Read Revelation 12
Highlights:
The sun-clad woman, the dragon, the man child, the blood of the Lamb, the beast.
And there appeared another wonder . . . a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns . . . . And I heard a loud voice saying . . . the accuser of our brethren is cast down . . . . And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death (Rev. 12:3,10,11).
Chapter 12 gives us a brief but all-important summary of the whole course of events, but not viewed from a human viewpoint. It is the divine view of all the principles at work, the state of things as revealed by God. It is not often we gain a view of things from the heavenly side. However, to truly understand what is transpiring in this Book of Revelation, God opens the veil into the spiritual world for us to see.
The trial of the remnant of God occurs in the wilderness (12:6) to illustrate the desert-like moral condition of this world ruled by a great red dragon (Satan) (12:3). The great dragon . . . that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world (12:9), is in opposition to the faithful people of God. Satan is always seeking to destroy the likeness of Christ and His Word wherever it exists. Here he is given four titles: The great dragon — the seven heads, ten horns, and crowns of the dragon indicate the great influence and the many forms of Satan's malicious, evil activities in causing people to oppose the work of Christ. That old serpent points out his deceptive character which he used in the Garden of Eden. The Devil reminds us that he is a slanderer and a liar; and Satan means adversary. Your adversary the Devil . . . walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8). The perpetual enemy of Christ is as determined to destroy the work of Christ as Pharaoh was to kill all the Hebrew male children during the time of Moses, and as Herod was to slaughter all the babies in Bethlehem in an effort to kill Jesus Christ.
But, praise God, we are more than conquerors through Him (Christ) that loved us (Rom. 8:37). A Christian is able to have peace even in difficult situations because he knows the all powerful God is in control and He gives peace.
Christians in every generation overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their testimony (God's Word that became a way of life); and they loved not their lives unto the death (Rev. 12:11). Here is given the reason why the followers of Christ prevailed at this time against all their adversaries. It was because they fought against the dragon in the armour of God. They overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb, by proclaiming salvation to sinners through Christ crucified, and by their continual intercession at the throne of grace for the conversion of the heathen world.
Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night (Rev. 12:10).
Thought for the Day: Satan thrives on the ignorance of saints concerning himself. God's Word reveals his tactics.
Cross References:
For Rev. 12:5: See Is. 66:7. Rev. 12:14: See Ex. 19:4. Rev. 13:1: See Dan. 7:8,24. Rev. 13:5: See Dan. 7:8.
Word Studies:
12:6 threescore, 60; 12:17 wroth, furious.
Prayer Suggestion: Forgive others without exception, and then ask the Lord to forgive you (Matt. 6:12).
Memory Verse for the Week: Luke 2:1-11