Revelation 12:1-12 Seeing Christmas From A Heavenly Perspective

Revelation 12:1-12 Seeing Christmas From A Heavenly Perspective

We have all heard the nativity story, whether it was from the Bible or recited by Linus in A Charlie Brown Christmas, the story of Christ’s birth as witnessed by people on earth. When you read Revelation 12, however, you get a glimpse of the unseen battle that was happening at that very same time.¹

This weekend, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the long-awaited sequel, opened in theaters. This film was a continuation of the saga of a family, who lived a long, long time ago in a galaxy far far away. It is a cosmic drama between good and evil, the light side and the dark side. Here in Revelation 12, we have another cosmic drama. We have the story of Christmas, a story of the ultimate Star Wars – between good and bad, the light side and the dark, between God, and the Dragon. This is Christmas from a Heavenly perspective.

I want you to notice Christmas today from a different perspective. I want you to not think of Christmas a time when a young man and woman spent a night in a stable to give birth. It is not just about the shepherds or the wise men, or even the angels. Instead, I want you to see the cosmic nature to the Christmas event.

Just like the story of Scrooge in The Christmas Carol, John takes us on a journey through time. The first scene of Christmas is the history of God’s people from whom Jesus would come: Israel.

SCENE 1 – The Family of Jesus’ Birth – The Battle Over God’s Choices

“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars on her head.” (Revelation 12:1, HCSB)

“She was pregnant and cried out in labor and agony as she was about to give birth.” (Revelation 12:2, HCSB)

The focus of this battle of God’s choices.

In this case, God made specific choices about how God would reach out to humanity. God did not choose to provide salvation through angels (Hebrews says that angels look into things like salvation because angels are servants and don’t receive salvation.) God chose to put all authority of the heavens under the power of people God chose – the nation of Israel – through whom would come David and then eventually David’s descendent: Jesus the Messiah.

Jesus was a Nazarene, a Jew, a descendant of King David. Matthew lists the family tree of Jesus all the way back to Abraham. Luke lists the family tree of Jesus all the way back to Eve. John gives a heavenly family tree. Yet, Revelation gives us a mysterious sign. As one commentator put it:

Who is this woman? Is the woman Mary the mother of our Lord now symbolically portrayed in an awesome flashback? Is the woman the symbol of Israel from whose lineage the Savior is born? The most obvious interpretation of this sign is that this is a dramatic flashback vision of the event of the birth of our Lord which shows in a dramatic fashion that the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem was a moment of cosmic significance. Herod’s attempt to destroy the infant Jesus was an historical event that is overshadowed by a greater search and the intention of a more ominous foe than Herod the Great. That opponent is introduced as the second sign. It is the red dragon who seeks to devour the woman and her son. But the dragon fails in his attempt.²

God makes choices and there have been people who have opposed His choices. God chose Adam and Eve to be the first couple. A serpent opposed that choice. God chose Abraham to be the father of nations. Sarah opposed that choice. God chose Isaac to be the father through this which the Messiah would come. Abraham opposed that choice. God chose Judah to be the kingly tribe. The people opposed God and asked for King Saul. God wanted people to come to Him and worship Him. Israel rejected that choice. God revealed a Savior in Bethlehem, born through Mary. Herod opposed that choice. The battle over God’s choices continues to this day.

SCENE 2 – Battle in Heaven at the Birth of Jesus – The Battle Over God’s Authority

“Then another sign appeared in heaven: There was a great fiery red dragon having seven heads and 10 horns, and on his heads were seven diadems.” (Revelation 12:3, HCSB)

“His tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. And the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she did give birth he might devour her child.” (Revelation 12:4, HCSB)

The focus of this battle in Heaven is God’s authority. The battle over God’s choices and God’s authority are closely linked.

While Matthew tells us it was Herod who tried to kill all of the children under two years old, Revelation shows you the spiritual battle going on in Heaven. The fiery red dragon, who is later identified as Satan, has spent a long time rebelling against God. Satan tried to stop God by killing Jesus at His birth. But Satan did not succeed. So Satan has continue to usurp God’s authority, based on God’s choices.

Satan’s attempt to annihilate Israel is an overriding theme throughout both biblical and secular history. Whether it be through Cain or Pharaoh, Haman, Herod, or Hitler, Satan has been so relentless in his drive to destroy God’s people that at one point, only one son of the house of David was left alive.

Why have the Jews been perpetually persecuted? The only explanation must be the one we see here in Revelation 12: The dragon is determined to devour the child of the woman. You see, if there is no Jerusalem, if there is no Israel, if there are no Jewish people, how could Jesus fulfill the prophecies of His return to rule and reign His people in Jerusalem? Consequently, the plan of the dragon is to keep Messiah from returning to Israel by annihilating the Jews. If you don’t grasp this, you’ll never have a satisfactory answer for the mystery of anti-Semitism.³

“But she gave birth to a Son—a male who is going to shepherd all nations with an iron scepter —and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.” (Revelation 12:5, HCSB)

This verse summaries thirty-three and a half years of Jesus’ life. From life to ascension. This battle in the ultimate war between good and evil is won. The battle of God’s authority has already been won. But more battles over God’s authority remain.

