The Rebellion In Heaven - The Cosmic Backdrop Of Our Earthly Struggles Series

The Rebellion in Heaven - The Cosmic Backdrop of Our Earthly Struggles

March 16, 2025

Dr. Bradford Reaves

Crossway Christian Fellowship

Revelation 12:7-12; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Isaiah 14:12-15

Introduction: Understanding the Battle Before the Battle

What if I told you that everything we are witnessing in the world today—wars, deception, gender confusion, moral chaos, hatred of God’s people—is not random? What if I told you it was all part of an ancient war that began long before humanity walked the earth? Before there was a rebellion on earth, there was a rebellion in heaven. And what started in the unseen realm is now playing out in front of us today.

Every earthly battle has its origins in an unseen war. Just as nations prepare for war by understanding the history and strategies of their enemies, we must understand the cosmic rebellion that set the stage for the spiritual warfare we experience today. Before the fall of man, there was a greater fall—the rebellion in heaven—a catastrophic event that fractured the spiritual realm and set in motion the conflict we now face.

When you look at current events and the world around us, you see a lot of evil. It's important to understand where this all came from, the origin of rebellion, the origin of sin. So it's important to understand our adversary where he came from, and his tactics that will be used against you. And what's happening to most people is they don't take this as real and so many Christians are easily deceived.

One of the clearest spiritual battles manifesting today is the war on truth—especially in areas like gender identity, morality, and biblical authority.

• Gender confusion: Our culture is now at a point where basic biology—male and female (Genesis 1:27)—is being called into question. The world says, “You can be whatever you feel like being,” but God says, “I created you with purpose and design.” This is not just social change—it’s spiritual deception at work.

• Moral relativism: The phrase “Live your truth” is preached everywhere, but Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). This is an ancient lie in modern packaging—Satan convinced Eve that she could define good and evil for herself (Genesis 3:5).

• The erosion of biblical authority: Even churches are twisting Scripture to fit cultural trends rather than standing firm on God’s Word. This is exactly how Satan operated in the wilderness when he twisted Psalm 91 to tempt Jesus (Matthew 4:6).

We are living in a time where lies are being accepted as truth—and that’s no accident. The enemy is working to:

• Confuse minds so people can no longer see God’s design

• Divide families and churches by making disagreement over truth personal and hostile

• Make people doubt Scripture so they stop believing in God’s authority

You don’t need to look for demons with pitchforks. You will see Satan’s tactics at work today in news headlines, social media trends, and classroom curriculums. The battle is real, and it is spiritual. If you control truth, you control what people believe, how they live, and ultimately, their eternal destiny. This deception is not about politics or culture wars—it is about Satan trying to remake the world in his image instead of God’s.

I. The Origin of Satan’s Rebellion

We’ve covered the origin of Satan’s rebellion as the first cosmic act of defiance against God. Before he became the “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4), Lucifer was a high-ranking angel, described as “full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 28:12). But instead of worshiping God, he became consumed with pride, declaring:

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ (Isaiah 14:14)

This self-exaltation marked the first sin in history—Satan’s attempt to dethrone God and rule the cosmos. The result? He was cast down and began his war against God’s people.

One of the ways we see this influence is in the hatred of the Jews and constant attempts to destroy Israel.

Israel is central to God’s plan. The Messiah came through Israel (Romans 9:4-5), and God’s promises to them still stand (Romans 11:29). Satan hates Israel because they are a prophetic timepiece of God’s unfolding plan.

Antisemitism is not just a political issue—it is a spiritual war. Why does the world rage against Israel? Because behind the scenes, there is a spiritual hatred for God’s chosen people fueling it. These college students and terrorists, and the antisemitic spirit that has run in this world for centuries, ever since the creation of Israel, is fueled by a satanic war. Satan has always tried to annihilate the Jewish people. Pharaoh enslaved them, Haman plotted genocide, Hitler sought their extermination, and today, radical groups and world leaders chant for their destruction.