Summary of Revelation 12:1-6
A woman was pregnant and about to give birth. A red dragon with 7 heads and crowns and 10 horns stood in front of the woman intent on eating her baby upon birth.
She gave birth to a male son who would rule the nations with an iron scepter. The child was snatched up to God and his throne, while the woman fled to the wilderness, cared for by God for 1260 days.
BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 16, Day 2: Revelation 12:1-6
3a) There’s a woman and a dragon. The woman was pregnant about to give birth, and the dragon wanted to eat the child. The woman gave birth to a male son who was snatched up to God and his throne, while the woman fled to the wilderness, cared for by God for 1260 days.
b) The woman could be Mary, Jesus’ mother or Israel. The child could be Jesus. The dragon could be the devil.
4a)
Genesis 3:1-15: The devil took the form of a serpent and tricked the woman into eating the fruit from the tree. This caused sin to enter the world, and Adam and Eve had to leave Paradise. But God promised revenge on the serpent for this act.
John 8:44: We are all born sinners. “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
1 Peter 5:8: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
b) Satan causes man to sin and leads us to temptation to sin. If it weren’t for God, the world would be full of evil everywhere. Our only hope is our Redeemer, faith in Christ, for redemption. We’ve been set free from sin by Christ’s blood.
5a) God snatched up the infant to heaven and prepared a place for the woman in the wilderness protected for and cared for by God for 1260 days.
b) God has wrapped a cocoon around me, too, protecting me from the devil and his influences. He has given me his word, which I can go to when I need advice, help, and inspiration. And, I can pray to God for His protection, too.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 16, Day 2: Revelation 12:1-6
I love how God always knows what the devil will do and protects His people from the devil. Remember, the devil cannot act outside of God. God is always in control.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 16, Day 2: Revelation 12:1-6
This is the 1st of 7 signs John will relate to us that he saw.
Signs in the Bible hold great significance.
Bible scholars disagree on who the woman represents. Many say the nation of Israel. Some say Mary, Jesus’ mother. Some say the Church. Some say all believers.
Women can represent religion in the book of Revelation. Her crown of 12 stars could represent the 12 tribes of Israel or the 12 apostles.
We see the woman as Israel backed up in many Bible passages (Genesis 37:9-11) (Isaiah 54:1-6, Jeremiah 3:20, Ezekiel 16:8-14, and Hosea 2:19-20).
The 2nd sign is the red dragon, which is clearly Satan. The dragon is portrayed as a king here. Dragons represent the enemies of Israel.
Some Bible scholars say the stars the dragon drew out of heaven are Satan’s followers Revelation 12:9
There has always been an attempt to kill Jesus as soon as he was born, as Herod tried to (Matthew 2:16-18)
The child is no doubt Jesus who rules with an iron scepter (Psalm 2:9 and Revelation 19:15).
Since the woman gave birth to Jesus, many Bible scholars say the woman cannot represent the church since Jesus was the one who gave birth to the church. Therefore, the woman has to be either Mary or Israel, both of which gave birth to Jesus.
1,260 days is 3.5 years. Many Bible scholars connect this with the prophecy seen in Daniel 9. The time frame is also the same time frame as the witnesses who prophesied (Revelation 11:1-3).
Note how God protects the woman.
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