Terror Avoided: When Fear Becomes Unnecessary

Outline

Big Idea: God obviates terror in the face of Satan’s attacks through Satan’s demise, through wilderness protection, and through the surety of His coming Kingdom.

Introduction

For those who follow my blog, you will see a new series of one liners that I began this week, based on the word of the day, Obviate.

To obviate something (usually a need for something or a necessity) is to anticipate it and prevent it.  A formal word, obviate can also mean, “to make an action unnecessary.”

E.G. - The new medical treatment obviates the need for surgery

E.G. - Allowing workers flexibility should obviate any objections to the change.

ONE of the one liners that will come out later this week was this…

YHWH Machsi (The LORD My Refuge) obviates terror’s grip with His reassuring touch.

Psalm 91:2

Psalm 91:2 ESV

2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

God obviates terror’s grip BEFORE terror even rises by assuring us of His presence and protection.

As we move into the back half of Revelation 12, we will see Satan’s ruthless and malicious attack on all who fear God.

His own defeat will be the catalyst and the fuel for his maliciousness

BUT

God obviates the need for terror in that He has already provided for their protection.

There is no need for them to fear-nor for us—because God provides for the struggle before we even know that one is coming.

Let’s begin with reading the text in its entirety.

Revelation 12:7–17 ESV

7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” 13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. 17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Won’t you be glad when the days of war are over?

Truth is, they are coming.

And for those enduring the dark days of tribulation, they inch ever closer.

But we are not there yet.

The back half of Revelation 12 may well expose yet another war, BUT God obviates the need for terror through His own intercession and protection and through the certainty of His coming Kingdom.

Body

As we shift our focus to that war, let me sidestep for a moment to focus more a moment on the reality of spiritual warfare.

Certainly as we have studied this text, and others over the years, we have at least eluded to the fact that there is a spiritual realm with spirit beings and there is a whole reality of things happening in that realm that we cannot see.

But it may be helpful for us to see and consider that what we are seeing here is not an isolated experience but a reality of conflict that has been going on since the beginning.

Spiritual Warfare in Scripture

The reality of war in heaven that Revelation 12:7 exposes is as terrifying as it is tragic.

War is tragic enough alone.

But war in heaven, in God’s abode…a place that should be free of such things.

Tragic indeed.

But as we saw last week, war has been raging since the very beginning of time, the Rivalry of the Ages, ever since God’s perfectly created Angel, Lucifer, Satan, fell from glory in a fit of pride and arrogance.

A look throughout scripture reminds us that, though we cannot see it, the spiritual realm is in fact very active and often embroiled in conflict.

The war arising in heaven here in chapter 12 is not the first.

We saw the very first war last week in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28. This was the record of Satan’s first fall from glory, his original rebellion. It detailed the sin of arrogance that prompted Satan think he both deserved and had the might to usurp God’s rightful place.

And since then, he has engaged in the rivalry of the ages.

Not that God has ever been, or ever will be, threatened by his affronting.

Satan has not, nor ever will, have any true dominance over God.

But, that first was is not the only one. Nor is it the only glimpse we are given into the spiritual realm. We are not given much, but we are given enough to know that angels exist in the spirit realm and they have been in conflict with Satan and his fallen angels since the time of original rebellion.

If we take a peek at a few other texts, we can see that there is indeed, a spiritual realm and very real spiritual conflict happening around us.

2 Kings 6:8-19

2 Kings 6:8–19 ESV

8 Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” 9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice. 11 And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 13 And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.

Here in this text, we get an incredible glimpse behind the veil. One that Elisha appears to have been able to see beyond, at least at times.

The King of Syria sent an army to come and collect Elisha.

As so often happens when God opposes evil men and uses his prophets to speak judgment against them, wicked men take it out their on the messenger, the one who happens to be within their grasp.

Funny how they think that by silencing the messenger of God, they can halt God’s decisions.

Indeed, the original sin of Satan, arrogance, dominates God’s once pristine creation now.

