Chapter 12

        So in a nutshell, there was a "dragon", aka Satan (vs 9) and his angels were defeated in a war against Michael (an angel with authority) and his angels.  After Satan and his followers were defeated, they were thrown down to the earth.  There was a pregnant woman whose son to be born, would "rule all the nations with a rod of iron", and knowing the plan of Jesus to come, Satan planned on devouring the newborn.  However, God's purpose would prevail, and Jesus was exalted to God's throne.  Since Satan's plan of destroying Jesus didn't work out,  Satan's aim is to deceive and destroy the people of God.   This includes trying to keep people from loving Jesus and attacking the people who are faithful and hold to the testimony of Jesus.  Under attack lately? Do you think the testimony of Jesus is a lie?  Satan is making war against you!  Instead of blatantly rejecting the testimony of Jesus without learning about who He was and is... first be educated- then if you so choose, reject.  You see, Satan doesn't want you interested in Jesus- at all!  And he will do anything in his power to keep you away from it- building up walls of anger and resentment,  allowing your pain and hurtful experiences to be held against the authenticity of God and His love,  convincing you that there are other gods... there are many ways he will do so.   Satan "prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour".    Are you the lion's prey?  When we sin without repentance, we allow Satan to have a foothold in our lives.  It is like a deer having a broken leg, not being able to run from a lion.  The more we live in unrepentance, the more weakened we become, and the more vulnerable we are to the evil one's attack.  The thing is, Satan often attacks us slowly and inconspicuously, weakening us to a point that we are less likely to fight back- attacking us when we least expect it.  Sometimes it is so inconspicuous that we don't even realize that we've allowed him to drag us off for his devouring.  Sometimes it takes a deep valley of sin before we realize what happened.  Sometimes, we become so far dragged, that we have a hard time finding our way back.  Sometimes we allow Satan to deceive us so, that we turn from God all together.    But if you believe in Jesus, Satan cannot devour you if you hold fast to Him.  Jesus is your protection and we are protected by His blood and victory on the cross.  By loving, obeying, trusting and repenting,  we don't have to be dragged off.  When Satan comes, we see him.  We are able to turn away and run- and we are strong, because our repentance has kept us from being a weak victim of attack.  

        Revelation 12:12 says, "...But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"  And in verse 17, "Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus."  

        So I say, be on guard!  Satan is always looking for a way to drag you off and entice you to sin.  He wants to destroy your relationship with God in any way he can, and he will do anything and use anyone to do that.   "Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." (Ephesians 6:11) (Read the whole section!)

        Nobody wants to be weak and devoured.  The victory has already been won.  And although Satan continues to war against those who love Jesus, you don't have to be his devoured prey.

On Revelations Chapter 12

• Leanne