The Woman. the Child, and, the Dragon - Conclusions

 

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 and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” (Revelation 12:10-12 ESV).

 

At this mid-point in our study, what should be our conclusions? There are many things I might point us toward; however, let me mention just three.

 

First, we see that the Dragon has 7 heads, speaking of complete wisdom. Our enemy is vastly intelligent. So much so that he was able to convince 1/3 of the angels to follow him and rebel against God. He should never be underestimated. He knows us. He knows our weaknesses. And he likes to try to exploit those weaknesses. The more you allow the Lord to live and work through you, the more of a target you will become. Never underestimate the battle that goes on around you. But we also remember this - greater is He who is in you than He who is in the world. And while your enemy knows you and your weaknesses, if you know God's word then you are also aware of his ways for 'we are not ignorant of his schemes' (cf. 2 Corinthians 2:11). Also remember that if 1/3 of the angels fell then 2/3 didn't! That means the fallen angels are outnumbered 2 - 1. Remember that when you are fearful next.

 

Second, Revelation 12 is a reminder of the incredible plan we are part of. We've seen that this plan of God with the woman, the child and the dragon goes all the way back to the garden of Eden. It has been playing out for thousands of years, and even more amazing is the fact that it is coming to its conclusion. You may have a mundane 9-5 job and lead a quiet life. But if you are a believer, you are part of an incredible plan of God! And as we look around us we can see all the signs and players positioning themselves. We can see this amazing plan of God come to fruition.

 

Third, Revelation 12 is a reminder of the amazing future that we have. The child is caught up to the throne of God. That happened to Jesus and that is the future for the believer. That is our hope. Just as Jesus ascended into heaven, so shall His Church. So, this reminds us that the dragon will fail. He failed with Jesus, He has failed with the Church and he will fail with the woman. That is he will fail in all his efforts in stopping the remnant of Israel from believing in, and calling upon, the Lord Jesus to come again. Not only is He caught up to the very throne of God Himself, but He shall 'rule all the nations with a rod of iron'. That is true of Jesus Christ. Amazingly, it is also true of the Church. That is the future for believers. Hallelujah!