2. “Apocalyptic literature is a
special kind of writing that
arose among Jews and
Christians to reveal certain
mysteries about heaven
and earth, humanity and
God, angels and demons,
the life of the world today,
and the world to come.”
4. Our Guiding Principle
Don’t miss the forest
for the trees! Let’s
not get lost in the
details and therefore
miss the message
Jesus has for us!
5. Chp. 1 Chp. 2-3 Chps. 4-22
“Things
which “Things
“Things which will take place”
you have which
seen” are”
Vision of Christ Vision of Consummation
Theophany Talks Tribulations Triumph Together!
6. Revelation 12
Two great signs (vv. 1-6)
Two ferocious wars
One very certain outcome
7. Signs and Wars
Revelation 12:1-2
A great and wondrous sign appeared in
heaven: a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet and a crown
of twelve stars on her head. She was
pregnant and cried out in pain as she was
about to give birth.
8. Signs and Wars
Revelation 12:3-4a
Then another sign appeared in heaven: an
enormous red dragon with seven
heads and ten horns and seven crowns on
his heads. His tail swept a third of the
stars out of the sky and flung them to the
earth.
9. Signs and Wars
Revelation 12:4b-5
The dragon stood in front of the woman
who was about to give birth, so that he
might devour her child the moment it was
born. She gave birth to a son, a male
child, who will rule all the nations with an
iron scepter. And her child was snatched
up to God and to his throne.
10. Signs and Wars
Revelation 12:6
The woman fled into the desert to a place
prepared for her by God, where she might
be taken care of for 1,260 days.
11. Revelation 12
(Signs and Wars)
Two great signs (vv. 1-6)
- A pregnant woman
12. Signs and Wars
Revelation 12:1-2
A great and wondrous sign appeared in
heaven: a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet and a crown
of twelve stars on her head. She was
pregnant and cried out in pain as she was
about to give birth.
13. Signs and Wars
Revelation 12:5
She gave birth to a son, a male child,
who will rule all the nations with an iron
scepter.
Revelation 19:15
Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword
with which to strike down the nations.
“He will rule them with an iron scepter.”
14. Signs and Wars
Revelation 12:5
She gave birth to a son, a male child, who
will rule all the nations with an iron
scepter. And her child was snatched up to
God and to his throne.
15. Signs and Wars
Ephesians 1:18-20
That you may know . . . what is the
immeasurable greatness of his power
toward us who believe, according to the
working of his great might that he worked
in Christ when he raised him from the
dead and seated him at his right hand in
the heavenly places.
16. Revelation 12
(Signs and Wars)
Two great signs (vv. 1-6)
- A pregnant woman (Israel)
- A hideous dragon
17. Signs and Wars
Revelation 12:3
Then another sign appeared in heaven: an
enormous red dragon with seven
heads and ten horns and seven crowns on
his heads.
18. Signs and Wars
Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was thrown
down, that ancient serpent, who is called
the devil and Satan, the deceiver of
the whole world.
19. Signs and Wars
Revelation 12:3
Then another sign appeared in heaven: an
enormous red dragon with seven heads
and ten horns and seven crowns on his
heads.
20. 1 John 5:19
We know that we are from God,
and the whole world lies in the
power of the evil one.
21. Revelation 12
(Signs and Wars)
Two great signs (vv. 1-6)
- A pregnant woman (Israel)
- A hideous dragon (Satan)
22. Revelation 12
(Signs and Wars)
Two great signs (vv. 1-6)
Two ferocious wars (vv. 7-17)
- War #1 – occurs in heaven
23. Signs and Wars
Revelation 12:7-8
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his
angels fighting against the dragon. And the
dragon and his angels fought back, but he
was defeated, and there was no longer
any place for them in heaven.
24. Signs and Wars
Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was thrown
down, that ancient serpent, who is called
the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the
whole world— he was thrown down to
the earth, and his angels were thrown
down with him.
25. Signs and Wars
Who is this “Michael?”
