LET’S GO OVER WHAT WE KNOW…

Jesus has already won the war with Satan.  Jesus went to hell and back again, running into battle on Satan’s turf, and defeated our foe—all for us.  Jesus did this for those who repent and believe in the forgiveness of sin and want a true, intimate loving relationship with God, the Father. 

Jesus, our Savior, came to earth, born of a virgin, was both God and Man.  He followed God’s orders each day on earth, fulfilled all the Scripture said about Him and what He would do as Messiah, and ultimately fulfilled the mission of God to save us. 

Jesus was nailed to a cross for our sins, taking all sin upon his himself as the sacrifice for our sins.  He died but the grave could not hold Him. He defeated death and rose again to full life after three days.  In this powerful resurrection act of God, Jesus defeated the one who is death whose sole mission is leading us to torment and death forever. 

Satan, the fallen angel from heaven, is envisioned by John as a Dragon who tries to consume all that is God and comes from God. John “sees” the battle between Satan and God and records it in imagery that is understandable given what we know about our enemy who battles us each day for our attention, allegiance and committed loyalty. 

Though the battle has been won, there are daily skirmishes we must endure with Jesus as our strength and Defender.  Satan knows full well that he has been defeated but scurries to take as many of God’s people down with him before his time completely runs out.  That’s why when we step up our commitment to God, the Enemy steps up his work to defeat us and draw us away from God.  There will be daily skirmishes until Jesus comes.  Count on it, knowing, “I will be with you always, until the end of the age.” says Jesus

In the end, Jesus wins.  We win.  All who believed, repented, and followed Jesus win!  It’s in the final chapter of God’s Book!  This is the revelation of Life with Jesus forever!  Alleluia and Amen!  Yes!

Beware: “…For the Devil’s come down on you with both feet; he’s had a great fall;
He’s wild and raging with anger; he hasn’t much time and he knows it.”

“Helpless with rage, the Dragon raged at the Woman, then went off to make war with the rest of her children, the children who keep God’s commands and hold firm to the witness of Jesus.”

^“ I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” –Jesus (John 16:33)

REVELATION—JESUS IS COMING BACK!

Revelation 12, The Message

The Woman, Her Son, and the Dragon

^1-2 A great Sign appeared in Heaven: a Woman dressed all in sunlight, standing on the moon, and crowned with Twelve Stars. She was giving birth to a Child and cried out in the pain of childbirth.

^3-4 And then another Sign alongside the first: a huge and fiery Dragon! It had seven heads and ten horns, a crown on each of the seven heads. With one flick of its tail it knocked a third of the Stars from the sky and dumped them on earth. The Dragon crouched before the Woman in childbirth, poised to eat up the Child when it came.

^5-6 The Woman gave birth to a Son who will shepherd all nations with an iron rod. Her Son was seized and placed safely before God on his Throne. The Woman herself escaped to the desert to a place of safety prepared by God, all comforts provided her for 1,260 days.

^7-12 War broke out in Heaven. Michael and his Angels fought the Dragon. The Dragon and his Angels fought back, but were no match for Michael. They were cleared out of Heaven, not a sign of them left. The great Dragon—ancient Serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, the one who led the whole earth astray—thrown out, and all his Angels thrown out with him, thrown down to earth. Then I heard a strong voice out of Heaven saying,

Salvation and power are established!
    Kingdom of our God, authority of his Messiah!
The Accuser of our brothers and sisters thrown out,
    who accused them day and night before God.
They defeated him through the blood of the Lamb
    and the bold word of their witness.
They weren’t in love with themselves;
    they were willing to die for Christ.
So rejoice, O Heavens, and all who live there,
    but doom to earth and sea,
For the Devil’s come down on you with both feet;
    he’s had a great fall;
He’s wild and raging with anger;
    he hasn’t much time and he knows it.

^13-17 When the Dragon saw he’d been thrown to earth, he went after the Woman who had given birth to the Man-Child. The Woman was given wings of a great eagle to fly to a place in the desert to be kept in safety and comfort for a time and times and half a time, safe and sound from the Serpent. The Serpent vomited a river of water to swamp and drown her, but earth came to her help, swallowing the water the Dragon spewed from its mouth. Helpless with rage, the Dragon raged at the Woman, then went off to make war with the rest of her children, the children who keep God’s commands and hold firm to the witness of Jesus.

Lord,

Thank your for protecting us in the skirmishes of the ongoing battle for our attention by the enemy.  We see it for what it is, based on what you teach us.  Give us wisdom beyond our thinking to know how to fight the enemy led by you.  Show us your ways and we will walk in them.  We long for the day when the Accuser will be thrown out for good.  But for now, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from all evil and evil’s schemes to bring us down.  Help us to stand firm on your solid ground provided by You.  Thank you for your protection and provision.

In Jesus Name, Amen