God uses this section of Revelation to tell the true story of the world -the behind the scenes actions- that are normally off limits to all of us. The first century after Jesus saw Christians persecuted by the Roman Empire. The cult of emperor worship increased in prominence, forcing many Christians to become martyrs for their faith.
To all who were going through trials and sufferings, God reveals how the world will end. Revelations Chapters 12-14 gives us a backstage pass to understand Satan and his motivations for attacking Christians.
A few thoughts to help us understand Chapter 12.
- The issue isn't the 'when' but the 'what.' It is natural to ask questions like, 'When did this happen?' and 'How long ago was Satan cast out of heaven?' But Revelation 12 and indeed the entire book is more concerned with us understanding The Story rather than chronology.
- Old Testament themes reinforce the images found in Revelation 12. Allusions to The Exodus, Leviathan, Ezekiel, and Joseph's dreams make this chapter rich with ancient Jewish history.
- Theology is best taught with story than with books or lectures! We know this to be true from our own experiences, and Revelation 12 supports this thought. We are given a graphic and brutally honest story of Satan fighting against God, losing and then attacking God's people.
- The goal of seeing this new perspective on life is to help embattled followers of Christ see that while Jesus' death and resurrection won the war, battles still continue...
Today we read Revelation 12 with an awareness that Satan is truly at work. How else can we ascribe the self-destructive patterns and behaviors of our friends and neighbors? How else can we make sense of parents who kill their children, or those who die through addictions. The good news is that Salvation and Power has arrived through the authority of Christ!
As you read through Revelation 12, what questions or comments come to your mind?
3 comments:
Pastor Jon
I see the women in chapter 12 as just Israel. How do you see the women as Israel and the church?
Dan M
sorry woman that is
Good question Dan. It really is a hermeneutical issue. All through Revelation, when God is talking about his people, is he talking about Israel or the Church or both?
There are many Old Testament passages which describe Israel as the mother of God's people. Isaiah 54.1-2 and Hosea 1.2, are but two examples. Also the descriptive terms of Revelation 12.1 are direct allusions to Joseph's dreams of Genesis 37.
However, in the New Testament we also see evidence of the same 'mother' imagery now used to describe the Church -See Galatians 4.26 and in the context of Revelation 12, the entire point of the passage is to show that just as Satan attacked God's people in the Old Testament and at the time of Jesus; he continues to attack God's people.
Revelation 12.17 shows us that Satan is still attacking God's People, still chasing after the Woman and her offspring. We know from the context that John isn't stating that Satan is attacking the nation of Israel; rather he wants us to understand that Satan is still attacking God's Followers...
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