Bible study on Revelation 12: The perennial warfare between the dragon and the woman
A Bible study on the twelfth of the book of Revelation 12 is essentially about the great controversy between Christ and Satan. This is a conflict that had its inception in heaven where it was said that Michael and His angels were arrayed against the dragon (Satan) and his angels. This warfare was triggered by a rebellion in heaven instigated by Satan and supported by a third of the angelic population. As a result, Satan and his angels were cast out of heaven, never more to return.
In his attempt to further his rebellion on planet earth, Satan successfully tempted our first parents (Adam and Eve) and lead them into disobedience to God's expressed command not to partake of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. In this accomplishment Satan had hoped that Adam and Eve with the rest of their children will join with him in opposing the government of God. But this old Serpent will not receive total support for his cause from among seed of the woman (Eve). To this effect God thus declared to Satan:
€€¦ I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.€ Gen. 3:15
In your study of Revelation 12 you will see the same Genesis imagery of that perennial enmity between the dragon and the woman €" an enmity that is to last right down to the end of time. You will notice in the book of Genesis the reference is not to the woman seeds as of many but to her seed as of one. Thus the Bible is suggesting that among the many seeds that the woman should bear there is one particular seed that the dragon will have to contend with. This imagery also is brought to view in Revelation 12.
According to Revelation 12: the woman was pregnant with a man child and the dragon stood before that woman waiting to devour the child as soon as he was born. From the scriptural interpretation of the symbols employed, we are told that the dragon represents Satan, while the woman is a symbol of the Old and New Testament Church. The man child that is to rule all nation is a clear reference to Christ. It was the Church that gave birth to Christ as is declared by the prophet Isaiah:
€For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.€ Isa. 9:6
After the man child was caught up to God, having obtained victory over the dragon, the enmity of the dragon is now directed against the woman whom he persecuted for a period of 1260 prophetic days. As a result of widespread persecution, the Church, for centuries, had to seek refuge in the desolate places of the earth (the wilderness) where she is preserved from the malice of the Devil. Having failed to destroy the woman, Satan is now preparing for the final battle with the remnant of the woman's seed.
As your Bible study makes the transition from Revelation 12 to 13 you will see plainly that the battle between the dragon and the remnant will be fought during the during the mark-of-the-beast crisis. The beast with seven heads and ten horns will be the seed of the dragon. Thus, in your Bible study on Revelation 12 and 13 together, you will see a clear transition from a battle between the dragon and the woman to an end-time conflict between their representatives.
For further resource about this end-time conflict in Revelation 13, go to: Bible study on Revelation
In his attempt to further his rebellion on planet earth, Satan successfully tempted our first parents (Adam and Eve) and lead them into disobedience to God's expressed command not to partake of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. In this accomplishment Satan had hoped that Adam and Eve with the rest of their children will join with him in opposing the government of God. But this old Serpent will not receive total support for his cause from among seed of the woman (Eve). To this effect God thus declared to Satan:
€€¦ I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.€ Gen. 3:15
In your study of Revelation 12 you will see the same Genesis imagery of that perennial enmity between the dragon and the woman €" an enmity that is to last right down to the end of time. You will notice in the book of Genesis the reference is not to the woman seeds as of many but to her seed as of one. Thus the Bible is suggesting that among the many seeds that the woman should bear there is one particular seed that the dragon will have to contend with. This imagery also is brought to view in Revelation 12.
According to Revelation 12: the woman was pregnant with a man child and the dragon stood before that woman waiting to devour the child as soon as he was born. From the scriptural interpretation of the symbols employed, we are told that the dragon represents Satan, while the woman is a symbol of the Old and New Testament Church. The man child that is to rule all nation is a clear reference to Christ. It was the Church that gave birth to Christ as is declared by the prophet Isaiah:
€For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.€ Isa. 9:6
After the man child was caught up to God, having obtained victory over the dragon, the enmity of the dragon is now directed against the woman whom he persecuted for a period of 1260 prophetic days. As a result of widespread persecution, the Church, for centuries, had to seek refuge in the desolate places of the earth (the wilderness) where she is preserved from the malice of the Devil. Having failed to destroy the woman, Satan is now preparing for the final battle with the remnant of the woman's seed.
As your Bible study makes the transition from Revelation 12 to 13 you will see plainly that the battle between the dragon and the remnant will be fought during the during the mark-of-the-beast crisis. The beast with seven heads and ten horns will be the seed of the dragon. Thus, in your Bible study on Revelation 12 and 13 together, you will see a clear transition from a battle between the dragon and the woman to an end-time conflict between their representatives.
For further resource about this end-time conflict in Revelation 13, go to: Bible study on Revelation
