When the Devil Knows His Time Is Short
Revelation 12:12 (KJV) Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Introduction – A Battle Already Won
In Heaven, the battle has already been fought.
Michael and his angels cast out the dragon — Satan is a defeated enemy.
Heaven rejoices, but earth faces his fury.
Satan’s anger is not random; it’s desperation — he knows his time is short.
Why the Devil Knows His Time Is Short
Satan is not ignorant of prophecy. He knows the Scriptures far better than most people do. Remember, when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he quoted Scripture — he misused it, yes, but he knew it. He knows exactly what the Word of God declares about his fate.
He knows that:
• He has already been judged.
“Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” — John 12:31 (KJV)
At Calvary, the verdict was sealed. The blood of Jesus rendered a permanent sentence over the devil’s empire. Every time we plead the blood of Jesus, it reminds him that he’s a defeated foe.
• He has already lost authority.
“Having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” — Colossians 2:15 (KJV)
Jesus publicly humiliated him through the Cross. Satan once held the keys of death and hell — but those keys were taken. He walks this earth as an outlaw on borrowed time, a fugitive already condemned, waiting for final judgment.
• He sees the signs of the end unfolding.
Just as believers can sense the season of Christ’s return, so can the enemy.
Jesus said,
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear...” — Luke 21:25–26 (KJV)
Satan sees what we see:
o Nations rising against nations.
o Lawlessness increasing.
o Morality collapsing.
o The Church becoming lukewarm and distracted.
o Israel regathered and the world aligning for conflict in the Middle East.
Every fulfilled prophecy is a reminder to him that his countdown is ticking. Every revival, every soul saved, every baptism in the Holy Ghost tells him that his grip is slipping, and his end is near.
• He hears the Church praying.
Hell trembles when the Church prays in unity and power. Every sincere cry of “Even so, come, Lord Jesus”(Revelation 22:20) echoes like a death knell in Satan’s ears, because he knows that the coming of Christ means his eternal confinement.
Illustration
It’s like watching the final seconds of a game when the losing team knows they can’t win. What do they do? They start playing rough. They push harder. They foul more aggressively. Why? Because the clock is almost out, and desperation takes over.
That’s where we are now in the spiritual realm. The devil is fighting dirty because he knows his time is running out. He knows that the trumpet is about to sound. He sees the signs of his own defeat coming together — and it enrages him.
Application
So, when the battle heats up in your life, don’t panic. Don’t say, “The devil’s winning.” Instead, recognize what’s happening: his fury is a confirmation that time is short — for him, not for you.
Every increase of spiritual warfare is evidence that prophecy is unfolding, and Jesus is near.
When hell increases its activity, Heaven is increasing its glory. The shaking we’re seeing in our world today — the unrest, the wars, the hatred, the deception — are not signs that God has lost control, but that the enemy knows his lease on this world is about to expire.
“Rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them…” — Revelation 12:12
Heaven is already rejoicing because the outcome is settled. The Church can rejoice too, because the devil’s anger only proves that his end is near.
I. Satan’s Anger and the Believer’s Assurance
His wrath is great because his power is limited.
The shorter his time, the greater his rage.
But remember: Jesus already defeated him at the Cross.
“Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ…” — Revelation 12:10 (KJV)
Satan’s time is short, but our victory is eternal.
How Satan’s Anger Is Being Poured Out
The devil’s fury is no longer hidden in the shadows; it’s manifesting in plain sight across our world. Revelation 12:12 says that he has “come down unto you, having great wrath,” and that wrath is visible in every sphere of human life today.
1. He Is Causing Widespread Confusion.
Paul warned,
“God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” — 1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV)
Yet confusion has become the spirit of the age. Men no longer know what is right or wrong. Truth is treated as relative, morality is mocked, and identity is being redefined at every level. The enemy has turned deception into doctrine and lies into lifestyles.
Everywhere you look — education, media, politics — there’s a deliberate blurring of truth. Isaiah 5:20 declared this hour:
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness.”
Satan is pouring out a spirit of confusion because confused people are easily controlled. But the Church must stand firm upon the rock of truth and say, “Thus saith the Lord!”
2. He Is Causing Fear to Grip the Hearts of Men.
Jesus Himself prophesied it:
“Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth…” — Luke 21:26 (KJV)
Fear has become epidemic. People are anxious, hopeless, medicated, and terrified about the future. The headlines are filled with wars, rumors of wars, economic instability, violence, and moral decay. Technology brings the bad news faster than our hearts can process it. Satan loves that. He wants humanity paralyzed with fear so they can’t look up and see redemption drawing nigh.
But the believer must remember the promise of Isaiah 41:10:
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee.”
Fear is the atmosphere of Satan’s kingdom, but faith is the atmosphere of God’s.
3. He Is Persecuting the Saints.
John said the dragon “went to make war with the remnant of her seed” (Revelation 12:17). That war is raging today. Across the globe, Christians are being imprisoned, tortured, and killed for their faith. Churches are being burned in Africa, pastors are being arrested in Asia, and believers in the Middle East worship under threat of death.
And even in our own nation, the pressure is rising:
• The gospel is mocked in classrooms.
• Biblical truth is labeled “hate speech.”
• Standing for righteousness is branded “intolerance.”
The enemy’s wrath is aimed squarely at the people who still bear the name of Jesus. But remember what Jesus said:
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you… for great is your reward in heaven.” — Matthew 5:11–12 (KJV)
The devil’s fury is proof that you are a threat to his kingdom. He attacks what he fears.
4. He Is Bombarding the World with Evil.
Like floodwaters breaking a dam, the restraints of evil are being lifted. Violence, corruption, and perversion fill the earth just as in the days of Noah.
“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” — Genesis 6:11 (KJV)
From entertainment that glorifies sin, to government systems that legalize it, Satan is working overtime to desensitize humanity. The moral compass is spinning out of control. Children are being indoctrinated, families are being fractured, and truth is being traded for tolerance.
Yet, this too is fulfillment of prophecy. Paul wrote:
“Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” — 2 Timothy 3:13 (KJV)
The devil’s wrath is fierce, but it cannot outlast God’s plan. The darker the night, the brighter the light of Christ will shine through His Church.
The Believer’s Assurance
While the world trembles, the saints can stand secure. Satan’s anger may shake nations, but it cannot shake the throne of God.
“When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” — Isaiah 59:19 (KJV)
Our assurance rests not in governments, economies, or comfort, but in the unchanging victory of Jesus Christ. Every act of the enemy only fulfills what God already foretold — and reminds us that his time truly is short.
Illustration:
When Jesus descended into the lower parts of the earth and took the keys of death, hell, and the grave, He met Satan on his own ground and broke his authority forever. The devil can rage all he wants, but he’s already lost.
II. The Enemy’s Energy vs. the Church’s Urgency
The devil is tireless, ceaseless, unyielding — because he knows he’s losing.
Should hell be more determined to destroy than the Church is to save?
While Satan evangelizes his cause, the Church must evangelize Christ.
The Church’s Call to Urgency
If the enemy is working overtime, then the Church must rise from spiritual slumber. We are not called to sit in comfort while the world burns in chaos. The hour is late. The trumpet is about to sound. And Jesus said,
“I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” — John 9:4 (KJV)
We cannot be satisfied with routine religion or powerless Christianity. The days of “business as usual” in the church are over. The fields are white unto harvest, and the laborers are still too few. This is the time for the Church to move with urgency — not panic, but purpose.
There is no time to argue over petty differences, no time to fight over titles or positions, no time to sit back waiting for someone else to step up. God is calling His people to shake off complacency and occupy till He comes.
The early Church turned the world upside down with nothing but the power of the Holy Ghost and the name of Jesus. They had no buildings, no technology, no budgets — but they had fire. They had conviction. They had urgency. They lived as if every day could be their last day to preach the gospel.
Where is that fire in our generation? Where is that cry of the prophet Isaiah,
“Here am I; send me.” — Isaiah 6:8 (KJV)
Where is that hunger that drove Paul to declare,
“Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” — 1 Corinthians 9:16 (KJV)
Beloved, the Church must rise again in that same spirit. The enemy’s time is short, but so is ours. Every soul we fail to reach, every prayer we fail to pray, every opportunity we let slip away will echo in eternity.
It is not enough to simply have truth — we must proclaim it.
It is not enough to sing about victory — we must walk in it.
It is not enough to know the Word — we must live it before a dying world.
The Bible says in Romans 13:11:
“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”
This is not the hour to retreat; it’s the hour to advance.
It’s not the time to hide; it’s time to shine.
It’s not the time to whisper; it’s time to declare the Word of the Lord with boldness and authority.
When hell is raging, Heaven is recruiting.
When the darkness deepens, God is raising up a remnant.
When the world says “It’s over,” God says, “I’m just getting started.”
Application:
• We cannot waste one more Sunday.
• Our worship, witness, and prayer must be unceasing.
• It’s almost nighttime — the time to work is now.
• Every prayer meeting matters.
• Every soul matters.
• Every service matters.
This is the Church’s finest hour. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us, and He is calling us to rise in holy urgency and do the work of the Kingdom before the trumpet sounds.
III. Expect the Battle Before the Breakthrough
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” — Psalm 30:5 (KJV)
The fiercest attacks often come right before the greatest victories.
The devil fights hardest when he’s about to lose his grip.
Illustrations:
• Pharaoh doubled Israel’s labor the very day Moses was summoned by God.
• Goliath taunted Israel just before David stepped onto the field.
• The possessed man in Luke 9:42 was thrown down as Jesus approached — because deliverance was moments away.
IV. When Evil Peaks, Good Is Rising
Before dawn, the night is darkest.
Before spring, frost still lingers.
Before the tide returns, it reaches its farthest ebb.
Truth:
When evil is at its height, it’s closest to its fall.
The devil’s last roar is the death cry of his own defeat.
Encouragement:
If your storm feels stronger, your miracle is nearer.
If the fog feels denser, the light is about to break through.
V. Keep Walking – Don’t Stop
• Don’t stop praising.
• Don’t stop praying.
• Don’t stop believing.
Because every step forward frustrates the enemy and moves you closer to victory.
“Be not weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” — Galatians 6:9 (KJV)
Declaration of Faith (call-and-response style):
“Jesus, You are reliable.
You are faithful.
My victory is secured through Your death, burial, and resurrection.
Satan will not defeat me — his time is short!”
Conclusion – The Devil’s Rage and the Church’s Revival
Satan’s rage is proof that revival is near.
His anger confirms that God’s Spirit is about to move.
The Church’s response must not be fear but fervor.
Final Call:
If Satan is angry because his time is short, let the Church be joyful because our redemption draweth nigh.
“Lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” — Luke 21:28 (KJV)
