The Woman, the Dragon, and the War in Heaven

When assembling a jigsaw puzzle it’s always best to start with the border and the most obvious elements of the scene. When interpreting Revelation 12:1-9 it’s best to start with the most obvious characters in the text. For example, the dragon in verse 3 is identified as Satan in verse 9. The male child in verse 5 is described as ruling the nations with an iron scepter, a clear reference to Jesus Christ when compared with Psalm 2:9, Revelation 2:27, and Revelation 19:15. With these pieces of the puzzle in place, the rest of Revelation 12:1-9 becomes easier to interpret. As a whole, this passage describes the ancient and future conflict between Satan, God, God’s Son, and God’s chosen people. In it we gain a heightened awareness of the spiritual battle and a stronger sense of Christ’s victory. The Lamb is Lord!