The Dragon

 

      John's vision has another vision that introduces the second half of the apocalypse.  In this vision there was a pregnant woman that entered into Heaven while in labor.  She stood out because she was dressed in the sun.  He crown had 12 stars and her shoes were the moon.  She cried out in pain because she was giving birth and it was not an easy delivery.  

    The next sign was a red dragon with seven heads, 10 horns, and seven crowns.  Each things has it's own meaning.  He entered heaven wiping away a third of the stars throwing them onto the earth.  He stood in front of the woman in labor so that he could devour her child.  It feels like a review of Jesus' birth.  The baby boy was meant to grow up and rule all nations with an iron rod.  This refers to Jesus' ascension.

    God took the child before the dragon could eat him.  The woman fled to the wilderness to a place God had prepared for her.  She was nourished and recovered for 1,260 days.  It is thought to be the same time period as the two witnesses.

    This is when war breaks out in Heaven.  Satan is the dragon. He and his fallen angels fought the angels of God led by Michael.  Satan thinks he is going to win, but he is the loser.  He will be defeated this last time and tossed out of Heaven.  His days of leading the world astray are over.  Maybe he thought if he won enough souls that he would be powerful enough to defeat Jesus, but God is the creature.  He has power over every soul, redeemed or not.

    Jesus is the ultimate victor.  He overcomes any and every obstacle that tries to get in His way.  Satan's time is short, so he pursues the woman that had fled to the wilderness.  When he finds out that she is cared for and safe, he is enraged.  He is the persecutor.  

    His anger is bad for people, but we hold onto the promises of Jesus.  He spews out a river from his mouth that carries the woman away in a flood.  However, God is in control, so he has the earth save her.  It opens up and swallows the water.  This only makes Satan angrier, so he rages war against all living Christians that hold firm to Jesus' testimony.  The meaning of how this will all play out will become clear one day.

Revelations 12