The Great Sign of a Woman A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the...

Personalities of the Apocalypse

The Great DragonLesson 5 07/26/15

INTRODUCTION:As we go through today’s study you will notice that each of the significant truths given about the dragon is introduced by the word “great.”

The Great Sign of a Woman

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain gave birth.

Revelation 12:1-2

I. The Great Sign of a WomanAfter hundreds of years of disappointed hopes, the Jewish people had the privilege of bringing the Deliverer into this world.

I. The Great Sign of a WomanAfter hundreds of years of disappointed hopes, the Jewish people had the privilege of bringing the Deliverer into this world.

ISREL

She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.

Revelation 12:5

I. The Great Sign of a WomanThis remarkable statement captures three of the most significant events in Christ’s life:

I. The Great Sign of a WomanThis remarkable statement captures three of the most significant events in Christ’s life:

• His Incarnation“She bore a male Child.”

I. The Great Sign of a WomanThis remarkable statement captures three of the most significant events in Christ’s life:

• His Incarnation“She bore a male Child.”

• His Ascension“Her Child was caught up to God and His throne.”

I. The Great Sign of a WomanThis remarkable statement captures three of the most significant events in Christ’s life:

• His Ascension“Her Child was caught up to God and His throne.”

• His Second Coming“[He] was to rule all nations with a rod of iron.”

Out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron.

Revelation 19:15

The Great DragonAnother sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born ….

Revelation 12:3-4

… So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 12:9

II. The Great DragonVerse 9 gives us perhaps a more complete description of Satan than any other passage in the Bible. He is called:

II. The Great DragonVerse 9 gives us perhaps a more complete description of Satan than any other passage in the Bible. He is called:

1) The great dragon

II. The Great DragonVerse 9 gives us perhaps a more complete description of Satan than any other passage in the Bible. He is called:1) The great dragon 2) The old serpent

II. The Great DragonVerse 9 gives us perhaps a more complete description of Satan than any other passage in the Bible. He is called:1) The great dragon 2) The old serpent3) The devil

II. The Great DragonVerse 9 gives us perhaps a more complete description of Satan than any other passage in the Bible. He is called:1) The great dragon 2) The old serpent3) The devil4) Satan

II. The Great DragonVerse 9 gives us perhaps a more complete description of Satan than any other passage in the Bible. He is called:1) The great dragon 2) The old serpent3) The devil4) Satan5) The deceiver of the whole world

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s NatureDragon: His original name, Lucifer means “star

of the morning,” hence an angel of light.

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s NatureDragon: His activity mimics his nature: he

deceives by hiding the hideous nature of sin under a façade of attractiveness.

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s NatureDragon: His color is red, because his path has

always been stained with blood and death.

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s NatureSerpent: This reminds us of his cunning and

deception in the Garden of Eden.

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s NatureSerpent: From the beginning he has opposed

God and plotted the death of humanity.

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s NatureSatan: His O.T. name means “adversary.” He is

the adversary of God and His children. He is the roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s NatureDevil: His N.T. name means “slanderer.” He is

the accuser of our brethren.

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s NatureDeceiver: His past goal was to keep Christ

away from the world. Having failed the goal, his only option is to keep the world away from Christ.

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s NatureDeceiver: He has done this by sprinkling lies

with truths and half-truths to create doubt in our minds about the faithfulness and glory of God.

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s Power

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s Power

The number seven symbolizes totality.

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s Power

The number seven symbolizes totality. The head conveys the idea of intelligence.

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s Power

The number seven symbolizes totality. The head conveys the idea of intelligence. The horns are a symbol of strength.

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s Power

The number seven symbolizes totality. The head conveys the idea of intelligence. The horns are a symbol of strength. The crowns portray him as a king with a

kingdom.

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s Power

The number seven symbolizes totality. The head conveys the idea of intelligence. The horns are a symbol of strength. The crowns portray him as a king with a

kingdom. As the prince of this world his subjects are

evil men and women.

II. The Great Dragon The number seven symbolizes totality. The head conveys the idea of intelligence. The horns are a symbol of strength. The crowns portray him as a king with a

kingdom. As the prince of this world his subjects are

evil men and women. As the prince of the power of the air his

subjects are evil spirits.

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s PartnersWhen Lucifer fell in pride and arrogance against

God, he took one-third of the angels with him.

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s PartnersMichael led a host of angels against the dragon

and his angels.

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s PartnersJesus affirmed that Satan has angels.

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s PartnersSome of the fallen angels are imprisoned; while

those who aren’t work as Satan’s accomplices.

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s PurposeFrom the very beginning, his purpose has been

to destroy the Child of the woman.

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s PurposeKnowing from prophecy that the Promised One

would spring from Israel, the devil did everything he could to keep that nation from being formed.

II. The Great Dragon• Satan’s PurposeWhen God raised Jesus from the dead, Satan’s

purpose was thwarted again.

The Great WarWar broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any more.

Revelation 12:7

III. The Great WarIt is important to remember there is no such thing as abstract evil. Evil always originates in an intelligent, self-aware personality – either Satan himself or one or more of the angelic creatures delegated to perform his will.

III. The Great WarSatan was judged at the cross.

When the Holy Spirit has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of

righteousness, and of judgment … because the ruler of this world is judged.

John 16:8, 11

III. The Great WarSatan was judged at the cross.

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh

and blood, Christ Himself likewise shared in the

same, that through death He might destroy him

who had the power of death, that is, the devil.

Hebrews 2:14

The Great WrathRejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.

Revelation 12:12

IV. The Great Wrath• An Aggravated Assault

The word used for “wrath” here means “strong passion or emotion.”

IV. The Great Wrath• An Anti-Semitic Assault

IV. The Great Wrath• An Anti-Semitic Assault

The devil hates Israel because, from a biological perspective, Christ came from this nation.

IV. The Great Wrath• An Angry Assault

This is an all-out war against the 144,000.

The Great WingsThe 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 and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent … But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened up its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.

Revelation 12:14, 16

“I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.” (Ex. 19:4)

V. The Great Wings• Israel will be removed to some special place of protection in the land.

V. The Great Wings• The Jews will experience supernatural

provision as Elijah did by the brook Cherith and the Israelites in Sinai.

V. The Great Wings• God will preserve a godly remnant of His

people.