“And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child” (Revelation 12:13).

The devil and those who follow him lead, are vengeful.  Why let things be when you can pursue and make others miserable?  The world hates the things of the Lord.  The world does not want to be reminded that its time is short.  The world is temporary.  What then?  Where do you place your hope?  Where is your future? Will you be vengeful, or seek after the Lord regardless of the circumstance?

Lord, I am often a mixed bundle of nerves.  I do not do the things You would have me do.  I do follow the way of the wicked one and act and react according to how I feel and not according to what is right.  Lead me to humbly walk steadfastly in the goodness of Your grace and mercy.  Guide me so that I do not lash out when I do not like something but live in harmony with You and others. Let the words of my mouth be acceptable to You, O Lord.

Lord Jesus, You know us better than we know ourselves.  Some are very good at masking what they are feeling.  But too many times, I react according to how I feel.  Lead me, Lord, so that whether I am persecuted or left alone, I look to You alone for help.  When given the opportunity, place in me the desire to love my neighbor even if they persecute me.  In all things, help me to look to You.  Amen.

“For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time” (Revelation 12:12).

It is only a short time that the devil has.  Whether you count your seventy years plus or minus, or the whole of this age, what is that compared to eternity?  The Lord has called you through the calamities of this world to live in His presence.  Come then and live into the life He gives.  Be guided by His goodness and mercy to know that in Him is life and liberty.  Woe to the wicked but rejoice, you who are in the Lord’s grace.

Lord, this sounds so simple, but living amidst the attacks of the devil is hard.  You know what it is to be tempted.  Only You were able to perfectly resist the temptation of the devil.  I often fail.  You need to lead me out of the terror of the wicked one so that my eyes can remain focused upon You.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I may join with You in eternity.

Lord Jesus, You know all that is needed.  You know where I have failed.  You understand the difficulty of living in this age.  You have promised to walk with me all the days of my life.  Even if I do not feel Your presence, guide me Lord so that I turn to You in all circumstances.  Lead me according to Your grace to know that my hope is in You and not in the circumstances of this age.  Amen.

“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death” (Revelation 12:11).

The world hates the Lord.  He is the Creator and He made everything, but the world has rejected its Creator.  But those who have received grace love the Lord and know that even though they will die, yet will they live because of the promise of the Lord.  How then will you live?  Will you live in the temporary way of the world, or will you come with the Lord to reside with Him forever?  Love the Lord with all your heart and rely not on your own understanding.

Lord, You know I go back and forth and that I am often confused.  Lead me, O Lord, by having a heart that is for You always.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You alone is all hope.  Help me get through all that I feel to come to the place where what is true guides me, and help me to be not led by the feelings I have.  Let me not fear death, but rather, love the life that You give by grace.

Lord Jesus, I will die, perhaps even with suffering as You did.  But You rose from the dead.  Guide me Lord Jesus in the hope of everlasting life so that I may not fear death but know that You have given me eternal life.  Help me work through all the temptations that come my way so that I may live in the hope of the resurrection.  Thank You, Jesus for providing all that I need.  Amen.

“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night” (Revelation 12:10).

The one who accuses before God day and night will one day be forever cast out of God’s presence.  He won’t stop accusing, but so what?  The Lord already knows these things, Of course you stand before the Lord accused.  In many cases, rightly so.  Do not deny it but come to the Lord and receive the forgiveness He gives by grace and learn how to truly live.

Lord, why do I fear being accused?  When I am rightly accused, why do I fear making a confession?  You have come to save the lost, for the righteous do not need to be saved.  Yet because we live in the age of the accuser, where night and day we are accused, we, that is I, worry about the accusations.  Turn my ear to hear what You said from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do.”  Let me see and understand that I do not need to play the devil’s game.

Lord Jesus, I am guilty of reacting to the accusations of the wicked one and not acting according to the salvation You have given me.  I need what You alone give and what You alone can do.  Help me laugh at the devil, especially when I am accused of the obvious, but take seriously the salvation You have given me.  Help me to live honestly with myself and others.  Guide me in the way of truly righteous living.  Amen.

“And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him” (Revelation 12:9).

We are on the earth and the devil has been thrown down to where we are.  It makes me wonder about the ‘when’ of this?  Is this depicting what happened in the beginning (of our age)?  We’ll find out after the end of days.  Meanwhile, we contend with the reality that the devil and his minions are loose on the earth; but we have been told that all things work together for good according to God’s  purpose for those who love Him.  Will you listen to their vile lies, as many do, or turn to the one who will save you?

Lord, I am often confused by events, but You have made clear that You have come to save those who will turn to You and repent.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life so that I may be guided by what is right and true.  You do not require me to pass a test to enter into Your kingdom.  You only ask that I look to You to be saved.  Add whatever else You know is needed, so that I may humbly walk in the way of salvation.

Lord Jesus, You have paved the way for salvation because You crushed the head of the serpent.  But the serpent remains for a time.  Help me, dear Lord, to look to You, especially during those times when the wicked one is attacking me.  Lead me through all the things that will come in this world so that I may forever abide in You.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the way You know I need to go.  Amen

“And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven (Revelation 12:7-8).

