[Grab your Bible or click the reference above to read the Word today.]
Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off
to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep
the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
Revelation 12:17 ESV
If you haven't noticed, we're at war. At least those of us who obey God and believe in Jesus. We have an enemy, a great red dragon named Satan, who longs to devour us.
Metaphor is often used in revelations, visions from God. There are no human words to explain deep spiritual truths to our finite human minds. But God reveals His truth, often times, in pictures. Here we see a great sign appearing in heaven. Perhaps a glimpse of the spiritual reality of what has been going on in history.
I'm not about to explain it, or even pretend to think I understand it, but some of it seems clear. The pregnant woman with the twelve starred crown giving birth to a Son who will rule all nations with an iron rod could be Israel.
The red dragon is named and we might even imagine him standing before this woman Israel in labor since the Fall in the garden when God said an offspring would come to crush his head. Waiting, standing before her thousands of years through Egyptian enslavement, Exodus and forty years of wandering, Judges and Kings, exile and return, 400 years of silence, then Jesus.
And somewhere along the way a great war broke out in heaven over this sign. The dragon and his angels against Michael and his angels. The good guys won! The bad news, the dragon was thrown down to earth furious and at war with those of us who believe. This is perhaps the spiritual picture of what we deal with every day.
But in all this, whatever it means, and even if I'm way off base in what I see in these words, the important thing to know, the hope on which we stand: God wins! His people win! The accuser no longer stands before God accusing us. He is conquered by those covered in the blood of the Lamb and by their word of testimony.
Ephesians tells us our battle is not against flesh and blood. Revelation tells us who we are waging war against and exactly how he is defeated. By the blood of the Lamb. And the witness of His people.
How will you go out and fight the battle today? (Remember, you've already won!)
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution,
or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ...
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through him who loved us.
Romans 8:35, 37 ESV
Father God, remind me today I am a conqueror in Christ Jesus.
I choose to battle the enemy today when he throws temptation,
lies, and trouble my way. I choose to believe in the blood of the Lamb,
His strength, power,and love in order to stand firm. And I choose
to share my testimony, my confession of belief, with those whom
You call me to. Today I will fight for Your Kingdom.
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