SATANS WAR AGAINST THE CHURCH In the prophecy of Daniel 7, we found pagan Rome represented by a dreadful and terrible beast with ten horns. You will recall that, among the ten horns there came up a little horn, which symbolized papal Rome. In the twelfth chapter of Revelation we find Satan working through both pagan and papal Rome to make war against Gods Son, Gods people, and Gods law. Let us familiarize ourselves with the characters of this prophecy, for we are now living in the hour of final fulfillment! 1 - WHO IS REPRESENTED BY THE WOMAN WITH THE SUN, MOON, AND TWELVE STARS? Revelation 12:1-And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: A number of times in the Bible God uses a woman to symbolize the church. Hosea 2:19- I will betroth thee unto Me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness and in mercies. Isaiah 62:5- As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. This woman of Revelation is clothed with the sun-symbol of the gospel light of the pure church. Notice also that a corrupt woman symbolizes a corrupt church. Ezekiel 23:2-4- Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother: and they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity, And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were Mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Abolibah (Revelation 17:3, 6, 15-16). Another text or two might be quoted to show that a pure woman symbolizes the true church: Jeremiah 6:2- I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman. 2 Corinthians 11:2- I am jealous over you With godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. So this woman, in Revelation 12: l, undoubtedly represents the true church; whereas the sun aptly represents the gospel and the glory of the church established by Christ. The moon symbolizes the types and shadows of the Old Testament, which passed away when the full gospel sun arose upon the earth. And the twelve stars suggest the twelve tribes and the twelve apostles. The Old Testament days had their glory of types and shadows and the glory of the majesty of law. This glory of Judaism was as the shining of the moon. But love and grace and the Spirit of God, as revealed in Christ and the New Testament, are like the shining of the sun. Justice is deep and abiding, but love and mercy are warm, kind, and gracious. Their rays bring life and light, and warm the heart with an overwhelming desire to do the will of God and keep His commandments. 2 - WHO WAS THE MAN-CHILD BORN TO THE WOMAN? The man-child born to the woman was Christ. He it is who is destined to rule with a rod of iron. Revelation 12:5- She brought forth a man-child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. Psalm 2:7-9- The Lord hath said unto Me, Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters vessel. The man-child was caught up to Gods throne. Even so, Jesus, after His victory over sin and death, ascended to His Fathers throne. Revelation 12:5- And her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne. Ephesians 1:20-21- Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, That this child is Christ would seem to be no question. He is to rule with a rod of iron. Of Christ it is said: Revelation 2:27- He shall rule them with a rod of iron. He was to be caught up to Gods throne. Hebrews 8:1- We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. 3 - WHAT WAS MEANT BY THE GREAT RED DRAGON? Revelation 12:3-4- There appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And His tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born, Satan, the great dragon and that old serpent (Revelation 12:9) worked against Christ and the church through pagan, or heathen, Rome. This was the legally constituted power that became the tool for the devouring of the man-child. Of pagan Rome we read in Daniel 8:25, He shall also stand up against the Prince of princes. As a general rule, we find the nations of earth brought to view In the Bible when they have some connection with Gods work and people. The third part of the stars of heaven are the angels who were cast. . to the earth when Lucifer was thrust out of heaven (Revelation 12:7-9). Observe carefully the following points: 1. The dragon had ten horns, as did the dreadful beast of Daniel 7. This represents the ten divisions of pagan Rome. 2. The dragon was a common symbol of old Roman ensigns. 3. Rome, under Augustus, brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem to enroll for taxation, and there Jesus was born (Luke 2: 1-5, 11). 4. Rome, through King Herod, tried to destroy Christ as a babe (Matthew 2:3-18). 5. Rome, under Pilate, put Christ to death. 6. The tomb of Jesus was sealed with a Roman seal (Matthew 27:65-66). 7. The tomb was guarded by a Roman watch, or guard. 8. Thus Satan worked by means of the great red dragon, which was pagan Rome, against the Son of the woman. 4 - WHAT PICTURE IS GIVEN OF WAR IN HEAVEN? Revelation 12:7-10- There was war in heaven: Michael and His angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found anymore in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Michael signifies Christ. Notice these three Scriptures: Jude 9- Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation. 1 Thessalonians 4: 16- The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first, John 5:28- The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice. The voice of the archangel then is the voice of Christ, and Michael is the archangel. Satan, of course, is the great dragon, that old serpent. So here we have the picture of conflict between Christ and Satan-a conflict that began in heaven and will continue until Satan is destroyed. W. A. Spicer writes: This picture of the original conflict in heaven is evidently thrown in here to show the animus of Satan in his warfare against the man-child, the Son of man. They had met before. Jesus was not only Son of man, but He was the eternal Son of God. As Commander of heavens hosts, He had expelled Satan and the rebellious angels from heaven. When Christ came to earth, Satan assaulted Him. He sought to have Him slain as a babe (Matthew 2:13-16). He tried in vain to conquer Him in the wilderness of temptation (Matthew 4:1-11). He trailed the Saviour day and night, seeking to lead Him to sin against Gods law or to give up His plan of saving man. Satan did not rest until Jesus was nailed to the cross. But what seemed to be victory for Satan was actually defeat. Said John: Revelation 12:10 - Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down. Christs death was a guarantee that Satan could no longer deceive the inhabitants of heaven or earth. His malice and deceit were unmasked before the universe. Jesus humbled Himself to the death of the cross, but will be exalted far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named (Ephesians 1:21).
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 21:13:11 +0000
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