Christmas for the Unseen

Revelation 12:1-6

Too many people have an incorrect view of scripture. Maybe you’ve heard this or even repeated it yourself – the Bible is God’s manual for life. BIBLE – Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. I understand where that comes from and do agree that there is a lot of content in the scriptures that show us how we can live our best life. But that is not the main intent of scripture. Scripture is God’s revelation to us. It is His story, written so that we might know Him and desire Him. Specifically, as John 20:31 says, so that you may know and believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. While scripture is fully non-fiction (true), it is a story and was written using classic story writing styles. The Bible uses story style writing because we understand that. There are classic beats (plot, climax, circular storytelling) used in scripture to point to Christ’s victory over evil.

Often in a novel, the climax takes place at or towards the end of the book, but that’s not quite how the Bible is physically laid out. While there are certainly climactic events that happen at the end (Revelation) the true climax of God’s story is the cross – the incarnation – Christ’s physical presence on earth. That, of course, began with His birth. The life of Christ, the gospel, the incarnation of the Word – this set of years is the climax to the whole of scripture. With that in the middle of the book, we can see in the Old Testament how everything points to Christ, the gospels show us Christ’s physical work, and the New Testament shows us how to live in the light of His gift to us.

Revelation offers us another look at that decisive blow to the enemy from another vantage point: the heavenly perspective. I’d like to explore the arrival of Christ on earth from the perspective of the unseen. Jesus’ birth may have been a silent night under the stars, but it was an explosion in heaven. Jesus’ incarnation is the spiritual victory that gives us confidence to live for Him on earth.

Sacrifice is the Key to Victory

In this section, we are being retold the story of Jesus’ birth from the unseen world of the spiritual. Consider the imagery and pain shown here. Mary was at her most weak and vulnerable. The red dragon–causing destruction all over-impatiently waiting for Jesus to arrive so that He can be devoured. This is raw – Mary seemingly alone, with no shielding, no armor, no obvious protection. She was at the mercy of the unseen world, the powers pushing about in a way no human can see. This is the point of Satan’s attack. With a show of immense power and strength, the enemy put himself in position to catch the child for destruction, but he was thwarted. Jesus was snatched up and Mary was protected. They were under the watchful hand of the Most High. God had been protecting the lineage that would bring forth the Messiah since Abraham first offered Sarah to the Egyptian Pharaoh. God kept the line alive through so much FOR THE PURPOSE of Jesus dying (just look at Joash in 2 Kings 11:1-3). Throughout history, God has called on people to sacrifice in this war against evil. By giving of themselves, they helped bring light to all others. Sacrifice is the key to God’s salvation plan and one of His most important rules of love.

The Enemy Doesn’t Understand It’s Already Lost

Sacrificial love is one thing that Satan just doesn’t understand. He’s not willing to give anything up or let anyone else have the spotlight. It’s all about him; no willingness to sacrifice. Those ideas don’t exist in him. He is going to keep fighting until the final judgment because that’s all he is. But he had no chance; no opportunity for victory. His Creator, our Creator had a plan, held to that plan, and kept EVERYONE safe in His will and the enemy was simply not strong enough to steal the victory. Consider Rev. 12:7-8. The enemy has already lost; he just doesn’t know it yet. That’s why he keeps fighting, but why even his efforts keep returning void against the faithful.

Next Steps

God’s victory over evil was completed with the resurrection. We live in this reality. The battle to come, Armageddon, the last war, whatever you want to call it is a forgone conclusion. The decisive victory is done, like a football game when it was decided in the third quarter, but the offense has to run out the clock. It’s a victory lap. Jesus’ incarnation is the spiritual victory that gives us confidence to live for Him on earth. Everything came tumbling down for Satan with each birth pang felt in Mary’s womb.

1. Realize that your struggles and victories are much bigger when seen from Heaven’s perspective.
2. Trust that the God who protected Mary in her trials will protect you and stand firm in faith’s challenges.
3. Choose to live in the victory of eternity regardless of what you may be experiencing in the earthly present.

Enjoy your celebrations this week, but remember the eternal war was won because God came to earth. His cosmic victory gives you victory.