Revelation 12:1-2 (ESV) - 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.

The woman represents the nation of Israel.

Genesis 3:15 (ESV) - I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

The end is grounded in the beginning.

Revelation 12:3-4a (ESV) - And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth.

The dragon represents Satan.

Luke 10:18 (ESV) - And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

Revelation 12:4b-6 (ESV) - And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5She 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, 6and 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 12:7-9 (ESV) -Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9And 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.

Job 1:6–7 (ESV) - Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”

Revelation 12:10-11 (ESV) - 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. 11And 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.

Revelation 12:12-14 (ESV) - 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!” 13And 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. 14But 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.

Exodus 19:4 (ESV) - ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV) - but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Revelation 12:15-17 (ESV) - The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16But 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. 17Then 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.

So what?
1. The Christian life is lived in moments of beauty and moments of agony.

2. The spiritual battle is real and victory is already granted through faith in Jesus Christ!

3. Do NOT let the accuser cause you to live in shame and condemnation.

Discussion Questions
1. List all the names for Satan that you can recall in Scripture. Mention or look up the specific reference if you can. If not, just mention the name.

2. What does this passage teach us about God’s heart for Israel (the woman) even though Gentiles have been grafted in (read Romans 11:17-18)?

3. Read Revelation 12:10-11 carefully. What does it mean that “…they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…”

4. The end of verse 11 says, “for they loved not their lives even unto death.” Should Christians willingly die for the name of Christ or is it acceptable to offer resistance should the opportunity ever present itself?

5. Read Ephesians 6:1-10 and discuss a biblical perspective of the spiritual battle we face. Spend some time praying for one another to remain “strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”