Snatched Up

Revelation 12:5-9 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. 6 The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days. 7 And there was war in Heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But the dragon was not strong enough, and they lost their place in Heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
 
THIS is a view of the cosmic battle between Satan and God over your salvation. The war in Heaven refers to the beginning of Satan’s disobedience and his expulsion from Heaven. From that point, the battle has raged. And God has “snatched up” – protected – his salvation plan from Satan’s destruction.
   For example, God snatched up the child Jesus from Herod’s murderous destruction in Matthew 2:12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, (the Wise Men) returned to their country by another route. 13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” The Spirit also protected Jesus in the wilderness of temptation (Matthew 4) and several times as the Jews attempted to stone him.
   Gloriously, the Father protected the Savior even in death. Jesus purposefully died as our Suffering Servant on Golgotha. Then the Lord God snatched up his Son from the grave and into Heaven! Jesus is now empowered on the heavenly throne to destroy the red dragon Satan.
   As we await that day, Satan is relentless to destroy the church and “kill” the truth of Jesus. It seems each week the culture finds a new way to attack God’s Word.
   But the devil’s time is limited. Again the 1,260 days is three and a half years to illustrate there is suffering and trial from the dragon’s hand for a limited time.
   Regardless of the world’s turmoil, you can remain at peace when you know Jesus’ salvation. Trust God’s sovereign care over your life because it is for eternity. If you find yourself in a “wilderness”, a place where God is difficult to see, then look more deeply into Scripture’s promises of God’s eternal protection. As you are his, your forever life is snatched away from death and into God’s eternal care.
   This is the way of God throughout Scripture and in your life today. When God has written your name on the book of life, praise God he has snatched you from the devil. You are protected at God’s throne of grace forever.
 
Prayer: What joy I know, Lord, to consider the magnificent assurance that by your grace I have been saved. Amen.