HEAVENLY INSURRECTION -- Monday:
"His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth" KJV (Revelation 12:4)
Here is an allusion which many have desired were more fully explained. The Lord gives us enough information so we will know we are facing -- a powerful and influential adversary.
The devil did not fall by himself. Pointedly, Scripture speaks of "everlasting fire" being "prepared for the devil AND his angels" (Matt 25:41). Our text twice speaks of "the dragon and his angels" (12:7,9). He is the head of a diabolical and dark society.
Both Peter and Jude speak of his angels separately, and apart from their association with Satan. Peter refers to them as "the angels that sinned" (2 Pet 2:4). Jude speaks of them as "the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode" (Jude 6, NKJV). These are, then, fallen angels. Like the devil, they were not always evil, but descended into that state.
Our text gives a brief elaboration of their fall. It was the devil himself who influenced them. The graphic imagery John saw spells it out. "His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth" (12:4). Candidly, this is a staggering consideration – "a third part." Whether the expression denotes mathematical precision or merely a significant number is of no consequence. Even at this time, the holy angels (or the ones remaining) are "an innumerable company of angels" (Heb 12:22). We are speaking of numbers (if I may even use that term) that transcend human comprehension.
The point of our text is that the most influential personality for evil in the universe has now focused on the people of God. His opposition is not to be taken lightly, for he has brought down greater personalities than us. Although he is not honored, he is even respected by such notables as Michael the arch-angel (Jude 9).
If the church knew nothing else than that the devil is aligned against them, and aggressively so, it would be enough to bring great sobriety and earnestness to its people.
"And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born" (12:4b). "The woman" is the people of God, ranging from solitary Eve, to the nation of Israel. From the threshold of history, throughout the tenure of the nation of Israel, a coming Deliverer was announced. Isaiah declared, "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this" (Isa 9:6-7, NKJV). Isaiah even announced the child would be born of a "virgin" (Isa 7:14), while Micah declared the birth would take place in Bethlehem (Mic 5:2). Every devout person longed for the birth of the Messiah.
Our text reminds us that Satan also heard these prophecies. Not being omniscient, as our Lord, God must first speak it before the devil can know it.
Now Satan is seen crouching, as it were, over humanity, seeking to thwart the purpose of God. He is determined to stop "the man Child" from being born.
This single statement unfolds much of sacred history for us. Remember, the first man born was Cain, "who was of the wicked one." Because Satan could not stop the birth of righteous Abel, he provoked Cain to kill him (1 John 3:12). His strategy was doubtless to abort the Divine promise.
Seeing Abraham was "the friend of God," Satan was no doubt instrumental in causing the barrenness of Sarah (Gen 11:30; Rom 4:19). There was also the barrenness of Rebekah (Gen 25:21), Rachel (Gen 29:31), the mother of Samson (Judges 13:2), Hannah (mother of Samuel, 1 Sam 1:6ff), and Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist (Lk 1:7). While God was in all of this, so was the devil, working under Divine authority, yet with malice.
But our text states the dragon, Satan, was waiting to devour the Man Child that was destined to be born. His intent is seen in the slaughter of the innocents by Pharaoh, at the time of Moses' birth (Ex 1:15,16). It is also seen in the murder of "all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under" (Matt 1:16-18). However, praise the Lord, the devil was not able to accomplish his invidious intention! The Lord's Christ was born "in the fulness of the time," dragon or not (Gal 4:4). God sent His Son into the world in spite of the subtle strategy of the adversary! Satan is impotent to overthrow the purpose of Almighty God!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for divulging the nature of the foe that is against me, and the absolute need for me top rely upon You.