October 8 Be Alert

Revelation 12:13-17 When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring — those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
 
THE Evil one has lost in heaven. Then he has been unable to stop the Messiah from finishing the Father’s salvation plan on earth. He can’t battle heaven, so he continues to battle God’s church on earth – the woman in the vision.
    The Lord is protecting his church from Satan’s destruction. Again, the three- and one-half years represent partial tribulation against the church, not a total destruction. The eagles wings illustrate God’s protection. God used this language to assure Israel of his care over them as they escaped into the desert from Egypt: Exodus 19:4 “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.” The Revelation of Jesus Christ becomes easier to understand when we see the repetition of God’s language to his people throughout Scripture.
    Then the vision tells us how Satan seeks to destroy and how God protects. The water spewing from his mouth are his overwhelming lies. We all know too well how lies can destroy someone’s life and well-being. We know, also, that one of the great ills in the church is false teaching. Jesus warned of this several times: Matthew 24:24 “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect — if that were possible.” We are to (Ephesians 6:18) pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. After all, Jesus admonished in Mark 13:33 “Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when (judgment) will come.”
    A flood in Scripture often refers to overwhelming evil. God protects the church with his power to swallow, to divert the water. He saved his own in the Great Flood (Genesis 6-7). He saved his own in the Red Sea (Exodus 14). He saves his own today.
    Of course, this does not stop Satan. One sign of a sin-captured soul is growing anger as one does not attain his desires. The devil wages war on God’s church with every weapon. His prideful anger becomes the world’s great enemy.
     Be alert. Be faithful in Jesus.
 
Prayer: Lord God, I pray you protect your own from sin and temptation. Deliver us from evil. Draw us near to you. Amen.