Read Revelation 12:1–6
Questions from the Scripture text: What appeared in heaven (Revelation 12:1)? What was the sign? With what was she clothed? Shod? Crowned? What was her condition in Revelation 12:2? What appears in Revelation 12:3? What is this sign? What color is the dragon? How many heads does it have? How many horns? How many crowns? What did his tail do to whom (Revelation 12:4)? To where did it throw them? Where did the dragon stand (verse 4)? What did it hope to do? Whom did the woman bear (Revelation 12:5)? What was the Child to do? With what? But what came of the Child? And where does the woman go (Revelation 12:6)? What is prepared for her there? What will they do for her in that place? For how long?
What are we to think of Satan’s vicious attacks against Christ and His people? Revelation 12:1–6 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the devil is a fierce enemy, but the determining factor in what comes of his attacks is God’s intentions toward His church for the glory of His Son.
Christ enthroned in Zion. Psalm 2 stood behind the praise of the elders/church in Revelation 11:17–18, and now it stands behind Revelation 12:5. Here is the One Who is to rule all nations with a rod of iron (cf. Psalm 2:8–9). And Revelation 12:6 helps us understand Psalm 2:6. God’s holy hill of Zion (cf. Psalm 2:6) is not, ultimately, the hill that David took from the Jebusites, but “God and His throne” (Revelation 12:5).
The devil and his angels. This helps us understand Revelation 12:3 and the strange appendages of the dragon: seven heads and ten horns. Throughout Scripture, horns have represented power, and crowns on heads is easily recognized as authority. The dragon himself is Satan (cf. Revelation 12:9). Isaiah 14:12–17 and Ezekiel 28:12–19 describe his fall from heaven, and now we learn that he took one-third of the angels with him to be arch-persecutors of the church (Revelation 12:4, cf. Daniel 8:8–12).
The nations’ satanic resistance to Christ’s authority. The final piece to understanding both this passage and Daniel 8 is Psalm 2:1–3. It is not just the demons, whom Satan has embroiled in his war against God and Christ, but the nations, peoples, kings, and rulers. Whether they are consciously aware of it or not, their resistance and rebellion against God and His anointed are not just Satanic in manner but in actual, personal identity. Currently the heads and crowns of the earth are his heads and crowns, and the horns of the earth are his horns. The peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues give their kingdom and honor to the “god of this age” (cf. Revelation 17:15–17; 2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:31; Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 6:12; Acts 26:18). We ought to take nations’ rebellion against the Lord very seriously, while at the same time facing them with confidence in Him Who reigns.
One church throughout the ages. The woman is obviously the church, and especially Eve and Mary (and all of the other women in His lineage, cf. Matthew 1:5–6). Clothed with the sun, shod with the moon, and crowned with the stars, her image brings Genesis 37:9 to mind, so that with the “garland of 12 stars” representing the Lord’s authority in His church throughout the ages (not only 12 tribes under Moses, but 12 apostles under the gospel), the church back through the patriarchs is represented here. Here, we have strong Scripture witness that the church is one woman throughout the ages, not a series of disconnected entities from unrelated dispensations. With respect to Christ’s coming into the world, she is His mother, but with respect to His and her eternal glory, she is His bride!
Biblical covenant theology keeps us from the dispensational errors that cloud our view of how God interacts with His people in this world. With the biblical, covenant theology of Revelation 12:1–6, we can behold all of God’s interactions with His church throughout the ages as indicative of His disposition and conduct toward us.
Satan’s failed attacks upon Christ and His church. Satan’s failure to devour Christ is spectacular. His assault on the Son becomes the means by which believers re redeemed (cf. Revelation 12:11), and the occasion for the resurrection, ascension, and enthronement of Christ (Revelation 12:5b). Additionally, the effects of his vigorous assault upon the woman are entirely muted. The world in this age is pictured in Revelation 12:6a as a “wilderness.” But, just as with Israel in its infancy, the wilderness becomes a location of special care and provision by God (verse 6b). And the time period in verse 6c is, again, half of seven years, indicating that God has intentionally shortened the time for the sake of His people. He is intentionally making our afflictions lighter and more momentary (cf. Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Peter 1:6). The devil is a fierce enemy, dear believer; but, the determining factor in your circumstances are God’s intentions toward you for the glory of His Son. Behold how He cares for you, provides for you, and so orders even the most difficult providence with a view toward being gentle with you!
What are some examples of nations’ satanic resistance to Christ with regard to the first table of the law? What are some examples of nations’ satanic resistance to Christ with regard to the second table of the law? How does viewing this world as “our turn to be in the wilderness” help you dwell upon God’s providential care for you? How has He been doing so?
Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us, for each and every one of our sins is a rebellion against You and against Christ that is literally in league with the devil. And, forgive us for forgetting that our fierce enemy is yet a frustrated enemy and a conquered enemy. Indeed, by focusing on our afflictions, we forget that You have lovingly, wisely, and powerfully made them light and momentary. We are so dull toward Your goodness that we fail to see how kind and generous has been Your provision for us in this wilderness. So, forgive us for the sake of Your Son, and glorify Him by cleansing us from all unrighteousness, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP2 “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage” or TPH256 “God Moves in a Mysterious Way”
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