War in the Heavens and on Earth Revelation 12

Revelation 12:1-2 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

The woman Genesis 37:9-11 Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, "Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me." So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?" And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

The woman As we shall see this woman has a lot to do with the Messiah Mary does not fit, why? Israel does not fit, why? Again whoever this is she is before and after the Incarnation. Thus it fits that she is the people of God, i.e., Israel and the Church

Revelation 12:3-4 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.

The Red Dragon 7 heads; 10 horns; 7 diadems = fullness of evil Heads – 2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. Heads – Maybe it is the Leviathan Heads- Maybe it is how the Devil manifests himself on earth, through the heads (people, governments) he works through

The Red Dragon 10 Horns – Great power 7 diadems – great kingdom Tail –This is where we get the idea that 1/3 of the angels were thrown out of heaven with him. Daniel 8:10 And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. So it could be his evil influence

The Red Dragon Tried to eat the child Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." Patriarchs and barren wives; Moses; Judges; Kings; Captivity; Prophets; Birth; Life of Christ

Revelation 12:5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.

The Child The Messiah Psalm 2:9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’" Revelation 2:26-27 "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ — as I also have received from My Father;

The Child Speaks of the ascension

Revelation 12:6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

Wilderness A desolate place Like in Genesis 21:14-19 when Hagar is kicked out into the wilderness and God provides for them Lasted for 3 ½ years this is a time of protection

Revelation 12:7-8 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.

War in heaven This may have happened eons ago we do not know Ultimate what we do know is from Revelation 12:11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” This leads some to conclude what is described here is the victory of Christ at the Cross and the Resurrection

Revelation 12:9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

Zechariah 3:1-4 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?" Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him." And to him He said, "See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes."

Revelation 12:11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Satan Defeated Satan no doubt still mouths off, but he has no teeth, God is not listening. Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

“the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” Bold witness of faith- in the early Church they were faced with death but did not back down Example Polycarp 1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

Genesis 3 and Revelation 12 There is a woman, a serpent, and a child of promise

Revelation 12:12 "Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."

The devil failed in stopping the child, the Messiah Therefore, he goes to plan B, attack the people of God, the woman How has Satan tried to attack the Church?

Revelation 12:13-14 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.

Exodus 19:4-6 You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. ‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. ‘And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."

Revelation 12:15-16 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.

Satan Attacks the Church This could by physical This could be spiritual 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Attack on Individuals Satan failed in his attack to destroy the Christ, he failed in his attack to destroy the Church, so he attacks individuals How does Satan attack individuals? How can we resist the attacks of Satan?

Attack on Individuals Even in this Satan is not totally successful so in the next chapter he calls in reinforcements Remember the promise from Romans 16:19-20 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.