Daily Bible Study — Revelation 12 An Everlasting Kingdom
Those who crucified Jesus were probably certain they had prevented him from taking the kingdom of Israel for himself.
They stood before the cross mocking Jesus and saying, “He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God,” (Matthew 27:42-43).
Of course, the grave could not hold the Christ of God and he was resurrected from the dead. Christ is indeed “King of Kings and Lord of Lords,” as the prophets said. He and his purposes cannot be thwarted.
And, when Daniel wrote, “And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an ever-lasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed,” (Daniel 7:14) it came true.
The kingdom of God, also known as the church Jesus built (Matthew 16:18), can never be destroyed. It can be persecuted; it can be economically pressed, just as it was when John wrote the book of Revelation. It cannot, however, be destroyed because God’s plans and promises are always true. God’s promises always stand the test of time and truth.
The symbols of the woman with the crown of stars and the woman in the desert represent the continuing aspect of God’s rule in the world. How different are the commandments of God between the two covenants? Jesus repeated all but one of the Ten Commandments. Certainly the covenants are different, but God’s church has been referred to as the Israel of God by the Apostle Paul (Galatians 6:16).
The woman survives. God’s kingdom cannot be destroyed by Rome or any other entity. Meaning its members will always be blessed with a refuge, provided they remain faithful.
