War In Heaven - Satan Cast Down

Introduction

Jesus taught us to pray, “May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

This week and next, we’ll see how that prayer’s object is fulfilled against our enemy the Devil. It begins with the war in heaven (Revelation 12:7-12).

In chapter 12, John looks and he sees a huge red dragon attempt to destroy the Messiah – he fails. Then a battle breaks out. Michael and his angels waged war - they started the battle as an offensive!

The struggle for us here is to understand the role of this very visual battle in symbolism and in its message to us that goes way beyond a battle against a dragon.

But for now, please stand with me and read of the war in heaven.

Revelation 12:7–12 NASB95PARA

And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then 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 brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”

An Angelic Offensive

For starters note that heaven and earth are not separate in the sense that they are unrelated. The events upon earth are reflected by events in heaven. Not as the perverted opinions of men have imagined the ancient false gods of the nations or at all by looking for movements in the stars, but in the sense of a cosmic struggle being played out in heaven and on earth.

The war as we see it begins in heaven with Michael (Who's name means "Who is like God" fighting against the dragon (who wanted to be like God. Isaiah 14:14). The irony here or the message is that there is no one like God.

From this scenario it nearly sounds like Michael has taken over Lucifer's old job of head angel.

Michael the Archangel

Michael is named in Daniel 10:13, 21 and Daniel 12:1, and Jude 9. In all of those verses we learn a few details.

First: that Michael is called one of the chief princes, in the hierarchy of heaven he is way up there. He is referred to as an Archangel - that means a first order or a ruling angel.

Second: He has authority - and in fact is given (by God) the guardianship of the nation of Israel. Knowing that Israel is God’s chosen people, this ought to help us to discern the value and responsibility that God places upon Michael.

Third: Michael, as an Archangel was the only other helper that Gabriel had in his battle against the “prince of Persia” whom we presume was the demonic power who - in service to Lucifer - was the fallen angel (demon) in charge of the government of Persia.

Fourth: This very battle was foretold in a sentence in Daniel 12:1

Daniel 12:1 NASB95PARA

“Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.

Fifth: Finally we learn that Michael serves the Lord and not himself. We see this in Jude 9 where we discover a historical note that Michael the Archangel doesn’t bring a railing accusation against Satan; but rather submits him to God for judgement.

Now at last it seems that Michael the prince stands up to do battle with Satan at the time, I think of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ - the great war begins there with Lucifer losing his power over death through the victory of the gospel.

From all of this we can learn a few principles that at least seem to be true with regard to the Spiritual war around us.

There are certain angels and / or demons that are given charge over specific governments. It should come as no surprise to us as Christians as we observe throughout history the rise and fall of kingdoms and the particular evil of kingdoms throughout the ages. That there is an angel or a demon given charge over a given nation does not eliminate personal responsibility before God’s throne for final judgement will be rendered (as we shall see at the end of Revelation ) to the individual; and based upon the individual’s actions.There is a profound Spiritual battle around us which we may not see; but which here we have revealed in a microcosm as the angelic war against the dragon (Satan) and his angels by Michael and his angels.

The battle certainly stirs the imagination and despite my best attempts I cannot help but seek to imagine the battle. It is not hard for me to imagine battle lines forming and flaming swords being drawn as angels and demons clash in mighty armor.

Imagination aside, Michael and the angels under him launched an offensive against Satan and the angels serving him (Matthew 25:41). The result was initially a counter attack by Satan and his angels. But, as Martin Luther reminds us in his marvelous song, “A Mighty Fortress is our God”, “That though this world with devil’s filled should threaten to undo us, we will not fail for God has willed His truth to triumph through us. The prince of Darkness Grim. We tremble not for Him, one little word shall fell him” and that word is Jesus.

Can I get an amen?

One other item needs to be given sufficient note as we look at this chapter’s brief history of Time. Namely the teaching of Daniel 12:1 that the tribulation period begins when Michael stands up and as the next verse shows us: Satan is cast down.

This introduces us to a bit more of the idea of what is happening on earth in the tribulation period as we will see more of next week - in the war on earth. But for now, I want us to look at the casting out of Satan from heaven.

LESSON: As we ourselves begin to fight the enemy - the enemy will begin to fight against us. Where if we are powerless to effect his kingdom he will ignore us but as we increase in our efforts he will increase his counterattack.

The Defeat of the Devil: (vv8-9)

And if you look beginning at the second verse, there are two significant items of note:

Most importantly: They were not strong enough (to win the fight). Satan and his angels fight back but they have no power. Listen dear church, this matters - because I don’t know about you, but it seems that we are prone to being on the defense rather than the offense. Do you feel like the Spiritual battle you are in is questionable in its outcome? I am rather certain that the early church could have felt that way as Emperor Nero lit Christians on fire to light his gardens. I am rather certain that the early church could have felt like they were losing as they were being thrown to the lions. But if the testimonies of women like Perpetua (look her up) or of Polycarp are any indication, they viewed victory through the eyes of being faithful to Jesus unto death. Maybe you and I need to redefine our definition of the victorious life. Obey God and entrust him with your reward.

