Get Away
In our scripture today from Revelation 12, the mother and the child are both protected by God by his provision of a place of sanctuary: the child to heaven and the mother to a place prepared for her in the wilderness.
I think this is important as we live and make choices in a fallen, corrupt world. There is no doubt that sin surrounds us and seeks to overcome us. It is roaring in boastfulness in every type of media that we see and hear. Everyday can be a battlefront.
But, God calls us to his sanctuary. He calls us to spend time in Him, being refreshed and restored. Do the evils ones desire and attempt to invade even this part of our day? Absolutely, but we should turn that battle over to the Lord and simply submit and rest in Him for a time.
But how much do we avoid the perils of the rest of the day? Do we make decisions that take us away from sin and sinful people or put us in partnership with them? Do our jobs and our co-workers give us strength or are they ones that we battle? Do our neighbors and friends bring us closer to God or provide an avenue of temptation.
We can look down on groups, such as the Amish, as being backward by choosing to live separated from society. But, is there a lesson to be learned in terms of building a community of strength and sanctuary?
2 Timothy 3:1-5 outlines the wickedness of our times and the people in them, but it closes by saying, “Have nothing to do with such people.”
My Answers:
3.
(1) a woman – Israel, Eve, Mary, the Church, mankind (2) red dragon – Satan, sin (3) A son – Jesus
4.
a.
Gen: serpent, crafty, twists word, questions, tempts, lies – cursed to crawl, enmity, crush head (strike heel)
John: murderer, not holding to truth, lies, liar, father of lies (evil ones on earth are his children)
1 Pete: your enemy, prowls like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour
b.
it corrupts men. The power of the Holy Spirit and the redemption of the blood of the lamb are any person’s only hope. Also, stay away from these sinful people – Have nothing to do with them
5.
a.
Child was snatched up to God and to his throne. The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God where she might be taken care of for 1260 days
b.
He has given me the bible so I can understand Him. He has died for my sins so I am forgiven. He protects me from evil. He gives me godly people (a church) to be in communion with.
The Notes are Good 