This Sunday I’ll be preaching from Revelation 12 for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. I’ll be addressing the question of “why do we rejoice over and pray for the persecuted church?”
Revelation 12 is an amazing prophetic picture of the battle between Satan and the Church. Through apocalyptic imagery we see that Satan wishes to derail God’s purposes in redeeming a people for himself. When Satan is not able to destroy the messiah (male child), and is thrown from heaven (defeated at the cross) he turns his attention to the Church/messianic community/believers and wages war against them.
In verse 11 a voice from heaven states that “they” (remember the 4 Ps, Pastor Paul says Plug the Pronouns) have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
“they” = brothers in verse 10 = Church
“him” = accuser of the brothers = Satan
1. The Church defeats Satan on the grounds of the victory of the cross of Christ. At the cross Jesus destroyed the one who had power over us through the fear of death.
2. The Church defeats Satan by proclaiming the victory of the cross of Christ (preaching the gospel).
So, why do we rejoice over and pray for the persecuted church?
1. We rejoice because God has already defeated Satan through Jesus and his death on the cross.
2. We pray for the advancement of the gospel of Jesus. No matter the context (persecution or prosperity).
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