Revelation 12:7-12
King James Version (KJV)
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
12: 7-11 Angelic Activity in Spiritual Warfare. FAITH’S WARFARE. The casting down of Satan results from a great battle between the hosts of heaven and the hordes of hell. In this battle, heaven’s warriors force Satan and his demons forever from the heavenly realm. But we must note that victory is not achieved solely by the angels, but also by believers' use of spiritual weapons. The angels fight, but God’s saints provide the "firepower." This is clearly shown by v.11. "They overcome" him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony." The angels did not overcome the Accuser alone; the saints were in partnership through prayer-warfare: the angels were God’s means for administering the victory which prayer enforced.
Notice the mention of mention of Michael, the archangel (v.7, one of four places where he is mentioned I Scripture.) In each mention, spiritual warfare is clearly implied. This is true in Dan. 10 where Michael’s involvement in battle t victory is the direct result of Daniel’s fasting and prayer (Dan. 10:1-4, 12, 13). (Ezra 8:21-23/Mark 11:20-24)
12:7, 9 Fallen Angels. ANGELS. The Scriptures reveal both good angels and evil angels. The evil entitles are those angels who rebelled with Lucifer and were cast out of heaven with him. Their minds and understanding have been covered with the horrible darkness of deception-the same tactic Satan still uses to lead his victim astray. They were created in God’s original order to do His will, as those angels who continue in obedience to His throne. But these "kept not their first estate" (Jude 6) and are now agents of the Adversary, bound under his dark dominion and serving Satan’s rebellious enterprise.
12:10, 11 NT: Agelong Warfare, PROPHECY AND THE KINGDOM. John’s prophecy in ch.12 convey the same essential message as Dan. 7, the primary difference being that John writes after Christ’s first coming, victorious death, resurrection, and ascension (v.5). Vv. 1-17 relate:
1) the ongoing warfare on Earth (v.9):
2) the overcoming ability of the redeemed because "the kingdom" has come (v.10):
3) the two-edged truth that their victories often cost martyrdom (v. 11): and
4) the basis of their triumph: the Cross ("the blood of the Lamb") and the authority of God’s Word ("the word of their testimony" – v. 12).
Various interpretive systems see this at different times within redemptive history. The mixture of pre-a-, and postmillennial viewpoints has often fragmented the church, rather than providing a common base of wisdom for each group to receive while embracing one another as, presently, we all face a common Adversary (v.9). Seeing that no complete interpretive scheme will be verified until after Chris comes.
Our wisdom is to embrace the Cross as our salvation and our source of overcoming victory. Then we can enter the conflict in confidence, knowing we shall triumph even though circumstances temporarily set us back. In the time of conflict, it will make no difference who was "right," but only that we were on the Messiah’s side in this age long spiritual struggle.
The text provides two indisputable facts:
The kingdom of God has already established triumph over the Serpent (Vv.9, 10).
Still, those engaged in conflict in the name of the Lamb sometimes are vanquished to death (v.11). Breadth and balance is given to our perspective. The presence of the kingdom at this time calls each believer to responsible spiritual warfare and anticipated victories. Yet, at the same time, the presence of evil struggles for survival; though "cast down." the Serpent writhes viciously. Thus our temporal situation is often a fierce and sometimes painful struggle, seeming to issue in an indeterminate standoff before our Enemy. But he only has "a short time," until finally the kingdom to come (v.10) shall become the kingdom accomplished (Rev. 19-22).
Let us do battle in faith and with faithfulness and looking to that day of His ultimate kingdom, know the Holy Spirit is preparing us for kingdom victories today. (see Dan. 7:21, 22). (Dan. 7:21, 22/Gen. 1:1)
12:11 Declaring the Ultimate Victory in Christ. FAITH’S CONFESSION. There is no greater biblical declaration of faith’s confession. Those facing the cataclysmic travail of the last days endure it with a constant statement of the overcoming power of the blood of the Lamb and of the word of their transforming faith in Christ. Some of those declaring Christ’s ultimate victory with their own lips (6:9, 11:7) face fury of Satan’s most vicious and personal attacks against them. Yet, their faith is unwavering, the result of an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. This is the heart of faith’s confession, based in God’s Word and the blood of the Lamb whose victory has provided the eternal conquest of Satan.
With Christ’s victory over Satan, we see these who have maintained their confession of faith and thereby share in His victory. With their sins blotted out and their declaration of Jesus’ redemptive work in their lives, they silence the attempts of the prince of darkness to intimate God’s children. His accusing voice of condemnation and guilt is swallowed up in the triumph of Calvary. Declare your abiding faith in the accomplished work of the Cross, and constantly participate in Jesus’ ultimate victory, overcoming Satan by the power of the Cross and the steadfastness of your confession of faith in Christ’s triumph. Heb. 11:13-16/Gen. 17:5*)
12:7-11The same spiritual conflict, contemporaneous with vv.1-6, is now described in the heavenly realm. Michael, in the tradition of Judaism, is one of seven archangels and the guardian champion of Israel (see Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9). The dragon and his angels were defeated by the total event of Jesus Christ (see Matt. 12:28; 28:16; Luke 10:17-19; John 12:31, 32; Col. 2:15).
DISPENSATIONAL INTERPRETATION: Michael has a unique place in the destiny of national Israel (Dan. 12:1). Here, Michael is involved in the expulsion of Satan from heaven…into the earth in the middle of the Great Tribulation (see Dan. 10:10-14).
12:10 Now refers to the first advent (v.5). This is His kingdom "not of this world"; it must not be understood in terms of an earthly political kingdom. The accuser: (Job 1:6: The First Assault of Satan - Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. 2:7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and some Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
Playwright Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/President/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
www.biblestoriestheatre.org
info@biblestoriestheatre.org
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