WEDNESDAY
After the 7th trumpet we come to another interlude in chapter 12. Most commentators agree that this is the “central and pivotal part of the book.” (Paul, 2018. 213) In this interlude we are introduced to Satan (the dragon) and we get yet another image of the church (a woman). This may sound strange to us, but in the context of John’s first century audience this story was quite common. In the additional content section below I included an excerpt from a commentary on just how common these types of stories were in the ancient world. That said, this is likely more informed by Genesis 3:15 and numerous Old Testament texts more than the myths of the cultures around Israel. Genesis 3:15 is a part of the curse declared over Satan, represented in Genesis as a serpent.
Genesis 3:15 (ESV)
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
Revelation 12:1-6 (ESV)
The Woman and the Dragon
1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.
Reading through those verses with the eyes you have hopefully developed going through Revelation so far, you’re likely wondering if the woman is Israel or the church (maybe even Mary). The answer is, “Yes!” This is just how Apocalyptic literature works. The symbol of the woman moves between the two seamlessly and without warning. Therefore, it’s best to take the woman and her offspring as a symbol for the people of God, generally.
We are also introduced to the dragon in verse 3. The dragon is said to be Satan in verse 9. We will see that tomorrow. The dragon has seven heads with seven diadems (a symbol of royalty) symbolizing that he is attempting to usurp God’s authority. His ten horns symbolize his great strength and power. He claims to have the same strength and power as the Lamb (5:6). His tail sweeps a 1/3 of the stars from heaven and casts them to the earth. Here we definitely have a link to the Babylonian creation myth. This could refer to fallen angels (demons), rulers, or even the saints. I think it’s best to take this as a reference to fallen angels, as the other references to stars in Revelation are most often to angels.
The dragon seeks to devour the child of the woman. This is a reference to Jesus, and Satan thinking he has frustrated God’s plan of salvation by having Jesus crucified. We will come to see that this is actually God’s plan of salvation. The son is the one who is to rule the nations. Jesus is the true Lord of all creation invading Satan’s territory to conquer it. In the resurrection and ascension, Jesus is caught up (literally, raptured) to God where he is currently in the presence of the Father. He is even caught up to the throne of God. We’ve already seen in 7:17 that Jesus is on the throne as well. So he shares the same authority as the Father. In this era of the church (symbolized as a short time with the 1,260 days, or 3.5 years) the church is protected by God. This is symbolized by the place in the wilderness prepared by God where the woman is nourished.
Again, this is a message of comfort to the churches who are in distress. The time of persecution is relatively short. God has prepared a place of nourishment and protection for his people in this time. Satan thinks that he can conquer by killing the people of God. But like Jesus whose victory was in his death, so it is for the people of God. Their victory is in their loving self-sacrifice and surrender.
Additional Content
Many similar accounts existed in the ancient world of conflict between the powers of heaven and hell. The Ugaritic Baal cycle tells of the battle of Baal, the storm god, with Yam, the prince of the sea. The Babylonians told of Marduk slaying Tiamat, the seven headed monster of the deep. (Marduk’s mother was depicted similarly as the woman in 12:1, and Tiamat in battling against heaven is said to have thrown down a third of the stars.) The Persians spoke of the son of Ahura fighting the evil dragon Azhi Dahaka. The Egyptians recounted how the goddess Hathor (Isis, wife of Osiris) fled from the red dragon Typhon to an island; the dragon was overcome by her son Horus and finally destroyed by fire. The Greeks had a similar story in the birth of Apollo from the goddess Leto, who was pursued by the great dragon Python, because he heard that her offspring would kill him. Leto was hidden beneath the sea, and the newly born Apollo immediately attained maturity and slew the dragon.
George R. Beasley-Murray, “Revelation,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 1441.
Reflection
Reflect on what it is you are most afraid of. How does the gospel give you comfort against this fear? Maybe write this out in a journal entry and include some Bible verses to memorize.