For those of you who do not have John MacArthur’s Revelation study guide, I am going to include a bit of his introduction to the next few chapters as I think it will be incredibly helpful to our understanding of the text.
” This study focuses on the terrible three enemies to come: Satan (the dragon), Antichrist (the first beast), and the false prophet (the second beast).
Chapters 12-14 are actually a digression in John’s vision, taking readers back through the Tribulation from Satan’s perspective. These chapters are filled with difficult apocalyptic imagery and symbolism.”
1-2
The first of these symbols we see is the woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet and a garland of 12 stars on her head.
This is not an actual woman, but a representation of Israel.
The sun pictures the glory and dignity of God’s chosen people, Israel. The moon is thought to be a reference to God’s covenant relationship with them because new moons were associated with worship.
The 12 stars, of course, represent the 12 tribes of Israel.
In verse two, the woman is in labor. Israel was often pictured as a woman giving birth to represent the people’s long wait for their Messiah to come and set up his kingdom.
3-6
The next several verses are full of figurative language that portray Satan – the fiery red dragon.
His seven heads symbolize seven worldly kingdoms of the past, while the ten horns represent 10 kingdoms in the future.
John is shown how satan took one-third of the the angels with him when he was kicked out of heaven, and how he tried so desperately to have Israel’s child – Jesus – destroyed right after birth.
However, despite his best efforts, the child was born, grew up, and led a successful ministry on earth before being called back to heaven.
Focus then switches back to the woman (Israel) and future events involving her.
During the great tribulation, Israel will be protected by God in the wilderness. MacArthur suggests this could perhaps be the region of Moab, Ammon, and Edom, east of Palestine.
7-12
As the Tribulation ravages earth, there is a great warfare going on in heaven.
Michael and the angels fight with Satan and his demons.
Michael and the angels, of course, prevail and toss Satan and his crew out of heaven for good. No longer will Satan even have access to heaven.
Then we hear a voice in heaven lift its praise for the strength of God, the power of Christ have come to finally defeat our accuser.
The voice declares that it is by the power of the blood of the Lamb that Satan has been cast down.
Great rejoicing is heard in heaven, but the voice warns those still on earth where Satan must reside. Because he knows his time there is limited, he will strengthen his resolve to destroy mankind – specifically Israel.
13-17
Once Satan finds himself back on earth, he is set on persecuting the woman (Israel).
However, Israel is protected under the wings of God during this time of tribulation.
Satan tries to break through this protection by sending out a great army like a flood, but the army is swallowed up – perhaps by one of the earthquakes which will be prevalent during this time.
This completely enrages Satan and he attempts to destroy any of God’s children he can, be it Jew or Gentile.
Final Thoughts
I love this chapter because it shows the truth of Satan that he never wants us to see. He likes us to view him as that great red dragon – fearsome, ferocious and deadly.
While he may indeed be deadly to we humans if we approach him without Christ, the truth shown in this chapter is that he is no match for us if God is with us.
No matter what this scoundrel has tried to do in the past – have the Christ child killed after birth – or what he tries to do in the future – destroy Israel and any followers of Christ – his plans are always thwarted by our all-powerful God.