Are we seeing what happened, or what will happen.  This age has been a war between principalities and forces of darkness.  The answer is the cross where Christ, once for all, conquered sin, death, and the devil.  But the battle still rages.  In this war, where will you end up?  On which side will you land?  This is the question for us all.  Will you live as one who follows Jesus?

Lord, as the storm rages I find I am often confused and feel all alone.  But this is the lie of the wicked one.  You promised that You are with me forever.  Lead me, O Lord, and guide me according to Your goodness to stay the course of following You.  I can hope that I get out of this life unscathed, or I can live in the reality that, no matter what happens, I belong to You.

Lead me, Lord Jesus, on the path of salvation.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to know that in You I have hope that is not just for today, but forever.  Lead me to hold this in my heart always.  You have given me a new heart in You, and only in You will the heart, which is a heart like Yours, bear the goodness and mercy which You gave me from the cross.  Help me to stand firm in the truth.  Amen.

“Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days” (Revelation 12:6).

Time, times, and time and a half.  The Lord has each of the seasons laid out and He knows the outcome.  We have lost track of the meanings of these things and often end up guessing some literal value being conveyed.  The real value is that the Lord has laid things out and that all  seasons are in His hands.  Will you go into the wilderness with the Lord, or stay on the outside and wonder what all of these things mean?

Lord, I have heard so many prognostications over the meanings of things in this book.  They confuse me.  But I do see the parallel in Your life on earth.  For a week, weeks and week and a half, You fasted and prayed for each one of us.  You overcame the temptation of the devil for us.  You went to the cross for us.  You came back to life through the resurrection so that those who believe would be with You always.

Lord Jesus, You are the Savior, and we all need saving.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life so that I may humbly walk with You, my Lord and God.  Let me not be distracted by the prognosticators of this age.  Help me to keep a clear focus upon You.  Guide me always in the way of righteousness preparing for everlasting life with You.  Teach me how to live in the Father’s will.  Amen.

“And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne” (Revelation 12:5).

Did this not already happen?  Is this not our Savior Jesus?  Yes, this book is filled with mystery, for it describes metaphorically what God has done, is doing, and will do.  The Holy One has come, it is God in the flesh, and He calls you to Himself.  Come then and worship the Lord.  Know that He is Good and His mercy endures forever.  His rule is unyielding and will not wander from goodness and truth as many worldly nations and rulers do.

Lord, there is much that I do not understand.  You do not expect me to.  Help me to live humbly in my circumstances and walk as You would have me walk.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may now and always dwell in the goodness of Your grace and mercy.  You have come from the heart of God, for You are the sacred heart.  You and the Father are One.  Lead me to join with You forever.

Lord Jesus, I cannot begin to imagine what You have gone through for my sake.  You have come that I may have life and have it abundantly.  But You have also said that I will suffer because I follow You.  Lead me in the way I should live.  I am often confused and perplexed, but You are always good and merciful.  Lord, rule me and help me to live  willingly and joyously even under the sufferings I may experience.

“And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child” (Revelation 12:4).

Is this not the story of Herod and Mary?  Herod, the illegitimate pretender on the throne, kills the babies in Bethlehem.  But God’s will cannot be thwarted.  The Son of God came and lived a life of constant battle with the wicked one.  We have reaped the benefit of hope for life eternal through the grace Christ gives us.  How then shall we live?  Shall we just be Sunday morning Christians or those who seek to be like Christ.

Lord, You know the times and seasons.  They come and go, but You are raising for Yourself a people who will be Yours forever.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that I have hope in You.  You are the hope of the world.  Your true justice shall prevail and the world, once it passes away and is replaced with a new heaven and earth, shall be the place that fulfills the hope within the hearts of those who believe.

Lord, I know very little, but I know that my spirit has been made alive in You.  Ever since my spiritual quickening, the wicked one has sought to kill me.  I am enticed to live for pleasure and for what little else this life can give.  Guide me away from such nonsense.  I may now enjoy moments, but life in You is forever.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life and prepare me to dwell in the place You promise.  Amen.

“Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems” (Revelation 12:3).

Throughout history and in many cultures (and religions) the dragon is seen as a great adversary.  It is a symbol of great power.  A great power shall arise to contend against God.  Are we not living in a time where there is more worldly power than ever before?  We have the power to destroy ourselves.  But what is this power other than using what belongs to God for our own ends.  All authority and power belong to God.

Lord, no matter what happens, You are still Sovereign.  Let me never forget this simple fact lest I be carried away by the events of this world.  In the end, it will be Your will that is done.  I am emotional and become riled at contemporary events.  Take my eyes and place them firmly upon You knowing that all things are in Your hands.  You are the One whose will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Lord Jesus, You have taught us to keep our eyes upon You.  Help me now and always to not lose sight of this simple teaching.  What will happen around me will happen.  You know the outcome before it ever hits my awareness.  My hope is in You, Lord.  At least, that is what I desire that it should be.  Keep me in the arms of Your grace and mercy now and forever so that I may walk in the faith You have given me.  Amen.