Reading: Revelation 12:1-17

In chapter 12, Jesus is going to show John the reason for why everything has gone so terribly wrong here on earth. He’s going to reveal to His churches the story (behind the story) of human civilization. This is another example of why you can’t read Revelation chronologically. Because Jesus just got done showing John the end, whereas now He’s about to rewind back to the beginning. And He does so through the disclosure of different signs.

Which. Here’s the thing about signs: signs point you to something. Right? There’s Starbucks. Or. Shake Shack. Or. Chick-Fil-A. Those are a couple of my favorite signs. However. Signs also help you define an action. Stop. Keep Off. No Trespassing. Ok. Same thing is going on in this text. We have a sign pointing us towards something (actually, a someone) and we have a sign helping us discern how we should act as Christians.

The first sign is a woman, and she is pointing us to 3 things: obviously Mary. She gives birth to a Son who, verse 5, rules the nations. This sign also represents Israel. We get that from the 12 stars, and there being 12 tribes. But she also represents the global Church. The bride of Christ. In other words, this sign is: Mary, Israel, and the global Church. All 3. It’s important for you to realize that, because as a follower of Jesus, and as a member of the global church, you have a very real enemy who’s trying to attack you.

The second sign we have is this great red dragon. Again. This isn’t a literal description—it’s a sign, pointing us to something. What’s it pointing to? Well. It’s pointing us to the fact that there is murderous evil in the world. That’s why the dragon’s red. It represents bloodshed. It’s also demonstrating that the dragon is wise, or cunning. Thus the seven heads. 7 = Complete. Heads = Wisdom.

The horns should point us to Daniel where we find out they represent kingdoms of the earth; and the fact that the heads are wearing diadems shows a princely nature. It’s not kingship. It’s something less. The best way I’ve heard it said is: What God creates, Satan counterfeits. So. The wisdom, the power, the crowns, all that is a counterfeit of what God truly has.

The text continues with the sign of the dragon’s tail sweeping a third of the stars of heaven to earth. We know from previous chapters that stars are angels, so a third of the angels were cast to earth. And it says that the dragon stands before the woman to devour the child. That is: he wants to kill Jesus.

This is why all throughout the Old Testament you see nations trying to destroy Israel. Because that’s where Jesus comes from. Which. To be fair, it’s still happening today. Even though Jesus has been born, Satan still hates Jerusalem. And is trying (in vain) to stop the second coming of Jesus in Israel.

But. Egypt, Babylon, Assyria—modern times Iran, Syria, among others—they all try to destroy the people of God. When Jesus was born, King Herod kills all the boys. Again. It’s the great red dragon trying to rid himself of the True Ruler of the Earth.

How is that the story of humanity? Because the Great Red Dragon tries to deceive the nations into worshipping Him—creating false senses of power until Jesus returns. So. How should we act as Christians? Be careful. Test everything. Not every sign is a good sign…

With Gratitude,

pLJ