The War in Heaven
Revelation, Part 17, Revelation 12:7-17
Introduction
- One of the greatest indicators of our faith’s strength is our commitment to the church and to bringing others to Christ which is the Gospel ministry
- The bible tells us that the times ahead will be difficult
-- There will be trials and persecutions and even death
-- John 14:3 says, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
- So, if God has prepared the place … what are we afraid of doing?
-- It isn’t time to go hiding in the wilderness like we see in Chapter 12
Ω MAP
- Read Revelation 12:7-17
Ω Point 1 - The War in Heaven (v7-9)
- We discussed last week that this coming war began in the Garden of Eden
-- Now we are at a time when this war will finally complete
- Satan’s power is confined to the earth as War breaks out in Heaven
-- Satan and his angels loose the position they had since the fall of man
-- They are cast to the Earth and only allowed to operate here
-- Satan’s fall is amplified here, but this is the second fall
-- This falls happens when Michael finally throws him out!
- The angel Michael is mentioned five times in the Bible
-- He is a defender of the people of Israel according to Daniel 12:1
-- He is called “arch” angel or chief angel in Jude
-- Daniel 12:1 says "At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.”
- Both, Jesus (Matthew 24:15), and the angel in Daniel 12:11, link this period, to the Abomination of Desolation, which occurs at the middle of Daniel’s 70th week
-- At the middle of the Tribulation, Michael’s angelic forces are finally allowed to expel Satan and his angels from their heavenly access
- Michael and Satan are old enemies …
-- Conflict in the bible dates back to death of Moses, when Michael dared not rebuke Satan, but left the prerogative open to Lord
-- Satan was a cherub who covered the throne of God (Ezekiel 28:16), while Michael was the archangel in charge of the angelic host (Jude1:9 refers too)
- IMP: God used Michael to do His work, and He chooses to use his people
-- We have a work to do today, just as Michael had a work to do here
- Verse 9 says that Satan is “cast to earth
-- Today, Satan has a place in the heavens (not IN Heaven)
-- He is in the Heavens where his throne is
- Satan is kept under wraps by the authority of God
-- It’s not until he is cast out that is he truly free to reign over the Earth
-- Even today, Satan is under God’s authority
- John is seeing Satan and his angels being cast out - cast to the Earth
-- Reading this tells me that Satan no longer has access to God’s throne
-- Remember that Satan went to God and asked to tempt Job
-- Therefore, he must have been able to get to God, right?
-- In this passage, he no longer has access to God’s throne
- TRANS: How much worse could it get with Satan free to do as he chooses to this world, and to the inhabitants?
Ω Point 2 - Rejoice! (v10-12)
The accuser of the brethren is Satan himself!
-- Today, Satan spends his time pleading to God about how we have sinned and deserve death.
-- This accuser of the brethren could only accuse us of wrong-doing if he had access to the throne!
-- Otherwise, his insults and his comments would go unheard!
- This verse shows that there is more to God and Satan’s relationship than someone who merely does evil - but he is the one who constantly seeks to remind God of our sins and of the things we have done wrong in life.
-- Thankfully, we have assurance in Psalm 103:12 which says, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
- Good news - whatever the accuser says, means nothing if we are forgiven
-- APP: This is the cause for rejoice in heaven!
-- 1 John 2:1 finalizes the deal that in Jesus Christ, we have protection before the father, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
- Because Satan has been cast to the Earth, he is on a MISION!
-- His focus is on destroying who claims to love Jesus Christ
-- He will stop at nothing to take out his revenge. Verse 12b says “fury” - which is enhanced rage -- more than mad, but out of control with anger.
- We have eternal victory over sin, death, hell, and the grave through Jesus
-- This voice that John hears offers us a glimpse of the key to eternal life:
1. The Blood of the Lamb, the first key is understanding our position in Heaven. Satan power is removed because of the blood of Christ - this is our license to succeed!
