"Smaug" - the dragon from J.R.R. Tolkien's THE LORD OF THE RINGS - as portrayed in the 2001-2003 "Lord of the Rings" movie verson of Tolkien's epic tale, produced by New Line Cinema and Wingnut Films
"The dragon was enraged ... and went off to make war with ... [those who] hold to the testimony of Yeshua - Revelation 12:17"
If you have enough desire in your heart to at least make an attempt to follow Yeshua ... if you have received enough of HIS Love that even part of you wants to act to love HIM back ... then you have made yourself a BIG-TIME ENEMY.
Described in chapter 12 of The Revelation of Yeshua the Messiah (the last book of the Brit Chadesha (New Testament)) it says he "swept away 1/3 of the stars." This is a description of Satan leading 1/3 of God's holy angels in rebellion against their Creator.
Not strong enough to defeat The-Ever-Living-One (Rev. 12:8), the dragon and his hoardes were cast out of Heaven and "thown down to the earth."
Now, the dragon "has great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time. (Rev. 12:12)"
Why only a short time?
Revelation 12 starts with a "woman" (a picture of the Jewish people) who gives birth to a male child (a picture of Yeshua) who is to rule all the nations, taking away the place and authority of the dragon. The dragon, not wanting any interferance in his lowly domain on Earth, waited to destroy The Child at birth, but The Child was "caught up to God."
Enraged, the dragon now seeks to destroy the Jewish people and also to destroy the people that hold to the testimony of Yeshua.
Why the Jewish people? They were and are the avenue through which the dragon's destruction comes.
Why those who "hold to the testimony of Yeshua"? They are the fruit from the Jewish source that both testifies to the truth that The Child will "crush the head of the serpant - Genesis 3:15" and they are the instruments of The Child's Light that pushes back the darkness exuded by the dragon.
All praise to The God of Israel! He promised to send an Anointed Servant that would be victorious over the cruelty of the dragon and work in those who believe in HIM to turn back the dragon's destruction. This Annointed One (in Hebrew "Moshiach" - in English- "Messiah") is described in the first few verses of Isaiah 61. He will -
bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, and the open the prison of them that are bound; comfort all that mourn, giving them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. He will cause them to build the old wastes, raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
The enemy doesn't want his destruction undone ... Redemption and restoration shows Who truly is The Almighty ... and that the dragon is NOT Him.
So enraged, he wages war; his primary weapon is lies.
But for those that keep to The Truth, The God of Israel has opened an avenue to victory. Revelation 12:11 says, "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of The Word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death."
Do you realize the power that is there in the blood of The Lamb?
Have you put your energy into getting to know The Word (Yeshua) so you are readily able to testify about who He is?
Have you fully made the decision in your heart that The Word (Yeshua) is the FINAL WORD, the GREATEST WORD ... there is NO OTHER WORD that has power more than HIS!!!
The same passage in Revelation that tells of the dragon looking to destoy us also tell us how to destroy any hold the dragom may seek to have on us ... "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. - Revelation 12:8."
The Truth - Yeshua - defeats the lie.
HE says that you are worth Him dying, and that He was glad to give HIS life so yours would be spared.
HE says that your Father in Heaven cares about every situation you deal with.
Yes, there is a dragon seeking your destruction, but once you have believed and received Yeshua, like David who was enabled by God to defeat the lion and the bear and the giant Goliath... you, too, have the power to push back the dragon's sphere of influence on your life ... and the lives of others!
PRAY - YESHUA - THE BATTLE IS SO INTENSE. I GROW SO WEARY. JUST TRYING TO TAKE EVEN ONE STEP FORWARD IN YOU SEEMS SO COSTLY IN TERMS OF THE OPPOSITION THAT COMES STORMING INTO MY LIFE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING MY SHELTER IN THE TIME OF STORM.
THANK YOU FOR OBTAINING AND NOW GIVING TO ME VICTORY OVER SIN AND DEATH AND HELL.
HELP ME TO MORE BELIEVE YOU AND MORE RECEIVE YOU AND AS A RESULT WIELD MORE POWER FOR YOUR GLORY.
SHOW ME HOW TO WALK IN THE VICTORY YOU PURCHASED WITH YOUR BLOOD - VICTORY IN ALL THE SITUATIONS I AM FACING MYSELF ... AND SHOW ME HOW TO HELP BRING OTHERS INTO VICTORY IN YOU AS WELL.
DO THIS SO THAT YESHUA WILL BE EXALTED IN MY LIFE - AND ALL PEOPLE - JEWISH AND GENTILE - WILL BE DRAWN TO YOU! AMEN.
THANK YOU THAT "GREATER ARE YOU, YESHUA - WHO IS IN ME, THAN THAT NASTY DRAGON TRYING TO RUIN VERY SOUL IN THE WORLD - 1 JOHN 4:4 !!!"
Here is one of the best songs I know speaking of "The Blood of The Lamb" and the victory Yeshua purchased for us with His blood -