Though Satan Should Buffet


Revelation 12:13-17
13And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 15The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. 17Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Having been cast out of heaven forever and no longer being allowed to accuse the saints before God’s throne, Satan is now relegated to the earth. Even though the death of Christ upon the Cross ended his tyranny, Satan still has time left to harass the Church on earth before the return of Christ on the clouds. Our reading for today gives a visual image of what that might look like.

He pursues God’s people on three levels. First he attempted to end the salvation work of Christ before it began by trying to have the Infant killed. Since that didn’t work he attacks the Church as a whole, hoping to end the message of the Gospel being spread throughout the earth. When the Church is protected by God he then attacks Christians as individuals in order to destroy as many believers as possible before the end. His tenacious hatred for us is what we deal with today.

The images used by this passage to indicate our protection by God are drawn from the Old Testament. In numerous places God is described as having protective “feathers” under which we can run for safety. Or – we are granted the ability to fly away from that which would assail us on mighty wings given us by God. Of course these are not literal. I have never seen a single Christian sprout wings and fly. But the image is strong and it shows us relying on God rather than having to stand and fight Satan ourselves. Let me say that another way – you NEVER have to fight Satan yourself. Instead you run to God and let Him protect you from evil. It is your only viable option.

Exodus 19:4
You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.
Isaiah 40:31
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Psalm 91:4
He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

We even have a story in the Old Testament of the earth opening to swallow the evil found in the midst of God’s people. It’s a terrifying story, but once again shows us that God takes care of His people every time even in the very dramatic way described in Revelation 12.

Numbers 16:1-3; 28-32
1Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men. 2And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men. 3They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” 28And Moses said, “Hereby you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, and that it has not been of my own accord. 29If these men die as all men die, or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me. 30But if the Lord creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the Lord.” 31And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart. 32And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods.

So – Satan does indeed have leave to bother you. He’s here, on the earth, seeking to devour you. (1 Peter 5:8) But God will never allow you to fail if you run into His care at all times. What comes to mind are the words of a very famous hymn, It Is Well with My Soul by Horatio G. Spafford, (1873).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC2L5SsgW-Q
Though Satan should buffet
Though trials should come
Let this blest assurance control
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate
And hath shed His own blood for my soul
It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well with my soul

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