THE DRAGON
Revelation 12:17
“But woe to the earth and the sea,
because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
because he knows that his time is short.
Time passed and the infant grew. We are not given a clue as to why Joseph chose to not return to their home in Nazareth. Perhaps they moved in with relatives who offered support and encouragement to this new mama. Nonetheless, we are told they are living in a house where the toddler king would learn to crawl, walk, talk, and even start potty training. I’m sure that was a thing even in ancient times, albeit a bit messier without pull-ups.
As the Son of God grows the enemy becomes desperate to destroy. Moment by moment he becomes more enraged as the little man toddles through life. As his steps become steady the prince of darkness devices a reckless plan to destroy!
Revelation 12 continues the scene in the heavens.
“The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” (12:9)
As Satan is thrown out of heaven there was great rejoicing.
Although earth has a different song.
But woe to the earth and the sea,
because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
because he knows that his time is short.
(Revelation 12:17)
Life on earth is just plain hard, and this is why! The enemy knows his time will come to an end and so, out of desperation, he will do whatever it takes to destroy us. This fallen, Genesis 3 world, is submerged in disease, death, injustice, and wickedness at every turn. Satan’s plan for destruction rules and reigns, leaving the people longing for something this world will never offer.
As the prince of darkness makes his home on earth with a myriad of demons to assist his bidding, a plan is born in the mind of a king.
Herod may have thought it was his own doing, but the prince of the power of the air has caused a greater evil to enter into his heart, causing him to do the unthinkable.
As the entourage seeking the star finds their way, the search for the infant king naturally led them to the place where royalty would be found, a palace.
There Herod would hear the news of the one who would take the throne. Enraged by jealousy he commands a death sentence to every baby boy.
Horror would soon fill the streets as the edict played out. Soldiers invading homes, striping the arms of each mother of her precious son. The cries filling the land revealed that evil had won.
Meanwhile, in a small home the wisemen from the east fell to their knees and worshipped with gifts and adoration.
Mary and Joseph were reminded once again their home was a refuge for God incarnate. Yet, behind the curtain the plot thickened as the battle for Christmas inched closer and closer to their doorstep.
