[:en]THE WOMAN AND THE DRAGON (vs. 1-17)
A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, witht he moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. The woman represents God’s faithful people who have been waiting for the Messiah. The crown of 12 stars represents the 12 tribes of Israel. God chose the Jews to be the nation that gave birth to Jesus, the Messiah.
Just as King Herod wanted to kill the new-born king (Mat. 2:13-20) because of a threat to his throne, Satan (the dragon) also wanted to kill the world’s Savior.
The enormous red dragon has 7 heads, 10 hors and 7 crowns which represent his power over the worl.d that he rules. The stars that plunged to earth with him were angels which fell with Satan and became his demons. The dragon stood in front of the woman, who was about to give birth so that he could devour the child the moment it was born. But when she gave birth to a son, her child was snatched up to God and to His trhoe. The woman fled into the desert to be taken care of for 1260 days. 1,260 days = 3-1/2 years, which is the same length of time the dragon is allowed to rule when the Holy City is trampled.
The desert represent a place of spiritual refuge and protection from Satan. God will offer security to true believers. We may experience physical harm but God will protect us from spiritual harm. He wil not let Satan take the souls of His true followers. Christ’s death and resurrection have conquered and defeated Satan.
Satan was originally an angel of God. Due to his pride, he rebelled against God. There was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and the dragon and his angels fought back. The dragon lost and was hurled down to the earth. He was the ancient serpent called the devil or Satan, who leads e whole world astray.
When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times, and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach. Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river to overtake the woman and sweet her away with the torrent. But the earth helped the woman by openng its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of the mouth. Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring – those who obey God’s commandments, and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.
Satan is actively looking for believers who are spiritually weak and vulnerable in their faith. He is trying to step up persecutioin and bring temptations and work evil. No matter what, God is still in control. He has complete power over Satan. One day Satan will be bared forever.
As we face battle with Satan, we should not fear but be of courage to trust in the Lord.[:]