Rev. 12:1- 17
Our Rock of Refuge
Topical
Categories #19 / #26
Intro: Rev. ch.12 is a GREAT
CHAPTER for in it we find a Great Wonder in v.1 / Great Dragon in v. 3 /
Great Wrath in v. 12
A)
A Great
Eagle in v.14 And throughout this Chapt. We gain some Great insight about our Enemy / - the Battle we are
in
B) And Great Insight about Where the Source of our Victory
1)
Also Great insight About the
Bigotry that has been directed
against the Jews for centuries
C) Those are some of the Themes we will be Discussing today in this Chapt.
D) Chapters
12-14 unfold almost like a Play & Ch.12
Introduces us to the main Characters
Identify
the Characters : v.1,2
A)
Who is the Woman ? There have been a number of suggestions : the most Popular being it is the Virgin
Mary
B) But there are two problems w/ that Picture : the First being that Mary is seen here having Pain in Heaven / where there is no pain
1) 2nd In v. 6 tells us that Mary Fled into the Desert to a place prepared for her by God where she would be taken care of for 1,260 days
A)
But That never happened to
Mary
Others it is Mary Baker Eddy & that Christian Science is
the Child that was Birthed - (
Scripture doesnt support )
A) Then there are others suggest this is the Church but that doesnt make sense / because the Church didnt give birth to Christ / He to us
B) So Who is this woman ? How she is clothed in v. 1 gives us a Clue
a woman clothed with
the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve
stars.
C)This takes us back to Gen.37 Josephs Dream where the Sun the moon & the 12 stars are referred to for the first time in a figurative sense
1) Study of Hermeneutics Laws of interpreting scripture One such Law is the Law of First Mention
A) The way something is first used in Scripture sets the tone for its interpretation throughout scripture
Well there in Gen.37 Joseph has a Dream that the Sun &
the Moon & the Stars were Bowing down to Him ( Family interpreted
as them)
A)
Who was Josephs
FATHER ? Jacob named Changed to Israel his 12 sons make up the 12 tribes
B) So By cross referencing to Gen.37 This helps us to identify the woman as
the nation of Israel ( N.T. Church is Bride / O.T. Israel Wife of Jehovah.)
5 She
bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child
was caught up to God and His throne.
The Son she gives Birth to = Jesus
A)
Which
coincides w/ what the O.T. scriptures Prophesied that From the Seed of
Abraham & of the Lineage of David come the Messiah
B)
The
one who would rule the nations w/ a Rod of Iron Psa.2
7'You are My Son, Today I have begotten
You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You
shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'"
C) Although Jesus was Born of
the Virgin Mary the Bigger Picture is that the
Messiah was going to come from this tiny nation small people
1)
And
at the time of the Birth of Jesus Israel was in great pain / being under the
heel of Rome & suffering much under Roman Rule
The next main Character we see is
the Fiery Red Dragon
3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold,
a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems
on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third
of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before
the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was
born.
A) Now there should be no
confusion as to who this Dragon is because he is identified clearly for us in
v.9
9 So the great dragon was cast out, that
serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he
was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
A)
So
the Dragon is Satan called the Serpent of old takes us back to the Garden
of Eden where he tempted Eve
1)
Devil
speaks of his methods - = One who defames or Slanders / He is called the
Accuser of the Brethren in v.10
A)
The
name Satan = Adversary /But notice the
Description of this Dragon in v.3
1)
RED
reveals his Character pictures his murderous motivations
Jn.10 Thief who comes to KILL ROB DESTROY
Jn 8:44 Jesus called Satan a Murderer from the Beginning
A) Notice Also the Dragon has Seven heads & ten
horns ( The seven heads refers to the city from which the anti- Christ will
reign
1)
City referred to throughout History as the City of the Seven Hills
A) The seven heads refer to a
Geographical place Rome where as the
Ten horns refers to the Political Base ( Revived
Roman Empire )
1)
Ten
horns corresponds w/ the 10 toes of Neb. Dream in Dan. 2 signify that his
kingdom Comprise of a 10 nation confederacy
A)
We
will talk about this some more next week when we look at a little further in Ch.13 at the Kingdom of the
Antichrist
Now in v.4 we read where His tail
drew a third of the Stars of Heaven & through them to Earth
A)
Stars in scripture often
refer to Angels & this refers to the Angels who were cast out of Heaven w/ Satan when he
rebelled
B)
At that moment a Battle was waged / the Lines were Drawn between the
Forces of Good & the Forces of Evil
C)
When Satan tempted Eve & Adam & Eve rebelled by eating the
Forbidden Fruit
1)
The
rule of this World was forfeited into Satans hands
A) That is why in Scripture
Satan is called the god of this world the prince of the power of the air or the ruler of the evil powers that are above the
earth.
