The Revelation of Jesus Christ “Star Wars” 12
Review
I. PROLOGUE 1:1-20 (Things you have seen)
II. Messages to the Seven churches 2-3 (Things with are)
III. Last Days 4-22 (Things which are about to take place)
A. Heavenly worship around the throne 4-5
B. The Seven seals 6:1-8:1
C. The Seven Trumpets 8-11
D. Interlude 12-14
Following the seventh trumpet, John received another vision which serves as an interlude.
The interludes go back over the same time period and supply details not seen before.
These are further details of tribulation events. John received further insight on the driving force behind the last days devastation and world conflict. The end times chronology will not resume until the bowl judgments in chapter 15. In this interlude, John introduced several additional central characters to unfolding the drama. Two of the characters are fairly easy to recognize. John specifically identifies the dragon directly later in the chapter as Satan. The Son of the woman who will rule the world is obviously Jesus. The pregnant woman is not specific but pretty straightforward.
1. The Pregnant Woman and the Great Red Dragon
The pregnant Woman
The Great Red Dragon
LESSONS
• Israel is still God’s special people, so continue to bless her.
• The root cause of evil stems from the activity of the evil one, so continue to battle him.
2. Great War In Heaven (Battle royal)
Very often, an earthly conflict will be intricately connected to a heavenly conflict. John provides a glimpse of the behind the scenes activity (or above the scene) as he witnesses a great angelic war waged in the celestial realms; the spirit world. Who will win? Will Satan be able to gain victory over Michael?
We are often ignorant of the battle raging in the spiritual realm that influences the events in the physical realm. John introduces some other players in this drama.
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.
This is not the first encounter between Michael and Satan.
Daniel 12 seems to indicate that Michael stands guard over Israel.
"Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. Daniel 12:1
Earlier in Daniel an angel mentioned how Michael came to his aid against Satan’s army.
Then he said to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. Daniel 10:12-13
Jude mentions Daniel taking on Satan over the body of Moses.
Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" Jude 1:9
The time frame of this particular conflict is not clear. It may refer to the time directly after the ascension of Jesus. It may refer to the time just before the end. Chronology in Scripture is not always that precise. God focuses on the general themes and specific action rather than the timing (since He is outside of time). He actually perceives all these events simultaneously.
What we do learn here, is that the great angel warrior Michael and his army will soundly defeat Satan and his entire army.
And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
We are not told the weapons used or the details of how this war will be waged. All we know is that the good guys win and the bad guys are “smacked down”. John identifies Satan with the Great dragon meaning evil and destructive.
“Serpent of old” is an obvious reference to Genesis focusing on shrewdness and deception.
He is also called “devil” meaning slanderer or false accuser.
He is called Satan referring to him as our adversary.
John adds a further description concerning his deception of the whole world. This appears to be a second throw down. There is a couple more to go till the final slam into the eternal fryer.
After Satan’s initial rebellion, we know that he seemed to have had access to God’s throne.
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. Job 1:6
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. Zechariah 3:1
A voice from heaven provides some clue as to the primary activity of Satan. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.
Satan’s hatred for the followers of Jesus is so intense that he will spend his time continually laying out charges and accusations before God’s throne of judgment. At some point, God revokes Satan’s access to His presence. Our Advocate brings the accuser’s courtroom slander to an abrupt end. We know that because of the work of Christ there is more condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. (Rom 8:1) Satan has no more basis on which to accuse us before God.
Here is how Paul puts it.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Romans 8:31-34
Just because God no longer receives accusations by Satan against us does not mean that we don’t. How many times do we hear that condemning voice? How many times do we get accused of any number of things? God does still expose sin in our life. So how do we tell the difference between God’s reproof and correction and Satan’s reviling and condemnation?
Listen for the tone. If it has a condemning tone, it is NOT God. There is NOW NO condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
So how do we combat the enemy’s accusations?
Just like Christians have resisted him through history and will overcome him right through the last days.
And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.
The “They” is in the emphatic form indicating that “they and they alone” as opposed to those who were not connected to Christ. Even though this battle rages in heaven, it tangibly affects life on earth. Angelic beings wage war in the heavenlies. Followers of Jesus wage war on earth.
Angelic beings gain victory over Satan’s army in the heavenlies. Followers of Jesus gain victory over Satan’s accusations on earth. These courageous believers will overcome the condemning slanderous activity of Satan.
“Overcome, conquer, prevail, “
• On account of the blood of the Lamb
We stand justified before God because Jesus died and paid the penalty for any and all our sin.
We stand reconciled to God because Jesus is our eternal intercessor. God turned what Satan thought was his greatest victory into his ultimate defeat.
When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. Colossians 2:13-15
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. Hebrews 2:14-15
The blood of the Lamb is the ultimate sin detergent.
These (white robed committed followers of Jesus) are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:14
• On account of their faithful proclamation of the Word “Testimony, report, witness”
It could be a legal witness, a witness to the facts, a personal testimony. Jesus commissioned his disciples to be his witnesses all over the world (Matt 28:18-20).
