The Conflict Continues, But The War Has Been Won
Revelation 12:1-6
The Cosmic Conflict: Behind the Curtain of Reality
Have you ever wondered if there's more to our world than meets the eye? What if, like in "The Wizard of Oz," there was a curtain we could pull back to reveal the true nature of reality? The book of Revelation offers us just such a glimpse behind the scenes, unveiling a cosmic conflict that shapes our world in ways we often fail to recognize.
As we peer behind this mystical curtain, we're confronted with a startling truth: behind the evil, darkness, and brokenness we face in this world, there is an enemy who hates us and wants to destroy us. We find ourselves in the midst of a cosmic conflict that is fundamentally and profoundly spiritual. But here's the incredible news - though the battle rages on, the war has already been won.
This cosmic drama unfolds in vivid imagery in Revelation 12. We're introduced to two signs: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars, and a great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns. These aren't just fanciful descriptions; they're rich with symbolism that points us to deeper truths.
The woman represents the people of God throughout history - both Israel and the Church. She's in labor, crying out in pain as she gives birth to a male child who is destined to rule all nations. This child is none other than Jesus Christ, the long-awaited Messiah.
The dragon, a clear representation of Satan and his demonic forces, stands ready to devour the child. This terrifying scene echoes the words of Genesis 3:15, where God promises enmity between the serpent and the woman, between his offspring and hers. It's a vivid portrayal of the spiritual battle that has raged since the dawn of time.
This revelation challenges our modern, Western tendency to underspiritualiz evil and suffering. We often try to explain away our problems through purely natural or scientific means, believing we can fix everything with education, social structures, or political change. While these areas are important, history has shown time and again that human efforts alone cannot solve the world's deepest problems.
Behind the scenes, there's an enemy who wants to destroy us. He wants to ruin our marriages, lead our children astray, fill us with pride or paralyze us with shame. He wants us to compromise our values, ignore the plight of the vulnerable, and live lives of hypocrisy. He lies, he accuses, and he wants to take us out.
But here's where the story takes a dramatic turn. Though we face a formidable foe, we have a victorious King who loves us even more. Through His grace, we are sustained and enabled to endure, remaining faithful to the gospel.
The imagery in Revelation 12 shows the woman fleeing into the wilderness, where God has prepared a place for her to be nourished. This wilderness represents our current reality - a place of testing and blessing, of attack and protection, of persecution and provision. It's in this wilderness that we experience God's grace in profound ways.
How do we access this grace and find nourishment in the wilderness? There are three key elements:
Protection: We put on the armor of God - the gospel itself - which enables us to stand firm against superhuman powers.
People: We need the community of believers, the Church. It's through our fellow Christians that we experience God's grace, even as we extend that grace to others.
Perspective: We need the renewed perspective that comes from looking to Jesus and considering His finished work.
As we look to Jesus, what do we see? We see that He has ascended to the right hand of God, a truth that carries profound implications for us:
God is with us: Through the Holy Spirit, the living, ascended, reigning Jesus is active in our lives. We never face our trials alone.
God is for us: Christ intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father. No accusation against us can stand.
God is victorious: The ascension proves that the dragon did not devour the child, but the child defeated the dragon.
The imagery in Revelation 12 presents a seemingly impossible situation - a vulnerable woman in labor and a newborn infant facing a terrifying red dragon with seven heads. It looks like certain defeat. But so did the cross. What appeared to be Christ's defeat became His ultimate victory.
This is the heart of the gospel - God turns loss into gain, brings beauty out of ashes, and life out of death. Even when all we can see is darkness and all we can feel is pain, we have a victorious King on our side. He is with us, He is for us, and He loves us. He died for us and is working all things - even the pain and brokenness - together for our good.
As we navigate the challenges of life, let's remember that we're part of something much bigger than ourselves. We're in the midst of a cosmic conflict, but the war has already been won. Our King is victorious, and through Him, we are more than conquerors.
So the next time you feel overwhelmed by the darkness of this world, remember to look behind the curtain. See the spiritual reality that shapes our existence. Draw strength from the knowledge that you have a loving, victorious King fighting for you. And take heart - though the battle may rage on, the ultimate victory is already secure.