We imagine heaven to be the place of peace and tranquility, beauty and perfection.  It is now, but there was a time of rebellion that rose up, led by an arrogant, powerfully pride filled angel who wanted to be God.  He wanted to be in charge.  He wanted all that God had created to be his own so he could control all.  He wanted all of God’s heavenly realm so badly that he decided to gather other angels, deceive them into thinking they needed to overcome God with him so they could share in the bounty!  He wanted the worship meant for God to be given to him.  He still wants that. 

Imagine forming an army in heaven to rise up and go to war against God!  It seems ludicrous to us, right?  Would we be a part of that?  Would we join the rebellion and fight with the Destroyer?  Or would we remain firmly planted in our faith in God who ultimately wins over evil?  Do we stand firm, in awe of God, with assurance of deliverance, knowing we have protection from God as we call on His Name? Will we choose unending, relentless love or the hate and anger of evil? Mindblowning.

No, we cannot imagine falling for the hate filled deceit that spews from this angel who was so full of himself that he thought he could replace God—but sometimes we do.  We all fall for him when we take our eyes off Jesus and rely only on self and “follow our hearts” which is yet another lie of Satan.

John’s vision reveals the whole story of the “Fallen Angel” who went to war against God and the Son of God, Jesus—and was thrown out of the Kingdom and banished to earth.    

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.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We are given real, specific reasons why Satan hates believers of God and His Son, Jesus.  Satan hates God so much he will do anything and everything to distract people from God.  He will deceive us with lies that tell us we “deserve” more than God.  He does all things opposite of God’s character. 

Satan and his demons hover over our beings with temptations as consistent as those incessant commercials that interrupt our programming or browsing!  We are programed to worship our Creator God—and only God.  Worship of anyone or anything else is giving in to the Destroyer who wants to end our relationship with God and with His people.  Take note:  Our real enemy is not each other, it is this fallen angel who is furious with God.

In this revelation of Truth, we begin to understand why Satan becomes so enraged when believers call on the Name of Jesus because they know Jesus hears and will answer.  His fury all began with Jesus.  Satan hates Jesus who he could not tempt to follow him on earth—the place where he was exiled. 

Satan had a plan for Jesus that failed miserably.  Satan thought he had gotten rid of God’s Son, who pleased His Father, God.  He stirred the minds of those who were full of pride like himself which led to having Jesus killed on a cross.  How Satan and his demons must have reveled when their rival was brought low, mocked, tortured, and then crucified to die forever.  But Jesus didn’t stay dead.

Was Satan so full of pride that he forgot his power is limited?  Did he really think his power could match the power of God who can raise His Son from death to life in victory forever?  If Satan didn’t realize it then, he knows it now and is determined to bring us down with daily attacks on all believers—especially those firmly committed to Jesus who trust and obey the will of God with resolute hearts for God. 

“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.” 

Does this not send chills down our spines?

God’s Word, coupled with His Holy Spirit who lives in us to lead us to Truth, gives us all we need to combat the real enemy of our hearts, minds, and souls with confidence and assurance.  Here are a few:

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:1-4 Satan power is limited.

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” –Jesus, Matthew 28:20 As we join God in His salvation work, telling others about Jesus, God/Jesus/Holy Spirit is with us.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.  Ephesians 6:10-18

Satan knows he doesn’t have much time left. 

Believers in Jesus know we have forever! 

Who do you choose?

 Lord,

Thank you for a daily cleansing of our hearts, a renewing of our minds that transform our behaviors, a refreshing of our souls with your tender mercies, and a continual restoration of the joy of your salvation at work within us as we battle your enemy and ours.  Thank you for snatching us out of the fire when we are tempted and deceived by him. Thank you for Your Word that clarifies the difference between you and all that is not you.  We need you every hour and every hour you deliver truth. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen