Christ the Mighty Victor.

[Marilyn C]

CHRIST THE MIGHTY VICTOR (Rev. 12)

THE 7TH TRUMPET

The 7th trumpet sounds declaring that it is time for the kingdom of this world to become the kingdom of Christ.

`And the seventh angel sounded.....
`The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, & His Christ;
& He will reign forever & ever.`
(Rev. 11: 15)

The 24 Elders give thanks to God because He has taken His great power & reigned.

`We give thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is & who was & who is to come,
because You have taken Your great power & reigned.`
(Rev. 11: 17)

They declare that God`s wrath in the tribulation has come, & then enumerate the other judgments that will eventuate over time.

`the nations were angry & Your wrath has come,
& the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
That you should reward Your servants the prophets & the saints,
& those who fear your name, small & great,
& should destroy those who destroy the earth.`
(Rev. 11: 18)


The `Ark of the Covenant` is then seen opened in heaven. This is a symbolic picture of Christ, the Voice of God, speaking forth the judgments and making war against His enemies.

`Then the temple of God was opened in heaven,
& the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple.
And there were lightnings, noises, thundering, an earthquake & great hail.`
(Rev. 11: 19)


We are shown the actual event when Christ comes forth from heaven to deliver Israel, seek vengeance upon the rebellious nations & deal with Satan & his demonic angels.


`Now I saw heaven opened, & behold a white horse.....
& in righteousness He judges & makes war.....
Out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations.` (Rev. 19: 11 – 16)

 

[Marilyn C]

We are now shown the scriptural identity of the Mighty Victor, Jesus Christ. He was the one foretold that would come & overthrow the enemy.

Christ`s Scriptural Identity.

In Genesis 3: 15 God foretold that the `seed,` of woman would crush the serpent, (Satan). The deliverer would come as a seed, not a tree, meaning not fully grown, & He would come from the woman & not from man. He would also come through God`s special nation of Israel. This is shown by the symbols `sun, moon & stars,` representing Jacob, Rachael & their 12 sons, the tribes of Israel. (Gen. 37: 9)

`Now a great sign appeared in heaven:
a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet,
& on her head a garland of twelve stars.`
(Rev. 12: 1)

 

[Marilyn C]

Satan`s Scriptural Identity.

Next we see read of Satan`s origins. He came from the heavens to the area of the earth.
He had aspired to be as God but was cast down & with him a third of the angelic hosts.


`And another sign appeared in heaven:
behold, a fiery red dragon having 7 heads & ten horns, & seven diadems on his head.
His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven & threw them to the earth.`
(Rev. 12: 3 & 4)


This description of Satan reveals him as one who masquerades as an angel of light & then shows his authority over the kingdoms of this world. Note the word `seven,` in Heb. means to be complete. He has complete control over the kingdoms of the world.

Satan said, `All these things (kingdoms) I will give you.......`
(Matt. 4: 8 & 9)



Red – fire like – flame coloured, fig. lightning. (2 Cor. 11: 14 Luke 10: 18)

Dragon – a fabulous kind of serpent , to fascinate. (2 Thess. 2: 9)

7 heads – Complete authority. (1 John 5: 19)

7 diadems – Complete rulership. (Matt. 4: 8 & 9)

10 horns - Lawlessness, power. (Eph. 2: 2. 2 Thess. 2: 8 & 9)



`the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.`

(John 5: 19)

 

[Marilyn C]

Next we are given a summary of the attempts of Satan to destroy -

Jesus the Promised Child.

Jesus is the promised Son, the Child that Israel would bring forth to be the ruler of Israel & the kingdoms of the world.

`For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given;
& the government will be upon His shoulder.....
upon the throne of David & over His kingdom,.....
from that time forward, even forever.`
(Isaiah 9: 6 & 7)

Satan, through King Herod tried to kill Jesus when He was born. (Matt. 2: 16)

`Then being with child, she cried out in labour & in pain to give birth......
And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth,
to devour her Child as soon as it was born.`
(Rev. 12: 2 & 3)


Jesus was born of David`s line, in the nation of Israel. He is their Messiah but they did not receive Him. After His crucifixion & resurrection, He ascended into heaven & is seated at the right hand of the Father on His throne ready to `rule the nations with a rod of iron.`
(Ps. 2: 9 Rev. 2: 27)


`She bore a male Child who was to rule the nations with a rod of iron.
And her Child was caught up to God & His throne.`
(Rev. 12: 5)

 

[Marilyn C]

Israel, the Woman.

We now move in time from where Jesus was taken into heaven, to the time where He told Israel to `flee to the mountains.` (Matt. 24: 15 – 21)

`Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God,
that they should feed her there 1260 days.`
(Rev. 12: 6)

The archangel Michael, Israel`s `great Prince who stands guard` over them, is now brought into the battle to protect the nation from Satan & his evil angels. (Dan. 12: 1)


`And war broke out in heaven: Michael & his angels fought with the dragon;
& the dragon & his angels fought, but they did not prevail,
nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.`
(Rev. 12: 7 & 8)


`So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil & Satan,
who deceives the whole world; he was cast out to the earth,
& his angels were cast out with him.`
(Rev. 12: 9)

 

[Marilyn C]

Declaration of Christ`s Kingdom Rule.

This voice would be a representative of the Body of Christ - `our God,` our brethren.`

Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven,
“Now salvation, & strength, & the kingdom of our God, & the power of His Christ have come,
For the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before God day & night, has been cast down.
and they overcame him by the blood of the lamb & by the word of their testimony,
& they did not love their lives to the death.
Therefore rejoice, O heavens, & you who dwell in them!”
(Rev. 12: 10 – 12)

Then we see the outworking of this when Satan is cast to the earth & seeks to destroy Israel. The great `eagle,` is a symbolic picture of God who `bore them on eagle`s wings,` in times past. (Ex. 19: 4)

“ Woe to the inhabitants of the earth & the sea!
For the devil has come down to you having great wrath,
because he knows that he has a short time.”
(Rev. 12: 12)


`Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth,
He persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.
But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle,
that she might fly into the wilderness to her place,
where she is nourished for a time & times & half a time, from the presence of the serpent.`
(Rev. 12: 13 & 14)


Satan then sends forth spirits of demons who go out to the kings of the whole world to gather them together for war against Israel. (Rev. 16: 13 – 16) The symbolic picture of this great world army is as a flood that covers the land. (Jer. 47: 1 & 2 has a similar picture.) After Christ has dealt with this great army the blood of the slain then soaks into the earth giving the picture of the earth `swallowing the flood.`


`So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman,
that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood.
But the earth helped the woman, & the earth opened its mouth
& swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.`
(Rev. 12: 16)


We are also shown that it is not only Israel that Satan is against but those who have received the message of Christ, Israel`s Messiah & His coming kingdom.

`And the dragon was enraged with the woman,
& he went to make war with the rest of her offspring,
Who keep the commandments of God & have the testimony of Jesus Christ.`
(Rev. 12: 17)