December 29th~The Woman and the Dragon

Revelation 11:1-14:20

We dove deep into a great deal of imagery and symbolism, describing the events surrounding the future attack and deliverance of God’s people, the Jews. While the details can be over- whelming, the story is quite simple. Satan is given unprecedented control over the people of the earth, whom he uses to rally against the people of God. However, the Lord Jesus rescues them with a great victory over their enemies.

Israel is pictured in the story as the Pregnant Woman, who has a crown of twelve stars. “She cried out in the pain of labor as she awaited her delivery” (12:1, 2), meaning that she waited a long time for the promised Messiah to come. She finally gave birth to the Savior, “the boy who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. He was snatched away and caught up to God and to His throne” (v.5).

The large red Dragon, of course, is Satan. “There was a war in heaven. Michael and the angels fought the Dragon and his angels; and the Dragon lost the battle and was forced out of heaven. This great Dragon, the ancient serpent called the Devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world, was thrown down to the earth...” (v.7-9). After falling to the earth, the Dragon waged war against the Woman, “all who kept God’s commandments and confessed that they belonged to Jesus” (v.17).

The Beast rising up out of the sea refers to the one-world government that will rule the earth in the end times. “The Dragon gave him his power and throne and great authority. He was allowed to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation” (13:2, 7). The second Beast refers to the False Prophet who is to come. “He will require all the earth and those who belong to this world to worship the first beast. He also required everyone to be marked” (v.12, 16-18).

As war rages against God’s people, the Son of Man, Jesus Himself, appears carrying a sickle, “for the time has come for Him to harvest; the crop is ripe on the earth” (14:15). So the Son of Man will swing His sickle and the whole earth will be harvested. “The grapes will be trodden in the winepress outside the city and the blood will flow from the winepress in a stream 180 miles long and as high as a horse’s bridle” (v.16, 20). Here is described the final battle between the Lord and His enemies at Armageddon.

Daily Reflection

What can we possibly apply from these scary scenes? First, they are part of the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15, the first prophecy about this battle. Remember, God told the serpent in the Garden, “I will cause hostility between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Second, God is sovereign. Though it may seem that chaos reigns on the earth, God is in control. His plan will unfold just as He willed from the beginning. Nothing will happen that He has not already ordained. All will occur in His timing and in His way. We can rest in the knowledge that God is sovereign.

Third, God is faithful. He will complete all that He has promised. Though His people have been devastated over the ages, He will win in the end. His enemy will be vanquished and His people will be avenged! Be glad you are on His side.

Where will you be in the midst of these things?

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