The Heartbeat Of Redemption

This sermon was given by Dale Albertson, our missionary to Spain.

While preparing this sermon, I came to appreciate Pastor Isaac’s illustration of dogs and humans. They have no idea what we’re saying or doing, just as we have a hard time understanding God and the visions He sends us.

Revelation 12 gives us one of the strangest visions in the book: a woman in labour, a dragon waiting to devour her child, war breaking out in Heaven, and the dragon being thrown down to Earth. On the surface, it reads like a fantasy movie. No wonder people interpret Revelation in so many different ways.

However, Revelation belongs to a specific genre: apocalyptic literature. It uses symbols, metaphors, and cosmic language to reveal heavenly truth, not to predict events we can plot on a timeline. In this style of writing, beasts represent empires, horns represent kings, stars are angels or leaders, and mountains are kingdoms. Imagery like casting down the stars isn’t about literal catastrophes. Instead, as is common throughout the Bible (Isaiah 13:10, Matthew 24:29), the author uses language readers at the time would recognise as a reference to God’s involvement in history.

The message becomes clear once we understand the genre. The woman represents God’s people, Israel and the Church. Her child is the Messiah. The dragon is Satan, who wages war on Heaven and then turns his fury on God’s people when he loses. Yet God protects the woman, just as He provides for us now. And though the dragon keeps fighting, the outcome is already decided. God wins, and His people do, too—not through our strength, but through His sovereignty.

Revelation is meant to encourage us. It reminds us that history isn’t about politics or empires, but God’s triumph over Satan. So stand firm; you belong to the victorious side.

Watch the full sermon here.