Revelation 12:13-17

And 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.  But 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.  The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood.  But 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.  Then 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. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Satan’s furry over being cast out of heaven motivates him to make a concerted attack on Israel.  God has chosen Israel as His people.  Jesus, the Messiah, came through the nation Israel.  Israel rejected Messiah, but during the tribulation, there is a movement within Israel that repents of her unbelief and turns to Christ in faith.  Since Satan is no longer permitted to accuse believers in heaven; he decides to attack them on earth.

SATAN TARGETS ISRAEL: Satan’s first act after being banished from heaven to the earth is to attack Israel. Apparently, this event takes place around the midway point of the tribulation.  So, chronologically this happens before the trumpet judgments.  The description of the trumpet judgments gave us a perspective of the events taking place on earth with a focus on the judgments being poured out on mankind.  We are now being given an account of these same events from the perspective of spiritual warfare.  Satan hates Israel and has been out to destroy her throughout the history of her existence.  The antisemitism that has characterized world history is no accident.  In the middle of the tribulation Antichrist will break his pact with Israel and he empowered by Satan will attack Israel.  The people well flee into the mountains, and it appears the next attempt to kill them will be a flood likely from the breaking of a dam or something in an attempt to drown them out.    

GOD PROTECTS ISRAEL: The only explanation for the survival of Israel to this point in history is the supernatural work of God.  All the captivities, deportations, attacks, and attempts to exterminate the nation would have completely destroyed the nation had God not determined to preserve Israel for His purposes in the plan of redemption.  Before the coming of Jesus, by all accounts, Israel should have no longer been in existence.  Since the coming of Jesus, Israel has been the object of destruction.  Despite all the attempts to destroy her, she still exists.  The tribulation will be a continuation of that pattern.  When Satan and Antichrist turn on Israel to attack, God provides a way of escape to the mountains.  When they counter with an attempt to flood the wilderness where Israel is hiding but causes the land to open and swallow the water.  This is likely describing a miraculously timed earthquake.

SATAN ATTACKES BELIEVERS: When Stan’s attempts to destroy Israel are thwarted, he turns to what is described as her offspring.  This is likely referring to Gentiles who have come to faith in Christ through the witness and ministry of the 144,000 missionaries from Israel.  Satan is furious at having been cast out of heaven.  He becomes enraged at having failed to destroy Israel.  He demonstrates this wrath by persecuting and striving to destroy all who have placed their faith in Christ.  In the language of Revelation, the land represents Israel, while the sea represents the Gentile nations.  The dragon is on the sands of the sea and poised to attack Gentiles.

APPLICATION: Pray for the peace of Israel.  She has and will continue to face the attacks of Satan but will also continue to experience divine protection.  Rest in the truth that God is able to deliver His children from the most vicious attacks of Satan.  As believers in Christ we must be prepared to face persecution stemming from spiritual warfare.