THE BIG PICTURE..             		Pastor Bob Chroninger 
Trinity C.U. 2-6-00  P.M.    	Revelation 12:1-17    	
	Have you ever wondered where you came from, who you are, why you are here, where
 you are going, how to get there?  It is often difficult to see the BIG PICTURE because we are
 involved in a very small segment of it all.  This 12th chapter of Revelation gives us a good 
 glimpse of the total scene... almost from the beginning to the end.  Watch as the scenes unfold.... 
I.  THE "WOMAN" 
  A. She Is Seen As A "Great Wonder" ... that is a "sign" 
    1. One of the crucial elements of biblical interpretation... 
  B. She Is Seen "Adorned"... 
    1. Clothed with the sun... and the moon under her feet 
	- These were lights... and "signs"...to the world Gen.1:14 
	- All believers are the "light" of the world.. Mt.5:14 
	   - Reflectors of The LIGHT.. John 8:12; 9:5 
    2. Crowned with a crown of 12 stars.. Gen.37:9,10 
  C. She Is Seen As Being Pregnant and In Birth Pains.. vs.2 
    1. A "Man Child" is born.. 
	- He was destined to rule all nations with a rod of iron (Ps.2:9; Rev.2:27; 12:5; 19:15)
	- He was caught up to God and His throne..
 ** The Obvious...
	- The "Woman" is Israel..  Gen.37:9,10 
	- The "man child" is The Christ.. Rom.9:4,5 
	   - His birth, death, resurrection and second coming are all referred to all together.. 
		no reference of nearly 2000 years of the church age. 
II.  THE "WAR".. 
  A. It Is Instigated by Satan.. great red dragon, 7 heads, 10 horns 
  B. It Is "Ongoing".. 
    1. From the garden of Eden (Gen.3:15) to the battle of Armageddon. 
	- It is the conflict of the ages 
	- It is the Satanic effort to kill the "woman's seed" vs4 
	   - By the murder of Abel (godly seed) by Cain.. Gen.4
	   - By the effort to pollute the race.. Gen.6 
	   - By the attempt to destroy the Hebrew race in Egypt.. Ex.1,2 
	   - By the Satanic hatred of the Jews by Haman.. Esther 3-5 
	   - By the attempts to kill Christ Himself.. 
		- Remember the killing of the babies in Bethlehem. Mt.2:13-16 
		- Remember the storm on the sea of Galilee.. Mk.4:37,38 
		- Remember the folks of Nazareth.. the cliff.. Luke 4:28,29 
  C. It Is A "Power Struggle" In Heaven... 
    1. Lucifer on the one hand.. a beautiful creature who went bad. (Is.14:12-15; Ezek.28) 
	- He desired to be like God.. and lost his position.. vs.4 
	- He became the dragon, old serpent, the Devil, and Satan.. 
	   - Red because he is the cause of the bloodshed of the ages 
	   - Serpent because of his deceit in the garden of Eden 
	   - Devil because he is the "slanderer" and "accuser" 
	   - Satan because he is our adversary. 
	- He drew 1/3 of the angels with him.. Jude 1:6; 2Pet.2:4 
    2. Michael and his angels on the other hand  7 
	- He is the special protector of Israel.. Dan.10:13; 12:1 
	   - Satan lost his position in heaven (but not his access) Job
	   - Satan will lose his place in heaven.. Mid-Tribulation.
	   - Satan will lose his power when Christ Comes in Power.. Rev.19 
	   - Satan will ultimately lose period.. after the 1000 years. 
  D. It Results In Persecution On Earth.. 
    1. Aimed at the "Woman" (Israel) vs.6,13 
	- She will flee into the wilderness.. a place prepared for her (Mt.24:15-22; Jer.30:7;
        Dan.12:1; 9:27)
	- She will have provisions.. 1260 days (6) .. the last half of the Tribulation period.
	- She will face a great "flood" from Satan.. Ps.32:6; 69:2,15 
	- She will experience the wrath of the dragon.. 17 
    2. Aimed at the earth's inhabitants also..  12 
	- Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and sea.. 
	- For the devil is cast down to the earth.. 
	   - He is very angry... and has only a short time... 3 1/2 years
III.  THE WINNERS.. 
  A. The "Woman".. 
    1. She will be protected and provided for.. 
	- Not so much individually but corporately.. Zech.13:8,9 
    2. She will be restored.. as she acknowledges Jesus as Messiah, Savior, and Lord..  
	Zech.12:9,10; Ro.11:23 
  B. The Inhabitants of Heaven  12.. 
    1. Rejoice.. because the "accuser" has been cast down! 
  C. The Believers on Earth.. 10,11 (during the Tribulation period) 
    1. By The Blood of The Lamb.. 
    2. By The Word of Their Testimony.. 
    3. By The Yieldedness of Their Lives.. 

WOW!! WHAT A STRANGE SCENE.. 
   BUT THANKS BE TO GOD... VICTORY IN JESUS !!! 
      YOU DO BELONG TO HIM... DON'T YOU.  IF NOT WHY NOT ?