The War In Heaven

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.”