2nd Timothy 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
The devil went after Joseph with a baseball bat, for the same reason that he went after Abel, for when it was made manifest that he could not overthrow him with his snares and devices, he employed the use of force as his last resort. He went after Job for the same reason, for the Bible tells us that Job was a just and upright man, who obviously obeyed God by keeping His commandments.
He went after the three Hebrew boys, and Daniel for the very same reason, because he couldn’t get them to bow, or eat any forbidden foods. He went after John the Baptist, he went after all of the disciples and last but not least the serpent vented his rage against the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Therefore, our first passage in Revelation does not reveal something new, it’s just a culmination of the historical pattern of angst against all who choose the ways of God.
That’s just the raw facts in the matter. The enemy of souls isn’t too worried about those in his camp already, he is focusing his attention on the few who are resisting his rule, and according to that last verse in Revelation 12, the individuals who keep the commandments of God are to expect a military campaign against them as the final conflict between good and evil intensifies.
Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!