Download - The Woman, the Male-Child, and the Dragon Revelation 12:1-17

The Woman, the Male-The Woman, the Male-Child, and the DragonChild, and the Dragon

Revelation 12:1-17Revelation 12:1-17

Outline of RevelationOutline of Revelation

Publication of the Prophecy: Its Publication of the Prophecy: Its Future Expectation (4:1 – 22:5)Future Expectation (4:1 – 22:5)

Opening of the Seven-Sealed Scroll Opening of the Seven-Sealed Scroll

(4:1 – 8:1)(4:1 – 8:1) The Sounding of the Seven Trumpets The Sounding of the Seven Trumpets

(8:2 – 11:19)(8:2 – 11:19) Pouring Out of the Seven Bowls Pouring Out of the Seven Bowls

(12:1 – 18:24)(12:1 – 18:24) Background of the Bowls (12:1 – 14:20)Background of the Bowls (12:1 – 14:20)

The woman, the male-child, and the dragon The woman, the male-child, and the dragon (12:1-17)(12:1-17)

The Structure of Daniel’s 70The Structure of Daniel’s 70thth WeekWeek

(aka The Day of the Lord)(aka The Day of the Lord)

3.5 Years 3.5 YearsBeginning of Birth Pangs

The Great Tribulation

Abomination of

Desolation

Rapture of the Church

Return of ChristRev 12-14

The Dragon’s Enmity against The Dragon’s Enmity against the Messiah (12:1-6) the Messiah (12:1-6)

These verses furnish the plot for the These verses furnish the plot for the whole background story.whole background story.

John’s seeing “a great sign” indicates John’s seeing “a great sign” indicates that the vision of the woman is to be that the vision of the woman is to be understood as representing understood as representing something other than just a woman.something other than just a woman. What is the OT background that helps us What is the OT background that helps us

interpret this sign?interpret this sign? Who does the woman represent in Who does the woman represent in

Revelation 12?Revelation 12?


John sees a second sign in heaven, a great John sees a second sign in heaven, a great red dragon with 7 heads and 10 horns and 7 red dragon with 7 heads and 10 horns and 7 diadems upon his heads.diadems upon his heads. Who does this represent?Who does this represent?

In anticipation of a fuller discussion when In anticipation of a fuller discussion when we get to 17:9-10, the symbolism of the we get to 17:9-10, the symbolism of the dragon can be identified as follows:dragon can be identified as follows: The 7 heads with 7 diadems are 7 successive The 7 heads with 7 diadems are 7 successive

world empires.world empires. The 10 horns are 10 kings who will be in power The 10 horns are 10 kings who will be in power

during the final empire (Rev 17:12).during the final empire (Rev 17:12).


The dragon’s sweeping of a third of the The dragon’s sweeping of a third of the stars of heaven refers to Satan’s rebellion stars of heaven refers to Satan’s rebellion and a third of the angels that he took with and a third of the angels that he took with him.him.

Though the dragon stood ready to devour Though the dragon stood ready to devour the Child at His birth, he was unsuccessful. the Child at His birth, he was unsuccessful.

Israel gave birth to the Messiah who will Israel gave birth to the Messiah who will rule the nations. After His initial earthly rule the nations. After His initial earthly ministry, He returned to heaven.ministry, He returned to heaven.

The woman’s (Israel’s) flight into the The woman’s (Israel’s) flight into the wilderness (v. 6) actually occurs after the wilderness (v. 6) actually occurs after the war in heaven described in vv. 7-9, at the war in heaven described in vv. 7-9, at the halfway point of Daniel’s 70halfway point of Daniel’s 70thth week. week.

The Expulsion of the Dragon The Expulsion of the Dragon from Heaven (12:7-12) from Heaven (12:7-12)

The war described in vv. 7-9 is an endtime The war described in vv. 7-9 is an endtime event, occurring midway through the 70th event, occurring midway through the 70th week of Daniel (see Daniel 12:1).week of Daniel (see Daniel 12:1). This war is apparently an attempt by the This war is apparently an attempt by the

dragon to unseat the woman’s Son and re-dragon to unseat the woman’s Son and re-establish himself in the presence of God.establish himself in the presence of God.

When it ends in failure, the dragon and his When it ends in failure, the dragon and his angels are forced to leave heaven and are cast angels are forced to leave heaven and are cast down to the earth.down to the earth.

Knowing that he has only a “little time” Knowing that he has only a “little time” remaining (12:12), Satan’s energies will be remaining (12:12), Satan’s energies will be totally focused on persecuting those who totally focused on persecuting those who are loyal to Christ, including the people of are loyal to Christ, including the people of Israel. Israel.


