Revelation 12 reminds me of playing softball as kids. We had no adults, and no umpires. Disputed calls were settled quickly by the group. Anyone that continuously argued calls was labeled a “cheater”. Today’s chapter is about staying united in truth. John begins with symbolism that reflects the history of God’s people. The nation of Israel has been battling elimination from the beginning. The highlight reel of impossible saves has led us to the final inning. John provides the play by play: “A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.” He tells us that she is pregnant, and “cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.” The woman here is Israel. He describes the adversary: “an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads.” Once again, it looks bad for the home team as some type of world-wide centralized authority comes against Israel. The dragon was positioned: “so that it might devour her child the moment he was born.” John breaks the tension: “She gave birth to a son, a male child, who ‘will rule all the nations with an iron scepter’.” Once again God intervenes with His hand of protection: “her child was snatched up to God and to His throne.” How many times has the enemy attempted to destroy God’s people through infanticide? Evil always targets the most vulnerable.
John adds an interesting commentary for the stat-nerds: “The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God… for 1,260 days.” The ancient calendar used 12 30-day months to calculate a simple administrative year of work (such as time to pay off a debt). John says that Israel would hide in the wilderness for 42 months (or 3.5 years) during the 7 years of tribulation. Some believe this is the final 7 years, or 70th “week” from Daniel chapter 9. John writes: “War broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon.” To be clear, Satan and Michael were both created to serve God. Satan, in his pride desired to be worshipped. He was ejected and has been recruiting his own team through deception ever since. “The great dragon… that ancient serpent called the devil… who leads the whole world astray… was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” When cheaters are rejected, they retaliate in revenge. Childish name-calling is a constant weapon of the enemy.
John then “heard a loud voice in heaven” announce that the King of kings has come to bring salvation to all the earth, through “the authority of His Messiah”. This is apparently the unified voice of the saints in heaven. They continue: “the accuser of our brothers and sisters… has been hurled down.” Notice the tools of the deceiver are accusation and division. Cheaters are only defeated when everyone else stands for truth. John hears something that he also knows personally: “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony… Therefore rejoice.” My joy does not come from my righteousness, but the knowledge that Christ has paid my debt. He is my strength. But they add a warning: “woe to the earth… he is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” Cheaters insulate themselves by recruiting allies into their corruption. John’s earlier vision concludes: “the dragon… pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.” Antisemitism endures in the last days, as Israel retreats to “the place prepared for her in the wilderness… for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach.” The remnant of Israel is protected through the last half of the 7-years. Predictably, “the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring.” John tells us that is: “those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.” Our team offers hope and restoration in Christ. It is unity through His Word that gives us our strength.