Hello, and welcome back to Nations 4 Jesus. Today I want to connect some dots that will help you understand not just the Christmas story, but all of human history—and especially why persecution has followed Christ and His church from the very beginning.
We're going to trace a single thread that runs from Genesis 3 all the way through Revelation 12, a thread that explains Herod's massacre of the innocents, explains 2,000 years of persecution, and explains the spiritual battles you face in your own life today. It's the story of the dragon and the child—the ancient war between Satan and Christ that has been raging since the Garden of Eden.
This insight comes from theologian Sinclair Ferguson in his book "The Dawn of Redeeming Grace," and it's one of the most illuminating perspectives on Scripture I've ever encountered.
[Genesis 3:15 - the first promise]
Let's start at the beginning. In Genesis 3, after Adam and Eve sinned, God pronounced judgment on the serpent—Satan—who had tempted them. But embedded in that judgment was a promise, the very first Gospel promise in Scripture. Genesis 3:15 says:
"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel."
This is called the "protevangelium"—the first Gospel. God was announcing that warfare would exist between the serpent's offspring and the woman's offspring. One day, a descendant of the woman—a specific "He"—would crush the serpent's head, though in the process the serpent would strike His heel.
This is a prophecy of Jesus Christ! He is the seed of the woman who would crush Satan's head through His death and resurrection. But it's also a prophecy of conflict—Satan would oppose this promised seed, would try to prevent Him from coming, and would ultimately "strike His heel" at the cross.
[The conflict through history - Satan's attempts to stop the seed]
Throughout the Old Testament, we see Satan attempting to prevent the promised seed from coming. He inspired Cain to murder Abel—trying to cut off the godly line. He corrupted humanity so thoroughly that God sent the flood, preserving only Noah's family. He tried to wipe out the Israelites in Egypt. He inspired Pharaoh to kill Hebrew baby boys—an eerie foreshadowing of what Herod would later do.
When King Saul turned against David, Satan was behind it—trying to prevent the Messiah from coming through David's line. When Haman plotted to exterminate all Jews in Persia (the book of Esther), Satan was orchestrating it. Every attempt to destroy God's people or corrupt the messianic line was part of Satan's strategy to prevent Genesis 3:15 from being fulfilled.
[Matthew 2 - the conflict reaches its climax]
And then Jesus was born. The promised seed of the woman had finally come! And immediately, Satan attacked. Ferguson writes: "What happened in Bethlehem (Herod's murder of all baby boys two years old and under - Matthew 2:16), was yet another stage in the conflict God had announced in Genesis 3:15."
Herod's massacre wasn't just political paranoia. It was spiritual warfare. Satan, knowing that the child who would crush his head had been born, inspired Herod to try to kill Him. Just as Pharaoh had tried to kill Moses' generation, Herod tried to kill Jesus' generation. But just as God preserved Moses, God preserved Jesus—warning Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt.
Ferguson explains: "The seed/offspring of the serpent would oppose and eventually seek to crush the seed of the woman. The story that began in Genesis 3:15 was now running on through Matthew 2:1-17 and 16:18 to its climax."
[Revelation 12 - the symbolic vision]
Now, to understand the full picture, we need to look at Revelation 12, where John sees this ancient conflict in dramatic, symbolic form. Let me read Revelation 12:1-5:
"A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who 'will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.' And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne."
[Understanding the vision - who is who]
Who is this woman? She represents God's people—Israel. The twelve stars represent the twelve tribes of Israel. She's about to give birth to the Messiah.
Who is the dragon? Revelation 12:9 tells us explicitly: "The great red dragon" was "that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world." This is the same serpent from Genesis 3! And now we see his true nature—not a mere snake, but a terrifying dragon with immense power.
What does the vision show? The dragon standing before the woman, waiting to devour her child the moment He's born. This is exactly what happened with Herod! Ferguson writes: "And now, in the real-time version of John's vision, the Child had been born. The coming of the wise men was the first hint that the undeceiving of the nations had begun. And so the evil one let loose his lieutenant, King Herod, against the Child."
[The child is snatched up - Jesus's victory]
But notice what happens: "She gave birth to a son, a male child, who 'will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.' And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne."
This is the whole story of Jesus compressed into one verse! He was born, He lived a sinless life, He died on the cross (the serpent "striking His heel"), He rose from the dead, He ascended to heaven, and He now sits at God's right hand. He will return one day and rule all nations. Satan tried to devour Him but failed. Jesus crushed the serpent's head through His death and resurrection!
[Where we live now - Revelation 12:17]
So Satan failed to stop Jesus. The promised seed of the woman accomplished His mission. Satan's head is crushed—his ultimate defeat is certain. But the war isn't over yet. And this is where we come in. Ferguson writes: "We now live at a different point of John's vision."
Let me read Revelation 12:17: "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."
Do you see? Since Satan couldn't destroy Jesus, he's turned his fury on Jesus's followers—the church! We are "the rest of her offspring." We are those "who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus." And Satan is making war on us.
[This explains everything - persecution makes sense now]
This explains everything! This is why persecution has followed the church from the beginning. This is why Stephen was stoned, why James was executed, why all the apostles except John were martyred. This is why Rome tortured and killed Christians for 300 years. This is why Islamic conquests targeted Christian communities. This is why Communist regimes slaughtered 70 million believers. This is why North Korea imprisons Christians, why Boko Haram massacres Nigerian believers, why Chinese authorities demolish churches.
