The War In Heaven

Revelation 12:1-17

INTRODUCTION:

As we read the headlines of our present day, it seems as though Satan and his army of destructive demons are winning. He is on the offensive everywhere we turn. We constantly see the Satan’s aggression through drug abuse, crime and the aggression of ungodly governments. All of Hell seems to be loosed upon the face of the Earth.

The Word of God , however, gives us the assurance that Satan is not going to win!

Let’s take a look in our text to see what God says about our adversary.

I- SATAN IS WAGING WAR TO DESTROY THE PURPOSES OF GOD. (Revelation 12:1-6)

Revelation 12:1–6 (NLT)

1 Then I witnessed in heaven an event of great significance. I saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head.

2 She was pregnant, and she cried out because of her labor pains and the agony of giving birth.

3 Then I witnessed in heaven another significant event. I saw a large red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, with seven crowns on his heads.

4 His tail swept away one-third of the stars in the sky, and he threw them to the earth. He stood in front of the woman as she was about to give birth, ready to devour her baby as soon as it was born.

5 She gave birth to a son who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her child was snatched away from the dragon and was caught up to God and to his throne.

6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place to care for her for 1,260 days.

A- Satan waged war in Eden to destroy God’s purposes for mankind. (Genesis 1:26-31; 3:1-24)

1- God’s purposes for mankind:

a. To be like his creator. (Genesis 1:26a)

Genesis 1:26a (NLT)

26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

b. To have dominion over the rest of creation. (Genesis 1:26-28)

Genesis 1:26–28 (NLT)

26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

c. To have communion with God. (Genesis 3:8)

Genesis 3:8 (NLT)

8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees.

2- Man’s surrender to Satan in the fall derailed God’s plans for mankind. (Genesis 3:1-24)

a. man’s nature becomes twisted.

b. Nature is no longer under man’s control.

c. Sin broke the fellowship between God and mankind.

B- Satan has continued to wage war against God’s purposes.

1- The wonders that appeared:

a. The sun-clad woman, walking on the moon is Israel. (Revelation 12:1-2)

Revelation 12:1–2 (NLT)

1 Then I witnessed in heaven an event of great significance. I saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head.

2 She was pregnant, and she cried out because of her labor pains and the agony of giving birth.

(see Genesis 37:9–11)

Genesis 37:9–11 (NLT)

9 Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!”

10 This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. “What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?”

11 But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant.

(1) It was through Israel that the Savior would come.

(a) The Savior was first promised in Genesis 3:15.

Genesis 3:15 (NLT)

15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

(b) Israel was to be a light to the world (notice her attire, crown and pathway).

b. The great red dragon with the seven heads, ten horns and seven crowns is Satan.

(Revelation 12:3-4)

Revelation 12:3–4 (NLT)

3 Then I witnessed in heaven another significant event. I saw a large red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, with seven crowns on his heads.

4 His tail swept away one-third of the stars in the sky, and he threw them to the earth. He stood in front of the woman as she was about to give birth, ready to devour her baby as soon as it was born.

(1) The seven heads speak of his wisdom and ability to formulate strategy. Satan is a master strategist.

(a) Note Ephesians 6:11.

Ephesians 6:11 (NLT)

11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

(2) The ten horns speaks of world domination.

c. The Man-child is the Lord Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:5)

Revelation 12:5 (NLT)

5 She gave birth to a son who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her child was snatched away from the dragon and was caught up to God and to his throne.

(1) He is a ruler: He will one day rule the nations - according to God’s master plan.

(2) He was caught up to the throne of God.

C- Satan makes war to destroy God’s purpose for you today.

(1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:10-18)

1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

1- Satan will do all that is within his power to keep you from finding and fulfilling God’s purpose for your life.

a. He uses circumstances and people to wage his war.

b. If he can get your eyes off of Jesus and onto anything else, he is well on his way to winning the battle.

II- SATAN IS ALREADY DEFEATED. (Revelation 12:7-17)

A- Satan was defeated by Calvary and the Empty Tomb.

1- At Calvary, Jesus bridged the separation between God and sinful men.

a. All who receive God’s gift of grace through Jesus are reconciled to God.

(Romans 5:17)

2- At the empty tomb, Jesus defeated the greatest enemy - Death!

(1 Corinthians 15:54-58)

B- Satan will be banished from Heaven. (Revelation 12:7-17)

1- Satan continually accuses us before the Father. (Revelation 12:10-11)

Revelation 12:10–11 (NLT)

10 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last— salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night.

11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.

a- Example- Job (Job 1-2)

b- He accuses you and I in the same manner.

2- Satan is a sly deceiver of men, (Revelation 12:7-9)

Revelation 12:7–9 (NLT)

7 Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels.

8 And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven.

9 This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.

(1) Notice the names given to Satan here:

dragon - because of his fierce, destructive nature.

serpent - because he is crafty and deceptive.

devil - (διάβολος) sladerer, accuser

Satan - (Σατανᾶς) adversary

deceiver (πλανάω) - to mislead, to deceive, to cause to be mistaken

2- Satan will one day be banished from Heaven forever. (Revelation 12:9-10)

Revelation 12:9–10 (NLT)

9 This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.

10 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last— salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night.

a-He will no longer be able to accuse us before God - He is a defeated foe!

C- Satan’s plans - all of them - will be thwarted! (Revelation 12: 12-17)

Revelation 12:12–17 (NLT)

12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.”

13 When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.

14 But she was given two wings like those of a great eagle so she could fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness. There she would be cared for and protected from the dragon for a time, times, and half a time.

15 Then the dragon tried to drown the woman with a flood of water that flowed from his mouth.

16 But the earth helped her by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that gushed out from the mouth of the dragon.

17 And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus.

1- Satan will unleash his full fury upon the Earth.

a- He will attempt to do as much harm to the purposes of God as he can because he knows his time is near. (Revelation 12:12)

Revelation 12:12 (NLT)

12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.”

b- He will persecute Israel without mercy!

(1) Driving her into the wilderness.

2- God will graciously and miraculously take care of Israel for 3 1/2 years.

(The last half of the Great Tribulation.)

a. Satan will pursue Israel to destroy her, but even the Earth will aid her.

b. Satan will unsuccessfully attempt to destroy all of God’s people.

(1) God will always protect his own from the enemy.

CONCLUSION:

The only way to escape Satan’s destructive work in the Tribulation and now is by repenting of your sin and receiving Christ as Lord and Savior.

Satan is a defeated foe. All of his attempts to defeat the plans of God will come to naught. Why not trust in the victor - Jesus Christ for salvation today?