenumbershavebeenremovedfromtheScripturepassagesandfootnoteshavebeeninserted.Thesefootnotesareintendedtohelpclarifythepassageandprovidebetterunderstanding.

1Barton,1342Fee,161-162

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WORD As you come to the Word, pause and ask God to make it come alive for you. Ask Him to make it understandable and transformational.

Revelation 12:1–6 ThenIwitnessedinheavenaneventofgreatsignificance.3 I saw awomanclothedwiththesun,withthemoonbeneathherfeet,andacrownoftwelvestarsonherhead.Shewaspregnant,andshecriedoutbecauseofherlaborpainsandtheagonyofgivingbirth.4 ThenIwitnessedinheavenanothersignificantevent.Isawalargereddragonwithsevenheadsandtenhorns,withsevencrownsonhisheads.5Histailsweptawayone-thirdofthestarsinthesky,andhethrewthemtotheearth.6Hestoodinfrontofthewomanasshewasabouttogivebirth,readytodevourherbabyassoonasitwasborn.7

3ThispartofJohn’svisionisauniquetellingofthecosmicbattlethatstartedinGenesis3andwillcontinueuntilChristreignsonearth.4ThewomanrepresentsthepeopleofGod,andhercrownof12starsrepresentsthe12tribesofIsrael.TheIsraeliteshadbeenwaiting(laboring)forthepromisedMessiahforthousandsofyears.Finally,the“woman’s”son,Jesus(Revelation 12:5),wasborntoadevoutJewishgirlnamedMary(Luke 1:26–33).Revelation12showsthatChrist’slowlybirthinBethlehemhadcosmicsignificance. (LifeApplicationStudyBible,2187)5ThroughouttheOldTestament,serpents,dragonsandseamonstersrepresentedevilforcesopposedtoGodandHispeople(Genesis 3:1–24; Ezekiel 29:3; Isaiah 27:1; Jeremiah 51:34).ThisdragonrepresentsSatan,andhisredcolorindicateshischaracterofviolenceandbloodshed.HiscrownsportrayrealpowerbutnotpowerequaltothatoftheLamb.WhiletheLamb,Jesus,hassevenhornsrepresentingcompletepower(Revelation 5:6),thedragonhastenhorns,asymbolofhiswidespreadevilpower.“The10hornsalsorecallDaniel’svisionofaten-hornedbeast”(Daniel 7:7–8,20,24). (Duvall,170-171)6Satan’smajoractofrebellionresultedinthefallofone-thirdoftheangelsinheaven,describedfurtherinRevelation 12:10.Itappearsangelshadautonomouswills,andsomechoserebellionalongwithLucifer/Satan,whowasalsooriginallyanangel.Scriptureseemstogivetwopossibilitiesastowhytheychosetorebel:“1)Thepursuitofprosperityandbeauty(Ezekiel 28:11–19).2)TheambitionanddesiretosurpassGod(Isaiah 14:12–15).

Theresult[ofthisrebellionwas]:1)Allofthemlosttheiroriginalholinessandbecamecorrupt(Matthew 10:1; Ephesians 6:1; Revelation 12:9).2)Someofthemwerecastdowntohell(2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6).3)Someofthemwereleftfree,andtheyengageindefiniteoppositiontotheworkof[God(John 8:43–45)andtheworkof]goodangels(Daniel 10:12–14,20–21; Jude 9; Revelation 12:7–9).” (Theissen,136-137)

7WhenJesuswasborn,evilKingHerodimmediatelytriedtodestroytheinfant(Matthew 2:13–20).Herod’sdesiretokillthisnewbornKing,whomhesawasathreattohisthrone,wasmotivatedbySatan(thereddragoninRevelation 12:3),whowantedtokilltheworld’sSavior.

