GETTING THE MESSAGE/Christ gives us living water

Revelation 12 begins a new cycle of visions the apostle John relates to us. This section continues to develop the themes of the previous sections of the book. The church, as well as the Christian, faces tribulations and temptations traveling through this world on the way to Christ. This book warns of them and points us to Christ, who alone can uphold us in our faith.

In Revelation 12:1, the church is described as it appears in its glorious state in heaven: “A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of 12 stars.”

Similar language is found in various Scriptures that point to Christ and his church. In Genesis 37, Joseph relates a dream that he had of “the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowing down to him.” This referred to his family, who were the people of God. Joseph would become their savior though his brothers betrayed him, and thus a type of Christ, who saves people from sin.

Song of Songs is a book about Christ and his church, which is his bride. In Chapter 6, the king describes his bride: “Who is this who looks like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awesome as an army with banners.”

The church may not appear glorious to the world, but it is to Christ. And it will be victorious. The moon under her feet points to her overcoming the devil; the 12 stars in her crown mean Christ’s people were more than conquerors despite the attacks by the devil.

If you belong to Christ, you belong to his church and are obliged to serve him in it. To be clothed with the sun means the image of Christ is upon the Christian. Our lives are for the purpose of glorifying his name. If you can make yourself or redeem yourself, you may live to your own purposes. But we are called and saved from our sin to live not to ourselves, but to Christ.

In verse 2, John sees the woman crying out with birth pains. This reflects the fulfillment of the prophets in the Old Testament about the coming of Christ. Charles Wesley’s hymn captures this truth: “Come thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free.”

The birth pains remind us that Christ came into the world to save sinners. You see how great Christ’s love is for his people, to humble himself unto the travail of a woman to save an unworthy people. It’s hard to be vain or to keep sinning with the cries of such a birth in our ears.

In verses 3-4 we are shown the great adversary of our souls: “Another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon with 7 heads, and 10 horns, and on his heads, 7 crowns. His tail swept down a third of the stars in heaven.” The red dragon refers to the murderous devil, his heads and horns symbolizing his knowledge, power, and intent on overcoming the living God. 

The stars the devil swept down most likely refer to the angels he persuaded to follow him. Jude says of them, “They kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation.” They are apostates with the devil, meaning they left the one they owed subjection and obedience to. The devil must be extremely powerful to have accomplished this. It points to how great salvation is when we read in places like Ephesians 2 that without Christ we are under the power of the devil. Most people are oblivious to this truth, another indication of the devil’s power.

We see at the end of verse 4 that the devil stood ready to devour the child when it was born, but “the child was caught up to God and his throne,” because “he was the one who is to rule the nations with a rod of iron” (verse 5). “Caught up to God,” is a summary of the coming of Christ, his death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven.” Psalm 2, which says the Son will rule with a rod of iron, is quoted to show us that no matter how terrible and powerful the devil is, Scripture will not be broken. God will accomplish all he has said. Put your trust in God’s word.

In verse 6, the woman fled into the wilderness into a place to be nourished by God. The wilderness means our need to be sustained by God. Christ gives us living water, his Spirit, and the manna of his word, to nourish our souls and protect us from the evil one as we go through this world. Christ is a true friend, and a faithful Savior. Call upon him every day.