Satan is furious! He failed to stop Jesus, so now he's making war on Jesus's followers. Every act of persecution against Christians throughout history is part of this same ancient conflict that began in Genesis 3:15. The dragon is still trying to destroy the woman's offspring—and we are that offspring!
[The personal battlefield - Satan attacks you too]
But it's not just large-scale persecution. This war touches your life personally. Ferguson writes: "Perhaps as you look at the world around you today, it feels as though the dragon must be winning - as Christians around the world suffer attack and harassment, as non-Christians hear the Gospel yet remain blind to the message, and as Satan accuses and tempts you on the battleground of your own heart."
That spiritual battle you face—those temptations, those doubts, those accusations in your mind telling you you're not really saved or that God doesn't love you—that's the dragon making war! When you share the Gospel and people reject it, when you see Christians suffering, when you feel under attack spiritually—that's all part of this same ancient conflict.
Second Corinthians 4:4 tells us that "the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ." Satan is still doing what Revelation 12:9 calls him—"the deceiver of the whole world." He's still trying to keep people from recognizing Jesus.
[The promise stands - despite appearances]
But here's what we must hold onto: Despite how fierce the battle seems, despite how much it feels like the dragon is winning sometimes, the outcome is already decided! Jesus has already crushed the serpent's head. Satan's defeat is certain. He's just raging in his death throes, knowing his time is short.
Ferguson concludes with this encouragement: "Yet however fierce the heat, hold onto our Savior's promise: 'I will build My Church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it' (Matthew 16:18)."
Jesus promised that He would build His church, and Hell's gates—Satan's gates—would not prevail against it. Not Herod's massacre. Not Roman persecution. Not Islamic conquests. Not Communist slaughter. Not modern extremism. Not the dragon's fury. None of it can stop Jesus from building His church!
[Looking at the evidence - the church still stands]
And the evidence is all around us! For 2,000 years, the dragon has made war on the church, and for 2,000 years, the church has not only survived but thrived! We talked in our last episode about how Christianity has grown from 558 million in 1900 to 2.4 billion today. We've discussed how the Chinese church went from 1 million believers in 1950 to possibly 100 million today despite brutal Communist persecution. We've seen how the African church exploded from 10 million to 685 million despite Islamic extremism.
Every attempt to devour the church has failed. Every massacre has produced martyrs whose blood became seed for new believers. Every closed church has multiplied into house churches. Every imprisoned pastor has inspired dozens more to boldly preach. The dragon is furious, but he cannot win because Jesus promised he wouldn't.
[Revelation's ending - total victory]
And Revelation doesn't end with chapter 12! It continues to show us Satan's ultimate fate. Revelation 20:10 tells us: "And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
The ancient serpent, the dragon, Satan—he will be completely defeated and thrown into the lake of fire. The conflict that began in Genesis 3:15 will end with Satan's eternal punishment and Jesus's eternal reign. Revelation 21-22 shows us the new heaven and new earth where God dwells with His people forever, where there's no more death or mourning or crying or pain, where the curse is lifted, and where we see Jesus face to face.
[Living in the middle - our calling]
We live in the middle of this story. Genesis 3:15 has been fulfilled—Jesus crushed the serpent's head at the cross. Revelation 20:10 hasn't happened yet—Satan hasn't been thrown into the lake of fire. We're in that in-between time described in Revelation 12:17, where the dragon is making war on the rest of the woman's offspring.
So what do we do? We fight! Not in our own strength, but in Christ's victory. Ephesians 6:10-12 tells us: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
We recognize that our real enemy isn't people who persecute us—it's the dragon behind them. We put on God's armor. We stand firm in the faith. We keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus, just as Revelation 12:17 describes the dragon's targets.
[Three ways to respond - practical application]
Let me give you three practical ways to respond to this reality. First, pray for persecuted Christians with new understanding. When you hear about believers suffering in North Korea, Nigeria, or Afghanistan, recognize that this is the dragon making war on the woman's offspring. Pray for their protection, pray for their perseverance, pray that their witness would be powerful. They're on the front lines of the ancient conflict.
Second, expect spiritual opposition in your own life. If you're following Jesus faithfully, you should expect Satan's attacks—temptations, doubts, accusations, spiritual warfare. Don't be surprised by it. Peter warns in 1 Peter 5:8: "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." But James 4:7 promises: "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Stand firm!
Third, live with confidence in Christ's victory. Yes, the battle is real. Yes, the dragon is furious. Yes, persecution continues. But the outcome is certain! Jesus has already won. The serpent's head is crushed. Satan's defeat is guaranteed. The gates of hell will not prevail against Christ's church. So live boldly, share the Gospel fearlessly, and stand firm in faith knowing that you're on the winning side!
[Closing challenge and prayer]
This Christmas, as you think about baby Jesus in the manger, remember that His birth was the culmination of a 4,000-year conflict. Remember that Satan tried to devour Him through Herod but failed. Remember that Jesus grew up, lived perfectly, died on the cross to crush the serpent's head, rose victoriously, and ascended to rule all nations. And remember that you're now part of this same ancient story—the dragon is making war on you because you're part of the woman's offspring who keep God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
But take courage! The promise of Genesis 3:15 has been fulfilled. The vision of Revelation 12 is being fulfilled. And the prophecy of Revelation 20-22 will certainly be fulfilled. Jesus is building His church, and the gates of hell—the dragon's gates—will not prevail!
Let me pray:
Thank you for joining me today. These insights are from Sinclair Ferguson's "The Dawn of Redeeming Grace." May we never forget that we're part of an ancient story—and we're on the winning side!
Until next time, remember—keep your eyes on the nations and stand firm in Christ's victory over the dragon!
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