The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Revelation 12:13-17,
"When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach. Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God's commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus."
This is the kind of chapter in the book of Revelation that causes me to scratch my head - I do struggle with the symbolism, the cryptic nature of the numbers provided in the account and just what it is that represents what.
The frustration I feel at times when reading this book is driven by the certitude I maintain toward this book, that it is inspired by God, that it is truthful throughout and that God is communicating to us through it. I want to know what it is the Lord is communicating to us - everything that I can. The shortcoming I have in understanding and knowing all that is said in it presents me with my challenge with this book. It is not as though I haven't spent time in the book, or read and listened to others about those things that confound me within its pages, it is that I have little confidence in myself in grasping the material, and I'm not so sure of some of the things I have heard others explain about the book (but not all, by any means).
However, it is clear here that the passage above is speaking about Satan, Jesus, Israel and the church. The dragon, of course is Satan. The woman is Israel, the male child is Jesus and "the rest of her offspring" is the church. Earlier in the chapter we read that Satan attempted to "devour" the Son of God when he was born into the human family through the agency of Israel. Failing that, he turned his venom against Israel who found refuge, "But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth." Verse 16. Failing in that, Satan, in a rage, "went off to wage war" against the church.
So, we see a progression here that follows a war in heaven that we read about in this chapter, verses 7-9. Michael and his angels defeated Satan and his minions and cast him to the earth. When the Son of God arrived, Satan attempted to destroy him. Failing in that, Satan attempted to destroy Israel. Failing that, Satan turned his sights on the church.
This helps us understand John's words, "Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you." 1 John 3:13. Satan has been cast to the earth and he turns his rage against those who participate in God's agenda. This world, the people of this world are animated and energized by the malevolent intentions of Satan who seeks to destroy us. There is no appeasing those of this world, there is no reasoning with those of this world. The weapon we have against Satan's use of the people of this world is the gospel message, from which all believers have made their way from the kingdom of this world (in obeisance to Satan) into the kingdom of God. For those who still belong to this world, even though they may feel they are independent and free, are animated by Satan's intentions.
"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8.
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
"When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach. Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God's commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus."
This is the kind of chapter in the book of Revelation that causes me to scratch my head - I do struggle with the symbolism, the cryptic nature of the numbers provided in the account and just what it is that represents what.
The frustration I feel at times when reading this book is driven by the certitude I maintain toward this book, that it is inspired by God, that it is truthful throughout and that God is communicating to us through it. I want to know what it is the Lord is communicating to us - everything that I can. The shortcoming I have in understanding and knowing all that is said in it presents me with my challenge with this book. It is not as though I haven't spent time in the book, or read and listened to others about those things that confound me within its pages, it is that I have little confidence in myself in grasping the material, and I'm not so sure of some of the things I have heard others explain about the book (but not all, by any means).
However, it is clear here that the passage above is speaking about Satan, Jesus, Israel and the church. The dragon, of course is Satan. The woman is Israel, the male child is Jesus and "the rest of her offspring" is the church. Earlier in the chapter we read that Satan attempted to "devour" the Son of God when he was born into the human family through the agency of Israel. Failing that, he turned his venom against Israel who found refuge, "But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth." Verse 16. Failing in that, Satan, in a rage, "went off to wage war" against the church.
So, we see a progression here that follows a war in heaven that we read about in this chapter, verses 7-9. Michael and his angels defeated Satan and his minions and cast him to the earth. When the Son of God arrived, Satan attempted to destroy him. Failing in that, Satan attempted to destroy Israel. Failing that, Satan turned his sights on the church.
This helps us understand John's words, "Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you." 1 John 3:13. Satan has been cast to the earth and he turns his rage against those who participate in God's agenda. This world, the people of this world are animated and energized by the malevolent intentions of Satan who seeks to destroy us. There is no appeasing those of this world, there is no reasoning with those of this world. The weapon we have against Satan's use of the people of this world is the gospel message, from which all believers have made their way from the kingdom of this world (in obeisance to Satan) into the kingdom of God. For those who still belong to this world, even though they may feel they are independent and free, are animated by Satan's intentions.
"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8.
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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