Revelation 12

Daily Devotion of Revelation 12

Daily Nugget:
In Revelation 12, two principal characters during the last three-and-a-half years of the seven-year tribulation are revealed. The first is “… a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet…” (Rev. 12:1). This “woman” is not the church, as some believe, because the church will already have been raptured (Revelation 4:1). Ensuing verses describe more clearly who “she” is (Revelation 12:10-12, 17).

The “woman” is Israel. Israel has been called a “woman” many times, including Isaiah 50:1, Jeremiah 3:1, Hosea 2:1-23. Also, the lineages of Israel were how the promised “man child,” Jesus, was brought to this world, as was stated in verse 5. It will be Jesus who will rule the nations with an unwavering and just “rod of iron” (Revelation 12:5).

The second character to appear is the “great red dragon” (Revelation 12:3), Satan (Revelation 12:9). “Seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads” speak of his earthly dominion and the nations he will control and influence. The “stars” of Heaven that come with him will be the angels who followed Satan (Job 38:7).

Verse five and six encapsulate hundreds of years of history when Satan tried his hardest to keep the Christ child from being born. He tried to break the lineage (family tree) that would eventually birth the promised Christ child. He interfered with Adam and Eve, Cain, Abraham, David, and hosts of others in the royal lineage.

Satan tried his best to stop Jesus from being born. He was behind Herod’s trying to kill the Christ child, and he was with the Pharisees, Romans, and Jews who eventually were behind Jesus’ demise. This “dragon” has done all he could to stop the Saviour from being born and fulfilling prophesies about Himself. However, Satan never succeeded.

No longer will Satan pursue the church as it will be safe in Heaven, but he will continue to attack Israel (Revelation 12:13). As always, God is greater than the enemy. God kept His promise by delivering Christ through the bloodlines as had been prophesied. He will also protect Israel, as He has promised.

Although many will seek the destruction of Israel in those days, she will go “into her place.” No one is sure where that will be. It has been thought for a long time that “place” would be the rock city, currently named Petra. It may be that this hard-to-reach place is referred to where “… the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth …” (Revelation 12:16).

When these terrible events unfold, it will certainly seem like the world is in chaos and out of divine control. However it appears to the living inhabitants, God will still be in control. He will again fulfill prophesies made thousands of years ago. God always keeps His Word!

Today’s Thought:
“Never give the devil a ride; he always wants to drive!” — Author Unknown

Today’s Reading:
Revelation 12
1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 ¶ Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.