Critical Insight: From Heaven to Earth.
“So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” Revelation 12:17 NASB
The Chiasm of this section had begun with John’s virtual tour of the Heavenly Sanctuary, culminating in The Most Holy Place where he wrote: “Then, in heaven, the Temple of God was opened, and the Ark of his covenant could be seen inside the Temple. Lightning flashed, thunder crashed and roared, and there was an earthquake and a terrible hailstorm.” Revelation 11:19. The ark is that vessel in the earthly tabernacle (sanctuary) where the Ten Commandments were deposited. Here, in 11:19, seen in Heaven. The lightning, thunder, and earthquake is reminiscent of the quaking sides of Sinai (Exodus 19:18) when the Law was delivered on 2 tables of stone to Moses.
The ark is also often referred to as the Ark of the covenant. “When the Ark is finished, place inside it the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, which I will give to you.” Ex 25:16 NLT. The KJV and NKJV use the word, Testimony; “And you shall put into the ark the Testimony which I will give you.” – Ex 25:16 NKJV
Just as we refer to the Old Testament (OT) and New Testament (NT), based on the KJV these could also be The Old Covenant and New Covenant, because that is what it refers to. The same ancient word was translated variously covenant or testimony, with 500yrs of English language evolution.
The subsequent chapter, which we are considering (12), the heart of the book, had chronicled once more the history of the Christian era until the end. The devil has warred against everything that God has stood for. “A murderer from the beginning and the father of lies,” Jesus called him (John 8:44.) He has warred against God’s character, His truth, His government, HIs law, His people, His church, and those within it. We, as Christians, are also aghast to find that the war even rages within us, as our two natures war within us. Regarding this inner conflict, Paul in Romans 8 described the victorious Christian life, as a life lived in “the Spirit.” In Romans 8:5-8 Paul explains clearly,” For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (NASB). Compare that with today’s text which describes God’s end time people!
So now, on the eve of the devil’s curtain call, is one last battle pictured by John on the opposite side of the chiasm from Revelation 11:19; “And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus.” Rev 12:17 NLT. The ark was seen in chapter 11:19, and now those who represent what was in it are seen to be taking the brunt of the devil’s attacks.
If we read Revelation 12 sequentially (given that it interludes to give details on the players in the drama). We have established that the woman is the church or God’s people – Israel of old and replaced in the New Testament by the Christian church (of which there were no factions at that point). Denominationalism could be described like our preference for cars. We can debate their features, but they all do the same thing in the end – get you from A to B. In the sequence of chapter 12, the flight of the church into the wilderness follows the return of Jesus to heaven after his resurrection. While the rebellion in heaven happened prior to creation, consideration of the narrative here would imply that the terminal conflict between God and the devil did not reach its climax until the devil’s confrontation with God at Calvary and then his open and evil pursuit of God’s people.
It is these two acts that reveal the devil for who he is to all creation! His final declaration of hatred for God’s creation. The warring faction was removed from heaven – exiled to our planet while the nature of his rebellion is demonstrated to the watching universe.
It was for this reason that the devil was absent in Revelation 4 and 5 at the coronation of the lamb back to equality with the father. It also gives impetus to the heavenly chorus of Revelation 12:10-12 where all heaven can rejoice because the devil is gone, but woe to the earth that must endure him a little longer.