Written in the Stars

Revelation 12

And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on head a crown of twelve stars.  She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth.  And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.  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.  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, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to nourished for 1,260 days.

In the coming chapters 12-13-14 John will reveal the next part of his vision in God’s throne room.  This vision will reveal seven signs and the main characters during the Great Tribulation.  The first sign, the Great Sign, in the skies was a woman amongst the cosmic wonders, the sun, the moon, and the stars.

Who is this woman referring to?  Many believe it is a representation of Mary in the stars, pregnant with the Christ child.  Others refer to Old Testament verses in Genesis 37 and believe it represents the nation of Israel, Jacob (Sun), Rachel (Moon), and the 12 tribes.  This is where my belief aligns, as out of Israel will come the Christ child, referred to in verses 4 and 5, who is with God on his throne.

The second sign in the heavens is a great red dragon.  I believe it is obvious that this great fiery red dragon refers to Satan.  The description of the dragon demonstrates the fullness of evil that is represented by Satan’s reign on earth.  Even his power and authority, represented by the seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns, are provided by God.  Even though he puts himself in a position of royalty and power, he realizes that the child being born is the true King.  He intended to eliminate the child as soon as it was born, so his reign would continue forever.

Satan, as we recall, was created as Lucifer, an anointed angel in heaven.  He was described in Ezekiel 28 as perfect and beautiful, full of wisdom, covered in precious stones, with high status amongst the angels.  His selfish desires and self-righteousness bring separation from God the Father.  His intent of wanting to be equal or above God caused great conflict in heaven, resulting in Satan being cast from heaven, along with his demons (angelic followers).  Here we see the great fiery red dragon’s tail sweep across the skies and cast 1/3rd of the stars to the earth.  This is a reference to Satan bringing 1/3rd of all the angels in heaven to earth. This aligns very well with Isaiah 14:13-14: “I will ascend to heaven, I will make my throne above the stars of God, I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, and I will make myself like the Most High.  Ezekiel 28 continues on to tell us that Satan (Lucifer) was cast down from the heavens with his followers.  

The male child is none other than Jesus Christ, the Messiah, coming from the nation of Israel to lead all nations back to God.  From Satan’s attempt to use Herod to kill all the children born in Bethlehem, to his temptations of Jesus before he started his ministry, all the way to the cross, where Jesus was crucified and killed, he has pursued eliminating this threat to his own kingship.  Yet, God still comes away victorious, with the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his ascension to the right hand of the Father.  Satan and his followers continue to this day to deceive mankind to move away from God and Jesus Christ.

He desires to defeat God and rise above Him through deception, self-gratification, self-righteousness, worldly desires, and all sorts of evil.  His playbook has never changed: pride, greed, love of self, and hate of authority.  It can be seen throughout history, and it is alive and well in today’s world.  He is the author of lies and the accuser of all that is good.  Billions of people have been deceived into refusing the gospel truth of salvation through Jesus Christ.  But, in the end, God will cast Satan into the bottomless pit, the abyss to which only the Son may lock or unlock.  In the end, Satan must abide by the sovereignty and authority of God Almighty.  Though Satan’s temptations tickle our eyes, His eternal plan is filled with pain and death.  Live today in preparation for the eternal plan of life with God, the Father.