Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 192

July 14:   Revelation 12:4;   250/260(I);   ‘Jesus, Israel, the Devil’

Revelation 12:4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.

 In the genius of God, this chapter represents the ongoing determination of satan to destroy Israel, so that the end of Revelation cannot come to pass.  If there is no Jerusalem, the devil believes that Jesus cannot come back for the battle of Armageddon.  In the Old Testament Haman, in the Book of Esther, inspired by the devil tried to destroy the Jews.  In this verse, the devil tried to use Herod, when Jesus was born, to kill Jesus.  Germany in World War II did everything they could to ‘exterminate’ the Jews.  Today, the Arab nations hate Israel and openly declare their determination to destroy the Jews.  Much of the world is against Israel.  The evil one, satan has deceived the world so that there is almost world-wide animosity against the Jews.  Our adversary, satan is a deceiver (Revelation 12:9) and since he is the god of this world, because of the sin of Adam, he does all he can to undermine and destroy Israel.  This is no different in the great tribulation, there will be intense persecution by the antichrist forces against anyone who will not take the mark of the beast (chapter13), especially the Jews.  Vere 6 teaches that the Lord will supernaturally protect the Jews during the great tribulation.  Remember, this is the revelation of Jesus Christ.  He has won.  The intense wrath of the antichrist forces, inspired by the devil will not succeed in destroying Israel.  Many Jews and gentiles will be martyred.  The Lord’s grace will help them through to eternity.  Many others will survive even the greatest efforts of the devil’s minions.  The Word of God is true.  Jerusalem will be there for the battle of Armageddon.