12:12
So the heavens are to rejoice, also “you who dwell in them”. Now does this include us? We are torn, because we definitely do live down here on earth, and so suffer the consequences of Satan being down here, “filled with fury”. But we are also seated with Christ in heavenly places (Eph 2:6), and the heavenly places are a place of spiritual conflict. But in the place of spiritual conflict we have won, we share in Christ’s victory. So we have a classic case of “now but not yet”. We need to understand this if we are to fight the battle aright down here.
12:13
What does the dragon do now? He cannot touch “the male child”, because Christ has ascended to heaven. Instead he vents his fury against the church, he “pursued the woman”. And God’s plans will be fulfilled through the Spirit filled church. The whole of Revelation teaches a consistent message. It is not one of make-believe, not of saying we will not suffer trouble. Yet victory is assured, and we are involved in that victory. As Jesus says in John 16:33, “in this world you will have trouble, but take heart, for I have overcome the world”.
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