B) But Satan knew that a REDEEMER was COMING because it was Prophesied in the Book of
Gen.3:15 From the Seed of the Woman
.
1) You would Bruise His heel
/ but He will Crush your head death blow
C)
From that moment Satan has sought to Destroy the Plan of God Thwart
Gods Plan of redemption ( by destroying Gods Chosen people)
A) Then again later on w/ Haman in the Book of Esther ( Yet God raised up a Deliverer in Esther )
B) Throughout the Old Testament Satan was seeking to Destroy the Line that would lead up to the Messiah
1)Thinking that if He could destroy the Line / no Redeemer could be born
C)
He attempted to Destroy the baby through Herod
which is what v.4 is referencing the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give
birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.
D) Recall how Herod sent the Soldiers to Beth. Kill all boys 2yrs old under !
Satan filled the Heart of Judas in his attempt to get rid of
Jesus
A) Satan thought he
accomplished his goal at the Crucifixion when Jesus the Messiah died on the
Cross
A) But Satan was given a rude awakening on Sunday morning Plan Back fired ( Jesus did die but He also Rose again )
1) In dying He paid the price for our sins / and He rose from the dead to Substantiate that He is the Christ !!!
A) But from that time Forward
Satan has sought to Destroy the Jewish People ( Gods
Chosen Promised to Restore to Him)
1)
This
is one of the major themes of Prophecy of how the Lord would not give up on
Israel even though they had given up on Him
A) Even though they did not
receive His Son as the Messiah consequently the Church was born God made a
Promise to Israel /
1)
He
Keeps His Promises !!! At the 2nd Coming of Christ Israel would
recognize the error of their rejecting of Jesus eyes opened
A) Part of the Whole focus of
the tribulation Time of Jacobs Trouble that in their affliction they would
turn to the Lord ( eyes opened )
1) They would be Saved but through Fire !!!
A) From the time of Christ death to the Present day through the horrific
persecutions of Adolph Hitler to the Present day World wide anti-Semitism)
B) Satan has been seeking to Destroy this people so that Jesus
has No one to Come back to !!!!!
C)
Now
it is at the Mid way point that this Attack against the Jews gets really Brutal
talked about this already Abomination of
desolation
1)
First
31/2 yrs AntiChrist is at peace w/ Israel helps build their Temple
2nd 31/2 yrs he is at War Starts at
Abomination
..
A)
Speaking of that day Jesus says in Matt.24 Flee to the Wilderness /
dont go back for food or clothes just get out of Jerusalem QUICK
1)
That
is what v.6 points out
6
Then the woman
fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they
should feed her 1,260 days = 3 ½ yrs
God provides this special place or protection for his people
A) Isa.16 declares that in Moab which is present day Jordan / God would hide his people in a Place called Sela = ROCK or PETRA
B) Today there in Jordan there is such a city / Petra was huge commercial city in Solomons day / but today it is empty & desolate
1) The city is built on these sandstone cliffs & there is only one way to enter the city
A) You have to travel this windy road through the valley that in some places is only 10-12 feet wide
1) It has been established that this city could hold 1.5 Million people
A) It is possible that this is the city that has been reserved by God for the Jewish people during this time !!!
