The Way - Day 222 (Revelation 12)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
Revelation 11:15-12:17
The seventh angel sounded a trumpet ushering in the last trumpet judgment. The announcement from this angel brought voices from heaven who were giving thanks to God for the establishment of His soon-coming kingdom on earth (11:15). The twenty-four elders (Revelation 4:4), who represent the church, also fall down on their faces and worship God for His eventual reign (11:16-18).
 
After the rejoicing of the people and twenty-four elders, John writes…

 "…the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail." (Revelation 11:19)

The ark of the covenant was an item in the Old Testament place of worship. It symbolized the presence of God and His payment for sin. The Old Testament ark embodied the one John was now seeing in heaven.

A great sign (symbol) then appears in heaven and a woman with child cries "…out in labor and in pain to give birth" (12:1-2). This woman is not a literal woman, but represents Israel who oftentimes in the Old Testament was pictured as being married to God (Genesis 37:9; Isaiah 54:5-6). A second sign (symbol) appears in heaven – a great, fiery red dragon" (12:3). John describes this dragon as "…having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads" (12:3). The identity of this dragon is Satan, who John clearly identifies in Revelation 12:9. John writes about the actions of the dragon (Satan).

"…drew a third of the stars [angels] of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child [the Messiah] as soon as it was born [Herod demanding the death of all male children]." (Revelation 12:4)
The picture is clear. God promised a deliverer from sin (Genesis 3:15) but Satan’s priority was to make sure that this deliverer would not survive. John continues to write about the woman (Israel). She "…bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her child was caught up [Jesus' ascension] to God and His throne" (12:5). Jesus did survive Satan's attacks and rose victoriously from the dead to sit at the right hand of God.
But now John sees the woman (Israel) fleeing into the wilderness "…where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days" (12:6). The time spoken of here is the last three and a half years of the tribulation period when Satan will do his best to terrorize Israel; however, God promises to protect them. The prophet Daniel gives some insight on what will happen during this time. For the first three and a half years, the Antichrist will make a peace covenant with Israel, but at the midpoint of the seven-year tribulation he will break that covenant, discontinue temple worship, and defile temple worship (Daniel 9:27). This is called the abomination of desolation in Matthew 24:15-22 and as a result of it, many Jews will flee for their lives.

Mimicking the chaos which is happening on earth, war will break out in heaven when Michael and his angels fight Satan and his angels (12:7). Satan and his angels will lose this battle and be cast to earth for the last time. They will become very angry and take their wrath out on the inhabitants of the earth (12:12). He will first go after Israel, but they will be given God's special protection (12:13-16). In frustration, Satan will then take out his wrath on anyone who names the name of Christ (12:17).
 
Although this is devastation that Satan will pour out in the last days, let’s remember that he is already destroying the people of the earth. He seeks to destroy their lives through temptation, sin, and discouragement. Those who follow Christ must offer hope through Jesus Christ to help win the battle for souls now.

Dear God, make me a person who spreads the message of hope to those on earth. Use me at my job, in my neighborhood, and in my dealings with people every day to offer salvation to those without Jesus Christ.