The Revelation of Jesus Christ “Star Wars” 12
Review
We have been following a future drama detailing what will unfold in the final days of this age.
There will dramatic events on the heavenly stage and around God’s throne. There will be amazing events played out on the earthly stage.
I. PROLOGUE 1:1-20 (Things you have seen)
II. Messages to the Seven churches 2-3 (Things with are)
III. Last Days 4-22 (Things which are about to take place)
A. Heavenly worship around the throne 4-5
B. The Seven seals 6:1-8:1
C. The Seven Trumpets 8-9
1. Earth Shaking Prayer 8:3-5
2. First six trumpets 8:6-9:21
3. Interlude 10-11:14
4. The seventh trumpet 11:15-19
The seventh trumpet proclaims the imminent coming of Jesus.
and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.
D. Interlude 12-14
Chapters 12-14 serve as another interlude. John received another vision detailing the events on the earthly stage taking place sometime between the Seal and Trumpet judgments.
These are tribulation details. John provides insight on the driving force behind the last days devastation and world conflict. This section serves as a detailed backfill to tribulation events.
The end times chronology does not resume until the bowl judgments in chapter 15. In this interlude, John introduces several additional characters to the drama. Even though some parallels may be seen with certain mythological literature, we must reject any notion that John was influenced by them. It is clear that God gave the information to Jesus to tell John, who in turn faithfully recorded it. Two of the characters are pretty clear. John identifies the dragon directly later in the chapter. The Son of the woman who will rule the world is obviously Jesus.
The pregnant woman is not specific but pretty straightforward.
1. The Pregnant Woman and the Great Red Dragon
The Woman
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2 and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. Revelation 12:1-2
John calls this a “great sign” in that it is a significant event in the whole scheme of things.
Our attention is drawn to the long standing war between Satan and the seed of the woman.
The war between Satan and a woman rages on to the end. Human defection started from Satan victimizing a woman. Again we find Satan attacking a woman. Satan sought to prevent the promised seed from day one of the prophetic word against him.
Many theories have been offered as to the identity of this woman.
• Mary the actual mother of Jesus. (Persecution during the tribulation dictates against this)
• Israel
• The Church
• The covenant community of God made up of Old and New Testament followers.
I lean towards seeing the woman as representing Israel. Joseph had a dream where he saw the sun (Jacob) and the moon (Rachel) and eleven stars (his 11 brothers) bowing down to him. Israel is considered the mother of Messiah and source of blessing to all nations.
For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, 5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. Romans 9:3-5
Even as far away as they strayed throughout history, God made an eternal covenant concerning their welfare and blessing that He is about to bring to fulfillment. They will again play a part in the worldwide proclamation of the kingdom of God. (144,000 witnesses). God promise that Israel would be the source of worldwide blessing.
The Great Red Dragon
Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4 And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. Revelation 12:3-4
Here we are given a significant key to human history. Scripture identifies this dragon as Satan.
And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Revelation 12:9
The Dragon image symbolizes something sinister, deadly and frightening. Red is the color of bloody warfare. He is great in the sense of power and influence. It is a story of Satan’s attempt to circumvent God’s plan and promise. Just look at a world map. How can one little country with less territory than the state of Washington attract so much attention and so much hatred around the world?
From the time of Abraham, Israel had been “with Child” suffering the pain of child birth.
Satan continually targeted God’s people to prevent the fulfillment of the Messianic promises.
He made every effort to thwart the birth of our deliverer and his conqueror.
Murder of Abel
Corruption of nearly the whole human race.
Destruction of the babies by Pharaoh.
Saul threw a spear at David.
David’s line was threatened several times.
Haman tried to legislate the extermination of the Jews.
The Maccabees resisted the Roman government’s attempt to destroy them.
After His birth, Satan did everything possible to destroy the baby. Satan tried to either tempt Jesus or destroy Him all through His earthly ministry. Eventfully, he accomplished what he thought to be final victory but turned out to be personal defeat. The description and symbolism of this great red Dragon has been debated over and over. Many try to identify the seven heads, ten horns and seven crowns John described. At the least, it is a general description of world powers and leaders effectively manipulated by Satan to influence the world and establish his kingdom.
The number seven signifies completeness, and the number ten is the number of fullness in the decimal structure. The seven heads and ten horns refer to completeness in conquering the world, which is evident in the appellation applied to Satan, prince of this world (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11).
It may refer to literal historical world powers and their leaders. Some have attempted to identify past powers.
Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome and the last days world power.
Another thought. The seven heads could be seven high ranking demons driving and empowering world powers.
20 Then he said, "Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come. 21 "However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince. Daniel 10:20-21
It is not unreasonable to assume that there is a prince of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Rome and the Prince over one-world government during the last days. Chapter 17 provides additional insight into some of these numbers and connects them to the beast which is also symbolic dominant demonic power exercising world dominance through earthly people and kingdoms.
Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, 10 and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. 11 The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction. 12 The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. 13 These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. Revelation 17:9-13
Following is Raymond Ducks application of these symbols.
The five fallen kings = Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece
The one that is = Rome who was in power at the time of the writing.
The one to come is possible something associate with the United Nations.
One United Nations proposal came before the UN.
It called for the nations to surrender their sovereignty to the UN, divide the world into ten regions, increase the number of permanent members on the UN Security Council to 10, and put one permanent member over each region.
The Bible hints at a last days sequence of events.
Phase I – World divides into 10 regions with 10 leaders (10 horns, ten crowns)
Phase II – Antichrist takes over 3 regions leaving the 10 kings but only 7 regions or crowns.
Phase III – Antichrist takes over the whole world controlling the 10 kings and 7 crowns of regions similar to the toes of iron and clay in Daniel’s statue.
World powers have brought grief to Israel and persecuted Israel all through history. This is not the perspective on world history or western civilization taught in our institutions. No matter how it breaks down, we are certain that Satan is behind the development and empowering of the last days governments and individuals just as he has been throughout history. It perfectly explains how some peoples gain their power and influence and why certain individual leaders rise to such prominence. History is the story of Satan’s attempt to establish his own rival kingdom and determination to destroy God’s. John mentions the Dragon’s tail sweeping away 1/3 of the stars. This is not likely a reference to literal stars as the earth would be completely destroyed. Stars are sometimes a symbolic reference to angels.
A common interpretation equates this statement with the corruption of a third of the angelic host when Satan led his rebellion against God. He has been trying to establish a rival kingdom to God’s since the beginning. Remember, that still leaves 2/3 of the holy angels.
Satan could not prevent the birth so he stood poised to obliterate the child at birth.
Childbirth is difficult enough without including a giant beast waiting to eat your child.
The birth of the Child
And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. Revelation 12:5
Here is a brief reference to the birth, destiny and ascension of Jesus. The earthly ministry of Christ is viewed with one grand sweep. Born to rule, temporarily caught up to the throne awaiting installation as universal Ruler.
The pursuit of the woman by the dragon
Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days. Revelation 12:6
God was not done with Israel and so neither was Satan. His persecution continued and has continued up until this very day. Only the Bible can explain the intense hatred directed at Israel and the Jews. It appears that in the final days this hatred will be at its greatest intensity.
They will become a world target. The antichrist will lead the assault on Jews around the world.
Jeremiah talked about a “time of Jacob’s trouble”. Jesus warned Jews to flee for their lives when the antichrist set himself up in the temple. As in times past, it will become necessary for God to supernaturally protect a remnant of His people to avoid complete annihilation.
LESSONS
• Israel is still God’s special people, so continue to bless her.
And I will make you(Abraham) a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed. Genesis 12:2-3
• The root cause of evil stems from the activity of the evil one, so continue to battle him.
Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12
SO Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 13 Take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:10,11,13
2. Great War In Heaven (Battle royal)
Very often, a conflict on earth will be intricately connected to a heavenly conflict. John next provides a glimpse of the behind the scenes activity (or above the scene) as witness a great angelic war waged in the celestial realms; the spirit world. Who will win? Will Satan be able to gain victory over Michael?
We are often ignorant of the battle raging in that realm that influences the events in this.
John introduces some other players in this drama.
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.
This is not the first encounter between Michael and Satan. (Dan 10; Jude 9) The time frame of this particular conflict is not clear. It could refer to the time directly after the ascension of Jesus. It could refer to the time just before the end. Chronology in Scripture is not all that precise. God goes for the general themes and action rather than the timing (since He is outside of time). He actually sees all these events simultaneously. What we do learn here, is that the great angel warrior Michael and his army defeat Satan and his army.
