Week 50, Day 5
December 16, 2022 Scripture: Revelation 12 “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 wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach.” (Revelation 12:13–14, TNIV) “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.” (Revelation 12:17) I read a news article about a satanic cult that put up a display of a serpent alongside the Nativity scene at the Illinois Capital building. I bet they thought they were really undermining the whole Nativity scene. But as John here describes in Revelation, the cult actually made the display more accurate. Thank you satanic cult for making the scene more biblical! I know what you are thinking, “Jordan! What are you saying!” When we read the Nativity story, the birth of Christ, we hear of the terrible plot of Herod to kill any would be Messiah from rising through the ranks and make him renounce his throne. So he wars against all male children in Bethlehem. The dragon uses Herod as his minion of harm. John’s reading of this event turns towards what is really happening, and that is that Satan himself is waring against Mary, Jesus and all the children of God. The dragon is coming after the child. He’s been defeated and now he is making life miserable for all who will choose to follow Christ. Maybe that’s reading a bit too much into the text. But here’s the great affirmation we need from all of it, that is, “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” (Revelation 12:11) We triumph by the blood of Jesus and remaining faithful to Him. So, as always in the book of Revelation, let us hold fast to Jesus Christ, and trust in Him. We are victorious by his blood. Remember, the Dragon is a loser. He loses to the woman. He loses to the child. He loses to those who trust in Christ.
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AuthorJordan Ickes, Minister of Etna Green Church of Christ. Archives
December 2022
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