Revelation 12- 22

In the middle of the book of Revelation, John writes down another one of the visions he saw to tell the Christians in first-century Asia Minor what must soon take place. This one is crucial to them and to us as it provides a glimpse “behind the scenes” at the spiritual warfare Christians face daily. For the brethren in Asia Minor in John’s day, Satan was preparing to use the might of Rome to wage his next spiritual attack.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance…

Ephesians 6:10-18

In chapters 12 and 13, John is shown a beautiful woman, a baby boy, a dragon and a beast. Keeping in mind that the apocalyptic language John is using to describe the visions he is seeing are filled with symbols and figurative imagery that would veil the meaning to those lacking “spiritual eyes and ears”. But for the discerning Christian who has “spiritual eyes and ears”, it is a message that is as fascinating as it is frightening.

The woman in all of her glory is a representation of the covenant people of God. Satan hates her because she is the predestined body by which sinners will be redeemed and live in eternity with God. In the vision she is pregnant and then gives birth. The unmistakable figure is that she is Israel before “the man-child” and the church after He comes. The “man-child”, of course, is Jesus. Satan wants desperately to kill the woman, but she is under God’s providential care … souls shall be saved and the devil is powerless to prevent this. Satan tries to thwart God by killing the “child”, but he is thwarted by the resurrection.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Ephesians 1:3-10

So deep is his hatred, Satan accuses the saints perpetually, but the blood of Jesus renders them blameless and holy before God (Revelation 12:10-11). This is the gospel story. Nothing can prevent the salvation that God foreordained from the foundation of the world. Many people misunderstand this concept of “pre-destination”, assuming incorrectly that God hand-pick who is saved and who is condemned and people have no free will to choose for themselves. THAT people would be saved by the blood of Jesus was predestined. WHO would be saved is determined by free will choices. That’s the power of “whosoever” in John 3:16.

So, faced with defeat at the cross and empty tomb Satan goes away quietly accepting what God accomplished in Jesus the Christ. Right? Hardly…

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. And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

Revelation 12:17-13:9

This is spiritual warfare. Satan empowers the Beast (Rome) to wage war on the saints by creating circumstances where they must choose to worship him or die. “Those who dwell upon the earth” are worldly people lost in sin who fall for it. Their names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life. “Those who dwell in heaven” resist the wiles of the devil, even if it costs them their physical lives.

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Philippians 3:7-21

For the folks in Asia Minor (and elsewhere in the Roman Empire), dark days were coming as Rome would use emperor worship to be a test of loyalty and Satan would use this to tempt Christians to deny Jesus and lose their souls. The message for us all is that Satan did not give up when the tomb was found empty. He IS defeated, but he now wages war on the rest of the children of the covenant woman. He could not prevent salvation, but he can prevent YOUR salvation.

Where, then, is hope? The final vision John sees is the “bride of Christ” – the Lord’s church – coming down out of heaven. Many sees this as heaven itself, but the text clearly says it descends out of heaven. Further, notice that “the nations” are still walking by her light and salvation is still occurring…

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Revelation 21:22-27

So, what does this represent and what is the meaning for the original audience and for us? This “city” is the church – the bride of Christ – emerging from Roman persecution in victorious splendor! With her bejeweled walls and gates of huge pearls we see her preciousness to God. With her streets of gold and those jewels we see her value to God. In her massiveness (1500 miles x 1500 miles x 1500 miles) she has ample room for “whosoever” shall come to enter and abide there. God dwells with His people … just like He promised … just like it was at the beginning in Eden. In Christ Jesus, we have pristine fellowship with our Creator!

Truly there is spiritual warfare going on every day as long as this earth continues. Because He gives us free will, we must endure the battle armed with God’s complete and effective armor. For those in Asia Minor and for those of us today, the message is the same. Overcome the schemes of Satan no matter the cost, or the ultimate cost will be your soul.

Make no mistake, however, in Christ there is refuge and safety because He is VICTORIOUS! Jesus is victorious because Yahweh is Almighty. The power of Yahweh accomplished salvation because He is gracious and merciful. The justice of Yahweh Elohim Shaddai demands a life for sin … so the God who IS love became a man we call Jesus.

Thanks be to God for this inexpressible gift!

2 Corinthians 9:15

Consider His nature.  Consider His ways.  Strive to love Him more!