Dig Deeper:
SAME SONG, 4TH VERSE: Remember that we're interpreting this apocalypse (revelation) by noting that it tells the same narrative from seven different perspectives. This interpretation is called Progressive Parallelism because each perspective occurs parallel to the others timewise, but in each perspective we get progressively more insight. Here's a recap:
First half of Revelation: The conflict between the Church & the world
Ch. 1-3: Christ message to His church
Ch. 4-7: The seven seals
Ch. 8-11: The seven trumpets
Each section begins with the risen Christ & ends with a picture of His coming victory.
Second half of Revelation: The conflict between the Church & the world is a manifestation of the war in Heaven between Christ & satan (the dragon / accuser)
Ch. 12-14: The dragon & the woman
As the second half of Revelation begins, the language & symbolism gets more and more fantastic and hard to even imagine. As the complications and details add up, it is critically important for you to keep the overall theme of Revelation in mind: The Victory of the Christ & His Church over the Dragon & his Helpers.
CAST OF CHARACTERS: This fourth perspective on Christ's victory has three characters:
The radiant woman: represents the Church
The child: represents Christ
The dragon: symbolizes Satan.
In a way that fulfills God's promise to Eve in Genesis 3, God rescues the child, the seed of the woman. Satan is cast out of heaven, and since God's elect are fully righteous in the blood of Christ, Satan can no longer accuse you before God (the name satan = the accuser), so all he can do is persecute the woman (Church).
Follow the AAA Prayer Pattern:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: God who brings you salvation and power and opens His kingdom to you through the victory of Christ (v10)
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Place your confidence in the God of heaven, who triumphs over evil by the blood of the lamb (v11)
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
