Winston Salem church of Christ

                                                         The Dragon Is Waiting^[1] 

INTRO:            A.        I am going to preach to you the entire Bible in one sermon…twice:1.         The Bible in 50 Words!

• God made
• Adam bit
• Noah arked
• Abraham split
• Joseph ruled
• Jacob fooled
• Bush talked
• Moses balked
• Pharaoh plagued
• People walked
• Sea divided
• Tablets guided
• Promise landed
• Saul freaked
• David peeked
• Prophets warned
• Jesus born
• God walked
• Love talked
• Anger crucified
• Hope died
• Love rose
• Spirit flamed
• Word spread
• God remained. [unknown]

B.        And for the second time through the Bible we will start at the end which will take us back to the beginning! 

Rev. 12:1-4 – A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; [2] and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.  [3] 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. [4] 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.

 C.        Fasten your mental seat belts, everyone; we are about to embark on a history lesson that covers at least 6 thousand years, if not more – in about 45 minutes or less. 

BODY:I.          FROM CREATION TO ADAM AN EVE: The Initial PromiseA.        The Creation:1.         Everything is good.  God fulfills every creative act.  God makes the Garden of Eden perfect, a virtual heaven on earth.  Adam and Eve are the crowning glory of creation being created in the very image of God (Gen.1:27).  As history dawns, everything functions for its intended purpose – to glorify God.  Sadly, this would be the only time in history, in all of time, that all of physical creation fulfilled its designed creative purpose. 

B.        The Fall:1.         Satan is Victorious2.         If you believe as I do concerning the origin of Satan, then the good creation and subsequent fall have even more meaning.  Prior to this creation, Satan was likewise created as good, like all that God creates.  Satan not only freely decided to remove himself from God’s approval; and he not only succeeded in leading God’s former creation the angels in rebellion against their Creator; he is also successful in ruining God’s new creation – see Milton. 

C.        God’s Greatest Victory Overthrows Satan’s (Gen.3:15)

1.         Gen.3:15 – “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.”                                                                        a.         Rev.12:9 refers to this great dragon, the Devil and Satan, as the serpent of old.

b.         While this first Messianic promise is never directly quoted in the Old or New Testaments, the Old and New Testaments are vivid battles of this ongoing, cosmic enmity.  The rest of history is leading up to the personal battles between Jesus and Satan.  The rest of history is Satan’s attempt to defeat God’s answer to our sin problem.c.         Notice one other important fact about this first Messianic prophecy.  It is not spoken in promise of hope to either Adam or Eve.  It is given as a curse to the serpent, to the Dragon, to Satan himself.  Does that intimate how angry God is at Satan? 

II.         FROM ADAM AND EVE TO THE FLOODA.        “By and by children are born to Adam and Eve – Cain and Abel.  But Cain slays Abel.  Then Seth is born.  Does Satan realize that the family of Seth has been predestined to bring forth the promised seed, the Messiah?”                          1.         Satan has the wrong one murdered!2.         It has also been suggested that the original Hebrew might suggest that Eve thought Cain was the promised one which could be translated, “I have gotten a manchild, with the help of the Lord.” [or, man, the Lord].  If so, Satan tempting him to murder his brother would be akin to Satan tempting Jesus in the wilderness to sin.  Only with Cain, the dragon thinks he has won!3.         The child through whom the Savior would come is Seth, whose name means, “The appointed one.”  The “Anointed One” comes from the “appointed one.” 

Genesis 4:25 – Adam had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for, she said, “God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel, for Cain killed him.”  

B.        Chapter five in Genesis is very repetitious – and he died.  Those three words are found eight times.  God keeps His word (Gen.2:17), for good or ill.  The same is true of God’s Messianic prophecy.  Yes, God said man would die, and yes again God said Satan would be defeated.  Remember that!  Every genealogical table ends with those words except Noah’s, because his story will continue; and Enoch’s, for he walked with God.  Enoch and Noah represent victories for God.  The rest of chapter five is a flag of victory for Satan.  The dragon, Satan, often appears – but only appears – to be totally victorious over God. 

