Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Revelation 12), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• [1-5] The “woman” represents the corporate people of God, like the “woman” in the Garden to whom God made the promise of the serpent-crushing offspring. Being “that ancient serpent” (v. 9), the dragon pursued and persecuted the people from whom the Messiah would come. He was prepared, but powerless to defeat the Messiah—even though he succeeded in having Jesus killed, Jesus slipped through his fingers, broke his power (death), and ascended to heaven to rule forever. How did the dragon try to “devour” Jesus? What was he able to do to Jesus? Why did he ultimately fail?

• [7-12] The dragon is revealed to be our true enemy, the one who is behind the conflicts the church faces. He seeks to ruin our relationship with God, but he must get us to do that ourselves. His three main tools are 1) temptations, 2) deceits, and 3) accusations (vv. 9-10). Can you think of examples from your own life when you have faced these schemes of his? What is your defense strategy? (Read Ephesians 6:10-20.)

• [6, 13-14] (Read Psalm 91.) The people of God are protected and nourished by God, out of the dragon’s reach, even though they are in the wilderness, the place of temptations, trials, and tribulations. The dragon doesn’t have power over heaven or its citizens (believers), though he has been cast down upon the “land” (unbelieving Jews) to wreak havoc for a time. What power does the dragon have over unbelievers? If the dragon stirs up persecution against the church, can that harm us? What is the worst he can do to us? Why is the dragon’s wrath ultimately powerless to ruin our relationship with God?

• At what places are you tempted to despair, to fear that the dragon is winning the spiritual battle? To what specific aspects of Jesus’ person or work do you turn for reassurance, hope, confidence, and strength?