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Shegavebirthtoasonwhowastoruleallnationswithanironrod.8AndherchildwassnatchedawayfromthedragonandwascaughtuptoGodandtohisthrone.9 And the woman10fledintothewilderness,11 whereGodhadpreparedaplacetocareforherfor1,260days.12

1.TheminuteJesuswasborn,thecosmicbattlebetweengoodandevilintensified.Jesus’birthprovokedjoyandwonder,butitalsoprovokedevil.13RecallthelifeandministryofJesusandgivesomeexamplesoftheevilbattleagainstHim.

(Someexamplescanbefoundin:Matthew 2:13; Matthew 4:1–11; Matthew 12:13–14; Matthew 26:3–4; Matthew 27:26–31; Luke 4:28–30; John 5:16–18)

2.Satan,thereddragon,isakeyfigureinRevelation.Whathasbeen/isyourpersonalperspectiveonhim?

8 Psalm 2:6–9prophesiedthesamething.9Inthesetwoshortverses,Johnentirelyskipsthelife,ministryanddeathofChrist.HegoesimmediatelyfromHisbirthtoHisreigninheaven.10Onceagain,Johnskipsdetailsandmovesquickly.Thewomannowrepresentsallbelievers—theChurch—whoweresavedthroughherSon,Jesus. (Barton,144)11ThewildernessisaplaceoftrialandpersecutionforGod’speople.Itisalsoaplaceofprotectionandprovision,asitwasduringIsrael’swildernessjourneywhentheyleftEgypt(Exodus 16:4–35)andduringJesus’timeoftemptationinthewilderness(Mark 1:12–13). (Duvall,173)121,260dayscouldrepresentaliteral3½yearsoraperiodoftimethatonlyGodunderstands.Again,thenumbermeansthatthisisnotforever;thereisanenddate.(Duvall,173;Mounce221)13Fee,222

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a. ReadandcommentonthefollowingstatementbyC.S.Lewis:“Therearetwoequalandoppositeerrorsintowhichourracecanfallaboutthedevilanddemons.14Oneistodisbelievetheirexistence.Theotheristobelieveandtofeelanexcessiveandunhealthyinterestinthem.Theythemselvesarepleasedwithbotherrors.”15Whydoyouthinktheenemywouldbepleasedwitheachoftheseerrors?

b.Howhaveyouexperiencedtheseerrors?

c.AnothererrormanyChristiansmakeistobelieveSatanisanequalopposingforcetoGod.Inreality,SatanisinoppositiontoGodbutneverequaltoHim.Howdoesthisgiveyouhope?

3.Godprotectedandcaredfor“thewoman”whenshefledtothewilderness,aplaceofspiritualrefuge.Noteatleasttwowaysyou’veexperiencedGod’sprotectionspirituallythroughoutyourlife.

14Demonsarefallenangels,sinfulspiritualbeingswhohaveSatanastheirleader(Matthew 25:41; Luke 11:15).(Barton,141)15FromtheprefacetoTheScrewtapeLettersbyC.S.LewisasquotedinDuvall,175

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Revelation 12:7–12 Thentherewaswarinheaven.Michaelandhisangelsfoughtagainstthedragonandhisangels.16Andthedragonlostthebattle,andheandhisangelswereforcedoutofheaven.Thisgreatdragon—theancientserpentcalledthedevil,orSatan,theonedeceivingthewholeworld—wasthrowndowntotheearthwithallhisangels. ThenIheardaloudvoiceshoutingacrosstheheavens,“Ithascomeatlast—salvationandpowerandtheKingdomofourGod,andtheauthorityofhisChrist.Fortheaccuserofourbrothersandsistershasbeenthrowndowntoearth—theonewhoaccusesthembeforeourGoddayandnight.AndtheyhavedefeatedhimbythebloodoftheLambandbytheirtestimony.17 Andtheydidnotlovetheirlivessomuchthattheywereafraidtodie.Therefore,rejoice,Oheavens!Andyouwholiveintheheavens,rejoice!Butterrorwillcomeontheearthandthesea,forthedevilhascomedowntoyouingreatanger,18 knowingthathehaslittletime.”19