Daniel 12:1 – “The great prince”
Daniel 10:13 – “One of the chief
princes”
Daniel 10:21 – “Your prince”
Jude 1:9 – “The Archangel”
26. Signs and Wars
Satan has access to heaven?
Job 1:6
Now there was a day when the
sons of God came to present
themselves before the LORD,
and Satan also came among them.
27. Signs and Wars
Revelation 12:10
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,
“Now the salvation and the power and the
kingdom of our God and the authority of
his Christ have come, for the accuser of
our brothers has been thrown down, who
accuses them day and night before our
God.
28. Revelation 12
(Signs and Wars)
Two great signs (vv. 1-6)
Two ferocious wars (vv. 7-17)
- War #1 – occurs in heaven
- War #2 – occurs on earth
29. Revelation 12
(Signs and Wars)
Satan’s 3 targets in the war on earth:
1. The male child (Christ)
Revelation 12:4b
And the dragon stood before the woman
who was about to give birth, so that when
she bore her child he might devour it.
30. Revelation 12
(Signs and Wars)
Satan’s 3 targets in the war on earth:
1. The male child (Christ)
2. The woman (Israel)
31. Signs and Wars
Revelation 12:13
And when the dragon saw that he had
been thrown down to the earth, he
pursued the woman who had given
birth to the male child.
32. Signs and Wars
Revelation 12:14
But the woman was given the two wings
of the great eagle so that she might fly
from the serpent into the wilderness, to
the place where she is to be nourished for
a time, and times, and half a time.
33. Signs and Wars
Exodus 19:6
You yourselves have seen what I did to the
Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles'
wings and brought you to myself.
34. Signs and Wars
Revelation 12:15
The serpent poured water like a river out
of his mouth after the woman, to sweep
her away with a flood.
36. Signs and Wars
Revelation 12:15-16
The serpent poured water like a river out
of his mouth after the woman, to sweep
her away with a flood. But the earth
came to the help of the woman, and the
earth opened its mouth and swallowed
the river that the dragon had poured from
his mouth.
37. Revelation 12
(Signs and Wars)
Satan’s 3 targets in the war on earth
1. The male child (Christ)
2. The woman (Israel)
3. All followers of the true God
38. Signs and Wars
Revelation 12:17
Then the dragon became furious with the
woman and went off to make war on the
rest of her offspring, on those who keep
the commandments of God and hold
to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on
the sand of the sea.
39. As we look in the rearview mirror
at Revelation 7 – we see God . . .
Sealing 144,000 Jews
Saving a multitude of Gentiles
40. Revelation 12
(Signs and Wars)
Two great signs (vv. 1-6)
Two ferocious wars (vv. 7-17)
One very certain outcome!
41. Signs and Wars
Revelation 12:12
Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you
who dwell in them! But woe to you, O
earth and sea, for the devil has come
down to you in great wrath, because he
knows that his time is short!
42. Signs and Wars
Revelation 12:11
And they have conquered him by the
blood of the Lamb and by the word of
their testimony, for they loved not their
lives even unto death.
43. Signs and Wars
Colossians 2:13-15
And you, who were dead in your trespasses . . .
God made alive together with him, having
forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the
record of debt that stood against us with its
legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to
the cross. He disarmed the rulers and
authorities and put them to open shame, by
triumphing over them in him.
44. Revelation 12
(Signs and Wars)
Two great signs (vv. 1-6)
Two ferocious wars (vv. 7-17)
One very certain outcome!
45. 1. Don’t underestimate the Enemy
of your soul!
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your
adversary the devil prowls around
like a roaring lion, seeking someone
to devour.
46. 2. We should expect persecution …
if we are living for Jesus Christ!
2 Timothy 3:12
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly
life in Christ Jesus will be
persecuted.
47. John 15:18-19
If the world hates you, know that it
has hated me before it hated you. If
you were of the world, the world
would love you as its own; but
because you are not of the world, but
I chose you out of the world,
therefore the world hates you.
48. John 15:20
Remember the word that I said to
you: ‘A servant is not greater than his
master.’ If they persecuted me, they
will also persecute you.
49. 2. We should expect persecution …
if we are living for Jesus Christ!