READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l Far more intense than physical battles, how do we conquer invisible spiritual warfare that is against “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”? (Ephesians 6:12)
Revelation 11:19 –15:4 span the entire history of Redemption with 5 acts which reveal the great conflict that happens in heaven between God and Satan, and the aftermath that follows. The answers we seek about who and what the visual images represent should not divide but draw us closer to Jesus, the leading figure in Revelation – to fight with courageous Hope!
1. The Child: The first coming of Christ (12:1-6) – The male child is Jesus, God who came as a human to “rule all the nations/break them with a rod of iron”. (v5, Psalm 2) To His disciples who conquer evil and keep His works till the end, Jesus, having been authorised by His Father, authorises His disciples to “rule over the nations with an iron rod”. (Rev 2:26-27) Despite scheming to destroy the offspring of Abraham from the days of Pharoah and Herod, and the attack on Jesus’ ministry, the dragon failed at the cross to devour the child who was caught up to God’s throne at the ascension of Jesus. Believers who persevere to fight and overcome evil will rule with Jesus at His return.
2. The Dragon: The defeat of Satan (12:7-12) – Furious at being cast down from heaven, and knowing that his time to destroy on earth is short, the devil aka the dragon and Satan, seeks to accuse, deceive, and destroy God’s people. With Christ’s victory on the cross, however, he is a defeated foe. Satan may cause us to suffer like Job but he has no power to destroy our souls which belong to God through our faith in Jesus. Remain vigilant to fight him with confidence, authority, and God’s might.
3. The Woman: The battle of the church (12:13-17) – She most likely symbolises God’s people from the time of old Israel and the new Israel as she continues to exist even after Christ’s ascension. (Michael Wilcox) God will always protect and provide for His people even in the wilderness. Christians who believe and identify in the triumph of the cross suffer victoriously over Satan. (GK Beal) “And they conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their life even unto death.” (12:11)
As faithful disciples of Jesus, how can we stand against Satan, overcome daily battles?
a) Be covered by the blood of the Lamb when he accuses us of our sins
b) Seek the Truth when he attempts to deceive us
c) Be prepared to suffer and die for Jesus when bearing witness for Him – as Peter Wu Guosheng, the first Christian martyr (1768-1814) did, saying aloud before being hung by his captors, “Heaven, heaven, my true home.”
4. Two Beasts: Agents of Satan (13:1-18)
a) From the sea, the first exercises Satanic authority – a hybrid all-in-one version of Daniel’s vision of a leopard, a bear, a lion and something indescribable, it blasphemed God and waged war against God’s people. In John’s day, the Roman emperor was worshiped, and had God’s people imprisoned, exiled or martyred. Today, this beast is still on the rampage against Christians – as seen in the genocide killing of two million ethnic Armenian Christians in Turkey; Idi Amin’s holocaust of 300,000 Ugandan Christians; and China’s imprisonment of Christians who refuse to worship the ruling party.
b) From the earth, the second aids the first beast to persuade, seduce, impress, and threaten people into worshiping Satan and the first beast. God promises that His people who overcome the devil’s attacks “will not be hurt by the second death” (2:11) Overcome by discerning and rejecting the tools of this beast – such as addictive social media that influentially dominate the mind, and the lure of blasphemous cult leaders who pervert Christianity. Enthrone in our hearts the triune holiness of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by worshiping Christ only and rejecting its seductive imitation of God – even when it makes fire fall from heaven (13:13), performs signs and wonders (13:14), exalts the sea beast who was wounded yet lives (13:14), and causes its image to speak (13:15).
5. The Lamb: The second coming of Christ (14:1-15:4) – Given the awesome heavenly backdrop by which all the redeemed who live pure, sacrificial, exemplary lives for God will worship Him triumphantly, how are we today worshiping Jesus the Lamb of God slain for humanity? Where do I stand before Him at this stage of my life? Are all the doors of my heart open to the Lord? Do I sing a new song of Hope to the Holy Trinity who helps me overcome and conquer the counterfeit trinity? Will I make my Hope of a New Life and New Home an unshakeable one in Jesus Christ alone?
The message of hope to the Roman Christians in the first century also applies to Christians today (14:6-13).
The message of grace, from the first angel with the eternal gospel proclaimed to every nation and tribe, and language and people, assures us that people will continue to be saved even as spiritual battles rage on in the world.
The message of doom from the second angel vindicates us as we faithfully bear witness for Christ. In the words of Michael Wilcox, “the spirit of Babylon infected all nations, and rendered men and women incapable of responding to the first angel’s gospel; but for all her power, she is doomed to destruction.”
The personal challenge from the third angel should invigorate us to go all out for Jesus and His kingdom. Those who stand with the Babylon-beast world system will share its fate, but those who stand with Jesus will share His destiny and endure to everlasting life.
In our suffering for Christ, the final judgment assures and comforts us that justice will ultimately be served – if not in this lifetime, surely when Christ returns. (14:14-20) The faithful can look forward with joyful confidence to reign with Christ at His return!
As we worship Jesus daily, may we appropriate the victory song of the Lamb in the spiritual battles we fight daily. (15:3-4)
(Sermon notes by Marjorie Tan)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Study Scripture
a. Read Revelation 11:19-15:4. Which passage/s resonate with you? How does each speak to you? - Recall Sermon
a. List the 5 Acts in scene 4. What purpose does this quintet serve?
b. What do the signs of the woman and dragon represent? How do we know?
c. What do we know about Satan? How do we overcome his deceit and accusation?
d. Which OT and NT passages authenticate the child as Jesus?
e. What do the two beasts represent? What are today’s examples of each beast?
f. What is John’s exhortation for those who are under pressure to compromise their faith?
g. How does the triumvirate of the dragon and the two beasts imitate the Holy Trinity?
h. What are the messages of hope from Jesus as we fight spiritual battles and anticipate the final judgment? - Relate Personally
a. What actions are you taking to bear witness for Christ daily?
b. In what areas are you “dying to yourself” so that you may overcome Satan?
c. How do you experience the accusations and hostility of Satan? How does knowing you are covered by the Lamb’s blood help you?
d. How do the birth, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus enable you to respond to Satan’s attack?
e. Where do you see the power of the first beast today?
f. Where do you see the power of the second beast today?
g. How do the messages of hope from the 3 angels help in your daily battles? - Commit to Action
a. Reflect on the Song of the Lamb (Rev 15:3-4). Live out the essence of this song in the next 40 days.
b. Meditate on Rev 12:11. Live out the actions in your daily spiritual battles.
