Satan’s Wrath: Daily Thoughts from Revelation (Revelation 12:13-17)

Considered a spy for the British, even though he was an American, missionary Adoniram Judson spent 20 months during 1824-27 in a rat-infested prison, fed poorly, sometimes suspended by his feet, his head and shoulders alone touching ground. He was one of the few prisoners who survived. He did this for the sake of the gospel and eventually saw the growth of the church in Burma from new converts. Satan’s attempt to stop him failed.

Satan’s hatred of believers is unparalleled. He will give full vent to his hatred during the great tribulation, that last three and a half years before Christ returns to destroy him.

And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.  (Revelation 12:13-17 ESV)

Satan’s fury against Israel has been seen on numerous occasions in our own recent history, most notably during world war two and the German extermination camps.  During this last bit of history, the great tribulation, before the kingdom of God is established, for three and a half years he will wish to destroy her, especially since she has embraced her Messiah, but God will prevent it.  He will also seek to kill those of her offspring, Christians, who keep God’s commands and give testimony to Jesus.

Many, we are told in Revelation, will lose their lives to persecution. Whatever the protection is that the earth provides to help the woman, Israel, still many believers will suffer persecution.  The outpouring of judgment on the earth will be in large part God’s vengeance against those who kill His people. 

There is terrible persecution of believers going on in the world today.  Though there is occasionally a just response, much of our expectation of justice is focused on the last days when Jesus brings to bear all the things written on the scroll depicted in Revelation 5.

Are we willing to face torture and death for the sake of the gospel, for the sake of those lost souls without Jesus?