Question:  Dear Greg,

            I have been doing a recent study of the book of Revelation.  Chapter 12 is about the origin of the church—the “woman” from her pre-existence to her escape from Satan’s wrath at the end time.  Secondly, the chapter also talks about the birth of Christ (the “man child”) through his sacrificial death and ascension into God’s throne where he is today, and thirdly, Satan the “dragon”, his exploits from the angelic rebellion to his persecution of the church before the second coming of Christ.

            If you can expound on this it would be helpful.  Needless to say, this is a book heavy in symbolism.  I am awaiting your reply.

            With a hunger to know more of our great God, in Christ Jesus,

            Fred

Answer:  Dear Fred,

            So many read the book of Revelation looking for specific fulfillment in nations, peoples, world events of their day and the immediate future that they miss the real meaning that has already happened and is happening right in front of their noses.

            Some see Revelation 12 as a kind of history of the body of Christ, as you describe.  However, the purpose of Revelation is not to provide an exact timetable of history, but to transcend specific events and to be more relevant than specific.  Chapter 12, in this view, would be a general picture, as is the entire book of Revelation.  It speaks of the kind of struggle that Christians have always had—and still do—as we live in an anti-Christian world.  Babylon then is anywhere and everywhere, found at any time before Christ’s return.

            Seen in that way it is encouraging and uplifting, a call to never give up, a call to realize that Christ has already won the victory.  It is a reminder that we do not always experience the triumph of God over evil in our earthly existence and within our experiences, but that we can be assured that God wins in the end.  Revelation tells us of the ongoing conflict between the forces loyal to the Lamb and the evil forces of the dragon.  The battleground is this earth, and we are often spectators and sometimes combatants as this grand scheme plays out.  To be a Christian is to be assured of victory in the end even though we may seem to lose minor skirmishes.

            It is fascinating to see how God works.  One thing he always does, it seems—he doesn’t march to our drumbeat.  Put another way, we have a hard time understanding him.  But should that be a surprise?  The Bible tells us consistently that his thoughts are not our thoughts, that humans can only understand so much of the mind of God, etc.  Perhaps that’s why salvation is all about trust, belief and acceptance of Jesus Christ, rather than special knowledge, insight and facts.  Revelation is a profoundly important book and many people are making a mistake by treating it as advance news that can be read in tomorrow’s newspaper.  The news of Revelation has been in newspapers and books since the book of Revelation was written—and will continue to be until the Second Coming.

I am sorry, but my other duties do not allow me to write a commentary about Revelation 12 here.  I’ve given you some thoughts to consider.  There are some excellent resources you might consider about Revelation: 1) Expositor’s Bible Commentary—Revelation, 2) New International Biblical Commentary—Revelation, and 3) Revelation—Four Views—A Parallel Commentary, published by Nelson.

            General books about the popular background to Revelation and why popular views such as dispensationalism have failed time and time again: 1) The Meaning of the Millennium—Four Views, Robert G. Clouse, editor, IVP, 2) The Last Days are Here Again, Richard Kyle, Baker books, and 3) When Time Shall Be No More, Paul Boyer.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht