The Dragon Wars Series

You and I need to recognize this war is going on. Why do so many people find even the mention of Jesus’ Name offensive? Why do they want to remove Christ from Christmas or Easter? Is all of this just a “freedom of religion” issue---or is there something more? Is it possible that the dragon is still trying to devour this Child---to silence His Name, to remove His influence, to be sure that as many people as possible never hear the Name of Jesus?

One of the reasons the church has been under renewed attack in Communist China is because of the role of the church there in bringing down the Iron Curtain.In 1992, the Chinese state-run press noted that “the church played an important role in the change” in Eastern Europe and warned, “If China does not want such a scene to be repeated in its land, it must strangle the baby while it is still in the manger.”*

The second war of the dragon is described in vs. 7-12.

John does not put this vision into a time frame. It’s hard to know for sure whether this war was fought in the past or will be fought in the future. But one thing is clear: this describes the dragon’s war against heaven.

The battle is between Michael and his angels and the dragons and his angels. It’s interesting to me to picture angels fighting. What kinds of weapons do they use? Can an angel be wounded, or die?

Michael and his soldiers win, the dragon and his side loses, and the losers are kicked out of heaven. Here John clearly identifies the dragon in vs. 9 as that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.

As the vision of Michael’s victory over the devil fades, John hears a loud voice declaring heaven’s victory over the devil. John doesn’t mention whose voice this is, but I think it makes sense to hear it as the saints of God Who share in heaven’s victory over the dragon. Their words tell us how Michael’s victory is played out in the lives of believers.

Note the dragon is called the accuser of our brethren who accused them before our God day and night. Satan= accuser. This calls to mind Satan’s accusations of Job in

Job 1:9-11 9“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

Before he is cast out, Satan is always challenging the faith of God’s people, challenging the idea that God deserves to be loved and glorified by His people. His accusations are not only a challenge to us, but to God’s right to rule the universe. How can God’s people overcome the accusations of the dragon? Vs. 11 tells us : by their faith. This faith is expressed in 3 ways:

• By the blood of the Lamb Their faith is not in themselves, but in Christ Who died for

them. They have no defense against the devil’s accusations except Christ’s death on the Cross, through which they are forgiven and cleansed.