Revelation 12 - Introduction

The Child and The Great Red Dragon Revelation Twelve

Revelation twelve is a dividing line in the book of Revelation. The picture in this chapter takes us back to Genesis 3:15. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." The seed of a woman was in a struggle with Satan. Satan was ready to devour the child. Here we do not see the battles. Those are pictured in the Gospels.

The woman in this story is the whole family of God or the true Israel of God for all times. "Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." (Ephesians 3:15) God's people are in a war against Satan. There is also war in heaven, a struggle between the powers of heaven and the great red dragon. (Revelation 12:7-9) Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, in behalf of the people of God.

A shout of victory is heard because of the blood of the Lamb. "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. 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. 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." (Revelation 12:10-12)

Satan, through his lies, works to destroy the church but victory belongs to the faithful people of God.