1) A bible Commentator by the name of William Gladstone is so convinced that this is the Place / N.T. in a Jar Plus his book
2) When JESUS RETURNS
a place that we will talk about in a Minute!!!
1)
But
I want you to notice that something happens in Heaven that Unleashes this whole
Hostility on earth
v.7-12
A) This is something that we dont consider enough the Battles that are
taking place in the Spiritual Realm
B)
If we could some how peel back the Sky this
atmosphere & get a glimpse into the unseen Realm
the Spiritual Realm
1)
We
would be Amazed at the Conflict that we would see
A)
Paul said in Eph.6 12 For we do not
wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of
wickedness in the heavenly places.
B)
I
dont think we will every understand the Full Magnitude of this truth until we
get to Heaven !!!
1)
We
will be amazed when we see Battles that were fought for Souls
But at this point in the Trib.
Satan & his Forces are rendered a Death Blow Cast out of heaven ( No
more access )
A)
See Presently Satan can
come into Heaven God has given him Access he comes to accuse the Brethren
B)
He
comes to point out your Flaws & My flaws
our sins
C)
But
at this point Satan is BANNED from Heaven 2
reactions v.12
1)
All
heaven rejoices but a Woe is Pronounced upon the inhabitants of the earth Why
?
For the
devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a
short time."
A)
The
Devil Knows that he is going down he knows his time is short so he
intensifies his efforts to persecute Israel w/ Great Wrath !!!!
Read
v.13 17
So Satan through the person of the
Anti Christ is going to come against Israel in a major way
A)
And according to Zech.
13:8,9 Two thirds of the inhabitants of
Israel are going to be cut off / they will die at this time / only 1/3 left
B) That 1/3 is going to be Protected by the Lord taken up by eagles wings ( not sure what that is in reference to )
1)
But
they will be taken up by the Lord to a Secret place where they are going to be
Protected for a period of 31/2 yrs
A)
Now
many believe that this special spot is the Rock city of Petra
Isa.16 Prophecy concerning these days
16:1 Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, From
Sela = ( Rock or Petra) to the wilderness, To the mount of the daughter of
Zion.
2 For it shall be as a wandering bird thrown out of the nest; So shall be the
daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon. ( Moab = Present day Jordan)
3 "Take counsel, execute judgment; Make
your shadow like the night in the middle of the day; Hide the outcasts, Do not betray him who escapes.
4 Let My outcasts dwell with you, O Moab; Be a shelter to them
from the face of the spoiler. For the extortioner is at an end, Devastation
ceases, The oppressors are consumed out of the land.
5
In mercy the throne will be established; And One will sit on it in
truth, in the tabernacle of David, Judging and seeking justice and hastening
righteousness."
B) It is highly possible that this is the city where God is going to send the Jews for their Protection during this time
C)
Some
Present day Bible teachers are so convinced that this is the Place they have
taken N.T. to Petra place in Jars
1)
Key Prophetic passages underlined passages
that point to Jesus as the Messiah
A)
Whether Petra is the Place or Not God is going to Preserve &
Protect 1/3 of the remaining Jewish Race during this time
1)
He
is going to provide for them a place of Refuge
So we see here in Ch. 12 given
insight into the Main players in the 2nd half of the Trib. we will see them in some more
detail in coming wks
A)
But before we go today- I
want us to consider a few points of Practical application for us Living today
!!!!
B)
We
who are seeking to Follow Jesus & Live for Jesus we who are watching
& waiting for the RETURN OF JESUS
1)
In the Midst of this World & the Spiritual Battle that we Face
How do we Stay focused / keep Pure / Stand Strong?
A) Notice the Answer is found not in a Place of Refuge Petra
( a Rock city) but in a Person of
Refuge Jesus our Rock savior
Recall in Matt. 16:18
Peters Confession You are the Christ
.
on this
rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against
it.
