Tuesday: War in Heaven and Earth
The fall of our first parents plunged the world into sin, evil, and death. People might disagree on the immediate causes, or who’s at fault, but who can deny the reality of the turmoil, violence, upheaval, and conflict that afflict us all here?
Image © Review & Herald Publishing from GoodSalt.com
We talk about a cosmic controversy, a cosmic conflict; and that’s fine and true. But whatever the cosmic origins of this conflict, it is being played out here on earth, as well. Indeed, so much biblical history — from the fall in Eden up through final events leading to the second coming of Jesus — is in many ways the biblical exposition of the great controversy. We live amid this controversy. The Word of God explains to us what is going on, what is behind it, and most important, how it is going to end.
Read Revelation 12:1-17. What battles does this chapter portray as unfolding both in heaven and on earth?
We see a battle in heaven, and battles on earth, as well. The first battle is between the dragon (Satan, Rev. 12:7-9) and Michael (Hebrew meaning: “Who is like God?”). The rebel Lucifer became known as Satan (Adversary), who is merely a created being fighting against the eternal Creator, Jesus (Heb. 1:1-2; John 1:1-4).
Lucifer was rebelling against his Maker. The great controversy is not about dueling gods; it’s about a creature rebelling against his Creator and manifesting that rebellion by attacking the creation, as well.
Failing in his battle against Christ in heaven, Satan sought to go after Him on earth right after His human birth (Rev. 12:4). Failing in his battle against Christ here, and then failing against Him in the wilderness and later at the cross, Satan — after his irreversible defeat at Calvary — went to war against Christ’s people. This war has raged through much of Christian history (Rev. 12:6, Rev. 12:14-16) and will continue until the end (Rev. 12:17), until Satan faces another defeat, this time at the second coming of Jesus.
| Read Revelation 12:10-12. What hope do we find in these verses amid all the controversy and conflict seen in the other texts? |
(53)
We need to practice connect the dot thinking. Think about the consequences of your decisions (good or bad), on others and you.
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."
That's something we need to put into practice! It is a prophecy! Are we willing to be among those who fullfill it? Thus we need 3 things,
1. To accept Jesus' sacrifice for us
2. To testify/live it
3. To love Jesus more than anything
Christ is victorious
Satan defeated in heaven.
Satan defeated on the earth by Christ without divine power demonstrated. sin can and will be overcome.
His victory will be our testimony.
Rev 12:11
They triumphed over him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much.
Christ in me is the hope of glory.
Christ victorious
Truth is absolute, and God is truth! He said salvation has come, and our hope and faith is in His word, a God who cannot lie. But He offers to us the proof of the defeat of Satan in heaven by Michael, and tells us that we also can defeat Satan by having faith in the atoning death of Christ for us on the cross, who again defeated Satan at that juncture, and we can defeat Satan by our testimony in the word of God. So in that scripture noted above we can have confidence in Christ even though Satan, for a short time on earth reveals his wrath!
"They overcame him by the blood of the lamb..." Revelation 12:11 There is power in the blood og Jesus.
It is not clear what kind of war there was in heaven, the the war on earth is the battlefield of our hearts and minds. let is wear the whole armor of God to be protected from the hurling darts of satan.
"A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:10-12 (NLT)
Despite All that is happening in this world that is not acceptable to God. The devil Lucifer will not prevail. His time is coming to an end. He will never win. In fact he has lost. He’s jealous of mankind. He doesn’t want us to go to heaven. He’s trying to stop as many of us as he can from entering Gods kingdom. The wonderful place he had a previlage of being in.
Don't feel down because of things that you we can't control, believe and trust in Jesus.
The great controversy is over who is worthy of our trust, obedience and worship. Notice that the adversary of God, and thus enemy of all His creatures, hides behind various masks and has not appeared as God has, in the open and speaking for Himself. This adversary works by deception to ruin lives, while God brings rain, sun, and many blessings even for the wicked of the earth. The Bible tells us that it was Satan who worked tirelessly to ruin Jesus' mission to save this fallen world. These two opposing purposes reveal all we need to know about the principle players, their true character and purposes.
Every living soul is involved in this controversy and each of us is either a messenger/supporter of Michael or the dragon. None are exempt, and will be judged by their works, not their profession. Many who say "Lord, Lord!" will be found supporting the dragon and his purposes. The Bible teaches that a day is coming which will reveal to all the "righteous and the wicked" or "those who serve God and those who serve Him not"(Mal 3:18). God is the righteous Sovereign and will finally rid His creation of sin with the consent and agreement of all. Not even the adversary will disagree with the final outcome and eternal sentence.
Solemn and vital to consider these truths as we start each day with choices to make that will bring eternal consequences. Which of these two principle characters will be found demonstrated in our character, motives, and purposes?
Though persecution will come because the devil is angry, due to his constant defeats and seeks to devour GOD's children in the short space of time he has; GOD has promised and told us that "Salvation is come and strength, and the kingdom of our GOD and the power of His CHRIST". We are protected by GOD and need now t fear. The same protection given to those back then is available to us now.
I had often thought that fiery swords were used in the war in heaven. But then, I learned that words,ideas were used.