C.        Just as with Enoch, God thwarted Satan’s victory (which was a foreshadowing of things to come when we will all be changed (1 Cor.15:51), when death – the last enemy – will be defeated (1 Corinthians 5).  In chapter six God diminishes the work of Satan.  The dragon whispers in the ears of the righteous to marry the unrighteous.  The world begins to crumble. The daughters of men married the sons of God.  The result was almost total evil.  “The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart (Gen.6:5-6), is one of the saddest verses in all of inspiration.  So ingrained so was this evil, total evil, that God had to destroy almost every living human being, except a remnant – God always leaves a remnant.  Had God destroyed all of mankind, this would defeat the promised sin-cure of Gen.3:15.  This would mean God lost the war and Satan was totally victorious.  But, and we should praise God, there was one man who was righteous – Noah.  Notice the text does not say anything about the purity of Noah’s family.  In my opinion, they were saved to propagate the race so that the promised seed could come.  God is not defeated, not totally.  Satan corrupts every man except one (and maybe his family).  And one is one too many for Satan to be victorious!  The lineage of Jesus is saved.  The Devil’s apparent victory disappears. 

D.        While we often look at the flood as God destroying His creation gone awry:·         It is also God destroying Satan’s creation.  God wins again.·         It is also God recreating His original creation.  The parallels are astonishing. 

III.        FROM THE FLOOD TO JACOB

A.        “Again the dragon stands in front of the woman in order to destroy the child.  The promise concerning the Messiah is now given to Abraham, and Sarah his wife.  Humanly speaking, however, that promise will never be fulfilled, for Abraham is old and Sarah is barren. [Have you ever wondered if Satan caused Sarah’s barrenness?  Even if he didn’t cause her to be unable to have children, did he purposely bring Abram and Sarai together to end the lineage of the Messiah?  While we will never know, let’s be aware that Satan is working - PDH].  The dragon has almost triumphed [Abraham is 100 years old and Sarah is ninety] when the miracle happens and Isaac is born [to those as good as dead – again foreshadowing (Rom.4:17,19) the resurrection].  The promise is now given to Isaac.  But the Lord orders Abraham to offer Isaac as a burnt-offering.  “And Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to slay his son….”  What now will become of God’s promise?” [While scripture reveals this as a test for Abraham, I wonder what thoughts occupied Satan’s mind. Did he think God had lost it?  Was God tacitly mocking Satan? Just as Satan must have been fooled here, he will be fooled again on
Calvary.  Satan could not have known this was an antitype of God’s finest victory - PDH] But the angel of Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”  And he said, “Here I am.”  He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” (Gen.22:11-12). 

B.        “The seed that was going to destroy the serpent’s head would be born from the generations of Isaac and Rebekah.  But Rebekah was barren (Gen.25:21).  Again Jehovah, the God of the promise, performs a miracle, and Rebekah conceives so that the promise is continued in the line of Jacob.”  So often God either chooses barren women to exhibit His grace or Satan causes barrenness to frustrate God’s plan: Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah,
Elizabeth.  Mary, the mother of Jesus is the unconventional physical opposite of barrenness.  Barrenness is the inability to conceive naturally.  Mary conceived supernaturally. 

C.        God again uses Satan to thwart Satan.  “But see what happens.  Jacob deceives his father and receives the blessing which Isaac had intended for Esau.  Jacob has to flee.  Even years afterwards when he returns to his own land (Jacob) is greatly afraid.  Yet Esau did not kill Jacob [and his household].  The promise concerning the son of the woman is saved again.” 

