2026 Jan 04 – Afternoon Sermon Reflections: Revelation’s Most Unusual Take on Christmas
Revelation’s Most Unusual Take on Christmas
This afternoon’s sermon invited me to listen to the Christmas story from a place I rarely go: the book of Revelation. Instead of the familiar scenes of shepherds and angels, I heard of a woman clothed with the sun, a furious dragon, and a child caught up to God’s throne. The images were startling—but as I listened, they became deeply reassuring.
Revelation 12 helped me hear the Christmas story from behind the curtain. It reminded me that the birth of Christ was never only a quiet moment in Bethlehem. It was a cosmic conflict. What we celebrate as Christmas is part of a much larger spiritual reality—one that still shapes our lives today.
1. Hearing of the Child’s Birth — God’s Purpose Cannot Be Stopped
As the sermon unfolded, I listened to the description of the woman in Revelation 12 as the people of God—radiant with God’s glory, crowned with His promises, yet laboring in pain. From her comes the male child, Christ, the one destined to rule the nations.
What stayed with me was the focus on the dragon’s relentless hostility. From the earliest pages of Scripture to the Gospels, Satan’s intent has always been the same: stop the promised child. Listening to this reminded me that Christmas was never sentimental or safe—it was contested from the very beginning.
And yet, the child is taken up to God’s throne. He is not vulnerable. He is victorious. He reigns.
As I listened, I was reminded that history itself is not fragile. God’s redemptive plan has never been at risk—not from evil, not from suffering, not from chaos.
Spiritual formation reflection:
Listening to this, I was reminded that I do not need to live in fear. The God who guarded His Son is the same God who holds my life.
2. Hearing of the Dragon’s Defeat — The Accuser Has Lost His Place
The sermon then turned my attention upward, to heaven itself, where war breaks out. Michael and his angels fight, and the dragon is defeated and cast down.
This image lingered with me as I listened: Satan, the accuser, no longer has access to God’s presence. No more accusations before the throne. No more standing to condemn God’s people.
The reason is clear and deeply personal—the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony.
Listening to this, I was struck by how accusation loses its power where forgiveness reigns. Christ’s blood fully answers our sin. Our testimony does not deny weakness; it declares trust in Christ in the midst of it.
Spiritual formation reflection:
I was reminded that victory does not come from my performance, but from Christ’s finished work and my faithful confession of Him.
3. Hearing of the Woman’s Protection — Faithfulness in the In-Between
The sermon did not end with triumph alone. I heard that the dragon’s defeat does not end the conflict; it changes the location. The battle shifts to earth.
The woman—God’s people—is pursued. The pressure is real. The struggle is ongoing. Evil still wounds and deceives.
And yet, I also heard words of comfort: the woman is given wings. She is carried into the wilderness. She is nourished and protected.
The wilderness, as the sermon reminded me, is not ease or comfort. But it is a place of God’s provision. It is where God sustains His people between Christ’s first coming and His return. It is where we live now.
Listening carefully, I heard a clear picture of faithfulness in this in-between time:
-
Keeping the commandments of God
-
Holding fast to the testimony of Jesus
Obedience and witness. Holiness and hope.
Spiritual formation reflection:
God does not promise comfort in the wilderness, but He promises His presence, nourishment, and protection.
Living with What I Heard
As the service ended, I found myself carrying this message with me:
When the world feels unstable, I remember that the child already reigns.
When guilt and accusation rise, I remember that the accuser has been cast down.
When obedience feels costly and faith feels tiring, I remember that God protects His people.
We are living between the Advents. The dragon is angry—but defeated. The church is pressured—but preserved. And Christ is reigning—even now.
Prayer
Lord, help me live out what I have heard.
Give me eyes to see beyond what is visible.
Teach me to live without fear, resist accusation, walk in obedience,
and hold fast to the testimony of Jesus—
until the wilderness gives way to glory.
Amen.
❤️ Support This Blog
If this post helped you, you can support my writing with a small donation. Thank you for reading.
Comments
Post a Comment