An Apocalyptic Christmas Story

Christmas was indeed a declaration of the war that was promised in Genesis 3:15. Calvary was the decisive battle where the final outcome of this war was settled and made clear. There is no question as to how it is going to end. However, our enemy, the dragon, Satan, fights on. And “because he knows he has a short time” (he does know his Bible), his hostility and rage is only going to intensify as the end draws near. His rage against the people of God will be a special focus of his attention. But as he failed to destroy the male child, he will fail in destroying His children too!

In verse 6 the woman, the righteous remnant, fled into the wilderness to be cared for by God. verses 13-17 further develop that verse and reveal the wrath of the dragon who has “been thrown to the earth.” Indeed, he “persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.” Clearly the woman was righteous Israel in verses 1-2. Here she is not only that remnant but the eschatological remnant, the church, the true vine of Jew and Gentile as Paul makes clear in Romans 11. Mounce is helpful when he writes,

It is out of faithful Israel that the Messiah will come [ultimately embodied in a particular woman named Mary]. It should cause no trouble that within the same chapter the woman comes to signify the church (v. 17). The people of God are one throughout redemptive history. The early church did not view itself as discontinuous with faithful Israel. (Revelation, 232)

The Devil rages against this woman. He always has and he always will. The rage will only grow more intense as the end approaches.

Exodus imagery and typology dominate these final verses of chapter 12. The dragon seeks the destruction of the Son’s children, but God comes to the rescue: “The woman was given two wings of a great eagle, so that she could fly from the serpent’s presence to her place in the wilderness, where she was fed for a time, times, and half a time” (i.e., 3½ years).

The phrase “two wings of a great eagle” should not be taken literally. Neither should this be viewed as some type of Boeing 747! It is simply a picture of God’s providential protection of His people. Wings often appear in the Bible as a sign of God’s protection (see Exod 19:4; Deut 32:9-12; Pss 17:8; 18:10; 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 63:7; 91:4; Isa 40:31). Indeed, Exodus 19:4 says, “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Me.” The length of her time in the wilderness is again specified as 3½ years. Furthermore, she is said to be in a place that is separated from the presence of the serpent. Some have identified this wilderness place as Petra. Others believe it simply indicates a scattering of the people of God throughout the nations for protection. One cannot specify with any certainty exactly where this place will be. What we do know is that God will make a way for His people during this great wave of persecution. That anti-Semitism may be a component of this persecution should not be ruled out. I believe it is almost certain.

In verse 16 the serpent spews water out of his mouth like a flood. It is an indication of his desire to destroy the woman. Some believe this refers to an army because often an army is pictured as a great flood of water (see Jer 46:8; 47:2). Others believe the flood from his mouth refers to his arrogant and blasphemous words (see the activity of the beast in Rev 13:5). However that Satan comes at the woman, his efforts will utterly fail.

Verse 16 also indicates that the earth will help the woman, opening its mouth and swallowing up the flood that comes from the dragon. If this is a reference to a literal physical miracle, we can think back to when the Lord had the earth open up to swallow Korah (Num 16:31-32). It is possible that even one of the great earthquakes that visit the earth during the great tribulation will be the avenue whereby God will provide a physical miracle to spare His people. The dragon-inspired Egyptians of old were swallowed up by the earth. Exodus 15:12 reminds us, “You stretched out your hand, and the earth swallowed them.”

Having failed to destroy the woman, the fury of the dragon is fanned to even greater heat. Not being able to defeat her, he chooses now to go off to make war with the “rest of her offspring.” This is probably simply a reference to all the other followers of the Lamb that he can find throughout the earth, Jew and Gentile alike. The rest of her offspring are clearly believers, for they are referred to as those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony or witness of Jesus. The phrase “to wage war” is the same expression used of the beast’s attack on the two witnesses in 11:7 and also his attack against the saints in 13:7.

Although the Devil will be unable to totally exterminate Israel, Zechariah 13:8 sorrowfully informs us that two-thirds of the Jewish population will be killed during the tribulation. Satan will not utterly succeed in wiping God’s people from the face of the earth, but he will succeed in plunging many to their death. Satan indeed hates the righteous remnant of God.

Penned by the wonderful Methodist hymn writer Charles Wesley, the following hymn provides the appropriate conclusion to this passage. It is only two simple verses. However, they powerfully capture the drama that has unfolded in our “Apocalyptic Christmas Story.”

Come, Thou long expected Jesus,

Born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us;

Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation,

Hope of all the earth Thou art;

Dear desire of ev’ry nation,

Joy of ev’ry longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,

Born a child, and yet a King,

Born to reign in us forever,

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone;

By Thine all sufficient merit,

Raise us to Thy glorious throne.