A)
Peter
on the Reality of the truth of that Confession I am the Christ the Savior / the only way
to God / the redeemer I will build my Church
B)
In
1 Cor. 10:4 Paul keys in on Ex.17 Rock struck - Rock was Christ
1)
Rock
that was smitten for us !!!! Died
& Rose
A)
In
Matt. 7:24 The Person who hears the Words of
Christ who He claimed to be and Believes them
1)
Is
like a man who builds his house upon the Rock - & WHEN the storms come the House Stands because
of where it is built
A)
Speaks
of Security that is found in having a life that is built upon the Rock of Jesus
Christ !!!!
1)
He
is our Rock of Refuge / He is our Shelter from the Storm
Psa.40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; And He
inclined to me, And heard my cry. 2 He
also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet
upon a rock, And established my steps.
A)
He
is our Defense & our Portion !!!! / Our Safety our Security / our
Refreshment is found in Him
Psa. 18: 2
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my
strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my
stronghold.
Psa.18: 46 The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the
God of my salvation be exalted. ( RUN TO THAT ROCK
)
A)
Satan comes w/ his
accusations - & they are all true !!!!
B)
You saw what Rob was thinking about today You saw what
He said to so & so / You saw how Insensitive he was toward that person
1)
The List just goes on & on & on & on & on every day
I am indicted because I am a sinner / I mess up
C)
Satan comes to bring Accusation against me but we are told in 1John 2:1 if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the
Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
2
And He Himself is
the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole
world.
A) Satan comes & accuses us Jesus stands up for us & declares that all of that is true it has already been paid for in Full
1)
We
are Forgiven Declared righteous by the Blood
A) Love the Picture there in
Zech. 3 Joshua the High priest standing before the Lord & Satan at his
right hand to accuse him
1)
Satan
starts in Joshua nodding
A)
But
the Lord rebukes Satan ( takes off the filthy garments ( mud stained Garments
that Joshua was clothed in & gives him a rich Robe
1)
Puts
a Turban on His head said
"See,
I have removed your iniquity from you, and
clothed you with rich robes."
A)
That
is what the Lord does to us takes off the robes of iniquity & clothes us
in His Robe of Righteous
1)
Puts
the Helmet of Salvation upon our heads We are Victorious
Note v.11 The inhabitants of
Heaven reveal this very idea How we over come 3 things
1st the Blood of
the Lamb
Eph.1: 7 In
Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to
the riches of His grace
8 which He made to abound toward us in all
wisdom and prudence,
Eph.2: 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were
far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
A) Listen the Key to overcoming is not in how much you pray or how good you are
1)
but
the Key is found in your understanding of the Potency & the Sufficiency of
the Blood of Christ / shed at Calvary for You
A)
Sins
that are Red as Scarlet Blood applied become white like snow !!!
2nd the Word of their Testimony : What is the
Word of our testimony?
A)
GRACE - Gods Riches at Christ Expense God has
given me what I didnt deserve / Blessed me beyond Measure
B)
Eph.2 : 8 For by grace you
have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of
God, not of works, lest anyone should
boast.
Col . 2: 6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus
the Lord,( How Receive HIM ?)
By Grace through faith - As you have
.. so walk in Him,
7 rooted and built up in Him and established
in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
How
Overcome Living in the sufficiency of His Grace that has been so freely
given to us God blesses us beyond measure because of Grace
1)
By
Grace that we walk / Rom.5:2 By Grace we Stand
40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard
my cry.
2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.
Paul
declared in
Rom. 8 : 37 Yet in all these things we are more than
conquerors through Him who loved us.
And it is that Love that He has
shown to us that causes us to do the third thing they did not love their lives to the death.
A)
John12
Jesus teaching on the Key of Dying to self - 25 "He
who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will
keep it for eternal life.
B)
This
is a Key to overcoming because one of Satans biggest tactics is to get us to
focus on our selves & be overly concerned about our needs
1) he uses those tendencies that we have in the natural man to get us to doubt Gods love / doubt Gods provision / Gods care
A) But those who are living not to please themselves but to
please God believing fully that God does love them
1)
Because
the Blood has been shed & the Grace has been given
A)
Are
able to stand against the attacks of Satan We become more than Conquerors through
Him who loved us !!!!