Revelation 12:17 (KJV)
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 12 reads to me like a summary of the whole history of Satan, from the beginning of time through what would be the current time in the context of the Tribulation. Of course, that context requires Israel and the introduction of Christ, so the first two verses introduce Israel.
Verse 3 introduces Satan, and immediately we begin to see the contest—not between Satan and Israel, but between Satan and God—with Israel being the “football,” if you will, around which the game is played.
Of course, we know that there are others upon the earth besides Israel. They become involved in the battle as well. Even creation itself is seen actively engaged as the earth helps the woman, opens its mouth, and swallows the flood.
The chapter ends with the dragon, Satan, making war with “the remnant of her seed” and gives two descriptors:
- Which keep the commandments of God
- And have the testimony of Jesus Christ
Of course, at the end of history, all peoples will be on the same page. We will all keep the commandments of God, and we will all have the testimony of Jesus Christ (that is, faith in Jesus Christ). But in the middle of the Tribulation, this will not yet be the case.
- There will be those who are neither of these—they will side with the Antichrist.
- There will be the Jews, described as keeping the commandments of God. I take that to mean adherents of the Mosaic Law.
- And there will be those who have the testimony of Jesus Christ. These are the multitudes out of every kindred, people, tongue, and nation who come to faith in Christ despite the great persecution for their faith.
Satan hates all the inhabitants of the earth and sea because they are the creation of God. He hates the Jews because they are the people through whom the Saviour came. But he especially hates those who have the testimony of Jesus Christ because he believed he deserved Christ's place and was ultimately cast out of heaven for it.
#Revelation1217 #TestimonyOfJesusChrist #TribulationTruth #SpiritualWarfare #StandWithChrist
The Hidden War: Who Is the Dragon Really Fighting?
What do you think? Are the two groups in Revelation 12:17 both believers, or do you see them differently? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.
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