WAR IN HEAVEN

Revelations 12

This book of Revelation is one of the most wonderful in all the Word of God, and the chapter before us is one of the most picturesque in the book. It is the great “sign” chapter. The word “wonder” in versus 1 and 3 is semeion, translated “sign.” There are two “wonders” (or signs) in this chapter, the first being a “great wonders” and the second called “another wonder.”
This is a chapter of “great” things. Note: “a great wonder” (verse1);” a great red dragon” (verse 3); “great wrath” (verse 12; and “two wings of a great eagle” (verse 14). The signs are only a part of the chapter, for in addition to the signs there is the struggle, the salvation, and the safety.
The Signs:
Rev. 12:1-6 First, there is the sign of the woman clothed with the Sun.
This is the second of four representative women mentioned in the Revelations.
1. Jezebel who represents paganism [Ref. Rev. 2:20].
2. Israel [ref. Rev. 12:6].
3. The scarlet woman who represents the apostate church [ref. Rev. 17:1].
4. The Lambs Wife, the true church [ref. Rev. 19:7].
The woman before us as a “sign” is symbolical. But of whom is she a symbol? Clearly this woman represents Israel, and the rest of the chapter is going to reveal to us that there is war in the spiritual realm, for the control of the universe. The war began with the fall of Satan, and will continue until the great and terrible day of the Lord shall bring this war to a close. All of these symbols mentioned in these versus are found in the earlier chapters of the book of Genesis. The woman, the sun, the moon, the stars, the man-child, the seed, the dragon, “the old serpent which is the devil and Satan;” all of these are to be found in the opening paragraphs of the Bible.
God created the woman who represents the “elect” of the race “Israel” in order that she might become the channel of His redemption through the Son Jesus Christ. We must look beyond mere Israel to the greater vision of the whole plan of redemption as Israel rejected the Savior, now the church is the channel by which God uses to bring forth His redemption through the Son [ref. Gal. 3:16]. Here God takes the promises out of the realm of the mere literal progeny of Abraham and back to the third of Genesis, where we see that Jesus Christ was the focus of view. Why were there a chosen people? In order that there might be a line for the Lord Jesus Christ to complete the Father’s will. Why was there a holy land? In order that there might be a place to erect the cross to crucify the Lord Jesus, that He would be resurrected to Heaven to the right hand of the Father.
Between the second and third versus of our chapter we see that the woman who was clothed with all authority is presented as crying with great travail. This entrance of sin into the human race, the fall, has taken place between these two versus; nevertheless, the promises of God are sure and certain in Christ.
Only of Israel can it be said that she brought forth this “child” who is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ [ref. Heb. 2:16]. He is the Seed of the woman [ref. Gen. 3:15].
There are three significant events in Christ’s life, namely, His Incarnation, Ascension, and Second Coming to earth to rule.
The second sign is of the “great red dragon.” There is no problem identifying the dragon. He is: That old serpent called the devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world [ref. Rev. 12:4].
He is seen by John as having “seven heads.” Seven speaks of completeness, and the head of wisdom. Of him it is written, “Thou sealest up the sun, full of wisdom” [ref. Ezek. 28:12]. The devil is a master strategist and deceiver. His past is recorded in Isaiah 14:12-15. His present activity is seen in part in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 11:13-15. His “ten horns and seven crowns upon his heads “speak of his usurped authority whole governments are in his power, and through them he operates.
The dragon is seen here standing before “the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born” [ref. Rev. 12:4]. The devil has been at war with God’s Son ever since the divine pronouncement in Genesis 3:15. The devil is determined to obliterate God’s witness in the world [ref. Gen.6; Mat. 2:13; Luke 4:28-29; Mt. 4:6].

The Struggle:
Rev. 12:7-9 this entire chapter is one of conflict. Here we see events to take place during the last half of the tribulation, the last three-and-one-half years of Daniel’s seventieth week. This period actually begins with the blowing of the seventh trumpet in [ref. Rev. 11:15-19] and concludes at the end of chapter 19. It brings Israel to the forefront in God’s plans.
We can see the prophetic gap of the present Age of Grace, between versus 5 & 6, the Church has been “caught up” “Shall be seized” “harpagesometha” for this reason Satan wages war with the woman, who is Israel.
Let us observe an important verse in Daniels prophecy. “Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days” [ref. Dan. 10:14; 12:1; this will all be fulfilled in the Great Tribulation [ref. Rev. 12].
The war is decisively won by Michael and his angels. Satan and his angels are cast out of heavens to the earth. This marks the end of Satan’s rule in the air. The prince of this world is cast out. He had access to all of the heavens, through limited [ref. Job 1:6]. Now his access to them comes to an end.

The Salvation:
Rev. 12:10-12 All Heaven rejoices over the victory won by Michael and his angel. Never again will Satan cross the threshold of Heaven. Little wonder there is spontaneous outburst of praise. “The salvation” is not that of the soul now, nor even of the body at Christ’s coming, but is a wide and comprehensive thought embracing the overthrow of the enemy and the deliverance of creation from its present pain and agony [ref. Rom. 8:21]. “The Power” refers to the irresistible might which shall crush all opposing authority—whether satanic in the heavens or human on the earth. “The kingdom must be understood here in its largest extent, as embracing the heavens and the earth. This is the final phase of God’s great plan of salvation. While it has not already “come,” the end is in sight. In that day there will be no occasion to pray, only praise.
Michaels’s first weapon was “the blood of the Lamb.” The blood of the Lamb is ever the fortress of saints and of angels.
God’s Word, the Sword of the Spirit, forever settled in Heaven. They, who believe it, identify themselves with it, and testify to it, are assured of victory.
The one who yields all to God cannot possibly lose a battle. Battles are fought and won by blood, by the word of God, and by surrendering our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Safety:
Rev. 12:13-17 the prophetic scene before us depicts his complete expulsion from the air, after which the full force of his diabolical work will be against those on the earth at the time [ref. Rev. 12:12].
The result of that war is a blessing in Heaven but “WOE” on earth. This woe is the last in the predicted series of three [ref. Rev. 3:13; 9:12; 11:14; 12:12]. The word “woe” is used as a divine denunciation. Whenever God pronounces a woe there is judgment ahead. This third woe jupon the earth, aimed first at Israel, is more severe than any of the former. There reason is obvious. “He (the devil) knoweth that he hath but a short time.” As soon as he is cast down to the earth, he at once proceeds to make war against the woman (Israel).
Those who are protected are the Jews who are loyal to God. The eagles wings suggest the miraculous swiftness by which God will help them escape [ref. Exod. 19:4: Due. 32:11-12]. The period of time that these believing Jews are protected is referred to a as “a time, and times, and half a time.” This period is further described as “a thousand two hundred and threescore days” [ref. Rev. 12:6], or “forty and two months” [ref. Rev. 11:2; 13:5].
The words “as a flood” indicate symbolic language. A flood of evil propaganda issuing out of the antichrist’s mouth which will spread throughout the world about Israel and her people [Ref. Isa. 59:19].
By divine intervention God raises up a standard against the enemy of His people. God has a wilderness, a place of safety and security for His people in the time of their calamity.
Baffled at every turn, Satan turns against a small remnant of faithful Jews in an attempt to exterminate them. There will be, then, an attack upon the large body of Jews and also upon the remnant that are left behind by those who fled.
This remnant is the witnessing ones of the 144,000 mentioned in chapter seven. But they are destined to survive the attacks upon them, having been sealed for this purpose [ref. Rev. 7:2-4].