Eating Children

John sees great signs in heaven (Revelation 12:1-4). After sweeping the stars from the sky, the dragon stands ready to devour the child that the woman bears.

To “stand before” another is a liturgical position. Priests stand before the Lord. That is the position of the dragon in relation to the woman, but this is a false liturgy. 

It’s not a false liturgy primarily because a child is about to get eaten. The sacrificial system of Israel is all about eating children. Worshipers bring their “sons of the herd” (Leviticus 1) to offer to Yahweh, who “consumes” (eats) them into His consuming fire. Every Israelite is a new Abraham, re-enacting the Aqedah; every sacrifice is like a new Passover, with the animal taking the place of the son. Jesus too eats the saints into Himself, though He will spew out the lukewarm (Revelation 3).

What makes the scene in Revelation 12 a false liturgy is the fact that the dragon seeks to consume the child. Satan eats dust, and men are made from dust. He is a devourer of men, especially of children.

Children will be consumed. They will be caught up and incorporated into some body. That’s a given. The question is, Whose body? Who consumes them? Are they offered to Jesus to become members of His body, or are they left to be consumed by the dragon?