And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with
the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of
twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and
pained to be delivered
(Rev. 12:1 and 2).
The above passage paints a picture of a corporate body on the verge
of a major breakthrough. Many significant points are made in the
symbolism. There is no way that we can exhaust this immense revelation.
However, we would do well to quickly touch on a few points that relate
to what the Lord has quickened to our hearts. We would like to note
that this woman is clothed with the sun as opposed to being under
the sun, hence her being in union with Christ causes her to experience
life in the spiritual heavenly realm. This brings to mind the sharp
contrast between the book of Ecclesiastes, where the theme is life
under the sun, and the Song of Solomon, where the theme is life
in the Son. This contrast is noteworthy due to the fact that many
who embrace the fact that we are seated in the heavens merely hold this
as a positional truth (Eph. 2:6). Unfortunately, a mere mental
acknowledgment of being seated in the heavens cannot free us from a life
under the sun mentality. However, those who take the attitude of
the woman in Song of Solomon, draw me, we will run after thee,
are the ones who are likely to move from positional truth to
experiential truth (Song of Solomon 1:4). Indeed, the Spirit takes the
hungry heart from one realm of the heavens to the next.
This brings us to our next point. Notice that this woman had reached
the place in the spirit in which she had the moon under her feet. In
the book of Joshua, Israel conquers Jericho. It is by no accident that
Jericho means "City of the Moon." In light of the fact that
this is all taking place in the heavenly realm of the Spirit, it brings
to mind the book of Joshua and its New Testament counterpart, the book
of Ephesians. The warfare that took place in Joshua speaks to us in
type of the spiritual confrontations mentioned in Ephesians. For we
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places
(Eph.6:12).
In as much as Israel was to invade and take the land of Canaan, we are called to take the spiritual territory that will ultimately take on the visible expression of the kingdom of God in the earth. If we think this will be done in the sweet bye and bye, we know very little of the Lord's calling for His body in the nasty here and now! This brings us to our main point which involves a serious consideration of the nature of our warfare.
"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" may sound like a clever comeback in a child's argument, but it is not found in the scriptures. As a matter of fact, the scriptures plainly state that there is death and life in the power of the tongue (Prov. 18:21). Truly in the tongue is the power to defile the whole body (James 3:6). Yet, it is also a truth that a wholesome tongue is a tree of life (Prov. 15:4). We may not realize just how much of an impact our words can have, much less the role they play in contributing to the spiritual climate of this age. However, it is not so much the tongue, nor our words in and of themselves, that are so powerful, but rather the thought and the spirit behind them.
A thought can either be aborted or brought into fruition. There is an adversary that is occupied with sowing thoughts into our hearts that perpetuate the kingdom of darkness. Stagnant religiosity may often be void of his suggestion in light of the fact that where there is no life his mission is already accomplished. Yet, that is not the case with the soul that has been impregnated with a living word that cannot help but produce a mature expression of Christ in the earth.
And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great
red dragon...
(Rev. 12:3). The adversary mentioned in this verse is
also called "the accuser of our brethren" (Rev. 12:10). Early
in my walk I would find myself very frustrated with a lot of the
inconsistencies within the Church system. I would later realize that
there was a potential danger in becoming consumed with my frustrations.
One day I was venting my anger about the Church to a very wise brother.
He agreed with my reasons for frustration, yet he told me, "The
Church already has an accuser." As soon as I heard those
words, I felt immediate conviction. I then understood that the
adversary is always on the job. It is not my calling to join him.
This does not mean that God will not raise up some within the body
of Christ to deliver a prophetic word of correction and sober
admonition. But there is a difference in the intentions behind a
prophetic word and an accusation. We will look at a passage of
scripture to show how the intentions differ and then move on. Behold,
I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over
the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and
to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant
(Jer. 1:9 and
10). Jeremiah was told that the word of the Lord is given with the
ultimate intention of building up and planting. However, often is the
case that before there can be a building up and a planting, there must
first be a rooting up, a destruction, and a removal of that which seeks
to hinder the visible expression of Christ in the earth. In a word, God
seeks to restore people, not their systems. The adversary, on the other
hand, seeks to destroy people, through accusations, but has no problem
with their systems.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that
which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto
the hearers
(Eph. 4:29). The edification we are to minister to one
another plays an important role in our spiritual health, as well as the
spiritual atmosphere of our fellowship with one another. The corrupt
communication of course opens the door for darkness. It gives the
serpent something to feed on. It also feeds carnality within us, if we
are not spiritually minded. Our words, depending on their source, can
either feed the adversary or build up the body of Christ. But we are
given specific instructions on dealing with our thoughts before they
come into the fruition of our words and actions. For though we walk
in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of
our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the
destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every
lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking
every thought captive to the obedience of Christ
(2 Cor. 10:3-5,
NASB).
The condition of the heart is the key to winning or losing on the
battlefield of the Spirit. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not,
then we have confidence toward God
(1 John 3:21). To experience the
victory we have through Jesus Christ we must guard our hearts with all
diligence for out of it are the issues of life (Prov. 4:23). When our
focus is our past, our sins, our mistakes, our failures, and every
negative thing we can think of about ourselves, we should not be
surprised when we lose on the battlefield. When we entertain these
thoughts, we can end up talking just like the accuser. We can come into
agreement with lies and fall into a spiritual paralysis in which our
prayer life is hindered. It all comes down to what we dwell on. What is
it that we ponder in our hearts? Many of us have tasted the grace of
God, only to turn back around and eat from the table of the old
creation.