IV.       FROM JACOB TO THE ISRAELITES IN THE DESERTA.        “Again the dragon stands in front of the woman.  He attacks Jacob’s descendants, the [Israelites].  [He has Pharaoh murder all the male children, which cosmically must be looked upon as grander in scale than simply Pharaoh fearing for his throne.  Satan feared for his throne too!  Furthermore] (t)his time it surely seems as if he will be successful, for though the Lord in tender mercy has led His people out of Egypt, they reject [His ways] and are dancing around a golden calf.” 

B.        “Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation.” (Ex.32:10)                        1.         “Is the dragon actually going to triumph?”  (Can’t you just see Satan gloating over God’s anguish?  Can’t you just imagine ole’ Satan dancing around just as the Israelites danced around the golden calf?).  If God destroys all the Israelites except for Moses, God destroys the tribe of
Judah which was prophesied to be the kingly tribe (Gen.49:10).  Moses is from Levi – but Jesus is not (Heb.7:14).                        2.         But there is an intercessor.  “Moses intercedes and the promise is saved again.”  And again we see an antitype as Moses foreshadows Jesus as our Mediator.  We see it, but Satan does not. 

V.        FROM THE ISRAELITES IN THE DESERT TO DAVID, THE KINGA.        “Again history moves on.  Out of the tribe of Judah God chooses one family, that of David.  The promised Messiah will be born as the seed of David (2 Sam.7:12ff; Ps.89:29,35,36; Jer.23:5; Acts 2:30).  So the devil now aims his arrows at David.  David must be destroyed” [We are all aware at how Satan tried to destroy David spiritually later on through his sin with Bathsheba, but remember if Satan destroys David’s physical lineage, then Satan has already won.].  We read, “Saul hurled the spear for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.”  But David escaped from his presence twice” (1 Sam.18:11).  Saul did this because an evil spirit comes mightily upon him.  Does the dragon succeed?  No, for David escapes from Saul’s presence twice…this ultimately means Jesus escapes. 

B.        Don’t look at these events as isolated, personal incidents.  All of eternity is tied up in each.  Don’t look upon the cause of Saul’s rage as simple jealousy.  Don’t oversimplify and only notice Satan’s attempt to win over Saul.  Look behind the curtain and observe.  This all goes back to the Messianic promise, and Satan’s attempt to be victorious over God. 

VI.       FROM DAVID TO QUEEN ATHALIAHA.        “Athaliah, the wicked daughter of wicked parents – Ahab and Jezebel – is reigning.  In order that she may have absolute power she conceives in her heart to destroy all the seed of David.  Thus again the coming of the Mediator in human form is threatened.  The dragon stands in front of the woman; his wrath is directed against the child.  And now, finally, Satan is successful.   At least, so it seems.  For we read Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.”  Of course, if the entire royal seed is destroyed, then the Christ cannot be born as the legal son and heir of David.  Then God’s plan is frustrated and the promise had failed.  Athaliah destroyed the entire royal seed.  But read on, When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she rose and destroyed all the royal offspring. [2] But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and placed him and his nurse in the bedroom. So they hid him from Athaliah, and he was not put to death. (2 Kings 11:1-2) 

B.        “How wonderful are God’s ways.  How marvelous His providence!” 

C.        “By and by we see Joash again, and on his head there is a crown.  We hear people shouting, `Long live the king! [Which unbeknown to them has a Messianic meaning - yes the Messiah king shall live!] Again, the promise is saved.  Christ will be born of David’s line.  Unless the dragon should still prevent it.” 

VII.      FROM ATHALIAH TO KING AHAZA.        “And now the combined forces of Israel and Syria (i.e., Aram – PDH) are gathered against
Judah.  Their purpose is to blot out the house of David with which were connected the hopes and promises concerning the Messiah, and to set up a foreign king `in the midst of Judah, even the son of Tabeel’ (Isa.7:6).  It is a critical moment in history.  Will the Christ even be born of the seed of David?  Jehovah orders the prophet Isaiah to meet King Ahaz of
Judah to encourage him.  Ahaz, however, disdainfully refused to ask for a sign as a pledge of Jehovah’s aid.  Surely, the dragon – the serpent of Genesis 3:15 – will be successful now, for against the house of David is assembled the hosts of Syria and of
Israel and the wickedness of King Ahaz himself!  Satan laughs.  Again, however, he laughs too soon, for we read, `Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”  (Isa.7:14) God’s purpose must stand.  Immanuel must be born, from the family of David.” 

