Revelation: An Image To Consider | April 14, 2023

In light of yesterday's teaching about the prophetic and apocalyptic nature of Revelation, let's consider how we might interpret one of the images John describes. 

Revelation 12:1-6 ESV

The Woman and the Dragon

12 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. ² She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. ³ And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. ⁴ His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. ⁵ She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, ⁶ and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.

Imagery gives us windows to peer into, rather than telling a chronological story. Imagery provokes the deeper places of our soul as a way to communicate a message that sometimes “just the facts” might miss. However, if we don’t know the Bible, we won’t be able to see these images. As we read the above image of the Woman and the Dragon, what other images or stories from Scripture come to mind?

Some scholars say the image represents Mary giving birth to Jesus. Not quite the Silent Night we sing about at Christmas, is it? Rather we are given a picture of the spiritual warfare taking place. Another possible interpretation is Israel (based on Genesis 37:9-11) or even the church; either way, God’s persecuted people giving birth to the Messiah, the one who will save them.

As you consider these possible interpretations of the vision, what might they all have in common?

For me the most important common denominator is, God wins! He has the victory over persecution and evil. As believers, we can be encouraged by the Apostle Paul’s words about the end times in 1 Thessalonians when he tells us Jesus rescues us from the coming wrath (1 Thess. 1:1) and also:

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 ESV

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. ² For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. ⁵ For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. ⁶ So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Lord, as destruction comes upon them as labor pains upon a pregnant woman, may we encourage one another and build one another up to be ready because we are not destined for wrath but for salvation! In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

^[1] Osborne, G. R. (2002). Revelation (p. 457). Baker Academic.

^[2] Walvoord, J. F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 957). Victor Books.