16“ThiseventfulfillsDaniel12.Michaelisahigh-rankingangel.OneofhisresponsibilitiesistoguardGod’scommunityofbelievers.” (LifeApplicationStudyBible,2187)17ChrististheultimateOvercomer.ChristiansareovercomersbecauseofthebloodoftheLambandtheirtestimony.18Ephesians 6:10–12makesitclearthatChristiansandSatanarestillinaspiritualbattle

bysaying,“BestrongintheLordandinHismightypower.PutonallofGod’sarmorsothatyouwillbeabletostandfirmagainstallthestrategiesofthedevil.Forwearenotfightingagainstflesh-and-bloodenemies,butagainstevilrulersandauthoritiesoftheunseenworld,againstmightypowersinthisdarkworld,andagainstevilspiritsintheheavenlyrealm.”(LifeApplicationStudyBible,2188)19WhatSatanknowsisthatGodhassetboundariestohistime.Satanhasdivinelysetlimits,andthatangershim. (Fee,173)

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4.Revelation 12:7–12speaksofthedragonbeing“throwndown”multipletimes,20signifyinganextremelyimportantevent.HowwasSatan’sbeingthrownfromheaventoearthbothgoodnewsandbadnews?

5.Revelation12makesitclearthatSatan’sprimaryweaponsaredeception,liesandaccusations.Inaddition,Jesussaid,“Thethief’s[Satan]purposeistosteal,killanddestroy…”(John 10:10)

Whenconfrontedwithpersecution,lies,accusations,etc.,“WearenottaskedwithdefeatingthedevilbutonlywithstayingloyaltoJesusandresistingthedevil.”21JesusfoughtbackwithScripturewhentemptedbySatan(Matthew 4:1–11).Whathashelpedyoufightwrongchoicesortemptationsinthepast?Whatdoyoubelievecouldhelpyounow?

6.Revelation 12:11statesthatChrist-followershaveanactiveroleindefeatingSatan.WeovercometheenemyofoursoulsbythebloodoftheLambandbyourtestimony.Howdoesthisplayoutinyourlifeandthelivesofyourfellowbelievers?

20“TheBibledocumentsseveraldescentsorfallsofSatan:1)Someevidencepointstoafallbeforethecreationoftheworld(Revelation 12:7–9),2)thedecisivefallfromheaventoearthatthecross/resurrection/exaltationofJesus(12:7–9),3)thedescentfromearthtotheAbyss(20:3),and4)thefinaldescentintothelakeoffire(20:10).

Inotherwords,Satanisadefeatedanddoomedenemy.” (Duvall,179)21Duvall,180

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Revelation 12:13–18 Whenthedragonrealizedthathehadbeenthrowndowntotheearth,hepursuedthewoman22whohadgivenbirthtothemalechild.Butshewasgiventwowingslikethoseofagreateaglesoshecouldflytotheplacepreparedforherinthewilderness.Thereshewouldbecaredforandprotectedfromthedragonforatime,times,andhalfatime.23 Thenthedragontriedtodrownthewomanwithafloodofwaterthatflowedfromhismouth.24Buttheearthhelpedherbyopeningitsmouthandswallowingtheriverthatgushedoutfromthemouthofthedragon.25Andthedragonwasangryatthewomananddeclaredwaragainsttherestofherchildren—allwhokeepGod’scommandmentsandmaintaintheirtestimonyforJesus. Thenthedragontookhisstandontheshorebesidethesea.26

7.IncontrasttotheevilfloodwatersofSatan,JesussaidtodrinktheLivingWater.John 7:38–39recordsJesussaying,“Anyonewhobelievesinmemaycomeanddrink!FortheScripturesdeclare,‘Riversoflivingwaterflowfromhisheart.’”(WhenHesaid”livingwater,”HewasspeakingoftheSpiritwhowouldbegiventoeveryonebelievinginHim…)”Whatdoesitmeanforyou,emotionallyandpractically,todrinktheLivingWaterwhenyoufacethefloodwatersoftheenemy(lies,accusation,threats,etc.)?

