Victorious Warrior

Revelation 12

​“I’m not afraid of the devil. The devil can handle me—he’s got judo I never heard of. But he can’t handle the One to whom I’m joined; he can’t handle the One to whom I’m united; he can’t handle the One whose nature dwells in my nature.” A. W. Tozer

“And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. ” Revelation 12:1–6 (ESV)

In view of Revelation 12, we see the signs and discover the Child is Jesus Christ, and the woman represents Israel who brought the Savior into the world. The dragon is Satan who tried to keep Jesus from being born and attempted to kill Him after He was born. Satan wants to rule this world, and he will not submit to the King.

Dr. Tony Evans writes, “The twelve stars represent the twelve tribes of Israel, and the woman is Israel. Her pregnancy symbolizes the fact that Jesus the Messiah came through Israel. At his first coming, Jesus was born of a Jewish woman. His second coming must again originate with that people. The purpose of the tribulation is for Israel to give birth, so to speak, to the Messiah once again. In other words, Jesus cannot return until Israel receives him. Most of the Jewish people currently reject him. Yet through the labor of the tribulation, overwhelming numbers of Jews will receive Christ.”

He continues, “This dragon is the devil. The sweeping away [of] a third of the stars depicts Satan’s control over a third of the angels, who rebelled against God and help carry out Satan’s evil schemes.”

During the tribulation, Satan will seek to destroy Israel and devour her child. That is, he wants to preclude the possibility that Christ will return to the world through Israel. Obviously, he uses deception, doubt and the desire for power, and destructive tendencies to devour and destroy. He employed a similar strategy at Jesus’s first coming, with King Herod’s attempt to kill the Christ child.

“Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” Revelation 12:7–9 (ESV)

This is a picture of the fall of Satan. Isaiah puts it this way in chapter 14.

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! 13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; ​14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’” Isaiah 14:12–14 (ESV)

Satan was able to deceive one-third of the angels into following him, and now he deceives the world into worshiping him.

“And 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 brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” Revelation 12:10–12 (ESV)

Satan has access to God’s throne where he accuses God’s people. Satan is to be an accuser of believers to rob them of their joy, power, and fellowship with God. The Lamb overcomes him because of His victory at Calvary and because of the power of the Word.

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” Romans 8:31–34 (ESV)

“...and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, Ephesians 6:17 (ESV)

“And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. 17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.” Revelation 12:13–17 (ESV)

The war may be over in heaven, but it’s getting more intense here on earth. Satan is angry and seeks to destroy the Jews and make war with anyone who trusts the Lord.

However, take heart, as God is able to shelter His people in spite of Satan’s attacks. But be sure you wear the armor of God and understand you are a victorious warrior. Trust in the blood of Jesus Christ!
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“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” Ephesians 6:10–18 (ESV)

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