The Dragon v. The Children of God

Revelation 12:13–17 (NKJV)

After seeing the dragon thrown to the earth from heaven, John then proceeds to chronicle the dragon’s actions, including his pursuit of the woman who gave birth to the Son of promise.

13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

After being cast to the earth, the dragon realized the dire nature of his situation and began to pursue the woman who gave birth to the male Child, and persecute her. However, the woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, with which she flew into the wilderness to her appointed place, where she was hidden from the serpent, and was nourished for three and one-half years. The serpent attempted to spew water toward her in order to overcome her with a flood, but the earth swallowed up the water and he did not prevail against her. This sent the dragon into a rage, and he went out to make war with the rest of her offspring, those who worshipped God, obeyed His commandments, and have the testimony of Christ.

While this seems like an obvious allusion to the church and its children, it paints a vivid picture of Satan’s hatred of the church and his desire to destroy all who are a part of God’s people on earth. While this is eschatological in nature, it points to an ongoing battle between God’s people and the devil, dating from the time of Satan’s expulsion from heaven because of his pride, lasting until the present day as we still see the works of the enemy combating the church day after day. Be ready, for the battle is not over. However, as we will soon see, the war is decided, and the people of God will overcome!

Artwork from https://steve-creitz-kreh.squarespace.com/revelation-images/st-petes-dragon?epik=dj0yJnU9Tjc5UXFMek9SMVZ5bno3TGRvUThMd29Fak1iT3VxeXomcD0wJm49V2hqd3IyLUdXblE5NU5IbkZHZUpLdyZ0PUFBQUFBR0N3RHNB