Revelation 12:1-17
This new section is introduced by Revelation 11:19. The ark of the testament (or covenant) appears there as a sign of grace preceding the judgments on Israel. That nation (seen here symbolically as a pregnant woman clothed with the sun) gave birth to the Messiah and consequently meets with furious opposition from Satan, the great red dragon. This hostility between the seed of the woman and "the old serpent" (v. 9), announced at the fall, has continued throughout the Bible (see Genesis 3:15; Exodus 1:22; 2 Kings 11:1; Matthew 2:16 . . .). The devil has tried in vain in his determined efforts to prevent God’s promises from being carried out through the birth and the raising on high of the Lord Jesus. Christ and His heavenly saints – the child caught up to God – are now out of his reach. Furthermore, Satan will soon be thrown out of heaven onto the earth (read Luke 10:18; Romans 16:20), where his ineffective rage will be directed against the remnant of Israel. The distinguishing feature of the remnant is that they keep God’s commandments (end of v. 17). The secret of power and victory over the Evil One was the same for Christ as it is for us today. It is having the Word of God abiding in our hearts (Psalms 17:4; Matthew 4:4; 1 John 2:14).