Second of note is this: There was no longer a place for them in heaven.

As troublesome as it sounds, the enemy of our souls has access to the throne room of heaven.

JOB

When we open the ancient book of Job we get a chance to see the interaction. There, when the angels of God come to present themselves to God, the enemy also comes and, God endeavors to teach Satan something (See Ephesians 3:10), even though it clearly appears that Satan won’t learn. Ephesians 3:10 teaches us that God is still doing this. In the church, God is teachings “the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” We are not told exactly what he is teaching them; but it seems reasonable to determine that he is teaching them about his power, glory, grace, forgiveness, and salvation which they themselves cannot obtain; nor can they fully understand it through experience (1 Peter 1:12).

ZECHARIAH

And again we see in Zechariah 3:1-2 that as it was back in the day of Job, so too it was as Israel was rebuilding - Satan intruded into the throne room of God in order to accuse the high priest named Joshua. But look there at how God orders the cleansing of Joshua (Zechariah 3:3-5). The story of Joshua is the story of God’s salvation standing up against the onslaught of the devil. You could not wear an armor of steel or Kevlar strong enough to resist these attacks of the enemy. Before his onslaught and immense power you could not stand against him by force. Against his cunning and wickedness you could not stand against him by wit. But clothed in the righteousness of Christ no weapon of the enemy either in word or craft can harm you in the slightest. So even today when it seems he stands to accuse the brethren I invite you to see here the gospel of Jesus Christ over you. Jesus Christ also stands at the throne and he is interceding on our behalf to the Father! What a glorious knowledge to know that our advocate in heaven is God himself! If God before us, who can be against us?

Here we read that in heaven the accusations and attacks, the assaults and intrusion of the enemy have come to an end. And no further foothold no further place was found for them.

Notice in verse 9 that three times in a single verse entire devilish host are thrown down. God has repeated it because it is a sacred truth. God has repeated it here because you need to know dear Christian that the war is not up for debate. There will be a winner, there will be a loser. There is no between, there is no stalemate. The eastern idea of yin and yang in which light and dark are locked in an endless struggle or are essentially balancing each other out is a direct denial of the truth of Scripture. Dark is not merely the opposite of light it is the absence of light. Sin and evil is not merely anti-holy activity it is activity in the absence of holiness.

The devil is not in any measure on an equal power plane to God our Father. As a created being he is less than his creator. And he should have known that. Even so many today act as if they can be their own God but they are never going to be on the same plane as their creator.

Very quickly take note that Satan is called by four names here:

1. The great Dragon: It is an image of power, chaos, and destructive force.

2. The Serpent of old: Which conjures reminders of his sneaking temptation and conniving lies of the garden.

3. The Devil: which means liar and means "given to malicious gossip". the hated words of Satan's accusations will never be heard in heaven's courts again! (Hallelujah! Praise to God!)

4. Satan is his fourth name: which simply means Adversary or enemy.

5. Just a short way down we see the fifth name: "The accuser of our brothers" (This is personal - he's not just accusing anyone - but our family!) Formerly the villain would spew accusations at any time to God the Father (met with intercessions by Christ but now) - o Glorious church, now the accusations are ended forever.

Whatever his name, he and his angels are kicked out of heaven. The result is worship.

The Praise:

The worshipping voice of the saints in heaven cry out four results of Satan’s defeat.

1. Salvation has come - that is the final realization of it as Christ takes the throne reserved for Him alone and begins to rule over all men.

2. The power has come to Christ who for years has not visibly ruled. We have waited our whole lives, the church has waited 2000 years and the universe has waited since the fall for things to be set right. In the beginning God was all and in all, and he ruled the universe. Now, God will again in Christ be all, and will rule all visibly and will be recognized as the king of all things.

3. The kingdom of God the Blessed reign of Christ has come at last - no longer are we waiting for it.

4. The Authority of his Christ has come, Jesus has finally been recognized by the universe - even the rebels must now confess. This is where "Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2)

The Key to Victory:

The worship refrain begins here with a key to the victory of Michael and his angels. And we need to know it for our own personal spiritual battles.

Here Then Is The Key To Victory: The Gospel.

See how Michael and his troops overcame. Not with swords but with faith.

1) by the blood of the Lamb. (upon the cross, the enemy was defeated.) It is not superior might, but a superior savior who defeats the devil.

2) by the word of their testimony (Witness of the gospel). The listening church hears in this the exhortation to keep the faith until death.

3) and because they did NOT love their own life more than death. (Surrender of self to Christ, the surrender of all to Christ even at the cost of life. Dear Church – we must stand against Satan in this.

The blood of Christ upon the cross destroys his power. Our witness of faith embraces the sacrifice of Christ and makes him our own savior thus removing Satan’s power over us either to accuse or assault, and our own humble surrender to Christ to give our lives to him and thus to lose this Christ-less life in order to have life with Christ forever gives us the victory that is in Jesus.