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Revelation 12:7-8: Not strong enough.

Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. ⁸ But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.NIV

It strikes me that these central chapters in Revelation offer a rich seam, and we may spend some time mining here.

One thing we come to understand from reading ‘Revelation’, and the book of Daniel (its Old Testament counterpart: e.g. Dan.9:20-11:1), is that there is a great cosmic battle being fought in the invisible realm of spiritual reality. It’s a raging war we often feel even though we may not see it. Now although this war has been won, it’s still fierce and there are yet casualties. ‘D Day’ was the day Jesus died on the Cross. That’s when the decisive battle was fought and won. But we’re still in the mopping-up operation, and that can be extremely messy. As Warren Wiersbe has said, we are not fighting for victory; we are fighting from victory. That is so true. But we are still fighting

Every believer knows for sure that he/she has a strong foe; much stronger than him or her. But although the devil is strong, he is ‘’not strong enough’’ to ultimately win.

‘Jesus is stronger than Satan and sin,

Satan to Jesus must bow.’

Prayer: Lord, I know I can’t stand up against the devil in my own strength. I’d be foolish to even imagine it. But thank you that I can be strong in you and in your mighty power, and put on all the armour you so generously supply. Help me to do this, I pray, in Jesus’ Name.

Revelation 12:1-6: Further thoughts.

A great 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. ² She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. ³ Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. ⁴ Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. ⁵ She gave birth to a son, a male child, who ‘will rule all the nations with an iron sceptre.’ And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. ⁶ The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.NIV

Here are just a few more thoughts on the passage we started to look at yesterday:

1441. Since the seven trumpets followed on from the opening of the seven seals, it would be natural now to expect the outpouring of the seven bowls of wrath, to complete the story. However, what we have is a lengthy parenthesis from 12:1-14:20, and it shows the nature of the conflict Christ will bring to an end at His appearing. ‘’The ‘parenthesis’ thus lies at the heart of the book, in significance as well as position. It covers the whole Messianic period from the birth of Christ to the consummation.’ G.R.Beasley-Murray: ‘New Bible Commentary’’, p.1441. ‘’The dark secret is revealed; the real problem is identified; the curtain has risen on the drama-within-the-drama, the central action which forms now, the central scene in the whole book. The woman and her child are carrying the purposes of God for the world. The dragon is doing his best to snuff out those purposes before they can get under way.’’ Tom Wright: ‘Revelation for Everyone’, p.108.
1442. As we saw yesterday, the ‘’woman’’ represents the ‘Mother’ of the Messianic community i.e. the believing people of God through all ages – the ‘church’ in both Testaments. But as Tom Wright points out, Eve may also lie behind this figure, because she was told that her ‘’seed’’ would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15).
1443. Verse 6 accords with the teaching of 7:1-7 and 11:1,2. The church is kept safe from the wiles of the devil during the antichrist’s reign. There is seemingly another allusion to the Exodus story here. The people of Israel escaped from the tyrant Pharaoh by going off into the wilderness, although there they would have other challenges to face. (See also verse 13ff). ‘’The church needs to know that its present struggles and sufferings are not a sign that God has gone to sleep on the job. They are the sign that a great, cosmic drama is being staged, in which they are being given a vital though terrible role to play.’’ Tom Wright, pp.109/110.

Revelation 12:1-6: The great battle.

A great 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. ² She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. ³ Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. ⁴ Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. ⁵ She gave birth to a son, a male child, who ‘will rule all the nations with an iron sceptre.’And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. ⁶ The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.” NIV

Tom Wright tells of being at the funeral of a well-known cricketer. He says that, as many of the great man’s former colleagues and opponents piled in to the church, he had the frustrating feeling that he should known who they were. But they had changed so much from how they looked as younger men. Quite a few others at the funeral agreed with his thought that it would have been good if they’d worn labels on their heads to identify themselves!

Wright says we often feel like this as we read ‘Revelation’. There are so many symbolic figures, and we can’t always tell who they are with any ease. But there can be no doubt as to who is the central figure in this passage (5). It is obviously Jesus (Psalm 2:6-9). Similarly, with the ‘’dragon’’; we know this is Satan (9). From the beginning, the devil wanted to destroy Christ (see, e.g. Matthew 2:13, 16), but he was unable to succeed. Even though Jesus died some years after the initial attempt on His life, He was raised from death to be enthroned at the right Hand of God (5). His death could not happen outside of the Father’s purpose and timing.

The woman probably represents Israel or the church – possibly both. The ‘’twelve stars’’ no doubt represent the twelve tribes or twelve apostles, or, again, maybe both. Once more, this book speaks of the protection of the church (6). God is in control although the battle rages, and it is fierce. This message comes repeatedly in the book of ‘Revelation’. We now know, however, that God’s protection does not mean that believers will never suffer. But it does mean, that like Jesus, they can never be destroyed.

