Sabbath: Satan, a Defeated Enemy
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study: Revelation 12; Gen. 3:15; Isa. 14:12-15; Dan. 7:23-25; 2 Thess. 2:8-12; Rev. 13:13-14; Rev. 19:20.
Memory Text: “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” (Revelation 12:11, NKJV).
Revelation chapters 12-14 prepares us for the last-day events section of the book (Rev. 15:1-22:21). While the first half of the book (Rev. 1:1-11:19) describes the spiritual struggles of the church in a hostile world throughout the Christian Era, the remainder focuses on key events leading up to the Second Coming and God’s kingdom.
The purpose of chapter 12 is to give us the big picture behind the final crisis of world history. It shows us the development throughout history of the great controversy between Christ and Satan.
In the book of Revelation, Satan is the archenemy of God and His people. His existence is real, and he stands behind all evil and rebellion in the universe. He knows that his last chance to succeed against God before the Second Coming is to win the battle of Armageddon. So, he focuses all his efforts on preparing for that event.
Revelation chapter 12 is intended to provide God’s people with an assurance that Satan will not succeed. It is also a warning that Satan is determined and will wage all-out war against God’s last-day remnant church and that their only hope and power to overcome is found in Christ.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, February 23.
(35)
While the story of sin as told to us in the Bible is primarily centered on Earth, we get glimpses every now and then of the cosmic extent of this conflict. Revelation 12 provides us with one of those glimpses. The war in heaven was obviously no gentle disagreement or carried out in the genteel terms of a formal debate. It was war, and effectively one-third of the angels defected. To put in perspective, imagine the effect if say, one-third of the population of the United States was thrown out of the country. (I know some wags would probably think that it would be a good idea but think of the enormous consequences of such a move.) Can we imagine the pain and suffering in heaven that would have resulted from such a war?
Sometimes we underestimate the extent of evil, but I think it is worth considering for a moment the cosmic scale of sin. As one of my Theological colleagues once said, "The battle between good and evil was a close fought war and threatened existence itself."
The little cosmic glimpse given us in Rev 12 provides a background the final stages of the war as it affects us here on earth.
Peter has a warning and some advice:
Wonderfully explained Ashton. Your summation gives a great insight of this particular war that extended beyond the heavens to the battle ground earth. This cosmic conflict in essence threatens the life of everyone but thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for providing a way to salvation. It is only in Jesus that victory is assured. In the savior's cry "it is finished" victory for every believer was assured
The first war
- All wars had their first begging in heaven.
- Christ himself fought the first one!
- The war was not fought with guns or swords but with ideas.
- one third of the angels joined Satan in rebellion. Two thirds remained royal to God.
-Satan was cast out of heaven.
- But this did not confine him to this earth.
- job 1:6-11. Satan forced his way into the parliament of heaven as the prince of this world in place of Adam.
When Was Satan finally cast out of heaven?
Hello brother Cyrus,
Satan was CAST OUT OF heaven, as we know from Isaiah 14, Eze 28. He was condemned to earth, and for a time had no access to heaven.
BUT following the fall of man, Satan took up earthly dominion, because man subjected himself to Satan's control, and therefore REGAINED ACCESS to heaven as earth's representative (John 14:30), as you have brought it out in Job 1:6-11 and Job 2 as well.
So, WHEN WAS SATAN FINALLY CAST OUT OF HEAVEN? Your guess is as good as mine: When the earthly dominion reverted back to MAN - the second Adam, Jesus Christ! When did this happen? At the cross. 1 Cor 4:4, 7:23.
This then gives us an AMAZING truth - We had ADAM as our representative in the heavenly council originally, then Satan, but we now have CHRIST HIMSELF standing to represent earth (Heb 4:14-16), and finally, He will restore to Adam when this battle is finally over. Rev 11:15.
William: Rev 11:15 does not say that Adam will be the representative of this earth when the battle is over. Where do you get that?
Satan "forced" his way in? I di not get that at all from the quoted scripture. Can he possibly "force" anything against God's stated purpose....? He has been given time - BY GOD - to prove, right or wrong, whether man can rule himself apart from God. Careful not to assign him with more than he has been given, or more than has been allowed by God.
Perhaps "usurped his way in" would have been a better term. 😏 He did come as "as the prince of this world in place of Adam," after Adam did what Satan wanted him to and thus yielded his rulership of this planet to the father of lies.
Why didn't God destroy Satan right away as soon as he rebelled? One because God is full of mercy, loving kindness and is long suffering (Ex 34) and we are told "long was he retained in heaven. Again and again he was offered pardon on condition of repentance and submission" Great Controversy Pg 496 and "The inhabitants of heaven and of other worlds, being unprepared to comprehend the nature or consequences of sin, could not then have seen the justice and mercy of God in the destruction of Satan" Ibid 498
God will destroy the wicked. Ps 145:20
The power and authority of the divine government will be employed to put down rebellion; yet all the manifestations of retributive justice will be perfectly consistent with the character of God as a merciful, long suffering, benevolent being. God executes justice upon the wicked, for the good of the universe. In mercy to the world, God blotted out its wicked inhabitants in Noah's time and those in Sodom to prevent spreading evil and it is in mercy to the Universe that God will finally destroy the rejecters of His grace. Ex 34:6-7 John 5:28-29 Rev 11:18, Rev 20
In the New Jerusalem there is no more evil nor wicked people, Rev 21.