VIII.     FROM KING AHAZ TO ESTHER

A.        “It is the fifth century BC and King Ahasuerus is reigning.  At the request of Haman, the king issues a decree that throughout his vast domain all the Jews should be put to death (Esther 3:15).  This decree is sealed with the king’s ring.  But Jehovah’s promise concerning the Mediator, to be born of the seed of David, was sealed with the oath of the King of Kings.  Need I relate what happened?  Read the book of Esther for yourself.  The Jews, again, were saved.”1.         Have you ever wondered what the purpose of the book of Esther is?  Like Ruth, neither appears on the surface to have much theological impact.  Ruth is a Moabite woman.  Esther is married to the king of a foreign power.   One of Ruth’s purposes is shown in the conclusion – Ruth marries Boaz, and together they give birth to Obed, who fathers Jesse, who gives us David – the father and servant of the Messiah King.  Esther shows that nothing will obliterate the Jewish nation until the Messiah comes.  God’s promise can withstand the whims of wickedness bent on destroying His entire people.                                    B.        Throughout the Old Testament we see the dragon trying to devour the child.  He tries killing one child in Isaac.  He tries killing all the royal children in Athaliah.  He tries killing all the male children in
Egypt.  He tries to kill the entire Jewish nation!  And as the story unfolds, he will try to kill the Messiah Himself, as a child and fail… and as an adult and will succeed in killing the Messiah – and yet fail! 

IX.       FROM ESTHER TO
BETHLEHEMA.        “The scene is
Bethlehem.  There in a manger lies the Christ-child.  But although he is now actually born, the dragon still tries to destroy Him. 

B.        “The wise men from the East are in the audience room of Herod. `Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him” (Mt.2:8).  His intention was to kill the child.  But the wise men, warned of God, returned to their country another way after they had found and worshiped the Christ.  Still the dragon refused to admit defeat. The infants of
Bethlehem and district, two years old and under are slain.  But Herod failed.  So did the dragon.  The Christ-child was safe in Egypt (Mt.2:13) [It is ironic that of all places, the epitome of Israelitic slavery,
Egypt, was chosen as the place of freedom for Israel Incarnate.  And notice the irony that while King Herod was attempting the same basic atrocity as did Egypt’s Pharaoh, this time
Egypt is the place of safety].  God’s purpose can never be frustrated.  Christ’s birth in
Bethlehem is God’s victory over the dragon.” 

X.        FROM BETHLEHEM TO
GOLGOTHAA.        The dragon is not finished.  He doesn’t take defeat easily.  He tempts Jesus to take the easy way in receiving His kingdom.  The devil shows Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory; and says to him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me” (Mt.4:9).  Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan!  For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only” (Mt.4:8-10). 

B.        But again the devil was not finished.  He wanted to destroy the Son of God and “Satan entered into Judas” (Lk.22:3).  This tempting of Judas was going to destroy Jesus.  The Devil was going to finally be successful.  Jesus was betrayed, tried, tortured, and killed.  And exactly what Satan wanted, God needed (Isa.53:10).  Unknown to Satan, God used the devil.  And that is not all.  Satan had spent all of the earth’s time trying to destroy the “seed.”  (Isa.53:10)  And we are that seed!  But we are getting slightly ahead of ourselves. 