22WhereasthewomanrepresentedtheJewishnationwhiletheywaitedfortheMessiah/theChristtobeborn,shenowrepresentsallChrist-followers,theChurch. (Barton,144) Theword“pursued”isthesamewordusedinGreekas“persecute."Satanisstalkingandpursuing/persecutingGod’speople(theChurch)becausehefailedtostopJesusfromHismissionandChristiansbelongtoJesus. (Barton,144)23“Time”meansoneyear;“times”means2years;and“halfatime”meanshalfayear.Thisequals3½yearsandisthesameasthe42monthsinRevelation 11:2.Godwouldprotectthewomanduringtheseasonofpersecution. (Barton,145)Thisisalsothesameperiodoftimeasthe1,260daysfromRevelation 12:6.24“AfloodisacommonOldTestamentpictureofoverwhelmingevil(seePsalm 18:4; 32:6; 69:1–2; 124:2–5; Nahum 1:8).Thisisafloodofliesanddeceitinanattempttodrownthewoman[Christ-followers]insin.” (Barton,145)25Whilethisisastrangeimage,itisclearthatGodusesextraordinarymeanstoprotectHispeople.26SomeBibletranslationsplacethisverseatthebeginningofRevelation 13:1. (Barton,146)

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WORSHIP Take a moment to enter into a time of worship—both on your own and with your community—to show praise, adoration and love for God.

Thegreathymn“AMightyFortressisourGod”27assuresusthatSatan’sstrengthcannevermatchGod’spower.Readandmeditateonthesewords,andbeencouragedbytheirtremendoustruth.Highlightafewphrasesthatespeciallyspeaktoyou,andthankGodforHispower.

AMIGHTYFORTRESSISOURGOD

AmightyfortressisourGod,abulwark28neverfailing;ourhelperhe,amidthefloodofmortalillsprevailing.Forstillourancientfoedoesseektoworkuswoe;hiscraftandpoweraregreat,andarmedwithcruelhate,onearthisnothisequal.

Didweinourownstrengthconfide,ourstrivingwouldbelosing,werenottherightManonourside,theManofGod’sownchoosing.Youaskwhothatmaybe?ChristJesus,itishe;LordSabaoth29hisname,fromagetoagethesame;andhemustwinthebattle.

Andthoughthisworld,withdevilsfilled,shouldthreatentoundous,wewillnotfear,forGodhaswilledhistruthtotriumphthroughus.

27ThishymnwaswrittenbyMartinLutherbetween1527–1529duringtheReformationandisbasedonPsalm46.“AMightyFortressisourGod.”PublicDomain28Abulwarkisadefensivewallorfortification.29Sabaothisanancientnounmeaningthehostsofheaven.TheLordreignsoverthem. “Sabaoth.”Dictionary.com,www.dictionary.com/browse/sabaoth?s=t.

Theprinceofdarknessgrim,wetremblenotforhim;hisragewecanendure,forlo!hisdoomissure;onelittlewordshallfellhim.

ThatWordaboveallearthlypowersnothankstothemabideth;theSpiritandthegiftsareoursthroughhimwhowithussideth.Letgoodsandkindredgo,thismortallifealso;thebodytheymaykill:God’struthabidethstill;hiskingdomisforever!

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WITNESS Believers are called to reflect Christ in the world. This section will help you engage with how to be a witness—reflecting Christ—this week.

WhatthoughtorScripturefromthislessonencouraged,comfortedorhelpedyou?

Amongyourfriendsorfamilymembers,isthereanyonewhoisbattlingagainstthelies,threatsandaccusationsoftheenemy?SharethethoughtorScripturethatencouraged,comfortedorhelpedyouwiththatperson.

PraythatGodwilluseittoministertothem.

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Prayer Requests

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