As we continue reading the book of Revelation, we have seen John experience angels, churches all over the world, scrolls, seals, trumpets, numbers, witnesses, beasts, and a woman giving birth while being chased by a dragon. It can almost seem overwhelming. Just as the struggles and deceit of the world around us today can be overwhelming. The Dragon’s Game is in full action today. We can see great spiritual battles being fought around us. The war that was started way before we were born and will continue to rage on after we have passed away; until the final coming of Jesus Christ. Today we are reminded who our enemy is, the game he tries to play with us, and most importantly whom our Redeemer, Savior, and Conqueror is: the Son of God and the Son of Man.

Revelation 12:1-17
12 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.

Satan Thrown Down to Earth
7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they 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. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” 13 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. 14 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. 15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16 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. 17 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[c] on the sand of the sea.

Discipleship Conversation Questions:

For Adult Homes or Groups

1. Read Revelation 12:1-17. The book of Revelation uses a lot of imagery, metaphors, and symbolism. What are some of the symbols and metaphors you recognize from chapter 12?

2. Our world likes to try to explain away why bad things happen in the world, sin and wrongdoing, and the presence or existence of Satan. Do you believe Satan is real? Do you believe he is out to tempt you as a follower of Christ? (See Revelation 12:17)

3. The Bible calls Satan the great deceiver and the father of lies. The greatest lie is for you to believe he doesn’t exist. If he doesn’t exist, then there is no spiritual foe to fight against. Where do you see spiritual warfare in your life?

4. God gave us His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross and destroy the Dragon’s Game. The games of the devil can no longer deceive, mislead, or accuse you! You are a free child of God! Jesus has claimed you as His child through your baptism. How does this make you feel?

5. Take time to pray for each other and the struggles that you are fighting in your life. Remind each other that Christ is with you, is fighting for you, and has conquered sin, death, and the devil on the cross. Give your struggles to Him.

For Families with Kids

1. Read Revelation 12:7-9 (NIRV).

2. The Bible sometimes calls the devil a dragon or a serpent, but often we picture the devil looking like something other than a snake or dragon. What are some of the other ways we picture the devil? What does he look like in cartoons or in costumes?

3. The Bible says that the devil leads people down the wrong path. What does that mean? When have you had to choose between going down the right or wrong path?

4. The Bible says that the devil wasn’t strong enough to defeat God’s angels. Take a moment to pray and praise God for being stronger than the devil and for leading us down the right path.