XI.       FROM
GOLGOTHA TO THE EMPTY TOMB

A.        The battle is at a pivotal point.  The entire history of mankind has been leading to this brief time – three days.  Had the dragon finally won?  Jesus’ own disciples trusted more in what they saw, than in the God who loved them.  On Sunday morning, Jesus, entombed for three days, miraculously is freed from both the bondage of death, and the bondage of his burial wrappings.  Quietly He folds the face-cloth, the same face-cloth that lay on His face for three days.  The stone rolls away.  The dragon is defeated.  Sin is forgiven.  Death is defeated!  Jesus is resurrected!  And in the words of John the writer of Revelation, found later in his writing, “Hallelujah!” 

CONCLUSION:A.        After a study like this, it’s impossible to ever doubt God will keep His promises?1.         Rev. 12:5 – 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.  

B.        It is also impossible to doubt the stubborn hatred of Satan – he will not stop trying.  The Dragon is waiting to destroy us too! 

C.        When talking about HBRCB, many ignorantly call that “the plan of salvation.”  That is shortsighted and therefore wrong.  The entire Bible is filled with “the plan of salvation.”  We just studied “the plan of salvation;” HBRCB are simply our response to God’s plan of salvation.  When we do, we are in effect, bruising the head of the serpent ourselves.

                                                         The Dragon Is WaitingINTRO:A.        (Rev.12:1-4). BODY:I.          FROM CREATION TO ADAM AN EVE: The Initial PromiseA.        The Creation: Everything is good. A virtual heaven on earth.(Gen.1:27).B.        The Fall: Satan is Victorious. Origin of SatanC.        God’s Final Victory Overthrows Satan’s  (Gen.3:15) – “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.”1.         Never quoted, but always ongoing. Vivid Battles. What is History?2.         It is not given as a promise of hope to either Adam or Eve.  It is a curse.II.         FROM ADAM AND EVE TO THE FLOODA.        Cain & Abel. Cain slays Abel.  Seth is born.  Seth’s family. Families Crumble.B.        Chapter five in Genesis is very repetitious – and he died.C.        Chapter six.  Families crumble. Gen.6:5-6. One man.D.        Flood – Destruction of God’s creation…or Satan’s?III.        FROM THE FLOOD TO JACOBA.        Abraham & Sarah – Barrenness. Sacrifice of Isaac. Gen.22:11-12.B.        Isaac & Rebekah – Barrenness (Gen.25:21).C.        Esau & Jacob – Murder ending the seed promise?IV.       FROM JACOB TO THE JEWS IN THE DESERTA.        Golden calf.  Ex.32:10. Moses intercedes.V.        FROM THE JEWS IN THE DESERT TO DAVID, THE KINGA.        Seed of David (2 Sam.7:12ff; Ps.89:29,35,36; Jer.23:5; Acts 2:30). B.        Saul (1 Sam.18:11)C.        Don’t look at these stories as isolated, personal incidents. Eternal enmity/VI.       FROM DAVID TO QUEEN ATHALIAHA.        Athaliah destroys the seed of her son, of David – But (2 Kgs.11:1,2ff) B.        How wonderful are God’s ways.  How marvelous His providence!C.        “Long live the king!” takes on a hidden meaning.VII.      FROM ATHALIAH TO KING AHAZA.        Isa.7:6, 14VIII.     FROM KING AHAZ TO ESTHERA.        Fifth century BC and King Ahasuerus is reigning. Esther 3:15. IX.       FROM ESTHER TO
BETHLEHEMA.        Jesus is born, but the dragon still hates.  Magi.
Egypt (irony)X.        FROM BETHLEHEM TO
GOLGOTHAA.        The dragon is not finished.  Temptation of Jesus. Easy kingdom. Mt.4:8-10.B.        “Satan entered into Judas” (Lk.22:3). Isa.53:10. God used Satan.XI.       FROM
GOLGOTHA TO THE EMPTY TOMBA.        The entire history of mankind has been leading to this brief time – three days.  CONCLUSION:A.        After a study like this, it’s impossible to ever doubt God will keep His promises.B.        Plan of salvation.

^[1]All quotes taken from William Hendrikson, More Than Conquerors, pp.137-140, except for the quotes from the Bible which I replaced with the NASB update.