Revelation Chapter Twelve
(Chapter 12 from Dr. Hyle's excellent book, Let's Study The Revelation)
Verse 1:
"WONDER " means "signs " or "symbol. " So we see that this chapter deals largely with symbols. Isn’t it wonderful that when God is going to speak in symbols He tells us so. Hence we can follow our rule of taking the Revelation literally unless God tells us otherwise as He does here in this chapter.The "WOMAN " mentioned in this verse is Israel. Israel is often called a woman in the Scriptures. You will also notice that she has on her head a crown of twelve stars. Probably these stars represent the twelve tribes of Israel, so the woman is Israel.
Verse 2:
God promised Israel a Child to become the Messiah. All through the years of Jewish history the Jews looked for the coming of that Child. She was in travail looking for the birth of the promised Child. In Isaiah 9:6 the prophet says, "Unto us [Israel} a child is born.... "Verse 3:
As soon as the promise of the Child was given there appeared a dragon to try to destroy the Child. The dragon is Satan. Notice he is powerful and has crowns and horns upon his head. Horns in the Scriptures always symbolize kingdoms. So Satan has his kingdoms in this world.Verse 4:
Notice that the dragon is standing to try to destroy the Child as soon as the Child is born. You will remember how Herod was used of the Devil to try to destroy Jesus by killing all of the male infants. God marvelously protected the Child Jesus by sending Joseph into Egypt to stay until Herod’s death.Verse 5:
The first words of this verse almost fit exactly the words spoken in the Gospels concerning the birth of Jesus. Israel gave us our Saviour. We should eternally be grateful to the Jews for the One they have given to us.The second truth in this verse is the fact that Jesus will rule the nations with a rod of iron. This prophesies the one thousand years that Jesus will rule the earth with the saints.
Another statement, "AND HER CHILD WAS CAUGHT UP UNTO GOD, AND TO HIS THRONE, " deal with the resurrection and ascension of Jesus into Heaven.
Verse 6:
Notice that when the Child was taken into Heaven the woman fled. The Jews have been scattered ever since Jesus went back into Heaven to be with the Father.Notice also in this verse the mention of the 1,260 days again which divides the seven years of tribulation. My, it is wonderful how God knows what He is talking about, isn’t it?
Verse 7:
This war takes place at the end of the first three and one half years of the tribulation period. The Devil is thrown out of Heaven with his angels. The reason that the Devil has access to Heaven now is found in verse 10-he is accusing the saints.The word "FOUGHT " means "declared war."
Verse 8:
The word "PREVAILED NOT " mean "conquered not. " Satan will lose this war, will be conquered, and will not accuse us any more.Verse 9:
The word "CAST " means "throw. " He is literally thrown out of Heaven.He is thrown into earth.
Verse 10:
He is called in this verse the accuser. As previously stated, his job now is to accuse us before God. He would love to get every child of God unsaved, but, thank God, he cannot touch a one of us.You will notice that he accuses us both day and night.
Verse 11:
You will notice this verse gives us the only way we can defeat the Devil in our Christian lives:We overcome by the blood of the Lamb. The Devil does not mind when we preach good works, live a good life, or help the poor; but he hates the blood and those who preach the blood. Our only hope at judgment will be to plead the blood of Jesus.
The word of our testimony also defeats the Devil. If he ever gives you any trouble, just give your testimony-he hates that.
Love not your own life. When we love God’s work more than our own lives, the Devil become defeated in our lives.
Verse 12:
As the Devil is thrown out of Heaven, Heaven swells into a great joyful song. What a happy day when the Devil can no longer accuse the saints.Notice the words, "WOE TO THE INHABITERS OF THE EARTH. " The reason is simple. As the Devil no longer appears in Heaven, he will put all of his efforts and wicked devices into action on the earth. Hence, the last three and one half years of the tribulation will be even more horrible than the first.
The Devil will be more vicious than ever because he is living his last years as the prince of the power of the air. He is beginning to sweat because he knows his end is near. A dying animal is the most vicious animal. The Devil will become more vicious when he is cast out of Heaven at the beginning of the last half of the seven years of tribulation.
Verse 13:
Immediately when he comes to earth he begins to persecute the Jews. The Devil hates the Jews. They gave us the Bible. They gave us Jesus. We will dwell in their land in the millennium. Hence, he hates and persecutes Israel. One of the sure signs of the coming of our Lord is the growing persecution of God’s race.Verse 14-16:
These verses show the marvelous protection that God will give Israel in these days. Just as He protected Noah and his family through the flood, He will protect His people once again through the tribulation. God cares for His own. He fights for His people.Verse 17:
Seeing that he could not touch God’s people, he goes out to make war against the other saved people in the world at that time. You can rest assured that wherever people love and serve God, the Devil is going to fight them. The churches that are doing the most for God receive the most criticism from the Devil’s crowd. Christians who win the most souls and look for the Lord’s return will be fought at every turn by the Devil. Thank God, victory is coming when the Devil is defeated.
CONCLUSION: There are four times in the Bible when Satan is cast out:
- He was cast out of his exalted position as an angel in Heaven before the foundation of the world.
- He will be cast out of Heaven as our accuser during the tribulation.
- At the beginning of the millennium he will be cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years.
- Before the great white throne judgment he will be cast into the lake of fire forever.
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