Year 2, Week 52, Day 2 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 52, Day 2

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Revelation 12-14.

Today’s reading consists of three more chapters of Revelation. The Book of Revelation, which was written by the Apostle John to seven churches, serves as an unveiling from Jesus Christ about Jesus Christ as it pertains to matters concerning the end of time. Revelation reveals the plans and purposes of the Lord Jesus Christ with a view toward encouraging suffering and struggling believers to persevere. Revelation 6-16 depicts, primarily through a series of seals, trumpets, and bowls, the unleashing of God’s judgment, while also displaying the Lord’s preservation of His people. Revelation 12 begins an interlude that runs through chapter 14, and interrupts the unleashing of the seventh trumpet at the end of the previous chapter and the start of the first bowl in Revelation 15. Revelation 12 describes a war in heaven: “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon” (Revelation 12:7). Revelation 13 continues some of the theme of the previous chapter as the war in heaven intensifies on earth: “And I saw a beast rising out of the sea…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…to make war on the saints and to conquer them” (Revelation 13:1-2,7). Revelation 14 returns to the matter of the 144,000 people, which was dealt with in chapter 7, providing a reassurance that the Lord will protect His people: “Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the description of Satan’s war against God and His people: “behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth” (Revelation 12:3-4a). This dragon is Satan, but also linked to the serpent in the garden: “And the great dragon…that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world” (Revelation 12:9a). This dragon seeks to destroy a woman: “And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth…And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it” (Revelation 12:1-2,4b). A woman “clothed with the son, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” is no ordinary woman. This woman symbolizes something significant; as does the Son she is carrying: “She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron” (Revelation 12:5a). The child is the Messiah: "I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Psalm 2:7-9). Satan goes to war as a dragon and God ordains a pregnant woman to give birth to a baby boy. But as the pregnant woman and the boy face the dragon; suddenly victory is snatched from the dragon’s jaws and the child is caught up to God’s throne: “but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days” (Revelation 12:5b-6). The boy is spared, but the woman flees to the wilderness. But in the wilderness the woman would be protected.

The scene abruptly shifts: “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven” (Revelation 12:7-8). While the women fled to the wilderness, the boy ascended to heaven, and a war broke out. However, Satan was soundly defeated. His work of accusing the brothers was brought to nought by the victory of the lamb: “And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 12:10-11a). And the conquering blood of the lamb enabled the saints to overcome: “by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death” (Revelation 12:11b). The reason it is vital that saints were enabled to overcome is that the battle shifts back to earth, after the dragon was cast down: “And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child” (Revelation 12:13). The dragon’s focus went from devouring the child to devouring the woman. But the woman will be protected: “But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time” (Revelation 12:14). With imagery reminiscent of the Lord’s protection in Moses’ time: “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself” (Exodus 19:4); but also promised to be true again by Isaiah: “but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31); the Lord will protect His people from Satan’s designs.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe