The Woman the Male-Child and the Dragon Revelation

The Woman, the Male-Child, and the Dragon Revelation 12: 1 -17

Outline of Revelation Publication of the Prophecy: Its Future Expectation (4: 1 – 22: 5) n Opening of the Seven-Sealed Scroll (4: 1 – 8: 1) The Sounding of the Seven Trumpets (8: 2 – 11: 19) Pouring Out of the Seven Bowls (12: 1 – 18: 24) n n n Background of the Bowls (12: 1 – 14: 20) n n The woman, the male-child, and the dragon (12: 1 -17)

The Structure of Daniel’s 70 th Week Rapture of (aka The Day of the Lord) Return of the Church Christ Rev 12 -14 Abomination of Desolation 3. 5 Years Beginning of Birth Pangs The Great Tribulation

The Dragon’s Enmity against the Messiah (12: 1 -6) n n These verses furnish the plot for the whole background story. John’s seeing “a great sign” indicates that the vision of the woman is to be understood as representing something other than just a woman. What is the OT background that helps us interpret this sign? n Who does the woman represent in Revelation 12? n

The Dragon’s Enmity against the Messiah (12: 1 -6) n John sees a second sign in heaven, a great red dragon with 7 heads and 10 horns and 7 diadems upon his heads. n n Who does this represent? In anticipation of a fuller discussion when we get to 17: 9 -10, the symbolism of the dragon can be identified as follows: n n The 7 heads with 7 diadems are 7 successive world empires. The 10 horns are 10 kings who will be in power during the final empire (Rev 17: 12).

The Dragon’s Enmity against the Messiah (12: 1 -6) n n The dragon’s sweeping of a third of the stars of heaven refers to Satan’s rebellion and a third of the angels that he took with him. Though the dragon stood ready to devour the Child at His birth, he was unsuccessful. Israel gave birth to the Messiah who will rule the nations. After His initial earthly ministry, He returned to heaven. The woman’s (Israel’s) flight into the wilderness (v. 6) actually occurs after the war in heaven described in vv. 7 -9, at the halfway point of Daniel’s 70 th week.

The Expulsion of the Dragon from Heaven (12: 7 -12) n The war described in vv. 7 -9 is an endtime event, occurring midway through the 70 th week of Daniel (see Daniel 12: 1). n n n This war is apparently an attempt by the dragon to unseat the woman’s Son and re-establish himself in the presence of God. When it ends in failure, the dragon and his angels are forced to leave heaven and are cast down to the earth. Knowing that he has only a “little time” remaining (12: 12), Satan’s energies will be totally focused on persecuting those who are loyal to Christ, including the people of Israel.

The Expulsion of the Dragon from Heaven (12: 7 -12) n Verse 9 identifies the leader of the war in 5 different ways: n n n “the great dragon”; “the ancient serpent, ” reaching back to Satan’s original attempt to deceive the human race in the Garden of Eden; “devil, ” from the Greek term Dia, boloj, meaning “defamer, slanderer, false accuser”; “satan, ” meaning “adversary, ” particularly one who opposes God and His people; “the one who deceives the whole world”, such deception being Satan’s modus operandi, culminating with the worldwide rule of the False Christ.

The Expulsion of the Dragon from Heaven (12: 7 -12) n Satan’s defeat and expulsion from heaven elicits a loud hymn of praise that divides into 3 stanzas: n n n The arrival of God’s kingdom and Christ’s authority (v. 10), which includes a recognition of victory over the dragon, the divine power that accomplished it, and the kingdom which results from it. The earthly victory of the saints who identify with Christ in His witness and death (v. 11). It is best to see these saints as those who are martyred for their loyalty to Christ during the tribulation period. Their power to overcome will reside in Christ’s sacrifice for them by His shed blood, keeping them faithful even unto death. A twofold response to the expulsion of the dragon from heaven (v. 12): n n Rejoicing in heaven that the devil and his angels have been thrown down and are no longer able to accuse the brethren; Warning to the earth, because that same devil knows that he has only a short time and will vent his fury against those who brought the Messiah into being.

The Dragon’s Pursuit of the Woman (12: 13 -17) n n n When the dragon saw that he could not reach the woman’s son, he turned to persecute the mother, who is national Israel. Believing Israel will be supernaturally delivered to her appointed place of protection, where she will be provided for by God during the last 3 ½ years of Daniel’s 70 th week. When the serpent sees that he cannot pursue the woman where she is, he will attempt to destroy her by drowning, but the earth will help the woman by opening up and drinking the water. This enrages the dragon even more!

The Dragon’s Pursuit of the Woman (12: 13 -17) n Notice the increasing frustration and wrath of the dragon through this chapter: n n First he was thwarted in devouring the child. His anger increased and was re-directed toward the woman. Then he lost his access to heaven, increasing his anger even more as he pursues Israel on the earth. Then Israel is supernaturally delivered and protected, once again increasing the devil’s rage. Now it is directed toward “the rest of her offspring. ” These are best identified as the 144, 000 from each of the 12 tribes that were sealed earlier in Revelation 7. The mention of this group sets the stage for the battle between the beast and the faithful in Rev 13. n Rev 14: 1 -5 is the sequel to that battle, describing the victory of the 144, 000.

Next Week: The Beast out of the Sea and the Beast out of the Earth (Rev 13: 1 -18) Read Rev 12 - 13