Revelation - The Hope: The Dragon
- Nancy Counts
- Feb 19
- 6 min read
Have you ever experienced something that you just could not put into words? Because my sister always avidly read, she never missed a detail about anything. When we visited the Grand Canyon when we were young, she read in the literature from the Grand Canyon Campground that there was a hike to the rim that night to watch the sunset and the moonrise simultaneously. This event occurs only once per month when the moon is full, and we happened to be there on the right night of the month! We set up the camper, met at the ranger station, and tripped off toward the rim of the canyon.
As I recall, my mother had a great deal of difficulty keeping me away from the edge. You see, I was one of those children that you had to keep your eye on or I would find trouble. The Ranger finally corralled everyone and discussed with us the magnitude of the moment about to unfold. We were to sit in silence while the sun set and the moon rose. I may be exaggerating my memory, but I think he looked at me and explained the importance of silence and stillness so that each individual present could have their own experience without distraction.
I remember being bored. I remember squirming and fidgeting. I remember being hushed by my mother and maybe pinched. Then I remember the first burst of color. As the sun hit the horizon, the canyon exploded as if it were on fire. The red in the rocks, magnified by the rays of the sun, remains indescribable, but the colors were so vibrant and rich, almost 50 years later, I can close my eyes and still see them - a sunset forever etched in memory. But then my father tapped me on the shoulder and pointed in the opposite direction of the sunset. There, a great, brilliant orange globe peaked over the rim of the canyon.
A few moments in my life literally have taken my breath away - the first time I held each of my children, walking into the chapel of Sainte-Chapelle - but this is the first time I remember being still and holding my breath in the presence of overwhelming majesty. The colors of the setting sun continued to dance along the rocks of the canyon as the mighty globe of the moon rose to stand sentry over this perfect dance. And when I thought nothing could possibly be more beautiful, a golden eagle swooped right in front of us as if dipping and dancing on the light.
There were no cell phones shooting videos. There were no cameras artificially capturing images. There were no influencers posting. There was only this moment of held breath in the presence of a Mighty Creator.
Now switch gears to Revelation
Revelation 12 is weird. I can’t deny how bizarre the image of a multi-headed dragon chasing after a poor woman trying to give birth is. Once the woman gives birth, God brings her child to heaven to His throne, but then the woman is left on earth to flee from the dragon. The dragon tries to drown her! Then the earth opens its mouth and swallows the water. Now we learn that the woman had other children, and even though she survives the dragon attack, he begins to prowl the earth seeking her other offspring to torture.
This is how John describes the woman:
“Then I witnessed in heaven an event of great significance. I saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head.” Revelation 12:1 NLT
I’m going to chase a rabbit for a second, but this is a point not discussed much regarding the nature of God. The Bible usually refers to God with male pronouns. Remember that human beings did the best they could with the guidance of the Holy Spirit to put to paper God’s message and describe His character. However, this passage reminds us that:
“This is the written account of the descendants of Adam. When God created human beings, he made them to be like himself. He created them male and female, and he blessed them and called them “human.” Genesis 5:1-2 NLT
Even though male pronouns are mostly used to describe God, both male and female were created to be the likeness of God. Many people get their hackles raised if feminine pronouns are used to reference God but again:
“Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!” Romans 11:33 NLT
So I’m going out on this limb…the woman giving birth is creation itself - clothed with the sun, the moon beneath her feet, a crown of stars. I think acknowledging that the Bible does use female imagery to describe the complexities of God is important. This is not the main point of this passage, but without a woman to give birth to Christ, there is no salvation for human kind. I’ll get off my soapbox and continue.
The child taken to heaven is most likely Jesus. Complex stuff here. But don’t miss Satan. From the very beginning of the creation of man, Satan poised himself to devour everything good about God’s work. When he couldn’t get to God the Father and God the Son, He went full throttle after what was left on earth. All out war split the heavens. Michael and the angels versus the dragon and his angels.
So what happens:
“This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.” Revelation 12:9 NLT
“And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus.” Revelation 12:17 NLT
This episode of John’s drama begins God’s ultimate and final defeat of Satan. John is figuratively summarizing how the devil has pursued God’s ultimate creation, humanity, since the beginning of time. The passage highlights the characteristics of Satan versus the character of God.
#1 Satan was made by God too - The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made Genesis 3:1
"There was a great fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns and on its heads were seven crowns." Revelation 12:3
#2 Satan has been persecuting humans since they were created in God’s image - “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5
"For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses them before our God day and night." Revelation 12:10
#3 There is no question that Satan was defeated by Jesus Christ - "I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel." Genesis 3:15
"And they have defeated him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony." Revelation 12:11
Nothing, I repeat nothing, is outside the control of the one who Created. No matter how much or how little we understand, Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega - the beginning and the end. Satan has always attempted to destroy the world and all who are in it. He has rampaged since he and his angels fell. But John is telling us to hold on and get ready for the end of the story because it's going to be good!
And whenever God does decide to wrap up the story of this earth, we can be assured.
No cell phones will be shooting videos. No cameras will artificially capture any images. No influencers will be posting . We will only be able to hold our breath in the presence of a Mighty Creator.
When was the last time you allowed your breath to be taken away by the presence of God’s overwhelming majesty? Maybe today should be that day. Look for beauty in the ashes.
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