ECHO Student Ministries

Revelation 11:15-12:17

The seventh angel sounded a trumpet ushering in the last trumpet
judgment, which brought voices from heaven giving thanks to God
for the establishment of His kingdom on earth (11:15). The
twenty-four elders (Revelation 4:4), who represent the church,
also fall down on their faces and worship God for His righteous
rule (11:16-18). After this, John writes that "the temple of God
was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His
temple. And there were lightnings, thunderings, an earthquake,
and great hail" (11:19). The ark of the covenant was a piece of
furniture in the Old Testament tabernacle/temple and ultimately
symbolized the presence of God as well as the atonement for sin
and God's covenant with His people. The earthly ark represented
this one that John now saw in heaven which spoke of God's
redemption of sinners.

A great sign then appears in heaven and a woman with child
cries "out in labor and in pain to give birth" (12:1-2).
Without going into a ton of detail, this woman (not a literal woman)
represents Israel who oftentimes in the Old Testament was pictured
as being married to God (Isaiah 54:5-6). A second sign appears in
heaven which is a "great, fiery red dragon" (12:3). John describes
this dragon as "having seven heads and ten horns, and seven
diadems on his heads" (12:3). This dragon is Satan and John even
records the fact that the dragon (Satan), with his tail, "drew a third
of the stars [angels] of heaven and threw them to the earth. And
the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to
devour her Child [the Messiah] as soon as it was born [Herod
demanding the death of all male children]" (12:4). The picture
is clear. God promised a deliverer from sin (Genesis 3:15) and
Satan made it his priority to make sure that this deliverer would
not survive.

John continues to write that the woman (Israel) "bore a male
Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her
child was caught up [Jesus' ascension] to God and His throne" (12:5).
Jesus did survive Satan's attacks and rose victoriously from the dead
to sit at the right hand of God. Now, John sees the woman (Israel)
fleeing into the wilderness "where she has a place prepared by God,
that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and
sixty days" (12:6). The time spoken of here is the last three and
a half years of the great tribulation period when Satan will do his
best to terrorize Israel; however, God promises to protect them.
The prophet Daniel gives some insight on what will happen during
this time. For the first three and a half years, the Antichrist will
make a peace covenant with Israel, but at the midpoint of the
seven year tribulation he will break that covenant, discontinue
temple worship, and defile temple worship (Daniel 9:27). This
is called the abomination of desolation and as a result of it, many
Jews will flee (Matthew 24:15-22).

Mimicking the chaos which is happening on earth, war will break
out in heaven when Michael and his angels fight Satan and his
angels (12:7). Satan and his angels will lose this battle and be
cast to earth for the last time where he will become very angry
and take his wrath out on the inhabitants of the earth (12:12). He
will first go after Israel, but they will be given God's special
protection (12:13-16). In frustration, Satan will then take out his
wrath on anyone who names the name of Christ (12:17).
Although we read this and are saddened by the devastation
which Satan will pour out in the last days, we must remember
that he is already destroying the inhabitants of the earth. He
seeks to destroy their lives through temptation, sin, and discouragement.
Those who claim to be followers of Christ must offer hope through
Jesus Christ so we can help win the battle for souls right now. We must
not wait until these judgments come upon the earth.

Dear God, make me a person who spreads the message of hope to
those on earth. Use me at my job, in my neighborhood, and in my
dealings with people every day to offer salvation to those without
Jesus Christ.