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Insights In Prophecy
Unlock The Ancient Mysteries Of Daniel & Revelation
BIBLE DISCOVERY
SERIES
Lesson 21
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SATAN WARS AGAINST
HEAVEN & EARTH
Revelation 12:7-17
- Discover When and Why Michael Fights Satan Head-on
- Identify Why Lucifer Is So Angry With The
Commandment-keepers
As
shown in Lesson 20, the symbolism of Revelation 12 depicts episodes in history
past and events at the appointed time of the end as though occurring
simultaneously.
This chapter speaks of conflict between the forces of good and evil and
ultimately Satan's demise. However, we as humans are not entirely
sheltered from the raging battle, and in
this sense we must be ready to unite our efforts with Almighty and to respond to
the battle cry.
Revelation chapters 2 and 3 often repeat the call for personal
victory: "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of
life" and "he who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death,"
2:7,
11. The idea of overcoming can be compared to a dry and
thirty land that looms in our path that must be passed through in order to reach freedom.
The majority will choose to give up before ever attempting the journey; others
will begin to travel but will abandon the saints and return back when met with
adversity; still others will succumb to their fears just before reaching the
beautiful shore as the path gets the most treacherous.
In contrast, the conquerors recognize the reward of
continual struggle, and by hope and faith keep on the pathway knowing that
whether in life or death beyond the wilderness lies the Promise Land. The small company of saints will face the wasteland where the
travel is hard and tiresome, but God is not surprised in the least. He knows every trial we will
face and we must trust that He will guide us through the appointed time of the
end and into His kingdom if we hold on to the faith delivered to us. Jesus
promised salvation to the champion in the midst of ill-treatment: "He who stands
firm to the end will be saved,"
Matthew 24:13.
Life is full of decisions, but none more important than on
whose side we will take our stand in the conflict of the ages. Before mankind
stands two powerful rulers--Satan, the Prince of this world (John
14:30;
16:10) and Michael, the Prince of the angelic host (Daniel
8:11;
11:1). The choice is ours; whose side will we take?
We think that Heaven is Paradise where no sin or misery
enters, but at the end of time even Heaven's peace will be interrupted.
Revelation 12:5 spoke of the male child who governs and who
was snatched up to God and His throne.
Revelation 12:7 now introduces Him in name: "And there was
war in Heaven. Michael and His angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon
fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back." John the
Revelator saw great battle. Michael, the risen Savior and Lord, along with His
armed forces combat Satan and his depraved army.
Lucifer, having begun his line of deceptions alone in the
Garden of Eden as a beautiful creature among the trees, has now grown into a
symbolic monster--a violent and hideous dragon backed by his evil forces.
He will take Planet Earth captive through first instigating worldwide tragedy of
war and bloodshed, and with it natural disasters of earthquakes, high forces of
wind and raging fires to name a few; then will come miracles of deception in
which he will offer a false Christianity and false hope. The world will take
his bated hook, but with it he will drag this planet into the net of deception,
death and annihilation. Prediction forewarns:
"Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and
signs [Satanic miracles on a mass scale] and lying wonders [apparitions telling
lies], And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And
for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a
lie,"
Revelation 12:7 (K.J.V).
Having brought this entire planet under his powerful control,
he will quickly march with armies to Heaven's gates to claim his victory and to
exalt his throne above the stars of God. Although we do not have all the details
surrounding this event, Satan will ultimately attempt to overthrow Heaven's
Temple and God Himself that he might achieve his ultimate dream--to sit upon the
mount of the congregation, in the sides of the North (Isaiah
14:12-14). He wants desperately to reign in power and
majesty by deposing "the Most High."
1. In the context of
Revelation 12:3-4, where does this end-time battle take
place?
Heaven
Satan arrives in Heaven symbolized as the governmental dragon
with "seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads."
Revelation 13:1 describes in specific detail the same dragon
with "ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns." The loss
of three crowns from earth's governments is because "one of the heads of
the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound"--a terrible tragedy of great
magnitude. In this fatal blow to one of the governmental heads, three "kings"
or "leaders" are killed or deposed, so that only seven remain.
What does this tell us? Satan must arrive in Heaven
for battle after the great blow to the worldwide governmental dragon (for
three crowns are then missing), which then leads to a "forty-two month" rule by
Antichrist upon this earth (Revelation
13:5).
2. According to Daniel, which governmental creature will be
hit by the terrible military blow symbolized by the loss of three horns
or countries (7:7-8)?
Western Europe Union made up of ten countries will be attacked
by the Russian Bear (7:5)
with a fatal blow. The Bear will rise up and "eat [his] fill of [human] flesh,"
as symbolized in the three ribs (or tusk countries) in its mouth. Mass
annihilation, on a scale beyond human imagination, is just before us with tragic
loss of lives in the millions. Prophecy has foretold it in vivid detail.
Revelation 12:8 indicates that although Lucifer and his
fallen angels have lost positions in Heaven, they still have "their place in
Heaven." Therefore, although sin has been prevalent God has not totally shut
the door upon Satan's entrance into Paradise.
3. How do we know he has had access
to God's throne even after sin entered his heart (Job
1:6-7)?
4. What does
Revelation 12:10 promise about the Accuser of our brethren?
His demise is certain. The Adversary
has gone before God relentlessly "day and night," to accuse and dispute.
Knowing his downfall and
imprisonment in only a short time away, he will rise up to battle Michael and
his faithful angels. However, Satan's repeated attempts to usurp God's
authority, to bring accusations about the faults of the saints who want to serve
Almighty, and finally to physically take in combat the throne of God will lead
to imprisonment and his final termination.
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