Everyday Life in Revelation: Part 7 Cosmic WarsSample

Today’s passage gives us some new insight. Revelation 6-11 describes the suffering and persecution that God’s people have to go through. Revelation 12 explains why suffering takes place. It explains that all this happens because Satan is at war with God and His creation. Satan attempts to thwart God’s plan and harm the church.

Today we read of a woman, her child, and a dragon. The child is “one who is to rule all nations with a rod of iron.” This seems to point to the male child being none other than King Jesus. Later in chapter 12, the dragon is clearly defined as that great accuser-Satan. We see here that Satan makes war on Jesus. This passage makes it very clear that Satan fails in his assault on Jesus. He is swept away from the dragon to the throne of God in heaven. What a powerful picture of the victory Jesus earned on the day He resurrected from the dead, after Satan threw all he had at Him. In death, Jesus still could not be defeated.

This leaves the woman. Who is she? Some believe her to be Mary, but that seems too limiting. She is clothed with the moon, the sun, and twelve stars. These descriptions point to Joseph’s vision of Israel back in Genesis 37. It seems to say this woman is the remnant of Israel, God’s faithful people. They are under the protection of God while in the wilderness in Revelation 12:6.

This vision seems to be a vision of what took place in history, but make no mistake, Satan is still at war with King Jesus. He is still trying to thwart God and His rule actively. The enemies you and I face today are primarily Satan and his minions. We must enter into our daily life with the understanding that we are in a spiritual conflict. Jesus has won this epic war, but there are still daily skirmishes that must be played out in our lives.

How do you contend in this war? Start by praying. Pray for Satan’s schemes to be thwarted, the nations to repent and draw close to King Jesus, and for divine protection for the church. Pray daily to put on the armor of God, found in Ephesians 6.