Revelation 12:1-10 - "Target: The Church!"

In chapter 12, Revelation takes a bit of a detour from the step-by-step narrative of the end times. The events described occur throughout the history of mankind, past, present, and future. In the course of the visions given to John, seven main figures are described. Five of those appear in this chapter. The next two chapters will continue to fill in the details. Chapter 15 adds another vision of heaven, and chapter 16 will return to a more chronological depiction of the last days.This world that God created is very much the theater in which the story of redemption is played out. From the beginning, Satan and his demonic hosts have done everything imaginable to stop God's redemptive plan for mankind. From Adam and Eve to the final battle in Revelation, Satan will not give up. However, Israel brought forth a Son, the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ. Satan was unable to stop Him. Satan's efforts to destroy the chosen bloodline of our Lord failed.  His efforts to persecute and stop the spread of the gospel through the Church will continue until the rapture. Even after the Church is raptured, the gospel will go forth and multitudes will be saved. His plans to destroy the Jewish people and God's plan to redeem Israel will continue until Christ's return.