Revelation 11:15-19: The future has become the present.

¹⁵ The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:

¹⁶ And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God, ¹⁷ saying:

¹⁹ Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.” NIV

I have found a comment from Tom Wright on these verses to be particularly helpful: ‘This climactic and decisive moment could well have come, one might suppose, towards the very end of the book. Indeed, parts of chapter 19 resemble what we have here. But this reminds us that we are not dealing, in Revelation, with a single sequence of events, in which the seals come first, then the trumpets, then all the material in chapters 12-14, culminating in the bowls of wrath, and so on. What we are dealing with is several different angles of vision on the one single great reality: that through the awful turmoil and trouble of the world, God is establishing through Jesus a people who, following the lamb, are to bear witness to God’s kingdom through their own suffering…’’ ‘Revelation for Everyone’, p.103.

I have deliberately put in italics what, for me, are the key words in this very significant quote. I appreciate that different Christians interpret this book in differing ways. I’m not dogmatically asserting that my viewpoint is correct. But this is certainly how I see it now, at this moment in time.

In verse 17 we read: ‘’We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who was and is…’’ Take a moment to compare that with 1:4: ‘’…him who is, and who was, and who is to come…’’ I’m sure you will immediately see the difference. By the time we reach 11:17, He’s come! The future is now the present.

In verse 18 we hear echoes of Psalm 2:1,2:’’Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against His Anointed One.’’ What we are seeing in Revelation 11 is the fulfilment of Psalm 2, as God’s Son-King comes to rule. The psalmist says that man’s best course of action in the circumstances is to submit, to sue for peace.

Do you ever feel insignificant and overlooked? Well, being ‘’small’’ (18b) won’t keep you from God rewarding (or judging!) you.

Revelation 11:15-19: In the end, Jesus wins!

¹⁵ The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah  and he will reign for ever and ever.’¹⁶ And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God, ¹⁷ saying:

¹⁹ Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm. NIV

You may remember the story of the caretaker who said he understood the message of ‘Revelation’ and that it was all rather simple to understand: ‘In the end, Jesus wins!’ he said.  Over the high altar of Westminster Abbey, there is an inscription of verse 15 taken from the King James translation of the Bible. It reads; ‘’The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ.’’ Not only is this above the altar, but also the Cosmati pavement where, for thousands of years, kings and queens have been crowned. It is there to remind all monarchs that their crowns are temporary and borrowed. That, of course is Biblically correct. But in the Greek translation the word ‘’Kingdom’’ is singular not plural, and is only used once. Tom Wright translates it: ‘’Now the kingdom of the world has passed to our Lord and his Messiah…’’

 In the end, Jesus is going to claim back this world as His rightful property; in the end, He wins!

Revelation 11:7-14: Unstoppable.

Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. ⁸ Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city – which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt – where also their Lord was crucified. ⁹ For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. ¹⁰ The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.¹¹ But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. ¹² Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’ And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.¹³ At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.¹⁴ The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.” NIV

Like the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who died and rose again (and because of Jesus) the church is unstoppable. He is building His church and the gates of hell will not be able to prevail against it, however much they may try. The measuring of the temple (i.e. the church) in verses 1&2 speaks of protection. It’s obvious that God’s people will not always be sheltered from danger and harm, but ultimately they are safe

Someone said, ‘I am immortal until all God’s will for me is accomplished.’ It is worth noting that the two witnesses (symbolic of the whole church remember?) are able to complete their witness before being overpowered and killed (7). Then even when they are dead they are not finished. There is a terrifying comeback (11); terrifying for their enemies that is. As someone said, you can have no power over those who rise from the dead.

There is an echo of Ezekiel 37 in verse 11, and of 2 Kings 2:11 in verse 12 (see also 1 Thess.4:16, 17).

The church is called to witness ‘’in the public square of the great city’’ (9). The ‘’great city’’ is a symbol of worldly power and evil. As with the Lord Himself, this is the scene of the church’s service, suffering and death – but also of resurrection. Like the Lord Himself, and because of the Lord Himself, the church is unstoppable. Hallelujah!

Revelation 11:3-6: Power from on high

³ And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.’ ⁴ They are ‘the two olive trees’ and the two lampstands, and ‘they stand before the Lord of the earth.’ ⁵ If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. ⁶ They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.” NIV

We have seen that the ‘’two witnesses’’ stand for the whole church in the last days. (Do you recall how Jesus sent out His disciples ‘’two by two’’ Mark 6:7?)

