Reading: Revelation 12-14

Revelation 12:12 – “But oh! The horror for the earth and sea! The devil has come down to you with great rage, for he knows that he only has a short time.”

In today’s chapters the story of God’s people is retold – this time from a cosmic perspective. It begins with a woman giving birth to a son. Her crown has 12 stars (tribes of Israel) and her child is saved from the dragon (evil), snatched up (resurrected) into heaven. A battle is waged in heaven. Michael and his angels defeat Satan and his angels, who are thrown down to earth. In 12:12 we read, “But oh! The horror for the earth and sea! The devil has come down to you with great rage, for he knows that he only has a short time.” Woe to the earth. Woe to us.

Satan chases the woman but cannot catch her. So Satan makes war on her children (the church.) Next a beast emerged from the sea. It is a parody of the Lamb. The head that was slain is healed, awing the whole earth, drawing followers. The beast then makes war on and defeats the saints. Verse 10 speaks into John’s readers’ present reality of arrest and martyrdom, calling on them to remain faithful and to endure.

A second beast emerged from the land. It deceives many and forces them to worship the first beast. People are made to wear the number of the beast. Without this they cannot buy or sell. This beast is a parody of the Spirit. The Lamb then appears in heaven with the 144,000. They are pure and blameless. A series of angels comes next. They announce the “eternal good news” and the downfall of Babylon (evil.) The earth is harvested – first the righteous and then those who end up in “the great winepress of God’s anger.” The end is drawing near.

Prayer: Lord God, as the story unfolds from the heavenly perspective, the choice to live for you or for the world becomes clear. Evil continues to tell lies in attempts to deceive and draw us away from you. By the power of the Holy Spirit, help us to endure and to remain faithful. Amen.