Understanding Revelation. (12:4)

"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."

(Revelation 12:4) 

“His tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth,” indicates his power and strength. This is not meant to be taken literally, because the earth could not contain a third of the stars of heaven! It likely is reference to the angels that fell with Satan now making up the demonic hoard intent on attacking everything godly and good.
The dragon’s ambition can be seen in verse 4. He waited for the woman to give birth so that “he might devour her child.” As we will see, the child refers to Christ. Throughout the history of the world, Satan has sought to subvert and destroy the godly seed through which Christ would come. The background is Genesis 3:15. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.” Satan’s goal was to destroy the line through which Christ would come. So often the promised lineage of the Messiah faced extinction: at the flood, in Abraham having no heir, in Jacob facing Esau in the wilderness, in David being hunted down by Saul, in the wicked Queen Athaliah killing all heirs to the throne except Joash, in Haman’s plans to destroy all the Jews, in Herod’s attempt to kill all the baby boys around Bethlehem. But God preserved our Savior so that He might go to the cross on our behalf and deliver us from the dominion of Satan! Now Satan’s rage is transferred to the Church.

(Dr. Phil A. Newton)

Revelation (12:3). "The Red Dragon"

"And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems."

(Revelation 12:3)

The use of “dragon” to represent the devil probably originated from the Old Testament’s use of Leviathan, Behemoth and Rahab as creaturely embodiments of evil. It also, just like our day, gave the original audience a mental image of one who is vicious, intent on harm, and who cannot be trusted. J.R.R. Tolkien captures some of this in the Hobbit as he describes the powerful dragon Smaug, that ruined life for the men below his domain, keeping them in fear and dread. The red color reminds us of the second horseman representing war (Rev. 6:4), and rightly so, because he “went off to make war with the saints" (Rev. 12:17). The distorted “seven heads and ten horns…and…seven diadems,” indicates the devil’s completeness in conquering the world after usurping the authority given to man in the Garden. 

The dragon dominates the world by governing global empires, principal authorities, political movements, and philosophical ideas. We see the evidence of his corrupt, deceitful domination throughout the globe, showing up in not only tyrannical rulers but weak and unethical politicians, immoral media figures, greedy businessmen, and a host of others. 

With the background of Daniel chapter seven’s devouring beast with ten horns, the dragon opposes everything that is from God.

(Phil A. Newton)

Revelation (12:2). "The Woman"

"She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth."

(Revelation 12:2)

The woman's birth-pangs refer to the persecution of the covenant community and the messianic line during Old Testament times and especially the intertestamental period leading up to Christ's birth.

The suggestion is that the woman is being tormented and suffering as she attempts to give birth, which fits with a picture of the faithful Jewish community being persecuted in the period leading up to the birth of Christ.

The ultimate source of John's vision here is the prophetic word given in (Genesis 3:14-16) that after Eve's pain in childbirth, her seed would bruise the head of the serpent. The woman, representing God's covenant people, gives birth to the One who will take back what was lost in the Garden.

(G.K. Beale)

Revelation (12:1) "The Woman"

"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."

(Revelation 12:1)

There is the radiant woman. That woman symbolizes the church. Scripture emphasizes the fact that the church in both Old Testament and New Testament is one. It is one chosen people in Christ. It is one tent; one Vineyard; one family-Abraham is the father of all believers whether they are circumcised or not-one Olive tree; one elect race, royal priesthood, holy nation, people for God's own possession; one beautiful bride; and in its consummation one new Jerusalem whose gates bear the names of the twelve tribes and whose foundations are inscribed with the names of the twelve apostles. 

On earth this church may appear very insignificant and open to scorn and ridicule; but from the aspect of heaven this same church is all-glorious: all that heaven can contribute of glory and of splendor is lavished upon her. She is clothed with the sun, for she is glorious and exalted. She has the moon under her feet, for she exercises dominion. She has on her head a wreath of twelve stars, for she is victorious.

(William Hendriksen)

Revelation (11:13) A Few Things To Contemplate.

"And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven."

(Revelation 11:13)

When the church is gathered into His bosom, then God’s wrath falls upon the world. “And in that hour there was a great earthquake”—a term always portending God’s judgment falling—“and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.” John emphasizes that the world watches as God delivers the church from the world. But it watches with dismay and terror. The reaction is great fear falling upon them, terror at the reality that the church is indeed the people of God, and its gospel message is indeed truth and life. The numbers used are not to be taken literally, but indicate the beginnings of God’s wrath falling in significant impact. Even those under God’s wrath without any more opportunity to respond to the gospel, will understand their plight so that they “gave glory to the God of heaven.” This is not a new surge of evangelism but a period when God makes even His enemies to acknowledge that He is Sovereign Lord (Phil. 2:9-11). 

Here are a few things that we must contemplate:
1. The church is on God’s schedule. When the church has finished its gospel work, then the world faces God’s wrath.
2. The church must not grow discouraged in the work. The Lord sustains us until He is ready to take us to glory.
3. The world will grow increasingly hostile toward the gospel. Don’t let this surprise you. But know that a day of reckoning will take place.
4. The gospel will not always be proclaimed in the world. For those among us who are unbelieving, God has shown mercy to you by allowing you to be under gospel ministry. The day will come when that is over. If you have not repented and trusted Christ as your Redeemer and Lord, then you will give glory to God, but not as His follower but as the object of His wrath.
5. Let the church hear the call of the gospel to go forth and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ!

(Phil A. Newton)

Revelation (11:11-12) "The Two Witnesses"

"But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them."

(Revelation 11:11-12)

Here is something of the pattern of Christ in His death and resurrection and ascension now belonging to the church. 

John’s use of the past tense envisions the certainty of this future work taking place. Here is the true “rapture” of the church, to use a much misused term. Here we find the church called into the presence of Christ forever. The church will be gathered to Christ but only after its mission is finished and the opposition of the world has run its full course. But Satan will not have the last word! Just as Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended to the Father, so also will all believers in the world at this time.

The forebodings of the world’s hatred that we see at present will be multiplied one day until the voice of the gospel is silenced in the world. But it is only silenced when the work is finished. That means, while God gives us opportunity, we must be about the mission of the gospel. The day will come when we can no longer speak the gospel; and the world can no longer hear the gospel to be saved. So, let us not grow weary in gospel work. Let us tell the good news broadly!

(Phil A Newton)

Revelation (11:9-10) "The Two Witnesses"..cont.

"For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth."

(Revelation 11:9-10)

The scene shows a slaughtering of Christians whose gospel work is completed. The brief time of three and a half days envisions a short period that the world exults over the destruction of Christianity and elimination of the gospel. “And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.” What the world has desired since the emergence of sin comes to fruition. The voice of the good news is silenced. Men are given over to their sin. The gospel that they considered to be tormenting is silenced. Only a few believers who desire to bury with dignity their fallen brethren are left. And even this dignity is denied to heap more shame and dishonor upon the church of Jesus Christ. Though now dead and silenced, the world continues to dredge up more hatred and animosity for the gospel that tormented them with conviction.

(Phil A. Newton)