The Dragon Who Hates Christmas

The Dragon who Hates Christmas- Rev. 12: 1-5

Intro: This is an amazing chapter of the book of Revelation. John had a vision of the great conflict that has gone on throughout the ages and culminates during end time; the time when the anti-Christ will rise to power and determines to destroy Israel. God prepares them a place of refuge in the wilderness and those who flee there are protected until the anti-Christ is defeated and cast into Hell. Let’s take a look at the Big Picture presented here of this conflict that raged through the ages of time.
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I. The Dragon Hates Christ.
John saw a Woman who is described as being clothed with the sun. The moon was under her feet, and she wore a crown of 12 stars. She is a type of nation of Israel. You’ll remember Joseph’s dream of the sun, moon, and 12 stars bowing to him representing him and his brothers who would become the 12 tribes of Israel.
God would use the nation of Israel to bring his Son, Jesus Christ into the world. From the very beginning, Satan, the Dragon hated Christ and did everything in his power to see that Jesus Christ DID NOT come to earth as Savior, Redeemer, Lord & King.
Genesis 3:14,15 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Satan had already rebelled while in heaven. Rev. 12:4 talked about how he had gathered one third of the stars (angels) of heaven and cast them to the earth. He had been cast out of God’s Heaven into the Air, the atmosphere of the earth, where he became the “prince of the power of the air”, “the god of this world” He then came into Eden and deceived the woman, persuading her to disobey God. God then pronounced his Curse on the Serpent, and on Satan who was using the serpent. God declared that Satan would bruise the heel of the seed of the woman BUT that the Seed of the woman would bruise Satan’s head. (clearly a fatal blow, bringing Satan to defeat)
Of course, Satan would not take this lying down. In the language of Rev. 12 “he stood before the woman...to devour her child as soon as it was born”
He started his attack quickly!
- Cain- enraged and motived by Satan himself rose up and murdered Abel; Satan was already trying to exterminate the godly line.
- Pharaoh in Egypt- decreed that all baby boys born to the Israelites be killed.
- Jehoram (son of Jehoshaphat) became King, slew all of his brothers of the royal line (2 Chron. 21:4,13) Rebuked by Elijah the prophet.
2 Chron. 21: 17- all of Jehoram’s sons were also killed except ONE- the royal line had been reduced to ONE boy.
- Jehoahaz (Ahaziah) became king after Jehoram; when he died his mother Athaliah “arose and destroyed all the royal seed of the house of Judah” It was yet another Satanic attempt to destroy the Royal Line of Israel and Keep Christ from coming.
BUT- Jehoida the priest and his wife rescued one baby boy- Joash- and hid him away for Six years while Athaliah ruled with terror and evil.
- Haman’s wicked plan- because Mordecai the Jew would not bow to him, Haman obtained permission to destroy all the Jews. Haman was a descendant of Agag- the Amalekite King- and the Amalekites were sworn enemies of Israel and through the OT are a type of the flesh warring against the Spirit. Now Satan stirred up Haman to exterminate the Jewish nation again trying to thwart the coming of Jesus Christ to earth.
-When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men came from the east searching for him who was King of Israel. When they asked at Herod’s Palace, Satan aroused Herod’s jealousy and hatred and he decreed that all boys two and under be slain. This was a horrible massacre that must rank as one of the most vile deeds in human history.
Matthew Quotes from Jeremiah 31:15 in Matthew 2: 17,18 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Again, God overcame the efforts of Satan for Joseph was warned in a dream to take Mary and the child Jesus and flee into Egypt where they remained until Herod had died.
Satan, the Dragon, did not stop trying:
- In the Wilderness he tried his best to cause Jesus to fail and be diverted from his mission of Redemption.
- Attempted stonings (Lk 4 & Jn 10)
- Betrayal, Arrest, Illegal Trial, Crucifixion of Jesus. He was Dead and Buried, Yet Victorious!
Jesus went into lower parts of the Earth. There He Declared Victory over Sin and Satan and took the Keys of Death & Hell from the devil. Jesus then Resurrected in Power & Glory. He Ascended; was Caught up into Heaven. Rev. 12:5 says that the woman brought forth a man child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, and her child was caught up unto God and to his throne.
Satan then turned his wrath toward believers on the Earth...


II. The Dragon Hates the Church.
Israel- the Woman- also brought forth the Church, for all the original believers were Jews of Israel. Satan has been on the attack against the Church ever since the Day of Pentecost. He is the Tempter- Accuser of Brethren- Deceiver (angel of light) He has Tried...Confusion, Deception, and
Persecution. It’s true that some individuals have been victims and fallen in defeat, But the true Church of Jesus Christ will not be defeated by Satan. Though Satan stands before us trying to destroy every new convert that is born again, and trying to destroy every Christian who loves and serves Jesus Christ, the Church is destined to be caught up into heaven.
1 Thess. 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1 Cor. 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
The Dragon Hates Christmas because He Hates Christ and he hates the Church, but the Fact is that when Satan is forever confined to the Bottomless Pit and the Lake of Fire, we will still be Celebrating The Christ of Christmas!
Isaiah prophesied about the coming Christ: “Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, AND the government shall be upon his shoulder...and of the increase of his government and peace there shall BE NO END.”
Jesus truly is the LORD OF Lords and the KING of Kings!