12:3
So we have had the sign of the church and its important purpose. Now we get another sign, which also appeared in heaven. This time there is an “enormous red dragon”. This is the enemy of the church. This dragon has “seven heads, ten horns and seven crowns”. This represents the enemy having much strength and power. So we need to have the complete picture. We need to realise the great importance and purpose of the church, we also need to realise the great opposition there is. This opposition originates from spiritual forces (Eph 6:12), and takes many forces. There is myth that exists in the church that if we are just nice enough, and clear enough in our presentation of the gospel, then everyone will want to join us. Such a view is not Biblical.
12:4
The dragon caused much trouble. This is what the third of the stars represents. The “dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth”. Back in Matthew we see that there was an attempt to kill Jesus by Herod. With the church we can expect great opposition at the point of birth. The reason Satan opposes the church is because he knows that we are central to God’s purposes.
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