The English translation of the verses outlined above do all state that God is a destroyer. And if this is correct, then we have some major issues on our hands.
If God is a destroyer, even if such is allegedly done in love, John 10:10 is misleading rather than truthful because it attributes destruction EXCLUSIVELY to the activity of "the thief".
And in Rev 19:11, it is the angel of the abyss that is explicitly titled 'the destroyer' (Apollyon).
If it is actually true that God destroys, that would mean that the Kingdom of Darkness is ruled by a destroyer and the Kingdom of God is also ruled by a destroyer. One destroys in hatred and the other destroys in love? But both destroy?
Are the English translations of these verses accurate or is there a problem with the translation (which was/is unavoidably a process of interpretation by the translators)? Is the selection of the word destory/er an accurate translation or has it been the result of a confirmation bias at work that has - perhaps inadvertently - influenced word choice from among the array of word options inherent in the original language/s?
Regarding various interpretations of the the 7 Trumpets, you may find of interest this article from Ministry Magazine, 2012 by Angel Manuel Rodriguez, mainly for the chart of views held by 9 Adventist scholars.
https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/2012/01/the-seven-trumpets-of-revelation
Not only does the article itself give some insights into the diversity of interpretations from a historical perspective, but the ensuing discussion shows that there is quite a diversity in current thinking as well.
Are the differences in detail "deal breakers"?
Is there a common thread of big-picture interpretation?
Does "unity in diversity" apply here?
I am a little disappointed with how in the vision John had in Chapter 12 about the "Woman" (that is supposed to represent God's Church etc.;)the part where the woman has a Man Child and then He is caught up to God and His Throne: Why is there nothing about how this Child makes the ultimate sacrifice for sin and sinners also included in this symbolism? Why is this part of Jesus left out in this symbolic representation of God's Church and The Gospel in this vision?
Why could this vision not say something in verse 5 like this: "And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron after his ultimate sacrifice for sin and sinners, and after his short space with being caught up unto God and His throne."?
Pete, when a new character appears on the scene John takes time out to describe it and give a little background and then we see them in action. Verses 1-5 are introducing the woman and the dragon, Jesus doesn't need to be introduced. But He is involved in the chapter - she is clothed with the sun, He will rule, be caught up to heaven, He fought devil and won, they overcome by blood of the Lamb, salvation and strength and kingdom of our God and power of Christ have come. Thus chapter covers most of the aspects of Jesus Christ 's life and ministry.
Very well explained! God Bless You!
the war broke out in heaven and satan was was hurled down on earth .. BUT why earth?
The heaven rejoices when satan the dragon ,devil was thrown out of heaven. ..I see one day I am going to rejoice as well to meet the king JESUS who dealth with this dangerous monster when all is over and when satan is totally distracted .
"In the book of Revelation, Satan is...
He knows that his last chance to succeed against God before the Second Coming is to win the battle of Armageddon. So, he focuses all his efforts on preparing for that event."
It gives the understanding that the Armageddon battle is before the second coming of Christ;
•What's the Armageddon battle?
•When will it take place?
•Where and how will this battle will be performed, is it a war of ideas as it was in heaven or for this time weapons and guns will be used?!
Thanks a lot for your help!
Hi Lebon Teng's; these topics come up in later lessons. it will be good to hear your questions again when the topic comes up. Keep on reading the study guides to see when they are likely to be discussed.
Good questions. Hint: Battle of Armageddon is the seventh plague which involved collapse of Babylon at Jesus' return.
The casting DOWN of Satan or anyone or empire or power is not based on gravity where we have up and down, and things fall down with gravity.
Not so with spiritual things, the simple explaination of casting down/out in spiritual language, is the loss of power and influence.
Case in point, Jesus cast Satan down by overpowering his influence and maintain his consistant in integrity to the divine nature of Love, Mercy and Justice.
We can and will do the same ...
Romans 16:19-20 (CSB) 19 The report of your obedience has reached everyone. Therefore I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise about what is good, and yet innocent about what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon **crush Satan under your feet. ***
Now, nobody, in a clear mind THINKS we will LITERALLY CRUSH SATAN UNDER OUR FEET .... It's the completion of the prophesy in Genesis chapter 3, where in Christ we will overcome Satan's power and influence and he will be trampled on, debased and thrown down to nothing !
Shalom 🙏
15 I will put hostility between you (Satan) and the woman, and between your offspring and *her offspring* He (and his seed, Christians) will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
Shalom
Thanks, Larry. Very well said!
Thanks Sister in Christ.
Please keep my wife and myself in prayer, old age and bad health
Cant wait for a new transformed/immortal body !
2 Peyer 1:
I think it is right, as long as I am in this bodily tent, ......
🙏
Indeed, I will keep you in prayer!