Revelation 12:1-6: a reflection

1A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2She was with child. She cried out in pain, laboring to give birth. 3Another sign was seen in heaven. Behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven crowns. 4His tail drew one third of the stars of the sky, and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. 5She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up to God and to his throne. 6The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that there they may nourish her one thousand two hundred sixty days.

This vision presents a cosmic drama in symbols: a woman about to give birth, and a great dragon poised to devour her child the moment he is born. The dragon represents the enemy of God; the child is the promised ruler, Christ. The scene is one of terrible threat, the powers of evil massed to destroy God's purpose at its birth. But the outcome is not what the dragon intends: the child is caught up to God and to his throne, safe beyond the dragon's reach, and the woman is given a place prepared by God, where she is kept.

Notice how the drama turns out. The dragon rages, threatens, and waits to devour; yet he cannot. The child is delivered safe to God's throne; the woman is protected in a place God has prepared. For all the enemy's fury and apparent strength, he cannot snatch the child from God, nor destroy those God keeps. The purpose of God goes forward, and the people of God are preserved, in spite of the dragon's rage.

That is a reassurance for those who feel the enemy's opposition. There are times when it seems that the forces arrayed against God's people and God's purposes are overwhelming, when evil rages and threatens to devour. But this vision shows that the enemy, for all his fury, cannot overturn God's plan or snatch away those God keeps; God preserves his purposes and his people against every assault. When the opposition seems fierce and the enemy strong, do not despair as though evil could win. The dragon rages, but the child is safe at God's throne, and God has prepared a place for his people. Trust the God who preserves his purposes and keeps his own, whom the enemy's rage cannot defeat.

Lord, this vision shows the dragon raging, poised to devour the child, yet unable: the child was caught up safe to your throne, and the woman kept in a place you prepared. Reassure me with that when I feel the enemy's opposition. There are times when the forces arrayed against your people and your purposes seem overwhelming, when evil rages and threatens to devour. But this vision shows that the enemy, for all his fury, cannot overturn your plan or snatch away those you keep. When the opposition seems fierce and the enemy strong, keep me from despairing as though evil could win. The dragon rages, but the child is safe at your throne, and you have prepared a place for your people. Help me trust you, who preserve your purposes and keep your own, whom the enemy's rage cannot defeat. My safety is in you, beyond the reach of every assault.