We have a picture in Revelation 12:14 of how the victorious Church
avoids the fatal practice of giving place to self-condemnation or any
thought contrary to Christ. And to the woman were given two wings
of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her
place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time,
from the face of the serpent.
The key phrase in relation to our
subject is she is nourished. Manna fell from heaven to
nourish the Church in the wilderness. This of course speaks of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Oh, but how often does our Lord go unnoticed by His own
people, for manna means "what is it?" (Exod. 16:15). Now
beloved, we need to know what it is. We cannot afford to settle for
less than what our Father has freely given us. We must become fully
aware of what is true about us by virtue of the death, burial, and
resurrection of Christ, so that we might be fully prepared to possess
that which comes by way of growth.
Joshua was told to meditate day and night on the book of the law as
part of his preparation of fully possessing the land of Canaan (Josh.
1:8). On the other hand, in Revelation 12:10 it is said of the
adversary that he accused our brothers before God day and night. Those
who fell in the wilderness due to their murmuring and unbelief
prefigure those who come into agreement with the accuser. Out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matt. 12:34). The things that
came out of their mouths where accusations against Moses, and in
essence they were accusations against God. But the accusations all
started with their own fear. They saw the horde of Egyptians and their
horses coming behind them and the Red sea before them. We then read of
their accusation, And they said unto Moses, 'Because there were no
graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness?
Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us
alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us
to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness
(Exod. 14:11 and 12).
This event shows us how time and time again the propensity for man to return to what he knows best will emerge when he comes under pressure. The timing of this accusation is very significant. It came not too long after Passover, which is typical of the initial salvation experience (1 Cor. 5:7). Unfortunately, many who have nothing but an initial salvation experience and a lot of pressure often return to their previous bondage. Our hearts can be quick to agree with the accuser when we let the pressures of life work against us. As we grow in grace, we will find that God will use the pressures to work for us. We will go on to see that adversity is given to enlarge our faith (1 Pet. 4:12).
This brings us to our most important point concerning this woman in
Revelation 12, who is symbolic of the bride aspect of the body of
Christ. It is in our times of intimacy, both individually and
corporately, that we are nourished by the quickening of the living
Word. When we are truly experiencing the love toward God that He
initiated at the beginning of our spiritual walk, we can then behold
life from His divine perspective. And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose
(Rom. 8:28). If you take away the love
relationship and settle for something less, you have lost that winning
edge over the accusations and the uncomfortable situations that come
with our spiritual walk. In general, many in the body of
Christ are convinced that the Lord has saved us so that He can rapture
our souls out of tribulation. But we are convinced that the Lord saves
us so He can get our souls pregnant with a mature expression that not
only endures tribulation, but glories in tribulation!
When the Red Sea parted and made a pathway for an entire nation, an
awesome shadow was cast, pointing to our identification in the burial
of Christ, by what they literally experienced (1 Cor. 10:1). This
miraculous event shut the mouth of the accusers. The very men that held
Israel in bondage were swallowed up in defeat. The Pharaoh and Egypt
are symbolic of the prince of the power of the air and this present
world system that is now in bondage to sin, but destined to give way to
the kingdom of God! When the Holy Spirit got a hold of Saul of Tarsus,
this young zealous man, well schooled in the scriptures, gained access
to the New Covenant reality that lies hidden behind the shadows
conveyed in the Old Testament scriptures. But even unto this day,
when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it
shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is
that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty
(2 Cor. 3:15-17).
The liberty that has been missing in so many Christian circles is not the liberty to go out and do things that former generations or legalistic sects would not do. This liberty is not even the liberty to get physically active in times of praising the Lord. Although, we will say that the Spirit can so overwhelm us that we may respond in that manner during times of worship. This liberty is to partake of the illumination of our hearts. It is the opening of our understanding as we spiritually feed on the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. It is the humbling liberty to stand in His presence as the anointing teaches us from within. It is that liberty of being placed in that secret place, to behold the glorious unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ!
What did Paul see when He looked back to the event at the Red sea? ...all
our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And
were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea
(1 Cor.10:1
and 2). What did he see when he looked back at the burial of Jesus? ...ye
are complete in him [Christ]... Buried with him in baptism, wherein
also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God,
who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and
the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him,
having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of
ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it
out of the way, nailing it to his cross
(Col. 2:10, 12-14).
The Old creation, the first humanity, Adam, under the condemnation of the law, was nailed to the cross (Rom. 6:6 and Gal. 2:20). We must feed on this in our passionate pursuit of intimate knowledge, because head knowledge cannot get the job done when we find ourselves in a pressure cooker. It is what we know by way of the Spirit that really counts. Those who are unaware of what has been accomplished in them through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ can easily be carried away by the spirit of fear. Any agreement with the accuser will leave a blessed saint feeling like a cursed sinner.
We would like to close this exhortation with a comparison of
scripture. Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I
bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself... Thou
stretched out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them... And to the
woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into
the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and
times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent
cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might
cause her to be carried away by the flood. And the earth helped the
woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which
the dragon cast out of his mouth
(Exod. 19:4, 15:12 and Rev.
12:14-16). It is the burial of Jesus, in which we were
included, that swallowed up the flood of accusations. He nailed all the
accusations against us to the cross and took them down into the earth.
For Christ has spoiled principalities and powers in His cross (Col.
2:15). We must see by the Spirit all that was buried before we can
fully embrace the new life that was raised! This does not happen
through mental ascent, but by hearing the Spirit speak into our hearts.
In our intimacy with Him revelation is made personal. Let us open the
door of our hearts to Him.