And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
John identifies Satan with the Great dragon meaning evil and destructive. “Serpent of old” is an obvious reference to Genesis focusing on shrewdness and deception. He is also called “devil” meaning slanderer or false accuser. He is called Satan referring to him as our adversary.
John adds a further description concerning his deceptive function affecting the whole world.
This appears to be a second throw down. There is a couple more to go till the final slam into the eternal fryer. After the initial rebellion, we know that Satan seemed to have had access to God’s throne.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. Job 1:6
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. Zechariah 3:1
A voice from heaven provides some clue as to the activity of Satan.
Then 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 brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.
At some point Satan is denied access to God’s presence. Our advocate brings the accuser’s courtroom slander to an end.
There will no longer be any more condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
Either by God or the devil. Here is how Paul puts it.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Romans 8:31-34
How do we combat and put to end the accusations of the enemy? Just like Christians have and will to the last days.
"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.
The “They” is in the emphatic form indicating “they and they alone” as opposed to those who were not connected to Christ.
These courageous believers will overcome the condemning slanderous activity of Satan.
• On account of the blood of the Lamb Jesus died and paid the penalty for any and all our sin.
• On account of the personal testimony of Christians.
• On account of a full surrender to the person and purposes of Christ
Notice their victory was not over death but defection and defamation and spiritual defeat.
Satan was not able to dissuade them from their commitment to Jesus. One of Satan’s main weapons has to do with lies concerning who we are in Christ. He brings continual condemnation and confusion. The only way to overcome him is knowing what Jesus did in us and for us.
All the pieces of armor in Ephesians 6 has to do with truth concerning our wonderful salvation.
Belt of God’s truth to combat Satan’s lies.
Breastplate of Christ’s righteousness to combat Satan’s accusations.
Boots of Christ’s peace to combat Satan’s discontent and agitation.
Shield of Christ’s faith to combat Satan’s fiery darts of fear and doubt.
Helmet of Christ’s salvation to combat Satan’s mental confusion and insecurity.
Sword of the Spirit to tear down every fortress raised up against the knowledge of Christ.
Put on the whole armor of God so that in the evil day (the day of temptation and attack) you will be able to stand.
The time will come when Satan will be put in his place and it will be a time for great rejoicing.
"For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them.
When Satan loses his heavenly access and suffers one defeat after another, he will take out his hostility on everyone and everything; especially Israel and anyone who name the name of Jesus.
Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time." 13 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. 14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was* nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. 17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 12:7-17
There is considerable emphasis (5 times in three verses) on the throwing down of Satan and his angels. This is a monumental event. Satan gets one blow after another.
He pursues the woman (Israel) to destroy her but God supernaturally protects her.
For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB. 27 THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS. Romans 11:25-27
Unable to finish off the Jews, he will shift to pursing those who come to Jesus during this time.
Realizing his end is near, Satan turns his focus on his last ditch plan to rule the world. He brings together the “unholy trinity.”
Satan the Great dragon
Satan empowers the first beast from the sea who amazes the whole world and solicits worship.
Satan also empowers a second beast or false prophet who glorifies the first beast.
We will meet them in a couple weeks.
LESSONS
• Satan is formidable but NOT invincible.
• Satan seeks to slander, deceive and destroy.
• We do not have to accept ANY condemnation from the enemy.
• Our victory over Satan has to do with Christ’s work in us and for us.
• God can protect His own.
T S T O O D L A B O R S I G N
G V S P R E P A R E D V R O X
P R L N C A U G H T O S E C F
A U E B L G C O D H R M P W E
I O V E D H U D I A D E M S V
N V B E I N G M T L E L A M I
A E H L B H O S N E G A V E G
N D D N O U R I S H E D S N W
S S E N R E D L I W I I C O O
M A P P E A R E D M X R C O M
I H E A D L I A T T O I O M A
N N M I G H T Y Y W P P E N N
B I R T H R E D N U B E L U R
I D R A G O N P B U I T W A U
U W V U B A L F L E D N O S T
APPEARED GIVE SIGN
BEING HEAD SIXTY
BIRTH IRON STARS
CAUGHT LABOR STOOD
CHILD MALE SWEPT
CROWN MIGHT TAIL
DEVOUR MOON UNDER
DIADEMS NOURISHED WILDERNESS
DRAGON PAIN WOMAN
FLED PREPARED
GAVE RULE
Revelation 12:7-17