Application: Pride is the original poison, the high sin, the root of all others. Church, wage war on even the tiniest, most microscopic sliver lest it explode in Satanic, heaven splitting level rebellion.

E.G. - Just this past Wednesday, I was low. I was complaining against God. I was even telling God I did not want to read His Word. I did not want to read and be told that I needed to find joy and contentment in my struggles…I WANTED relief from them. I grumbled, I complained, I railed against God….And the funny thing…He sent me more God sightings in one single day than sometimes I have in an entire week…He sent me grace in the middle…AND what’s more, is that I di d not make a connection until I was meditating on this point…In the midst of my own grumbling, I was living pridefully, thinking that somehow I deserved better than what I was getting in life. THAT—THAT is the pride we are to wage war on, because that pride, left unchecked, will grow…like an infection, and it will kill and destroy. God, in his own gracious way, did not rebuke or punish…He graced me…and through that grace, drew out my pride and humbled me. He urged me to see it, repent of it, and leave no room left in my heart for it.

Pride is no joke, church. Every war, in heaven and on earth, is the catastrophic consequence of it.

It is not for no reason that the list of 6 things God hates, seven of which are an abomination to him (Proverbs 6:16-19) begins with pride (haughty eyes).

The King of Syria clutched the same sin of Satan - Arrogance to think he could do what he wanted with impunity AND that he could silence God simply by silencing God’s messenger.

So he sent soldiers to collect the trouble maker (to him) Elisha.

When Israel woke, they found their city surrounded by the Syrian army. Seeing it, Elisha’s servant panicked.

Elisha however, was not the slightest bit perturbed by it.

His response? Peace, man. Peace.

We have the God of heaven fighting for us.

Then he prayed, asked God to open his servants eyes so that he would see.

And suddenly, the servant saw an army surrounding the enemy, fighting for them.

The hills around the invading Syrian army was filled with horses and chariots of fire. God sent His own troops to stand against the enemy of heaven.

Elisha, full of the Spirit, had been fully aware of it. He was not fearful.

Daniel also recieved a glimpse into this spiritual conflict. It is recorded for us in Daniel 10.

Daniel 10 begins with Daniel fasting and mourning, seeking understanding from the Lord. Then he receives a terrifyingly glorious vision and is strengthened by a heavenly messenger who calls him “greatly loved” and tells him not to fear. The messenger explains that Daniel’s words were heard from the first day, but he was delayed twenty-one days by the “prince of Persia”—a spiritual opponent—until Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help. And even after delivering the message, the conflict continues, as the messenger says he must return to battle and that another adversary will arise. Daniel 10 gives us a rare glimpse behind the veil: spiritual warfare is real, prayer is heard, heaven intervenes, and God’s purposes prevail.

Consider just a few key verses from this section Daniel 10:1-21.

Daniel 10:12–14 ESV

12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”

Daniel 10:20–21 ESV

20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come. 21 But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.

These aren’t the only places spiritual warfare is presented.

Jude 9 gives us another peek.

….speaks about Michael contending with the adversary…

Michael and Satan have been locked in battles since Satan’s original rebellion.

A battle that will end and come to conclusion soon.

But

These small glimpses expose the reality that spiritual war rages ALL around us.

That there is a spiritual realm, that we cannot see, but that is very active.

So, when we see that war arises in heaven, it is not a new concept to scripture. BUT, I do believe it is leading the climatic conflict of the ages as we inch ever nearer to the end of the tribulation.

DISCLAMER

This is not something we need to fear or live in terror of.

But neither is it something that we should be careless about.

We need to view it with eyes of faith and the steadiness of His sustaining grace.

God rules all, unseen and seen alike. Not even the spiritual realm is beyond his power or control.

This war, that we are seeing in heaven, is not an isolated event. Ever since Satan’s first act of rebellion, the spirit realm has been locked in war.

But never one that has raged outside of His control.

And the end is coming.

One of the glorious promises and hopes of God’s eternal kingdom IS the ceasing of all wars; even those in the spiritual realm.

With that in mind, let’s return to the war in heaven.

