The Woman, Child, and Dragon
Revelation 12:1-6
His tail drew a third of the stars 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 as soon as it was born. [Rev 12:4]
The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon, it almost sounds like a C.S. Lewis novel. These are, however, three important personages of the Tribulation. Revelation 12-14 is another parenthetical, and perhaps the most symbolic portion of the Bible. Walvoord comments:
Beginning with Revelation 12:1, we come to another parenthetical section of the book, which ends at 14:20. Within this section seven primary characters are introduced: (1) the woman, representing Israel, (2) the dragon, representing Satan, (3) a male child, referring to Christ, (4) Michael, representing the angels, (5) Israel, the remnant of the womans seed, (6) the beast out of the sea, the world dictator, and (7) the beast out of the earth, the false prophet and religious leader of the world. Around these main characters swirls the tremendously moving scene of the great tribulation. Chapter 12 is the most symbolic chapter in the Bibles most symbolic book.
Wiersbe calls this parenthetical The Terrible Trio, referring to the dragon [Satan], the beast out of the sea [the antichrist], and the beast out of the earth [the false prophet]. This is the evil counterfeit trinity that will come in full force at the latter half of the Tribulation to oppose God and His people.
While there are several personages to be covered in the next two chapters, The Terrible Trio are the dominant ones. Our text this morning begins the description of the dragon. John identifies him as that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan. He is the first person of the counterfeit trinity and the one who gives antichrist his power [ref. 13:2]
The dragon is the one behind every attempt in history to annihilate Israel, from Genesis to Revelation. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. [Rev 12:4] This is not only a reference to Israel but specifically a failed attempt by King Herod to kill the child Jesus [ref. Matt 2:13-15].
Israel was, is, and will always be a primary target of Satan. It is interesting to watch even current events in our day and see that nothing has changed. The woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars is Israel who will continue to be a prominent figure into the latter days of the Tribulation and the Millennium.
Be certain, God is not finished with Israel!
