The Centre of the Book.
Revelation 12:10-12 is the Centre of the book of Revelation both physically and spiritually.
The cosmic conflict, as scripture unfolds it, impacts every human on a daily basis and the universe at large. Satan attempts to usurp the worship that is due God, but he will be defeated in the end!
It is time to pause and remind ourselves of a few things before we enter the centrepiece of the entire book. The challenge for me has been to put this into daily word bites. I continue to pray that the trickle feed method has helped you understand this mighty piece of heavenly literature. I have received a great blessing from doing this.
This conflict does not involve two equally independent powers fighting an endless war, as lucifer is a created being who decided to question his creator’s character. The conflict centres on the moral perfection of God’s character.
The whole universe feels the effect of this conflict as we shall see, and Revelation declares in no uncertain terms that the day will come when God will finally put an end to evil. Up to this moment, evil has been allowed to come to maturity so that the false charges made against God’s divine government might be seen in their true light by all created beings.
These things will be unpacked, with all its scriptural support, over the next few chapters of this mighty book.
Do you remember the chiastic structure of the book? Revelation 11:19 – 14:20 is the centre! Revelation 12:10 – 12 is physically and spiritually the apex of the book and the peak of the chiastic (inverted V shape) structure.
For revision click on this link which will take you to my dropbox with a PPT on the Structure of Revelation.
The whole book of Revelation is built on a chiastic structure – a common form of Hebrew poetry. However, the book is full of minor, chapter by chapter chiasm’s that fall within the major overall one.
I suggest you read Revelation 12 – 15 (in various translations if you are able,)
Notice the dwellers of heaven rejoicing in Revelation 12:10-12! Remember texts like Eph3:10, where it says that through the church something is being revealed to the principalities and powers in the heavens. (One great feature the KJV and NKJV have is that supplied words are italicised – the word ‘places’ is not in the Greek but was added by translators to try and make sense of the text.) It will be the entire creation who will ultimately declarer “Great and wonderful are your deeds O Lord God Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the ages…” Revelation 15:3. The cosmic conflict centres on the moral perfection of God’s character. Jesus declared the devil to be the original liar (John 8:44-45.) The word ‘devil’ as translated from the Greek simply means adversary or slanderer. God’s Character has been slandered and He has allowed the attack to mature for the sake of the watching universe. (e.g. Eph.3:10)
It is the apex of the chiasm of the entire book and therefore the most significant statement on the book’s narrative. It is also the centre of a smaller chiasm that begins in Revelation 11:19, where John had been given that virtual tour of the Most Holy Place. I Don’t know how to display this on an SMS but will have a go: (L and M correspond to Revelation 12:10-12)
A = Rev 11:19 a
B = Rev 11:19 b
C = Rev 12: 1-3
D = Rev 12:4 & 5
E = Rev 12 :6a
F – Rev 12:6b
G = Rev 12:7
H = Rev 12:8
I = Rev 12:9a
J = Rev 12:9b
K = Rev 12:10a
L = Rev 12: 10b
M = Rev 12:10c
L = Rev 12: 11a
M = Rev 12:11b
K’ = Rev 12:12a
J’ = Rev 12:12b
I’ = Rev 12:13a
H’ = Rev 12: 13b
G’ = Rev 12:14a
F’ = Rev 12:14b
E’ = Rev 12:15 & 16
D’ = Rev 12:17a
C’ = Rev 12:17b
B’ = Rev 12: 17c
A’ = Rev 12: 17d
Each letter represents rhyming thoughts with L & M the apex and central thought. Note how John sees the ark of the Covenant at ‘A’ and at the opposite ‘A’’ sees those who represent what was in the Ark. Write the letters in the margin of your Bible and see how each letter represents a rhyming thought. This is how the entire book works – how amazing! I am sure an old fisherman on the Island of Patmos did not invent this beautifully structured Narrative poem. More chiasms to come.
I suggest you write the letters in the margin of your own bible and something will begin to form in your mind.
AMAZING! Thank you Ross. Blessings and Wisdom.