The War in Heaven - Revelation 12:7-11

Revelation 12:7 ESV

7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,

NOW, war arose in heaven…

One of the big questions that has been discussed and debated over the years (and still) is WHEN is this war taking place?

The Timing of this war

Some view this as happening shortly after Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

This one was new to me.

Because of the context that “salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come…and they have conquered by the blood of the lamb…”

Some have taken this to mean that this war is thus taking place immediately after Christ’s death and resurrection.

However, the fact that they have conquered by the blood of the Lamb does not force or necessitate the timing to be immediately after the resurrection of Christ. They HAVE overcome and they have conquered by His blood.

Truth is—

Saints of all ages conquered in the exact same way.

The truth of 1 Peter 1:18-19 stands for all saints, OT, NT, and Tribulation alike…

1 Peter 1:18–19 ESV

18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

All saints salvation, no matter what time in history, is accomplished by the precious blood of Christ, poured upon the cross.

Faith, the word of their testimony and their repentance based upon the shed blood of Christ is ALWAYS the source and foundation of salvation.

APPLICATION: Church, never let this truth pass you by—It is by the blood of the Lamb ALONE, that we have victory and hope.

If you put your hope in anything else, it is misplaced and doomed to fail.

SO, no, the fact that they conquered by the blood of the lamb does NOT force the timing of this into immediate post resurrection chronology.

STILL OTHERS view this as happening at the time of the rapture.

They speculate that the ascent of the saints to heaven is the trigger that sets the war off.

But, this is indeed speculation at the best.

Since we are told that Satan is the accuser of the brethren, and it seems that he is STILL, presently so, it implies access to God in heaven in order to be so.

It certainly IS possible but I do not tend to lean here.

Others view this as happening at the midway point of the tribulation and his expulsion being the trigger for Satan’s indwelling of the antichrist and his rage against Israel and the followers of God in the second half of the tribulation.

This seems supported by the fact that after his being cast down, he wages war on the woman who was about to give birth.

We are told that she will be protected and nourished for 1260 days in the wilderness. We believe this is referring to the back half of the tribulation, the last 3.5 years. Thus his expulsion here seems directly tied and connected to the midway point of the tribulation.

This is where I lean.

Having kinda/sorta determined the timing of this way, the text introduces us to the participants of it.

The Participants of this Conflict

We see…

Michael and His angels

The Dragon and his angels. The dragon is referred to by several names in this text…

The Great Dragon

The Serpent

The Deceiver of the whole world

Names we have seen before for Satan that reveal his deceptive and wicked character. The liar, the father of lies, the murderer from the beginning.

Not a complementary description. But then, truth is not always complementary is it?

Truth IS always accurate though.

Satan has been about deception since that day in the garden.

Always mixing enough truth with his lies to deceive and lure the saints away with his lies.

You deserve more…

God is holding out on you…

The same lies I was actually believing and living out just days ago...

Satan has not changed his lies since the beginning. Tactics maybe, but not the lies he whispers. We just need to be able to discern them.

We are told that in the beginning of the tribulation, Satan will use his puppet, the antichrist, to tell the world a lie that they will believe. This will be strengthened by a great delusion that God will permit to come upon the earth that they will believe the deception he feeds.

Liar, indeed. The master of liars, in fact.

This dragon is THE KEY player. Even before his indwelling of the antichrist, he is using the antichrist as his tool to control and manipulate the world.

This particular war, though, will be between Michael and himself and the angels under their commands respectively.

As we have seen, this is NOT the first conflict. And it will likely not be their last.

Some have contended that this war is begun by the dragon himself, that the grammatical makeup of the text suggest it is Satan who initiates it.

As if he is trying to take heaven once and for all.

However, again, this does not seem to be anything more than speculation.

Some translations appear to set it up like this, but I am not convinced that the Greek bears that out. Now mind you, I am not Greek scholar, but I do not see it.

It DOES seem, though, that this war, whether started by Satan or by God Himself, is the war in which Satan is ONCE and FOR ALL booted out of heaven.

