Sound The Trumpet : Revelation 12:7

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“Revelation 12:7”
by Art Sadlier
May 17th, 2009

“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,”

The war in heaven began when Lucifer usurped God’s rule and authority at the beginning creation. At that time Lucifer said, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; (Angels) .....I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most high.”

Lucifer beheld the Glory of God and decided he wanted that Glory for himself, he declared war on God and vowed in his heart to remove and replace God. He began by persuading about one third of the angels to join him in his rebellion against God. He continued his war on God by deceiving Eve and causing Adam to rebel against God, as a consequence, all of Adam’s seed were born with Adam’s rebellious nature, alienated by sin, from God.

This warfare has gone on ever since, Satan (= Adversary – Lucifer= Shinning One) has carried on this war to this very hour. He cannot attack God directly, so he attacks that which God plans to do and those who are His, the Christian, through whom He carries out His plans.

The mystery of iniquity is the mystery of why God allows Satan to continue his war against Him. Why God allows Satan access to heaven, and why God allows Satan to stand before Him and accuse you and I, he is called, "the accuser of the brethren".

The good news is that, here in our verse today, the war in heaven comes to an end. This takes place in that future day at the mid-tribulation point.

Notice the combatants in this war, Michael and his angels against the dragon and his angels, clearly identified as Satan in verse 9. Notice the war takes place in heaven. We need to grasp two things at this point.

FIRST, Satan has access to heaven. No matter how much we may hate the devil, we need to fully aware of his tremendous position. He has access to heaven and he can go into the very presence of God.

SECOND, Satan has tremendous power, he can muster, perhaps billions of very powerful evil angels. He is so powerful that he can extend a battle against all of the angels of God. The suggestion is that this battle is not a mere formality, but that it taxes Michael and God`s angels to win the war. We must be aware of the fact that we are no match for Satan, that apart from God`s intervention, we will be defeated by this colossal enemy every time. In that context we can than rejoice in the truth, that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. We have victory over Satan, but it is found in Christ, the just shall live by faith, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

In Jude 9, we see further evidence of Satan`s power and the regard with which even Michael holds him. "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said the Lord rebuke thee." We need desperately to abide in Christ at all times, apart from Christ and His provision and protection, we will be the plaything of Satan.

Praise the Lord, " we are more than conquerors through him that loved us!" We are overcomers, the day will come when we are up in heaven with our Lord and Satan is down in hell forever.

Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13