2. Word of their testimony, to live the life an overcomer, means to operate in God’s power. The saints who are victorious in the tribulation, will proclaim the Gospel to Satanic world. (2 Tim. 1:7-8) In order to claim this, you have to tell your testimony!
- IMP: You should be able to give your testimony in 30 seconds by answering these few questions: What, When, How, Where, and Why?
-- It does not have to be elaborate, but straight to the point
3. Not Love their lives: The third secret we learn for victorious Christian living, is to not fall in love with what this world offers.
-- Those who claim victory are those who chose Jesus Christ
- APP: This is the HARD PART!
-- Giving your life to Jesus, and not living for yourself
-- John 3:30 then becomes an honest reality in application!
- If you want victory in your life -- these principles must be followed!
-- No victory today? How are you living … for God or yourself?
Ω Point 3 - The Persecution (v13-16)
- This is a very important point in understanding why Satan targets Israel
-- Satan understands God’s word (he knows what the Bible says)
-- He understands if there is no Israel they cannot accept Jesus Christ
-- Accepting Christ by Israel is the completion of God’s promise to redeem
- Satan attempts to exterminate the Jewish race
-- This annihilation begins in Israel
-- Satan is convinced that by destroying Israel, he can take over the world
- Matthew 23:37-39 confirms this promise, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again UNTIL you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
- This is the Revelation!
-- Until Israel admits that Jesus is the Messiah, He will not return
-- APP: It is Satan’s desire to keep this from happening!
- The woman, who is Israel, is supernaturally protected from Satan
-- They have followed Jesus’ prophecy to flee into the wilderness when they see the “Abomination of Desolation” return. (Matthew 24:15)
- Something important to note: God protected Israel once before
-- Go with me to Exodus 19:4-6, “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
- This promise is given after they have escaped from Egypt
-- APP: God will always protect Israel!
- When Israel escapes God promises to provide nourishment
-- As Israel continues to flourish in the wilderness, God will slowly reveal to them who Jesus Christ is and this will begin the opening of their eyes
- Israel will spend 1,260 days in the wilderness
-- This is the exact amount of time of the second half of the Tribulation
-- At the end of the Tribulation, Israel will acknowledge who Jesus Christ is
-- This will bring back his eventual return to the Earth
-- He returns not as a lamb … but as the mighty lion of the Tribe of Judah
- IMP: During the exile of Israel, they will realize through the revelation of God that the Messiah needed to die first in order to complete Isaiah 53 - and through that death we ALL have redemption in Jesus Christ!
- Zechariah 14:1-2 from Sunday we read about the armies of the Antichrist as they pillage homes and rape the women of Jerusalem
-- A remnant however is spared, and not cutoff from the city
-- The Mount of Olives by splitting wide open prepared a route of escape
-- This prevented Satan from attacking them
Ω Point 4 - Persecution of the Remnant (v17)
- At this time in history, the remnant is those who are left on the Earth
-- Before this time WE are the remnant as we serve the true and living God.
-- When Israel (the woman) escapes Satan’s grasp, he goes out to make war
-- Makes war with ANYONE else who says they believe in Jesus Christ
- Satan puts into action plan to separate any who have allegiance to Jesus
-- He makes war with the rest of the women’s off-spring
-- With those who claim to know and serve Christ are to be hunted down
-- All who refuse to acknowledge the Beast, Satan incarnate, will be killed
-- HUGE: This is the cause and effect of Revelation 6:9-11
Ω Big Ideas
- How does this apply to us
-- WE KNOW THE ENEMIES BATTLE PLAN!
- Today, WE have access to God in prayer and service
-- Because of what Jesus did on the cross we have a direct line to God
-- Through this access to God we ought to have comfort and safety to act.
- IMP: Those who are lost will NOT come to you
-- You need to go to them!
-- This is the mission of the church
-- This is where we need to spur one another on today
- Knowing what Revelation says is only the beginning of our purpose
-- Acting and taking the Gospel to others is WHAT we must do
- Time is short … according to God’s calendar, so what are we doing?
- Pray