He decreed to use people to spread His word. This is a picture of Christians standing before a judge to bear testimony of their commitment to Jesus. It is always a defeat for Satan when followers of Christ stand and bear testimony to His word by a transformed life and Spirit-directed lips. It represents his failure to silence them with his accusations. God uses frailties and failures to demonstrate His divine power in our human weakness. These last days will not be silenced just as the early apostles refused to be silenced.
Peter refused to be silenced in the face of punishment and death.
And when they had summoned them (apostles), they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard." Acts 4:18-20
Paul considered the task of bearing witness concerning Jesus his prime directive.
24 "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24
• On account of an unequivocal surrender to the cause of Christ no matter what
Interestingly the word for martyr comes from the Greek word witness. The church has been built on the blood of the martyrs (witnesses). Notice their victory was not over death but over the temptation to defect and cave under defamation and spiritual accusation. Satan was not able to dissuade them from their commitment to Jesus. Even death did not diminish their testimony. For most it only intensified it. One of Satan’s main weapons has to do with lies concerning who we are in Christ. He brings continual condemnation and confusion. If he can get us to focus on our unworthiness and failures, he can silence us. The only way to overcome Satan’s attack is to remember and embrace what Jesus did IN us as well as FOR us.
All the armor in Ephesians 6 has to do with truth concerning our connection with Jesus.
Belt of Christ’s truth to combat Satan’s lies in our thinking
Breastplate of Christ’s righteousness to combat Satan’s accusations in our living
Boots of Christ’s peace to combat Satan’s discontent and agitation in our feelings
Shield of Christ’s faith to combat Satan’s fiery darts of fear and doubt in our trusting
Helmet of Christ’s salvation to combat Satan’s mental confusion and insecurity in our maturity
Sword of the Spirit to tear down every fortress raised up against the knowledge of Christ
Continual prayer
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Put on the whole armor of God so that in the evil day (the day of temptation and attack) you will be able to stand. The time will come when Satan will be put in his place and it will be a time for great rejoicing.
12 For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them.
When Satan loses his heavenly access and suffers one defeat after another, he will take out his hostility on everyone and everything; especially Israel and anyone who names the name of Jesus.
Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time." 13 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.
14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was* nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth.
There is considerable emphasis (5 times in three verses) on the throwing down of Satan and his angels. This is a monumental event. Satan gets one blow after another. He pursues the woman (Israel) to destroy her but God supernaturally protects her.
For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB. 27 THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS. Romans 11:25-27
Unable to finish off the Jews, he will shift to pursing those who come to Jesus during this time due to the ministry and witness of the 144,000 and the two witnesses.
So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 12:7-17
Realizing his end is near, Satan also turns his focus on his last ditch plan to set up his own kingdom and rule the world of men. He will bring together the “unholy trinity.” Satan the Great dragon. Satan empowers the first beast from the sea who amazes the whole world and solicits worship. Satan also empowers a second beast or false prophet who glorifies the first beast. You could also say that these are Satan’s two witnesses.
POINTS TO PONDER
• Satan is formidable but NOT invincible so be strong in the Lord and resist him.
• Satan seeks to slander, deceive and destroy so don’t listen to him.
We do not have to accept ANY condemnation from the enemy.
• Our victory over Satan relies on Christ’s work in us and for us so receive Him.
• God can protect His own so trust Him.
“Soldier in the Army” -- Unknown Author
I AM A SOLDIER IN GOD’S ARMY
I am a soldier in the Army of my God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer. The Holy Bible is my Code of Conduct.
Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, prayer, and the Word are my weapons of warfare.
I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, Trained by experience, and Tried by adversity and tested by fire.
I am a volunteer in this Army, and I am enlisted for Eternity. I will either retire in this Army at the Rapture or die in this Army; but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out.
I am faithful, Reliable, Capable, and dependable.
If my God needs me, I am there.
If He needs me in the Sunday school, To teach the children, work with the youth, help adults, or just sit and learn, He can use me because I am there! I am a soldier.
I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, Petted, Primed up, Pumped up, Picked up Or pepped up. I am a soldier. No one has to call me, Remind me, Write me, Visit me, Entice me, Or lure me. I am a soldier.
I am not a wimp. I am in place, saluting my King, Obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His kingdom! No one has to send me flowers, Gifts, food, cards, candy or give me handouts.
I do not need to be cuddled, coddled, Cradled, Cared for, or catered to. I am committed.
I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around.
I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.
I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.
When Jesus called me into His Army, I had nothing. If I end up with nothing, I will still come out ahead. I will win.
My God has and will continue to supply all of my needs. I am more than a conqueror.
I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ.
Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me.
Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me. Governments cannot silence me and Hell cannot handle me.
I am a soldier. Even death cannot destroy me. For when my Commander Calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me to Captain and then allow me to rule with Him.
I am a soldier in the Army, and I'm marching claiming victory.
I am following my commander who always leads us in triumph.
I will not give up. I will not turn around.
I am a soldier, armed with His armor, I will take my stand and engage the enemy.
Here I stand! Will you stand with me?
