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5. The Fall of the Dragon to Earth (Revelation 12:7-9)
REVELATION 12:7-9
7 There was war in the sky. Michael and his angels made war on the dragon. The dragon and his angels made war. 8 They didn’t prevail, neither was a place found for him any more in heaven. 9 The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
After Christ's ascension and enthronement, Satan no long had a right to accuse the saints from the Old and New Covenant. The Lamb of God had reconciled them to the Father, atoned for their sin, and suffered their punishment. At the cross Satan had been legally overcome and conquered. The expiatory death of Christ, legally seen, means the total defeat of Satan.
After the seventh trumpet the Lamb of God inspired the archangel, Michael, to and for the Father's honor, to drive out the dragon, the old deceiver and father of lies, from every heavenly place. Satan's case and accusation against the saints of God had been lost once and for all. Michael was summarily appointed to carry out the sentence, and to cast out the deceiver and accuser of the brethren. The Lamb of God had justified the accused ones of Satan, although guilty they were. God, however, saw them standing before Him, clad in the white garments of justification. The cunning prosecutor, who afterwards continued to bring accusation against the ones he had misled, had lost his right of prosecution following the expiatory death of Christ.
“Michael” means: Who is like God! This name signifies the humble recognition of omnipotence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Because of Michael's subordination and his great humility, the Lord could allot this created archangel great power, and put him in charge of armies of angels. Michael's name had been previously mentioned in the Bible in a similar context: The archangel, Gabriel, had, as transmitter of revelation, communicated to the prophet, Daniel, that Michael had helped him overcome the powers of Persia that were resisting God (Daniel 10:13). Many Israelis consider Michael to be the guardian angel of their people, who fights for them in the unseen world (Daniel 10:21; 12:1). Paul, too, knew of a great wrestling against the powers of darkness, which must yield to the name of Jesus (Romans 8:38-39; Ephesians 6:10-20).
The report in Revelation 12:7-9 of the extensive, epochal battle in heaven ends with the victory of the angel army. The angels whom Satan had seduced to arrogance and independence from God were, together with their seducer, cast out of every place of heaven. There finally reigned again in heaven “good, pure air”, without mistrust, pride and intrigue! For the sake of righteousness, God had allowed the accusations of Satan, which could previously be seen in the case with Job (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7; Revelation 10:12). For the sake of the Lamb, however, each accusation had become futile and without substance. The atoning death of Jesus had completely and totally justified the accused trespassers. There was neither need nor necessity for a prosecutor. Our Lord and Judge is, furthermore, our advocate and our Savior!
In the battle between Michael and Lucifer it became clear that the Devil, in reality, cannot endure. Not only were physical powers measured in this battle, but those fighting were also probed in regard to their truthfulness. Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus, that from the spiritual arsenal of God they should first put on the armor of truth (Ephesians 6:11-14). We should avoid every untruth, every deceit, every roundabout or misleading talk, every “white” and “black” lie. We should confess lies that we might become “true”. All men are liars by nature (Psalm 116:11; Romans 3:4). The Spirit of truth, however, wants to lead us into all truth (John 15:26; 16:13). The argument between Michael and the dragon was a battle between truth and lie, heaven and hell, light and darkness, love and hate, humility and arrogance, life and death.
The book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ gives us several of the names of Satan, which reveal his characteristics in light of the Bible. The giving of his titles includes, too, his condemnation. The great “dragon” is the old snake, which had already seduced Eve. “Devil” (Diabolos) is the Greek form for the Hebrew name “Satan”. In the Greek “Devil” also means “the one who brings confusion”. Furthermore, Satan is the “deceiver”, who would lead the entire world into evil, just as he himself is evil. He tries to lead man astray from God and His love, truth and purity. He wants people to follow him into a false “freedom” to sin, which in reality is slavery. As the deceiver of men he multiplies their self-pity, and drives them on to pure egotism. Jesus, however, modeled for us voluntary service, praise, love and self-denial. In this manner Satan cast out with his tail a third of all the angels out of their security in heaven (Revelation 12:4). The words coming from his seven heads were sweet, enthusiastic, and illuminating. With his spirit, however, he mercilessly binds deceived ones to himself. Without the redeemer, Jesus Christ, who paid with His own blood the entire ransom for us, there is no liberation from the slavery of the seducer (Rom 7:14-25; Galatians 5:1).
Following his expulsion from heaven, the evil one and all his angels gained no more entry to the holy places. He was driven once and for all out of the presence of God, just as Jesus had prophesied: I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven (Luke 10:18). Now the ruler of this world will be cast out (John 12:31). The judgment of God and the expulsion of Satan from heaven was devastating for the seducer of mankind (John 16:11). Michael and his angels carried out the first part of the judgment of God on Satan. They were victorious! Truth and love will always be vindicated, even when they are suppressed for a long time.
The exceptionally amiable appearing seducer, who suddenly appears as the enraged accuser of sinners and malicious executor of sentence, is finally cast out of heaven and thrown down to earth. Three times we read the decisive words “cast out”, in reference to the execution of the divine sentence.
Satan had to return to the earth, which he had successfully deceived (Revelation 12:9). The Bible speaks of different types of earthly helpers for the deceiver: lying prophets, antichrists, false brethren, false witnesses, teachers that spread lies and lying apostles. A spirit of deception has crept into them (1 John 1:8; 2:26; 3:7), so that they willfully deceive their followers, so that they, in turn, will hold back their acquaintances from God and His Lamb (2 Timothy 3:13). Muhammad and Marx are effective examples of the deceptive power of those who are singularly possessed. Each of them deceived a fifth of the world population! But others, too, Rousseau and Freud, all worshipers of Mary and syncretists, have become victims of the “all cunning one”. Today demons effect and inspire our media, schools, universities, companies, political parties, governments and churches more than we would know or suspect. Happy are the ones who take seriously the testimonial of Christ, hold firmly to His words, and bear testimony to Him! One practicing these things in the spirit of Christ's love receives authority to spread the kingdom of the Lord. The battle between God and Satan has shifted from heaven to earth. Whoever lives in the Gospel, lives in the truth, and the truth will be victorious.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your revelation that the angel Michael overcame the dragon and his angels and drove him away from heaven to earth. Since Satan has been driven away from heaven for the sake of the justification of sinners, the devil has no right or reason to accuse in heaven the followers of Christ.
QUESTION:
- Why does Satan have no more right to accuse the followers of Christ in heaven?