Revelation

Revelation 12: Christ has won over the dragon

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the dragon thrown down from heaven, please bow your heads and ask the Lord to open your eyes. Ask Him to show you that Christ has won, and that His people overcome by the Lamb's blood.

for Yahweh your God is he who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”

Deuteronomy 20:4

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that Christ has won over the dragon, and help us to turn from our sin and trust the Lamb. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

John sees a woman in labor and a red dragon waiting to devour her child. Her Son is destined to rule the nations with an iron rod, and He is caught up to God and His throne. God prepares a wilderness place where the woman is nourished for one thousand two hundred sixty days. Michael and his angels fight the dragon, who is thrown to earth and identified as the devil, Satan, the world's deceiver. Heaven proclaims victory through the Lamb's blood and the believers' testimony, kept even through death. The dragon pursues the woman, yet the earth swallows the river he sends to sweep her away. Angry, he turns to war against her other offspring, who keep God's commandments and hold Jesus' testimony.

As you read Revelation 12, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

Christ has won, and His people overcome the dragon by the Lamb's blood.

The woman's sun, moon and twelve stars recall Joseph's dream of Israel's family, locating the promised child's birth within God's covenant people. Her Son's iron rule over the nations identifies Him as the King promised in Psalm 2. The dragon is the ancient serpent, so this vision gathers the old hostility against God's promised deliverer around Christ. His being caught up to the throne shows that the enemy cannot stop His reign. The accuser's defeat is announced with Christ's authority, and the Lamb's blood answers the charges he brings against believers. Their testimony and willingness to die flow from that victory, rather than supplying a victory of their own. Heaven rejoices, while earth receives a warning about the devil's anger and short time. The woman's eagle wings and wilderness nourishment recall God's care when He brought Israel out of Egypt. The dragon still attacks those who obey God and hold Jesus' testimony, yet God's provision is stronger than his assault.

How does Revelation 12 show us that Christ has won, and that His people overcome the dragon by the Lamb's blood?

God brings the promised King to His throne beyond the dragon's reach.

The woman bears the sun, moon and twelve stars, recalling Joseph's dream of Israel's family (verses 1 and 2). The dragon waits to devour her child, but the Son is caught up to God's throne (verses 4 and 5). His iron rule over all nations identifies Him as the Christ promised in Psalm 2. The woman pictures God's people, from whom the promised King comes.

The dragon is thrown down and the Lamb's blood gives victory.

Michael and his angels fight the dragon, who loses his place in heaven (verses 7 and 8). John names him the ancient serpent, devil, Satan and deceiver of the whole world (verse 9). Heaven announces Christ's authority because the accuser of the believers has been thrown down (verse 10). They overcome because of the Lamb's blood and their testimony, without loving life even to death (verse 11). Christ's death answers the accuser, so their victory rests on His blood.

The defeated dragon rages for a short time while God keeps His people.

Heaven rejoices, but earth and sea receive woe because the devil's great wrath comes with knowledge of his short time (verse 12). The woman receives eagle wings to reach her wilderness nourishment for a time, times and half a time (verses 13 and 14). The serpent sends a river to sweep her away, yet the earth opens and swallows it (verses 15 and 16). His anger turns to war against those who keep God's commandments and hold Jesus' testimony (verse 17).

Memorise

They overcame him because of the Lamb’s blood, and because of the word of their testimony.

Revelation 12:11

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what sin of mine needs the Lamb's blood, and will I come to Him?

John saw a great red dragon who stood before a woman about to give birth. The dragon wanted to devour her child, but the child was caught up to God and to His throne. Then a loud voice in heaven spoke of “the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God”. The accuser of God's people was thrown down.

Hear how God's people overcame him. They overcame him “because of the Lamb’s blood”. The Lamb is Christ. He shed His blood for His people and paid what their sin cost. His blood is enough to wash away every sin of every person who comes to Him, so the accuser can bring nothing against them. Death could not hold the Lamb. He rose, and He lives.

So come to the Lamb. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. If you come, He will forgive you, and no accuser can stand against sin that His blood has washed away. The dragon is thrown down, and the Lamb reigns.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the Lamb shed His blood for His people, and that the dragon is thrown down. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. This chapter is a vision, so please keep to what John saw and heard, and do not guess at dates or names.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that the dragon is thrown down and that His people overcome by the Lamb's blood, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ has come; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night.

Revelation 12:10

Father, thank You that the dragon is thrown down and Christ has won. Thank You that Jesus shed His blood for His people. Please turn each of us from our sin to trust Jesus, and give us hearts that hold to His testimony this week. Amen.