It does seem like it is at this point that His access to heaven is permanently revoked.

Up until this point, it seems that he and his fallen angels had access to heaven.

Satan is said to be the accuser who accuses the saints night and day (which implies his access to God to accuse)

Job shows him having access to heaven.

BUT, it seems likely that this expulsion from heaven ends his access once and for all.

“…there was no longer any place for them in heaven…”

Ticket revoked.

Access removed

“Membership canceled”

Keys taken

You get the idea…

Uninvited from being able to access heaven ever again.

From this point on, it appears, he is restricted to earth.

He will be THROWN DOWN.

Thrown Down

The word, thrown, here is no simple word. It is not simple relocation.

It is not even a kicked out and the door slammed in your face kind of action.

This is a FORCEFUL relocation from one place to another.

Picture the THROWING, the forceful chucking of something down to the ground.

ILLUSTRATED with something soft that I can forcefully throw to the ground, without breaking, as I preach.

That is the idea behind this word.

A relocation that involves considerable force.

Satan was FORCEFULLY expelled and cast down like the bag of trash that he is.

For a being as prideful and arrogant as he is, this wounding will only inflame his resentment and anger.

Time and time again, I cannot get the image out of my head of a wounded animal, backed into a corner…and the viciousness that it incites out of them.

THIS is Satan.

And that will get taken out on earth and on those who fear and serve God.

As He is thrown down, a loud voice declares the kingdom of God has come.

The Kingdom Comes

Revelation 12:10 ESV

10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

Listen church, the promise of coming of the Kingdom of God steadies the soul in the face of the most hostile opponents.

The loud voice is not identified—but its focus and intent is clear—WORSHIP at the coming of the salvation and the power and the kingdom of God!

Application: Church, do you feel the ache of creation for it’s salvation and deliverance? Do you look FORWARD to it with the same intensity of anticipation that we see in scripture?

Romans 8:18-25

Romans 8:18–25 ESV

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Church…DO YOU SEE IT?

Time and time again, we are seeing heaven cry out for deliverance.

Time and time again, we are seeing heaven cry out in worship when it comes.

Creation has been holding its breath, since Eden, awaiting the restoration of all things. Creation has been LONGING for its healing. Creation has been waiting, not always so patiently, for it’s cleansing and rebirth.

In the grant scheme of time and eternity, we are but “moments” away. It is so near they can taste it…and heaven is eagerly anticipatory!

Are you?

AND

Is your life being lived in anticipation of His kingdom coming?

Does your life reflect the passion, priorities, and purpose of that kingdom?

Does your heart rejoice when the will of the kingdom exerts itself?

The expulsion is yet another sign, another marker that the end moves ever nearer and closer.

The kingdom of God is coming.

The authority of Christ is coming in full.

verse 12 will go on to tell us that even Satan knows his time is short.

The days of his rule and terror are coming to an end.

The accuser is thrown down.

He has been conquered.

The blood of the Lamb ensured that.

God will not longer entertain his accusations. Even those are being cut off once and for all.

Those who have died on account of their faith will no longer be accused by the adversary before God.

God will no longer endure that insult and offense.

And insult it is.

The text says that these ones, in particular, are those who have laid down their lives. They “loved not their lives even unto death.”

They were willing to DIE for their love and faith in God.

Satan’s accusations are an offense, an insult.

One that God has endured for centuries.

As His kingdom approaches…

As the end nears…

God will no longer entertain them.

Satan, the accuser has been cast down.

For this reason, heaven rejoices.

Heaven rejoices because heaven is finally cleansed of their presence forever. Their filth is no longer permitted there.

The defeat of the accuser means the believer no longer stands under condemnation; his accusations cannot overturn the blood of the Lamb. His defeat removes doubt about God’s intention to remove all condemnation from those who repent.

BUT

Heaven’s cause of celebration is Earth’s cause for dread.

The War on Earth - Revelation 12:12-17

Revelation 12:12–17 ESV

12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” 13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. 17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

As MacArthur put it, the scouring and cleansing of heaven that removes Satan and his angels from heaven, is also earths pollution.

