Sound The Trumpet : Revelation 12:8-9

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“Revelation 12:8-9”
by Art Sadlier
May 24th, 2009

"And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven." "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth, and his angels with him," Rev. 12:8-9.

In verse 7, the war in heaven rages, now we see the results. Satan is cast out of heaven never to return. After 6000 years Satan is finally cast out of heaven, God's purpose for allowing Satan access to heaven is finally complete. Alhough we do not understand all God is doing, it seems evident that God has been at work demonstrating to men and angels and all of creation that sin does not pay but is a disaster for all involved in it. God demonstrates that sin is not an option. The mystery of iniquity is now beginning to be revealed. Why God has tolerated Satan and sin and what His purposes are in doing it.

Jesus said in Luke 10:18, "I beheld Satan as lightening fall from heaven". Jesus spoke as though Satan's fall was in the past. This emphasizes the certainty of Satan's fall. This also shows that with God there is no past, present or future, God dwells in the eternal present. When God makes a promise or a prophesy it is as good as done.

The designation of Satan as, "that old serpent" takes us back to the garden of Eden. It was there that man's catastrophic experience with sin began. You can sum up man's whole earhly experience with the realization that all blessing comes from the obedience to God and that all man's troubles come from disobedience to God.

Satan's temptation of man in the garden brought man's death, Jesus said that, "He (Satan) was a murderer from the beginning".

"Called the Devil", Devil means slanderer. Job said that Satan is the accuser of the brethern. Today if you are a Christisn, your name has been mentioned at least twice in Heaven. Once as Satan has accused you before the Father, and a second time (probably many times) as Christ your great high priest, has interceded for you. It is thrilling beyond words to know that we have a great high priest who is constantly interceeding for us.

Satan means adversary, he is the adversary of God, he is also our adversary, he hates us and would destroy us if he could, if we were not secure in the Father's hand.

"Which deceiveth the whole world", this is the tribulation scenario, a world deceived by Satan. Man has turned away from God's word and God gives them over to the Devil's deception. We live in a time when men have been and are turning away from every claim that God's word makes upon them. The stage is being set for judicial blindness to fall on this world. Paul said of this coming day, "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie" 11 Thess. 2:11. God turns men over to the devil's deception.

"He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him". This is the mid-trib point, now the war between God and Satan comes to a climax. We will now see 3 1/2 years of all out warfare between these two adversaries. Satan will turn all of his fury against God's people, both the tribulation saints and Israel.

It is amazing the long suffering of God, God is not longsuffering with Satan, but he is longsuffering with those men and women whom He is drawing to Himself. Remember the sinners of Noah's day. But God's patience and longsuffering have a limit.

Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13