Monday, July 19, 2021

Revelation 12:13-17

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13 When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus. ~ Revelation 12:13-17

Today we close out our study of Revelation 12. The story of the nation of Israel is a story of anti-semitism, persecution, and tremendous pain. And this will be the case throughout all of time until the Lord Jesus comes back to establish His Millennial Kingdom.

Yet, pain has its purpose. We all experience pain, and even suffering at some time in our lives. While our natural reaction to pain is to avoid it, get rid of it, or numb it; we need to realize that God allows pain. In fact, there is a protecting purpose of pain. Pain tells us something is wrong and protects us from harm. But, the greatest benefit to pain is that it convinces us that we need the Lord.

Now, down through the ages, some of the suffering that Israel has undergone was the result of their rejection of God. With the rejection, the nation of Israel has been made vulnerable to her enemies. God promised Israel in the very beginning that if they did not follow Him and did not obey His Word, they would be punished. Israel's history informs us of their choice.

God disciplines us for our good. It is our arrogance that convinces us that we know better than the Almighty. But, as God reminds us, pride arrives in our lives before our scars. We could call it the judgment of love. Israel's history reveals their hardheadedness, but their hardheartedness is the greater issue. And, as bad as it has been for Israel, the worst is yet to come. It will be worse because God’s final fury will be poured out on the world and on this unrepentant and unbelieving people.

In v.13-14 of today's text, we read, "13 When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach." 

After the Rapture and just as the Tribulation begins, the dragon or Satan will be thrown down to the earth, and his kingdom on earth will increase as time marches on. He will enter into a covenant with Israel for seven years according to Daniel 9:27. In the middle of that seven year period he will break this covenant with Israel. At that time, Israel will flee for Petra and the dragon and his forces will pursue her relentlessly.

At this point God is going to come to Israel's aid for He will give Israel two wings of the great eagleThis imagery is actually borrowed from Exodus 19:4 which reads, "You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself." 

The eagle’s wings is a metaphor for God delivering His people, allowing them to escape the threatening force. Wings in the Scripture speak of strength, speed, but mostly they speak of God's protection. The language is picturesque, perhaps it speaks of some kind of an airlift from God. And, the duration of Israel's hideout will be three and a half years.

Part of being led into the wilderness is that we potentially grow in a greater degree in our faith in the God of the Bible. Israel will be cut off from the whole world while they hide out in the desert. And, during this time, they will be privileged to come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Messiah. This is the way the Lord works. He uses calamity to grant of a heart that seeks for what is really real. 

In v.15-16 of today's text we read, "15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth."

So, since Satan can’t get to Israel to cause them harm, he will utilize this "river of water" which is likely a symbol for the huge host of soldiers that will be sent by the Antichrist after Israel. But, the Lord will use the earth to protect Israel. This is probably a reference to the natural disasters that will occur: earthquakes, a hailstorm. This, we have seen several times before in our study of the book of the Revelation.

So, our text today ends with v.17 which reads, "Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus."

Satan then will turn his attention to "those who keep God's commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus." Some suggest that these who Satan turns his attention to are the one hundred and forty-four thousand mentioned in Revelation 7. The point is he will go after everyone who is a follower of the Lord Jesus.

Having learned of all of these horrible events that will come upon the earth during the Tribulation, I find myself overwhelmed with the fact that God has saved me. I'm dumbfounded that He called me to Himself and redeemed me. Oh, to be as involved as I can be in the rescue of the perishing that He is engaged in right now across this world. I trust that you are engaged, as well.