SCENE 3 – Future Victory of God’s Plan of Salvation – The Battle Over God’s Plan

“The woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, to be fed there for 1,260 days.” (Revelation 12:6, HCSB)

“Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought,” (Revelation 12:7, HCSB)

“but he could not prevail, and there was no place for them in heaven any longer.” (Revelation 12:8, HCSB)

“So the great dragon was thrown out—the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him.” (Revelation 12:9, HCSB)

The focus of this battle of God’s plan.

Satan continues to be against God. However, there will come a time, which the Bible calls the “Great Tribulation,” in which Satan will try to stop God. God will protect His nation for 3.5 years at that point. Another battle will erupt. Satan will try to launch another major campaign against God. But he won’t succeed. At that point, Satan will have no access to Heaven.

“Look: An hour is coming, and has come, when each of you will be scattered to his own home, and you will leave Me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”” (John 16:32–33, HCSB)

While that a major campaign. Jesus says that each of us will encounter our own battle over our salvation. Although God has secured our salvation, we still have to fight to live out our faith. It is called persecution. The levels of persecution will be different for different people.

Friday, I watched a story on ABC’s 20/20 program. The show centered on the way in which two Americans helped 100 Iraqi Christians from the threat of ISIS in their home city of Qaraqosh. The found refuge in a Christian Catholic church in Erbil, Iraq. Eventually, they found safety in Slovakia.⁴ These Christians experienced persecution that perhaps no one here in this room will ever experience. For them, they had a personal experience with persecution based on their faith. Each of us will also encounter a personal experience of persecution. To put it another way, each of us will encounter a personal battle of salvation. Christian persecution happens because there is a battle over God’s plan.

SCENE 4 – The Personal Battle of Salvation – The Battle Over God’s Children

“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Messiah have now come, because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown out: the one who accuses them before our God day and night.” (Revelation 12:10, HCSB)

The focus of this battle is God’s children.

The salvation, power, and authority of Jesus is available for us today because Satan has been denied access to accuse us in Heaven. Unlike Job, Satan can’t accuse Christians before God. Yet, that doesn’t stop Satan from attacking us here on Earth. This personal attack may feel painful, but Satan cannot hurt us. We can fight back against Satan.

“They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their lives in the face of death.” (Revelation 12:11, HCSB)

THREE WEAPONS IN OUR PERSONAL FIGHT AGAINST SATAN

1. Jesus’ death on the cross

“They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb…” (Revelation 12:11, HCSB)

The death of Jesus is the nail in the coffin to Satan and his attempts to stop God. When Jesus died on the cross, His blood paid our sin debt.

2. My personal testimony

“…by the word of their testimony…” (Revelation 12:11, HCSB)

The second weapon in our personal fight against Satan is our personal testimony. It is a defensive weapon. We defend our faith. We don’t oppose other faiths. We are not in the business of beating up Buddhists, hammering Hindus, or clobbering those who follow the Koran. We don’t use our faith to oppose people. Instead, we take the opportunity that God gives us to share our faith.

3. My continuing allegiance to Jesus Christ

“…for they did not love their lives in the face of death.” (Revelation 12:11, HCSB)

ISIS tells Christians in Syria and Iraq to pay a tax in order to keep worshiping Jesus. Otherwise, they have to die for their Christian faith. We may not have such an extreme test of our allegiance. But our allegiances are tested in other ways.

Satan is in the business of trying to change your allegiance. He wants you to turn from Christ to Satan, from the Light to the dark side.

Satan is the great enemy of the church, and he fights against God and His people by accusing the saints in heaven and attacking them on earth. However, Christ has overcome the old serpent, and He gives victory to His people.⁵

“Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the earth and the sea, for the Devil has come down to you with great fury, because he knows he has a short time.” (Revelation 12:12, HCSB)

What Is Christmas All About?

Christmas is more than tinsel and toys, trees and toddies, gifts and greetings. It is not merely a word of goodwill lightly spoken and soon forgotten in the raucous cries of conflict.

Christmas is a message of peace on earth among men who are pleasing to God. It is Immanuel, God with us. It is God bending low to lift men up out of the sin and mire of a world which has forgotten God and His will for lost men. It is God in a cradle, the Eternal in a tender baby’s flesh and form.

But Christmas does not stop in Bethlehem. It reaches beyond to Calvary, to the empty tomb, and to the throne where the Savior sits, waiting for His enemies to become his footstool. It is the good news of salvation to all men who will receive it.

As the shepherds came to the manger, saw the Christ child, and went forth to tell the glad tidings; as the Wise Men came from afar to worship and give gifts to him, so should the faithful today bow before Him in worship, praise, and consecration; and then go forth to declare the gospel to a lost world. That is what Christmas is all about!⁶

We can celebrate Christ’s birth because it reminds of Christ’ victory on the cross and His future return for His children.