Having lost his access to heaven, Satan, the Dragon, will intensify his war on earth.

The Dragons Pursuit

In particular, Satan will intensify his pursuit of the woman.

The woman represents the nation of Israel, the covenant people of God, through whom the Messiah came. Satan’s rage has always been on her, but after his final eviction from heaven, he comes down with a ferocity that is terrifying.

When he fails to destroy her, he will direct his gaze to any and all who have the “audacity” to worship God.

After he is cast down, it is here that we believe the abomination of desolation happens.

The Abomination of Desolation

Two texts we need to consider here.

The prophet Daniel spoke of the Abomination of Desolation. Daniel 9:27

Daniel 9:27 ESV

27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”

The antichrist will make a strong covenant, a peace treaty, with Israel, which will last for half of the week, for 3.5 years.

It is a peace treaty, a covenant, he will break at the midway point of the tribulation.

He will put an end to their sacrifices and offerings, to their temple worship.

He will abominate, he will make desolate.

He will set himself up as God and expect to be worshipped. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

2 Thessalonians 2:1–4 ESV

1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

When all this happens, we believe at the midway point of the tribulation, after Satan is cast down out of heaven, Israel will be forced to flee as Satan, indwelling the antichrist, now wages are on those who will not worship him as God—most notably, Israel.

Christ Himself addressed this in Matthew 24:15-22.

Matthew 24:15–22 ESV

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

Israel will once more be on the back side of an opposing force.

They will be forced to flee quickly in the wake of this, but God will provide protection and refuge for them.

The Refuge

Isaiah 26 is a song that teaches God’s people to trust the LORD as their Rock and the giver of peace while the world remains under the weight of futility. It pictures a people in distress—like labor pains—longing for deliverance that they cannot produce on their own. Then God gives a startling promise: when His wrath moves through the earth, He will shelter His people—“enter your chambers, shut your doors”—hiding them for a little while until His fury has passed.

But it is chapter 27 that tells us this is in context of the tribulation

Isaiah 27:1 ESV

1 In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea.

In that day…

God will protect Israel

While making and end of the the great serpent, the great dragon.

He will supernaturally aid them with two “wings” a great eagle to aid their escape.

Wings depict speed and strength, but most predominantly, protection. Deuteronomy 32:9-11; Psalm 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 63:7; 91:4.

The Eagle imagery is symbolic, but it pictures strength, speed, and regal protection.

Combined, the wings and the eagle give us an image of rapid, mighty, and firm protection for them as they flee to this place of refuge.

In this refuge and fortress, cut off from the rest of the world, God will supernaturally provide for her people there.

She is to be nourished for a time

They would not have access to supplies and likely the adversary would make sure access is cut off.

But God would ensure that they are provided for in this refuge in the wilderness.

I imagine, it will be much like the days of the wilderness wanderings.

Do you see it, church? Do you see the glory of God to obviate every need we will face before we face it? Does it prompt your heart to worship an obviating God?

They will take refuge here for 3.5 years (a time, times, and half a time)

For the second half of the tribulation, they will be protected and provided for here.

God’s promises of protection obviate fear of being defeated by the enemy. In fact, it obviates fear of the enemy himself.

The Adversary, still attempting to destroy them, will send a flood.

The Flood

Revelation 12:15 ESV

15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood.

Exactly when and what this means, is debated.

I read this as Satan sending the flood to stop their flight before they reach the refuge of safety.

Others have read this as a second attempt AFTER they have reached safety.

Is this a literal flood with water?

Probably not.

Some have speculated (and probably accurately so) that this “flood” is an army sent against them in massive numbers in an attempt to overwhelm and destroy them.

Whatever it is precisely—

Whenever it is—

We know it is Satan’s relentless attempts to destroy them.

Attempts that will fail, though, because God will shield them.

God’s Defense

Revelation 12:16 ESV

16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.

God supernaturally protects then, perhaps using the earth somehow.

