The Book of Revelation | The Dragon's Fury

13 So when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had delivered the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to her place where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent poured water like a river after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood. 16 But the earth came to the help of the woman; it opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was angry with the woman and went off to wage war on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation 12:13-17 (NRSVUE)

After being cast out of heaven, the dragon doesn't retreat or surrender. Instead, his fury intensifies. John tells us that when the dragon saw he had been thrown down to earth, "he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child." This isn't the behavior of a victor—it's the desperate rage of someone who knows he's already lost.

The dragon's attacks become increasingly frantic. First, he tries direct assault. When that fails, he pours out a river from his mouth to sweep the woman away. But even this fails—the earth swallows up the river, and the woman remains protected.

This pattern reveals something important about how evil operates in our world. When one strategy fails, it doesn't give up—it tries something else. The dragon is relentless in his pursuit, but he's also ultimately powerless against God's protection.

For believers facing ongoing struggles, this is both sobering and encouraging. Sobering because it reminds us that spiritual warfare is real and persistent. The dragon doesn't take vacation days or call in sick. His opposition to God's people is constant and creative.

But it's also encouraging because it shows us the limits of that opposition. Every attack the dragon launches fails. Every strategy he employs is ultimately thwarted. He may cause temporary trouble, but he cannot achieve his ultimate goal of destroying God's people.

The passage ends with the dragon becoming "furious with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God's commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus." This verse acknowledges that believers will continue to face opposition, but it also identifies what makes us targets: our obedience to God and our witness about Jesus.

In other words, just because you're following Jesus that doesn't mean your life is going to be easy. But you should also remember that the dragon's fury is actually evidence of his defeat, not his victory.

Prayer: Lord, when I face opposition for my faith, help me to see it as evidence that I'm on the right track. Give me courage to keep following you even when the dragon rages.