SCRIPTURE: Revelation 12
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach. [Revelation 12:13-14]
This vision is an amazing retelling of the whole story of salvation: the woman (Israel) that produces the child (Messiah), the child brought up to His throne in heaven, the dragon (Satan) defeated and fighting against the woman (Israel/Church) because of the child, and the woman protected for a season from the dragon’s attacks.
Jesus reigns, Satan is defeated, but he is fighting mad, and will take down anyone and everyone he can.
Right now, he is raging on earth, like a lion looking for people to devour [1 Peter 5:8].
But so long as the people of the “male child” cling to Him in faith, they will be protected… the very creation order itself will help them.
Life in this world will be a wilderness, but while pursued, they will be protected.

You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. [Luke 21:16-18]
Hated because of the male child, pursued and persecuted – even by loved ones – because of Jesus.
But not a hair of your head will perish, that is, you will be fully rescued in the end.
Betrayed, even put to death, yet not a hair will perish?
This is not contradictory; rather Jesus is saying that we will suffer and even die, but in the end we will be fully restored (remember the witnesses of ch.11?).
This makes me think of how Paul experienced both hardship and hope.
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. [2 Corinthians 4:8-11]

We need to think of our daily lives in light of this cosmic battle, and we need to see that though we are pursued, we are protected.
Keep reminding yourself of this when life gets hard, and things do not seem to be working out as you hoped.
Or when you are under attack, keep the eyes of your heart focused on Jesus in the highest place, directing the affairs of this world so that in the end we will stand!
In the meantime, keep doing good, and wait for the Lord’s return.
If we suffer for doing good, so be it – we are blessed!
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. [1 Peter 4:19]
This is my job, until the Lord returns, through all the attacks of the devil.
Trust and obey, for there is no other way.

PRAYER:
Lord, this is so applicable for me today, as I am facing doubt and defeat in my heart. I need to continue to be faithful, to trust and obey, and leave the results to You!