The Bible Study New Testament

Revelation 12:17

Against the rest of her descendants. Satan makes his attack against individual Christians, hoping to "pick them off one by one." See note on Acts 6:13-14. Christians are to know that during this Gospel Age which stretches from Pentecost until the Second Coming, both good and bad will come to God's people. Satan will send persecution and lies against the messianic community, and against each Christian. But God's special help prevents the Devil from attacking the church directly and destroying it! Satan is to be allowed one last all-out effort to destroy the church (Revelation 20:7-10), and this may parallel the persecution of the first century. But we already know the outcome! Satan has already lost! And the Second Coming will put a stop to his final effort. [Some think a period of explosive growth will take place in the church of Christ at the exact same time that Satan is permitted to make his last effort. History shows that "the blood of martyrs is the seed of the church."]

18.

And the dragon stood on the seashore. This introduces the next chapter, as Satan produces agents to do his work. Since he himself cannot attack the church directly, he raises up anti-christian powers [human agencies] through whom he works indirectly.

The Devil produces agents to do his work. First is the beast from the sea. Second, the beast from the earth. The first beast is horrible to look at. The second looks harmless, which makes it the more dangerous of the two. A third agent is identified in Revelation 14:8, Great Babylon the Prostitute.

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Revelation 12:17

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