for to devour her child as soon as it was born

Symbolic language of Revelation is often understood figuratively. In this vision we are told literally that the Red Dragon is the "Old Serpent."

Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.



King Herod obviously tried to kill the infant Christ in the gospels.

Matthew 2:16-18 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 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.




So obviously we have a similar pattern found in the gospel of our Saviors birth. However, Satan's pattern seems not far from his typical script, he wants to kill, steal and destroy.

The key to Revelation 12 is in the timing of the birth of the "male child." We can infer that the male child is related to the messiah and/or his collective body, as some suggest "The Church."

Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.



This "male child" is caught up into heaven and then the next key is the timing of War of the Dragon and Michael...



Revelation 12:6-9 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.


The battle appears simultaneously with a prophecy time frame of 1260 days. This time period is equivalent to 3 1/2 years. This time frame was mentioned in Daniel and several passages in Revelation. These passages refer to the last half of Daniels 70th week.



Therefore this passage of War with the Dragon is a prophetic event to John and us, rather than a past event.

Gregt, Brazenlaver is right that Satan does use repeating patterns in his war on God and His people. It is also true that Bible prophecy often has a very repetitive pattern to it. When Herod sought to kill Jesus, and only managed to kill all the other boy babies in town, this was not the first time this kind of thing had happened. When the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, Pharaoh ordered all the children under a certain age to be killed, and Moses was the only one of his age group to escape that slaughter (as far as we know). Moses therefore was a type of Christ. So we see that Satan trying to kill babies is nothing new, it is part of his pattern. (And often he is successful. Just ask any abortion activist how many abortions have happened to date). So this experienced baby-killer, Satan, is here symbolically lying in wait to kill the symbolic baby here-- which of course, translates into a real-world situation.

It brings about a new question to me: If the baby represents the church getting raptured, then how is Satan specifically lying in wait to devour the church as soon as it is born (raptured)? Does he have a special offensive he hopes to open up against the church, either immediately before, immediately after, or during the instant of the Rapture?

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh interesting.....................................

One crazy idea... What if as we go up... The fallen angels take our earthly bodies... There would be no need to explain anything! This is not on my best 3 theories list.... Just thought I'd throw it out there..

Watchman... Excellent point... Any thoughts on the dragon?

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.



Daniel 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

Daniel 10:20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.



Numbers 22:31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

2 Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

We have many passages that tell us of the struggle between Angels for the souls of men. This conflict is ever present in our lives around us. It will be so intensified during or "Harpazo" that the Heavens will shake, the mountains will quake and stars of heaven will fall.



Pharaoh, Herod and the wicked kings of Tyre, Babylon and Assyria used weapons and soldiers of war to kill, steal and destroy. Since the dawn of the nuclear age and Roe v. Wade. The "old serpent" has tried to bruise the heel of the body of Christ.



The "old serpent" method is flood of war.

Rev.12:15-16 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth
Jeremiah 46:8 Egypt riseth up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, and will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof.
Daniel 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Ezekiel 38:9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.



However, God can use the earth itself to smash his armies. Just ask Pharaoh about the Red Sea my friends.