First there is the figure of God’s servants pictured as being “sealed on their foreheads”, 7:3.  Contrast this holy sealing with the “mark of the beast” on those who worship the 

beast that rises up from the earth, 13:16.

 

Next, we see God’s stars in 1:20 representing angels of congregations of the Lord’s church.  There are also stars in the crown of the woman who gives birth to Jesus, 12:1, 

and then of course Jesus himself who is the “bright and morning star”, 22:16.  As if not to be outdone, we are also shown the devil as a great dragon who sweeps away a third of the stars of heaven and casts them to the earth, 12:4.

 

Thirdly are the cities; the first being the “city of God”, or the “new Jerusalem” mentioned in 3:12 and also the “holy city” of 11:2.  God’s cities stand in contrast to “Babylon the great”, 14:8 which is also called “Sodom & Egypt”, 11:8.

 

Fourth are the women, beginning with the aforementioned woman who gives birth to the Christ in 12:1.  She is in stark contrast to the “harlot” of 17:1.

 

Finally, we see the resurrected “champions” if you will, of God and then the devil.  Jesus is God’s resurrected lamb, 5:5-12.  One of the heads of the blasphemous beast of 13:3 is also spoken of as resurrected.

 

The best way to ferret out counterfeits is by being intimately familiar with the real thing.  As Jesus said, if we continue in His word we will be His disciples and the truth will make us free, John 8:31-32.

 

Jesus built one church (see Matthew 16:18 on that).  I believe all others to be the type of counterfeit imposters we see in the above.  Jesus gave us one gospel that leads to life.  Anything other than that gospel, leads to death (check Galatians 1:6-9).

 

The devil’s work is obvious.  God brings light, but the devil darkness.  God provides truth while Satan leads astray with lies.  God’s order and reason is juxtaposed against the chaos and confusion of doctrines of demons.