Verse 9 identifies the leader of the war in Verse 9 identifies the leader of the war in 5 different ways:5 different ways: ““the great dragon”;the great dragon”; ““the ancient serpent,” reaching back to Satan’s the ancient serpent,” reaching back to Satan’s

original attempt to deceive the human race in original attempt to deceive the human race in the Garden of Eden;the Garden of Eden;

““devil,” from the Greek term devil,” from the Greek term Dia,boloj, , meaning “defamer, slanderer, false accuser”;meaning “defamer, slanderer, false accuser”;

““satan,” meaning “adversary,” particularly one satan,” meaning “adversary,” particularly one who opposes God and His people;who opposes God and His people;

““the one who deceives the whole world”, such the one who deceives the whole world”, such deception being Satan’s deception being Satan’s modus operandimodus operandi, , culminating with the worldwide rule of the culminating with the worldwide rule of the False Christ.False Christ.


Satan’s defeat and expulsion from heaven elicits Satan’s defeat and expulsion from heaven elicits a loud a loud hymn of praisehymn of praise that divides into 3 stanzas: that divides into 3 stanzas: The arrival of God’s kingdom and Christ’s authority (v. The arrival of God’s kingdom and Christ’s authority (v.

10),10), which includes a recognition of victory over the which includes a recognition of victory over the dragon, the divine power that accomplished it, and the dragon, the divine power that accomplished it, and the kingdom which results from it.kingdom which results from it.

The earthly victory of the saints who identify with Christ The earthly victory of the saints who identify with Christ in His witness and death (v. 11).in His witness and death (v. 11). It is best to see these It is best to see these saints as those who are martyred for their loyalty to saints as those who are martyred for their loyalty to Christ during the tribulation period. Their power to Christ during the tribulation period. Their power to overcome will reside in Christ’s sacrifice for them by His overcome will reside in Christ’s sacrifice for them by His shed blood, keeping them faithful even unto death.shed blood, keeping them faithful even unto death.

A twofold response to the expulsion of the dragon from A twofold response to the expulsion of the dragon from heaven (v. 12):heaven (v. 12):

RejoicingRejoicing in heaven in heaven that the devil and his angels have been that the devil and his angels have been thrown down and are no longer able to accuse the thrown down and are no longer able to accuse the brethren;brethren;

WarningWarning to the earthto the earth, because that same devil knows that , because that same devil knows that he has only a short time and will vent his fury against those he has only a short time and will vent his fury against those who brought the Messiah into being.who brought the Messiah into being.

The Dragon’s Pursuit of the The Dragon’s Pursuit of the Woman (12:13-17)Woman (12:13-17)

When the dragon saw that he could not reach When the dragon saw that he could not reach the woman’s son, he turned to persecute the the woman’s son, he turned to persecute the mother, who is national Israel.mother, who is national Israel.

Believing Israel will be supernaturally delivered Believing Israel will be supernaturally delivered to her appointed place of protection, where she to her appointed place of protection, where she will be provided for by God during the last 3 ½ will be provided for by God during the last 3 ½ years of Daniel’s 70th week.years of Daniel’s 70th week.

When the serpent sees that he cannot pursue When the serpent sees that he cannot pursue the woman where she is, he will attempt to the woman where she is, he will attempt to destroy her by drowning, but the earth will help destroy her by drowning, but the earth will help the woman by opening up and drinking the the woman by opening up and drinking the water. This enrages the dragon even more!water. This enrages the dragon even more!

The Dragon’s Pursuit of the The Dragon’s Pursuit of the Woman (12:13-17)Woman (12:13-17)

Notice the increasing frustration and wrath of the Notice the increasing frustration and wrath of the dragon through this chapter:dragon through this chapter: First he was thwarted in devouring the child. His anger First he was thwarted in devouring the child. His anger

increased and was re-directed toward the woman.increased and was re-directed toward the woman. Then he lost his access to heaven, increasing his anger Then he lost his access to heaven, increasing his anger

even more as he pursues Israel on the earth.even more as he pursues Israel on the earth. Then Israel is supernaturally delivered and protected, Then Israel is supernaturally delivered and protected,

once again increasing the devil’s rage. Now it is once again increasing the devil’s rage. Now it is directed toward “the rest of her offspring.” These are directed toward “the rest of her offspring.” These are best identified as the 144,000 from each of the 12 tribes best identified as the 144,000 from each of the 12 tribes that were sealed earlier in Revelation 7.that were sealed earlier in Revelation 7.

The mention of this group sets the stage for the The mention of this group sets the stage for the battle between the beast and the faithful in Rev battle between the beast and the faithful in Rev 13. 13. Rev 14:1-5 is the sequel to that battle, describing the Rev 14:1-5 is the sequel to that battle, describing the

victory of the 144,000.victory of the 144,000.

Next Week:Next Week:The Beast out of the Sea and The Beast out of the Sea and

the Beast out of the Earth the Beast out of the Earth (Rev 13:1-18)(Rev 13:1-18)

Read Rev 12 - 13Read Rev 12 - 13

Download - The Woman, the Male-Child, and the Dragon Revelation 12:1-17

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