We saw a similar OT experience in Numbers 16:28-33.

The text records God’s decisive judgment against Korah, Dathan, and Abiram for rejecting His appointed authority. Under the guise of spiritual equality, they despised the LORD by rebelling against the leaders He had chosen. Moses places his own calling on the line, declaring that a supernatural judgment will confirm God’s will—and the earth itself responds, opening to swallow the rebels alive.

This moment reveals that rebellion against God’s ordained mediators is not a minor offense but a direct assault on His holiness, order, and authority, serving as a sobering warning to the congregation and a reminder that God Himself defends His purposes and His servants.

But in this event, the earth opened up, presumably in an earthquake, and claimed the men who refused God’s authority.

This text may give us a clue as to what is happening in Revelation.

This could well be a reference to an earthquake opening the ground and devouring whatever it was that the antichrist sent against Israel.

Main point is, Satan failed

Again

Because God will not permit Satan to touch His people.

Having failed here, Satan will redirect His gaze

All Fair Game

Revelation 12:17 ESV

17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Having failed to destroy Israel, Satan will run after ANY who name the name of Jesus.

He has a special hatred for Israel and they are the focus of his attention.

However, having failed and been thwarted from being able to stop them…Israel being beyond his reach…He pivots.

His attention is towards ANY who “keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”

The tense of keep and hold is a present participle

Present and continuous action

Satan’s gaze shifts from his obsessive hatred of Israel to ANY who, through their testimony are faithfully and unapologetically following Jesus. The “children” of Israel…Gentiles…who have believed because of the 144,000 witnesses (among others.)

The ones Satan targets are those who love God and who, even in the face of death, are unwavering.

Satan will make war (same tense…upon them.

Application: Church, if Satan were to set his war gaze upon any today who are KEEPING the commandments of God and HOLDING to their testimony of repentance and faith, would you be in the enemies crosshairs?

**Let the silence stretch for a moment.

Faithful obedience has always down hostility from Satan. From Cain to Korah, to Christ, to the tribulation saints.

Is the hostility of Satan directed upon you?

I realize that none of us wants that.

BUT

When we love God, it is a cost we are willing to pay.

AND

God obviates our need to cower away from it through His own sustaining, nourishing, and protecting presence.

Conclusion

Big Idea: God obviates terror in the face of Satan’s attacks through Satan’s demise, through wilderness protection, and through the surety of His coming Kingdom.

Church, Satan WILL make war on Israel and on all those who fear God and keep his commandments.

And many will die by Satan’s hand.

But God obviates terror in the face of that prospect by promising that not even death will stop the coming of His Kingdom.

Satan’s final demise is yet another stamp of affirmation that it is coming.

AND

While we will not have to live through the tribulation, we need to be reminded of this truth: We ARE still in a war.

Understanding that truth, we need to ask…

Which side are you on?

If you are on Christ’s, are you an enemy that would make you to focus of our adversary’s attack? Or would he skip over you deeming you more of an asset to his tactics than to Christ’s?

Satan IS and will be ruthless in that day.

But here is the hope…

NOT EVEN HE can prevent the coming of the Kingdom of God!

God will protect.

He will deliver, even if through death.

His kingdom WILL come.

His rule WILL be forever.

And His glory will shine through it all!

Meditate upon that truth as you strive to SEE and SAVOR him in your growth, together, into the image of Jesus, for the glory of God.

Pray

Application

How can we practically acknowledge God as our refuge during times of spiritual warfare?

What steps can we take to ensure that we are fully relying on the blood of the Lamb for our victory?

In what ways can understanding Satan's eventual demise give us hope in our current struggles?

How does recognizing the reality of spiritual warfare affect our daily lives and interactions with others?

What does it mean for us to be ‘overcomers’ by the word of our testimony as discussed in Revelation?

How can you apply the concept of God being your refuge in your daily challenges at school?

What are some practical ways to stay strong in your faith when faced with peer pressure or negativity?

In what situations do you feel the attacks of Satan most strongly, and how can you prepare yourself spiritually for those moments?