It’s the time of year for nativity plays, but I bet you’ve never seen one with a great red, seven headed dragon, with 10 horns, and the baby in the manger holding a crowbar. That’s the kind of nativity that we get in Revelation 12. It’s not that John is telling us that there was literally a dragon in the stable, but he’s a telling us about a real battle that has been raging for thousands of years and continues to rage even today. John is telling us about this so that Christians can know who their enemy is and how to defeat him.
The dragon is a frightening image, his 7 heads and 10 horns, speak of his authority and power. Who could possibly defeat him? He is so powerful, and look who he’s waiting to devour. (v4b) Can you think of anyone more vulnerable than a woman about to give birth? The dragon is waiting to destroy her child, he’s been trying to stop this child being born for years and years. Ever since God had promised that one of the woman’s descendants would crush his head (Gen 3:15), Satan has been seeking to stop this child.
The woman is the people of God, (see v1, the 12 stars reminding us of the 12 tribes). Think of how Satan tried to take her children—from Cain murdering Abel, to Pharaoh killing all the baby boys, to Haman seeking to wipe out the Jews.
Satan was determined to get rid of this promised descendant. He kept on trying right up to the birth of Jesus. We know the child in (v5) is Jesus since the rod of iron is from Psalm 2 which is all about the Christ who will reign forever and destroy all opposition. Do you see the tension? The hope of the world is bound up in the Christmas baby! Satan knows that and he is out to destroy. Here is the reality that was going on behind the scenes at the nativity. And even when he fails to stop the child being born, he uses Herod to kill all baby boys. Satan is out to get this child.
But look what happens, there is no contest. In v5 we get a snapshot covering Jesus entire birth, death, resurrection, ascension! The big picture is, Jesus is victorious! Do you see the power of God—Satan goes to war as a dragon, God defeats him through a pregnant woman giving birth.
And the mother ( representing the people of God), is protected by God (v6) – for 1260 days, which is the same time that the witnesses in chapter 11 were to witness for. This is the time for the church to witness while we wait for Jesus’ return, and this is the way to have victory over the devil.
Jesus’ victory means that Satan is driven out of heaven (v8), he is a defeated enemy, but he’s dangerous. He cannot touch Jesus, but he rages against Jesus’ people, the church. In some countries, he causes Christians to be thrown into prison or even killed for their faith, in other places we may be mocked, lose jobs, be called intolerant, miss promotions. But, we are told the way to overcome, it’s by the blood of the Lamb (v11 meaning the death of Jesus). The way to overcome is to keep trusting in Jesus’ death on our behalf and also by “the word of their testimony.” What are we to do when Satan reminds us of our sin and guilt? We are to say “I am safe because Jesus died for me, his blood was spilt instead of mine.” We are not ashamed to belong to Jesus, He is more precious to us than anything else. He has loved us and died for us, we will hold fast to our testimony about Him and so we are safe forever.
As we head towards Christmas, as you see the evil in the world around you. As you suffer for following Jesus, will you remember the dragon in the nativity? You have an enemy, but remember the child was born—he is the one who has defeated the enemy, and in Him, we have the victory. The way to conquer is to hold onto the cross of Christ, we need to keep the cross central, for this is our only hope.
Light and Momentary Troubles 
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