The movie, Jurassic Park, is just one of the many examples lately
of people's faddish interest in dinosaurs. The writer made a lot of money
creating a fantastic story of scary monsters. Some dinos are "cute" and not
fearsome. Some are quite fearsome, just as the movie's T-Rex and ferocious
velociraptors. Nearly 2000 years ago, the apostle John wrote of a monster
as well, but it wasn't a dinosaur; it was a dragon. Rev 12:3 describes the
dragon as having:
A seven-headed, ten-horned dragon is more hideous and frightening than any
dinosaur! Rev 12:9 identifies this dragon as "the devil and satan," who wages
war in heaven with Michael and his angels until he is cast down to earth
where he begins his terror against men, accusing them day and night. (vs10)
In the movie the humans fought a brave battle against the "Raptors". Although they had a fearful experience in the battle, their survival instinct was strong, enabling them to fight. But, of course, like most all Hollywood movies, the "good guys always win," and the humans won the battle.
In the Bible we see that the saints overcome the dragon! But we also find out HOW they conquer it:
Blood is an important substance. We frequently hear Red Cross pleas for blood donations. Blood is often needed to save lives. The life is in the blood. The writer of Proverbs also stated this. For all man's technological advances and intelligence, he has not been able to reproduce blood or manufacture artificial blood.
Blood was very important to the Jews in their sacrificial systems (Ex 29:10-14). But here we're told not of the blood of bulls, but of a Lamb! I Peter 1:18-19: "Forasmuch as ye know that ye are not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."
"There's power in the blood," the song says, and the words are more true than we know; for the Blood of Christ not only purchases our redemption, but gives us the overcoming victory over the dragon, satan!
This second step in overcoming the dragon seems a little puzzling. Who's testimony is John writing about? Thinking about the word "testimony," we realize it is based on the same root word that gives us such words as "testify." Witnesses are called to testify in court. They provide testimony. The Greek word used is marturia, from which the word "martyr" comes.
John tells us we can overcome the dragon by the heeding of the testimonies of the faithful and our own testimony. Many "Christians" say they can fulfill their part in the Great Commission by the way they live, being a "living testimony."
This is true, but it's only part of the commission. Jesus said we should
be His witnesses, but He also said we should preach and teach. John says
that it is the WORD of their testimony that gives us overcoming ability!
One of the keys to overcoming the dragon is to willingly put aside our survival instinct. We must be willing to die for God's cause. This is part of the "mind of Christ" (Phil 2). When we are committed to the point that we put aside all ego, conceit, and even pride, then we act with the same mind as Christ. This included His being obedient unto death. Having the mind of Christ enables us to be willing to die for God and the gospel.
We have God's promise that we will overcome the dragon, satan; but like other promises, thereare conditions:
The ultimate overcoming of the devil is well worth the "risk,"
for Christ promises much to those who overcome. We take comfort, as well,
with the reassuring words of Scripture that "greater is He that is in us,
than he that is in the world." And Jesus, promised us He would be with
us even until the end of the world. We aren't in this alone.
Together with the indwelling anointing of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, we go forth armed with our swords (the Word of God: Hebrews 4:11) to slay the dragon.
Created 12/23/97
Copyright 1997 - 1999. Rev. Eugene Bolton
Faith Word Ministries. All rights reserved.