As Revelation 11 revealed the role of the church in witnessing, Revelation 12-14 explore what lies behind some of the troubles the church was facing. John offers a series of signs, or visions, that symbolize what was (and is) going on in the overlap between heaven and earth.

Revelation 12 opens with two strong symbols that reveal the cosmic spiritual battle that began long ago. The first great sign (symbol) appears to John as a woman clothed with the sun and a crown of twelve stars (12:1-2) – she is pregnant and experiencing birth pains. The woman is clearly understood to be Israel, and she gives birth to a male child who is the Messiah.

The second great sign (symbol) John sees is a great red dragon (12:3), who is later explicitly identified as the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world (12:9). The dragon sought to devour the Messiah child when he was born (12:4), a scene that reminds us of King Herod killing all the baby boys in Israel (Matthew 2). Yet the Messiah child was destined to rule all the nations, and he escapes the dragon and is caught up to God and to his throne (12:5).

There was war in heaven… and the dragon was defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven… and he was thrown to the earth (12:7-9). The dragon unleashes his anger by making war on the woman and the rest of her offspring, those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus (12:17). So, we see that Satan was unable to kill the Messiah and thus turned to make war on the church and all who follow in the ways of Jesus.

This cosmic, spiritual war is an ancient conflict that began in Genesis 3:15 when the serpent spoke to Eve in the Garden of Eden. It is a spiritual battle that was behind the Roman empire’s persecution of Christians when John wrote this letter to the seven churches. Rome was simply the latest in a long line of authorities who have persecuted those who worship God Almighty. John’s revelation was to remind the churches that their suffering was part of an ancient spiritual battle – and neither Rome nor any other dominant nation nor any human was the real enemy.

We are caught up in a conflict wider than we imagine. There are dark spiritual powers at work, and the churches have conquered the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony (12:11). Though the dragon inspires hatred and persecution of God’s people, they have conquered by the power of Jesus and their witness. Note too that the verb tense is past – they have conquered him – as Christians we operate from a place of spiritual victory because of the work of Jesus Christ.