The witness of the church is an empowered witness. Note the words:

‘’And I will give power…’’

 ‘’These men have power…’’

Two Old Testament witnesses in particular stand behind this passage: Moses and Elijah. I’m sure you will be able to pick up the allusions to them, and their ministries. They were men powerful in word and deed; in sign and wonder; and powerful in prayer. God empowers His servants to do things they obviously could not do naturally and normally. He does this to bring glory to His own Name: ‘’But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us’’ (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Jesus said, ‘’ …you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…’’ (Acts 1:8).

It is by the ‘oil’ of the Holy Spirit’s anointing that the church is able to endure, and faithfully witness to Christ in an angry, violent, opposing world (4; see the references in Zechariah 4). It is by the supply of the Spirit that the witnesses have light and power.

Notice that being Spirit-empowered – having a dynamic ministry – is not incompatible with suffering (something we associate with weakness, frailty and vulnerability). When the church is most ‘weak’ she is most powerful. It seems to me that the more powerful the people of God are, the more they will be opposed; the more opposed they are, the more powerful they will be.

I believe R.T.Kendall is on to something when he asserts that ‘suffering is the key to anointing’. So:

‘’Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart’’ (Hebrews 12:3).

How could Jesus endure ‘’such opposition’’ (underlining mine)?

Answer: ‘’…through the eternal Spirit…’’ (Hebrews (9:14).

The church on earth is called to walk this way of Jesus.

Revelation 11:3-14: Dark Ages.

 ^“And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.’ ⁴ They are ‘the two olive trees’ and the two lampstands, and ‘they stand before the Lord of the earth.’ ⁵ If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. ⁶ They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.⁷ Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. ⁸ Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city – which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt – where also their Lord was crucified. ⁹ For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. ¹⁰ The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.¹¹ But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. ¹² Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’ And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.¹³ At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.¹⁴ The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.” NIV

Before moving on to look at these verses in a little more detail, I wanted to share this helpful comment from F.B.Meyer:

‘We cannot in this brief note indicate the various interpretations of this chapter, but certain great principles underlie it which are true of every age. (1) During the darkest ages, men have been raised up to testify against the prevailing corruption of their time, and especially the corruption of the apostate church. Their opponents have endeavoured to silence their voice and blacken their character, but God has ever vindicated them and given life out of death. (2) Always when the enemies of the truth have deemed themselves triumphant, there has been a rekindling of gospel testimony…(3) Such witness-bearing as is suggested by the comparison with Zechariah’s vision is fed from the heart of Christ. He is the root of the martyr line; his Spirit is the life-breath of his witnesses. All through the centuries, commonly called Christian though generally very un-Christian, there has been an unbroken succession of pure and noble souls who have stood for Jesus Christ even unto death. Let us dare to stand with them and our Lord, that he may not be ashamed of us at his coming.’ ‘Devotional Commentary’, p.640.

Revelation 11:3-14: Empowered ministry.

^” And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.’ ⁴ They are ‘the two olive trees’ and the two lampstands, and ‘they stand before the Lord of the earth.’⁵ If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. ⁶ They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.⁷ Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. ⁸ Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city – which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt – where also their Lord was crucified. ⁹ For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. ¹⁰ The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.¹¹ But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. ¹² Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’ And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.¹³ At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.¹⁴ The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.” NIV

Although some people take these words literally, and imagine that two men will appear on the earth in the very last phase of history, and do all we read here (possibly a reappearance of Moses and Elijah? See Malachi 4:5 & Deuteronomy 18:15); my belief is that the prophets are emblematic of the witness of the church as a whole in the last days. Taken this way we can say the church clearly has:

• An empowered ministry;
• A prayerful ministry;
• A solemn ministry;
• A ministry which entails deep suffering;
• But, ultimately, a successful and a vindicated ministry, with multitudes coming to worship God (13b)

In short, this ministry is cruciform in shape. The book of ‘Revelation’ shows that faithful witness to Christ entails suffering like Him and with Him (8b). In some sense there is always a dying involved that life may be manifested. It means not only pointing to His death and resurrection, but also sharing it (See Philippians 3:10,11).

There is an irony in verse 10. It’s like the world will throw a fiendish and diabolical form of Christmas party – but it will be short lived. The world will dance on the church’s grave, but not for long. There’s going to be a resurrection.

The passage ends on a high note of triumph (13,14), and prepares the way for the climactic and celebratory conclusion to the first half of ‘Revelation’ (15-19). We will get there eventually, but first, we will spend a few more days on the detail of today’s passage. There is so much Old Testament resonance, and we must turn the soil slowly, I think, and see what nuggets we find in it.