Title: War in Heaven / Revelation 12:7-17
Contents
(Explanation of Revelation 33)
War in Heaven / Revelation 12:7-17
(Rev 12) begins with the story of the woman who gave birth and ends again with the story of the woman and the dragon. However, in the middle, a significant portion of the records about the war in heaven are left behind. (Verses 7-12) is the battle between Michael and the dragon. Victory belongs to Michael in the end. In this war, the dragon is cast out. In the battle between the power of God and the power of Satan, the power of God won the final victory, and a joyful festival was held in heaven. On the other hand, the dragon that was cast out (verses 13-17) can't bear his wrath and persecutes the woman. But God keeps women away and protects them. Then the dragon stands on the sand of the sea and waits to fight the witnesses of Jesus. This is the summary of today's content.
The book of Revelation speaks of two great wars. One is the battle of the Euphrates, and the other is the battle of Armageddon, annihilating the army of the antichrist on the earth at the second coming of the Lord. However, it shows another battle during the 7 years of tribulation, and this war is the spiritual war in heaven in today's Word. This war is a war in which Satan, the red dragon, is cast out to the earth, but Satan, cast out in this war, does not stand still and persecutes the church. This persecution is the first woe. During this persecution, God gives His saints victory and leads them to the place prepared when the persecution reaches its peak.
Michael and the Dragon War
War broke out in the sky. It is a spiritual war between Michael's army and the red dragon's army fighting in heaven. Michael is one of the seven angels who protested before God. (Rev 8:2) “I saw seven angels protesting before God, and receiving seven trumpets” The Bible describes them as archangels and guardian angels of Israel. This battle is God's fight to protect the church. Satan is eventually expelled from his heavenly position and descends to earth. Satan (verse 9) explains in detail. “The great dragon was cast out, the old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world, and was cast out to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
The reason this war is recorded here is to explain the persecution that the Church of God will face in the last days. Because of this war, Satan is expelled from heaven to the earth, and the tribulation begins when this very Satan persecutes the church. It's hard to say exactly when this war will happen. But it will be sometime during the 7 year great tribulation. Regarding the victory and defeat of this war (verse 8), it is said that Satan and his angels could not overcome Michael and his angels and were cast out. The final victory belongs to God. The activity of the Antichrist on earth becomes more active with the expelling of the dragon.
Heaven's Praise
(Verses 10-12), a voice from heaven says that Michael has overcome, and proposes to praise the victory of Jesus Christ. Declaring victory and giving reasons for praise. If we try to summarize the contents of the voice from heaven, it is as follows. ① It means that God’s salvation has been accomplished. ② Praise the power of God. ③ It is said that the kingdom of God has been established. ④ It is said that the authority of Christ has been fulfilled.
⑤ We rejoice that Satan, who was accusing believers, has been cast out. The proof of Satan's decisive defeat is that he failed to act as the accuser and was expelled. As the accuser, Satan accuses the sins of the saints before God. However, since Christ's death on the cross accomplished the work of salvation and defeated Satan, Satan's accusations could no longer be justified, and he was naturally cast out of heaven, the stage of his activities. (Luke 10:18) “Luke 10:18 Jesus said to him, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”
⑥ The brothers praise the victory over the devil. Those who believe and follow Christ will eventually win. The saints are saved because of the ‘blood of the Lamb’ and the ‘word of testimony’. The content of the praise is salvation, but specifically, salvation is the result of the blood of Jesus Christ, and it is possible through faith in the Word of God, which is the evidence that conveys that fact. After all, the victorious children of God deserve to be told, “He did not love his life even unto death.” It can be seen that he was faithful to the Lamb Jesus until he was martyred and testified about him.
In war, there is always a winner and a loser. Those who overcome rejoice. But woe comes to those who lose. ‘Earth and sea’ will be brought into woe, which is a word that expresses Satan’s power. Satan's main stage of activity is not in the sky, but in the earth and the sea. So (verse 17) Edo stood on the sand of the sea to persecute the offspring of the woman. Satan will know through his defeat in heaven that his period of activity is near, and he will persecute people on earth in a more vicious way.
persecution of the church
The dragon, defeated in the war in heaven, climbs up as the medicine rises, descends to the earth, and begins to persecute the woman who gave birth to a man. I have already said that the woman here refers to the church. Specifically, women are those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus. Satan will destroy the church with his last resort. This kind of persecution is the first woe mentioned below (Revelation 9:1). After Satan is cast out of heaven to the earth, he immediately opens the abyss and brings the fallen angels who are imprisoned there in eternal bonds to the earth (Jude 1:6). Although it causes spiritual suffering to the point of wanting to die, it can never take away the lives of believers. Because God protects you.
“The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, and flew to her place in the wilderness, where she was fed a time and times and half a time from the face of the serpent” (14) (verse 6). The woman fled into the wilderness, and immediately went to the place God had prepared for her, and the details are given here. “I was given the two wings of a great eagle,” he said. The two wings of a great eagle signify God's saving power. It is a common expression in Israel. (Ex 19:4) “You have seen what I have done to my Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to me.” God will protect the persecuted church with his power in the last days.
That period is one time, two times and a half. 1,260 days means the same as three and a half years before and three and a half years after. This period is the same period as the forty-two months of the Antichrist reigning over the world (Revelation 13:5). Some say that the church where the woman fled is a specific place, but it is good to know that it is a place that is only for God, that is, “his place in the wilderness”. The dragon, or snake, continues to vomit water like a river, tormenting women. The phrase “vomiting water like a river” refers to the severity of persecution and persecution.
Satan tried to overthrow the church, but he is even more angry when he cannot destroy it because he is under the protection of God's power. The phrase “stands on the sand of the sea to make war with the remnant of the woman, those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus” describes the situation well. ‘More by the sea’ refers to the nations and many multitudes. We need to know that majorityism is Satan's strategic base. The church must constantly fight with the antichrist during the next three and a half years and go through this terrible period of great tribulation.
Dear saints,
It is not easy to interpret today's words well. However, it is clear that in the last days, the Antichrist, who was defeated in the war in heaven, will use all means to torment the church. Ultimately, the victory belongs to the church on God's side, but the tribulation is still too strong. You need to prepare in advance. The reason He is giving us these words is to prepare for that time. I know how to prepare well and endure such tribulation to the end as a person who keeps the commandments of God and has the testimony of Jesus. Hallelujah!