Our Triumph Series

Revelation 12:10-12 (p. 867) December 22, 2013

Introduction:

I think some of the most amazing words written is Scripture are found in John’s Revelation, and verses 7-9 of Revelation Chapter 12 are up there in the amazing category.

“Then war broke out in heaven, Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.”

That’s not how any of us picture heaven. Heaven is God’s home, a place of glory, beauty, absolute perfection and peace. Earth is a place of wars. Earth is a place of sin and rebellion, not heaven!

But in Revelation 12 it is. It’s a place where mutiny occurs. A place where Satan tries to use God’s authority. Sin finds its origin in heaven, not in the Garden of Eden, but sin and rebellion cannot exist in God’s presence. Therefore:

“He was not strong enough and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the Devil or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to earth, and his angels with him.” (Rev. 12:8-9)

Wait a minute. I thought Satan was in Hell, surrounded by fire, dressed in a red suit with a big pitchfork. I thought he tried to make deals with people. “I’ll give you the Mercedes, all you have to do is sign your soul away.”

Nope, Hell, the 2nd Death, the Lake of Fire, all the same thing, all I truly believe are real, are reserved for a future date, at the final judgment before the throne of God. “The Devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur.” Death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire. The Lake of Fire is the 2nd death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was thrown into the Lake of Fire.” (Rev. 20:10, 14-15)

But after Satan’s rebellion, and before his final punishment, He’s right here on earth “leading the whole earth astray.” No wonder the loud voice from heaven says in our text “woe to the earth and the sea because the Devil has gone down to you. He is filled with furry, because he knows that his time is short. Here’s an important truth:

I. WE SHOULD KNOW OUR ENEMY

Folks I’m not gonna talk about Arch Angels and the name “Lucifer” (Angel of Light) which is only mentioned once in scripture in Isaiah 14:12 when speaking of the King of Babylon he says “How you have fallen from heaven, Morning Star, son of the dawn.” The King James translates Morning Star as “Lucifer.” Could Isaiah 14 apply to Satan’s pride and the results? Yep, but I don’t know.

What I do know is this, our text says He is the ancient serpent (presumably the one in the Garden of Eden, The Accuser of our Brothers and Sisters). The Devil, or Satan, the one Job mentions in his first 2 chapters). “The Great Dragon” (mentioned in Revelation chapter 12) is the one who tries to devour the woman’s child the moment He was born. (This child is “the one who will rule all nations”), but God protected this child and the woman flees into the wilderness to the place prepared for her by God. Remember Herod, the slaughter of little boy infants and Mary, Joseph’s and Jesus’ escape to Egypt.

Jesus describes Satan better than anyone else. While speaking to a group of Jewish people who were arguing about who he was, and also believe they had a special eternal birthright through Abraham, He said,

JOHN 8:42-47 (p.746)

Satan is a murderer. He had nothing to do with truth. He is a liar and the Father of Lies. (He gave birth to lies literally). Our text says 2 things “He’s filled with wrath, because he knows his time is short.”

Hatred and anger create “fury.” Satan’s furious like a “hungry lion longing to attack an antelope.” He has one goal, devour. (1 Peter 5:8) He prowls around earth looking for weakness and then he pounces.

God’s Word says he does this in 2 ways:

1. He blinds people...2 Corinthians 4:4 “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ.”

Paul is talking to the Corinthians, they live in one of the most cosmopolitan, wicked, dark cities on earth. The gospel shines the light, it pierces the darkness, but Satan focuses people on themselves. Even when the gospel is planted before it takes root. He snatches it off the hard ground of a darkened heart. (Matthew 13:19) Like blinders on a racehorse, Satan keeps an unbeliever fixated on what’s right in front of them, not what surrounds them. “Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow you die.” He lies about our past. He lies about our present and he lies about our future.