Bible Gem 2302 – First Leading Question: Is the Dragon More Like the Dog or the Cat?

Then I witnessed in heaven another significant event. I saw a large red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, with seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept away one-third of the stars in the sky, and he threw them to the earth. He stood in front of the woman as she was about to give birth, ready to devour her baby as soon as it was born.

Revelation 12:3-4

 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.” When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.

Revelation 12:12-13

And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus.

Revelation 12:17

• What does it mean when a dog wags its tail?
• What does it mean when a cat wags its tail?

It’s pretty clear isn’t it after reading these verses? A dog wags its tail when it’s happy and content. A cat wags its tail when it’s angry or it’s going to attack. So it terms of tail wagging the dragon (satan) is most like the cat. Revelation spells out clearly the dragon or the devil is angry that he was foiled after playing the ace up his sleeve in the ploy to take Jesus out at the cross. Now he is prowling the earth seeking those whom he can devour. He is angry and ready to wreak havoc on the woman, her baby and the rest of her children. Who are the rest of her children? None other than all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus. In other words, it’s those who have ears to hear what is the Spirit is saying to the churches and are willing to persevere with giving their testimony and staying true to Jesus till the end.

So clearly the dragon is most like the cat wagging its tail than the dog. He is not happy and content with all he knows about Jesus but rather vehemently opposed to Christ and all who follow him. I don’t have to tell you, we are in a war for our souls if you are a fellow Christ Follower and want to stay true to the LORD whose name you bear. I am unequivocally a Christian – Christian = Christ-ian, a Christ follower. I have been since Sunday, the 19th of August 1973 at 10.30 pm when I told Christ my LORD that I was sorry for living my life as though He didn’t exist and was willing to belong to Him. That very act has pitted me against the enemy of my soul from then on.

In this Gem I want you to realise something that has become crystal clear to me since spending time over the Gems on Facing Death Not Afraid to Die. The wrath of the devil has become evident to me in what I have shared in this Gem series and others relating to martyrdom. The vitriol, the unbridled mayhem, the savagery that has been perpetrated against those who name the Name of Jesus as LORD is abundant proof of the anger which the devil has against all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus. Just a glance back at what I have told you is enough to make that clear to you.

• Roy and Hengky (29)
• Melkias Sainjakait (28)
• Dong Wha (25)
• Chai Shimei (123)
• Greg Pagallia (26)
• Martini (27)
• Dominggus Kenjam
• Yohanis Mantahari (127)
• The Dyak tribesmen in Kalimantan
• The people of Poso, Central Sulawesi (68)
• The Ambonese Christians in Maluku (28)

Christians in Iran (126), China, South Sudan, the Tutsi (Gem 2299) in Rwanda and many more countries around the world.

As I have spent the last weeks going through multiple case studies of Christian martyrdom as well as reactions to attacks from other ethnic or religious groups, what is clear to me is the most appropriate response to take in such circumstances. In the case of the Dyaks of Kalimantan whose story I told in the above linked account, it was the Christian Dyak who stuck the heads on the fences in reprisal for the initial killing by majority religionists. While it stopped the killings because it was so shocking, it was not the best Christian response. Think back to the principle already discussed of “two swords are enough” or “enough of that talk”. I think the best approach for a Christian is Nate Saint’s advice to 7 year old Steve.

We would never kill the Auca [Waořani] because they are not ready for heaven but we are.

Nate Saint

To kill someone who is not yet covered by the blood of Christ and assured of their salvation seems the wrong decision to make. Rather if we believe what we say we believe, the correct response ought to be the willingness to die for a friend or harder still an antagonist. I love Leonard Ukulikiyinkindi’s approach (Immaculée’s father) who when faced with the threat of Tutsi genocide at the hands of the Hutu encouraged his people to repent and prepare themselves for their imminent death. Leonard encouraged them that not many people are fortunate enough to know the hour of their death and therefore the need to be prayed up and ready to meet their Maker. He then led his people in prayers of individual and corporate repentance instead of readying them to fight and defend themselves. I have told you already the end result; Immaculée’s parents were among the first to die an horrific death on the second day of the Tutsi holocaust, hacked to pieces by machete. Now that is the reaction of a Christian Statesman, a true Christlike leader.

In the above linked list you will find accounts of those who defended themselves by attacking those who wished them dead, those who willingly gave up their lives knowing they were saved and those who suffered passively without raising a weapon to defend themselves. I believe the response of Nate Saint and Leonard is the stand a born-again-Christian ought to adopt. It is the only Christlike response. That is what makes the strength of a testimony like Dominggus Kenjam’s so powerful and what made the Jihadiis fear him – his willingness to face death not afraid to die. That more than anything else makes his claim to know the Crucified Christ and a willingness to die without fear compellingly real! Even more so when that same Jesus raised Domi from the dead. Now that says it all.

But what is even clearer to me, after reading all of the martyrs stories I have over the last month, is the source or motivation of those who kill Christians because of what they believe. Just stop and think for a moment of the nonsensical thinking such people possess. Why would you hack a person into little pieces in a crazed moment of rage because of what they believe? It is the same lunacy that drove those who killed the early believers in John’s time. The same reactions and hateful thoughts which led the established church leaders to burn mothers who dared to teach their children the words of Jesus in their own mother tongue. What lies behind all religious fervour and hate to kill someone who believes the Words of Jesus Christ are Truth with a capital T and are worthy of paying the ultimate price to follow? Why would you hack a person’s arms off and then behead them trying to force them to change what they believe? Or why would you hack them into little pieces? Perhaps it is a fear that God will gather the pieces back together (like in the valley of the dry bones) and stand him on his feet again. The conclusion I come to is that you have a fear that exactly that scenario might happen and you want to guard against it. Perhaps in your heart of hearts you have a sneaking suspicion that it is a distinct possibility. Why not just submit to Christ’s challenge to you? Test Him and see.

Why do such horrific actions happen like they do? John has made the reason very clear to all who read his letter describing the Revelation he received from Christ and wrote down for the benefit of seven churches. For all who hear the message and maintain their trust in Christ to hold them secure for an eternal future with Him. Those who really believe strongly enough in what they say they believe to the point of being willing to die and not defend themselves. They do that so others too might follow the only One who can guarantee life after death. It sure helps to know personally people who have died and come back to life because of their steadfast trust in Christ to save them.

Why is John’s message to the Church so relevant? Because as John once wrote ‘the dragon is angry at the woman and has declared war against the rest of her children — all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus.’ If you are still breathing and reading these Gems, I believe you may be one of the children of God for whom this message John saw, heard and wrote down. One who dares to believe this to be true.

That is why it is imperative you have thought through the implications of what John wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the visions he was given. That understanding will hold you firm when you meet your Maker, knowing the peace that passes understanding despite Great Tribulation.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

John 14:6

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Insert your name here?”

John 11:25-26

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

1 John 1:9-10

They defeated him (the devil) because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the message of their witness. Even when facing death they did not cling to life.

Revelation 12:11