THE BOOK OF REVELATION

INTRODUCTION - The two principles which we have been using in our study of Revelation have been to, first, read this book with the understanding of the first century church. We do not bring our modern versions to Revelation, rather, we realize that the early church understood this book, and we should interpret it the way they would. Secondly, let us keep our Old Testaments close at hand. Revelation is highly figurative and its symbols are taken directly out of the Old Testament. We will not make an interpretive error if we continue to study Revelation this way. We have come to chapter 12, where John presents to us a vast panorama of history. Drawing from Genesis 3:15, John presents three figures to us: the Woman, her Child, and the Devil. All three are engaged in a great battle which began after the fall of Man. The Woman is the Old Testament Church, bringing forth the Child, who is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Devil endeavors to kill the Child, but Christ ascends into heaven where He is seated in His kingdom, above all principalities and authorities. John then shows us the great war which ensues after the ascension of Christ. The devil and his angels are cast out of heaven and down to earth. It is here that we pick up the final portion of the chapter which deals with the devil's persecution of the church and the church's triumph over the devil. This chapter is extremely important for the early church and for ourselves, for the church was undergoing great persecution in the first century. Throughout church history we find periods of great persecution and tribulation. How are we to explain this if Christ has truly ascended to the throne of His Father, and presently holds all power and authority in the Universe? How do we explain the struggles of our own Christian lives as we still continue to wage battle with the wicked one? The answer is given to us in the last part of this chapter.

1) THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST HAS BEEN INAUGURATED AND THE DEVIL HAS BEEN CAST DOWN, THUS ASSURING THE COMPLETE VICTORY OF CHRIST'S CHURCH - Revelation 12:10-12 - With the ascension of Christ has come salvation, strength, the kingdom of God and the power of Christ for the church. The New Testament Scriptures now picture the devil as a defeated and disarmed enemy (Colossians 2:15) whose powers have been destroyed in Christ (Hebrews 2:14; I John 3:8; John 12:31). Christ has triumphed over the devil and it is only because Christ rules over all that the Christian has any success against this defeated foe (Revelation 12:11). The conquering power of Christ over the devil has been passed on to His church, so that no enemy can stand before the advancing people of God. Christ is to be pictured today, at this very moment, as having all things under His feet, and all authority under His rule (Ephesians 1:19-23). Yet we must understand, especially as we read the Gospel parables of the kingdom, that the rule of Christ is progressive and grows as the church conquers in His name. All things in this world are being brought into submission under Christ. As the Gospel is preached, hearts are conquered, darkness is overthrown, prisoners are set free, and the devil is sent running. The church experiences periods of struggle in this administration because she is an advancing force against the broken strongholds of the devil. She will still experience struggles against the enemy, but she will eventually conquer all.

2) THE DEVIL IS BOUND TO WAGE WAR WITH THE CHURCH UNTIL HE IS COMPLETELY OVERTHROWN - Revelation 12:13-17 - Being overthrown by Christ and cast to the earth, the devil still attempts to frustrate the kingdom of God. In Revelation 12, we see him going after the woman (the church which brings forth Christ), but the woman is protected and sheltered from the onslaught. At the overthrow of Jerusalem in 70 AD, where satanic forces poured out a fury within that city, we remember that the early church escaped that judgment, and was protected by God during this period of time. Yet once his plans are foiled with the Woman, the devil sets his sights on what is left - the Church of the New Testament. Here we see a continuity existing between the people of God in the Old and New Testaments. The New Testament saints are the offspring of the Old Testament saints and are bound together as one people in Christ. There is therefore not a child of God alive today who will not face the conflict which the devil brings against Christ's church. This has been his plan of action since his overthrow at the ascension. How does the devil presently make war with the church?

A) THE DEVIL NEVER STOPS ENGAGING HIMSELF IN THIS GREAT BATTLE - I Peter 5:8 pictures him as a "roaring lion on the prowl." His activity is incredible and there is not a place in this world where the church may escape his plots. We find him in the church, in our homes, at the workplace, in the remotest parts of the world. As we have endeavored to serve Christ in these areas, so we have also found resistance as the devil tries to block our efforts for the kingdom. He hates what Christ has done to him and so he is always ready to battle against the saints.

B) HOW DOES THE DEVIL WAGE WAR AGAINST THE CHURCH? - He is presented to us as both a roaring lion, which describes his ceaseless rage, and an angel of light, which describes his lies and deceit (I Peter 5:8; II Corinthians 11:14). He might come to the church with great persecution, whether physically, as he did in the first century, or through oppression and mistreatment which we might receive in our own positions. His warfare might cost us family, friends, and may bring us slander and disgrace as we endeavor to fight for the King. The devil also comes to us with strong temptations, throwing our worst sins at us to bring us down. This continual assault is a torment to our souls as he brings forth our favorite sins to undo us. He comes like an angel and whispers doubts and confusions in our spiritual lives. Perhaps we are in the midst of a hard providence, and his words bring no comfort but only doubts about our God. He might send one of his worldly pleasures, endeavoring to catch us in our lusts and greed. The devices of the devil are numerous and we are not to be ignorant of his diabolical means.

C) WHAT IS THE DEVIL'S AIM IN THIS WAR? - His goal is not just to make us miserable, nor is it to just tempt us into sin. The devil's final aim is to destroy the entire church of Christ (I Peter 5:8). He knows that the church is the victory of Christ. He knows the church is his great enemy. He also sees his own rule being shattered by the advancing church. Thus, he does everything in his power to stop the advance and destroy Christ's people. Yet ultimately, his goals are foolish, for it would be impossible for him to eradicate the church. To do this, he would have to conquer Christ, and Christ has already given us the victory and His power to crush the devil's head.

3) WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM WHO LOVED US! - The New Testament clearly teaches that the church has all the power needed to defeat the devil. We are able to resist, withstand, quench his fiery darts, crush his head, and watch him run from us (Romans 8:37; I Peter 5:9; Ephesians 6:13,16; Romans 16:20; James 4:7). Revelation 12:11 shows us how the church overcomes the evil one. We are not to sit still and do nothing, nor are we to just hang on till Christ comes for us.

A) THE CHURCH OVERCOMES THE DEVIL BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST - When the devil throws our sins at us and accuses us of our iniquities, we simply point him to the blood of Christ which has cleansed us from all sin. When he tries to make us doubt our salvation, we point to that blood which has secured eternal life for us. The devil hates the blood of Christ and knows that here rests the power of the church.

B) THE CHURCH OVERCOMES THE DEVIL BY THE WORD OF OUR TESTIMONY IN JESUS CHRIST - One little word from the Scriptures can send the devil running. Thus, as Christians we should be in the Word of God daily, for it is our ammunition and defense against the devil's attacks. It is here that we are able to answer all the assaults of Satan, not with our own words and wisdom, but with the wisdom of our Savior.