Revelation 12 War in Heaven - For The Glory of Jesus

Print or Share

War in Heaven

This is a Bible Study. Have your own Bible handy to look up the references mentioned.

If you do not have a Bible, I invite you to go to BibleGateway.com or another online Bible.

And there was war in heaven,

We have enough war on earth! Why would there be war in heaven? Satan rebelled against God long ago. He has stirred up trouble in heaven and on earth. Isaiah 14:12-14 and Ezekiel 28:11-19 tell us that Satan has fallen from heaven.

Satan continues his efforts to persuade us against God and Jesus. 1 Peter 5:8

Here we have Michael and his angels fighting Satan [the dragon]. Yes, there is war in heaven. What do you think Satan is trying to do in the world, here on earth?

In Greek, this phrase “could be translated ‘Michael and his angels had to fight the dragon.’” (MacArthur, John. New Testament Commentary: Revelation 12-22. [Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2000], 16)

Satan started this war in heaven. (MacArthur, 16)

Read Daniel 10 for Satan’s encounter with Michael.

Daniel 12 Jude 9

“The reference to the dragon and his angels reinforces the truth that the demon hosts are under Satan’s command—a principle state by Jesus in Matthew 25:41.” (MacArthur, 17) [NASB1995]

This sentence shows that Satan is fighting in this war.

It will be an all-out war, bigger than any that have happened on the earth!

God and His Angels

8. Satan and his angels were not strong enough to defeat God and His angels.

Michael was leading the attack!

Satan’s defeat was so great neither was their place found any more in heaven.

All Satan’s angels will leave heaven.

They will not have opportunity to approach God (including Satan).

Satan will not be able to accuse believers of our sins.

I had not realized this before. Right now, Satan can approach God in heaven.

9. There are four names for identification of the great dragon.

Serpent of old
1. Murderer John 8:44
2. At the beginning in the Garden of Eden
Devil
1. Slanderer or accuser
2. Believers need an Advocate with the Father
Satan
1. Adversary of God and all of God’s children
2. 1 Peter 5:8
Dragon—deceives the whole world
1. He will totally deceive men
2. God
3. Word of God

(McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume V: [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 991)

Even Satan’s angels are thrown down to earth.

Not a good thing for those on the earth!

Joining the multitude of demons already on the earth:

1. Those who are here now.
2. Those from the abyss (Revelation 9:1-3)
3. Two hundred million others (Revelation 9:13-16)
4. Creating “an unimaginable holocaust of evil.
(MacArthur, 20)

Expulsion of the Woman

10.“What will the final expulsion of Satan mean?” (Easley, Kendell H., Holman New Testament Commentary: Revelation. [Nashville: B&H, 1998], 212)

Reveals God’s salvation…power…and kingdom
1. These belong to God alone
Reveals the authority of His Christ
1. All authority belongs to Christ
2. Display the authority of Jesus as never before.
The one who accuses them before our God day and night.
1. Can no longer accuse them any longer

(Easley, 212) [NIV]

Since Satan can no longer approach God, he will no longer be accusing believers of their sin. Job 1:1, Zechariah 3:1 1 Peter 5:8

11. Do you need to overcome Satan?

You can overcome him:

First by the blood of the Lamb salvation
And because of the word of their testimony,

How to accept Jesus.

Those redeemed are able to withstand Satan because they loved not their lives unto the death.

1 John 2:19 Matthew 24:13

12. Glory Hallelujah!

We will rejoice.

But:

Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea!

for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath

Wrath means that Satan will have “violent outburst of rage.” (MacArthur, 23)

Satan knoweth that he hath but a short time.

“His actual time will be the three and a half years of the reign of the Antichrist (13:5), whom Satan places in power immediately after being cast down from heaven.” (MacArthur, 23)

“No matter how desperate their situation looks, no matter how furiously Satan rages against them, believers can take comfort in knowing that his ultimate defeat is certain.” (MacArthur, 23)

References

In this article Scripture quotations taken from KJV.

Easley, Kendell H., Holman New Testament Commentary: Revelation. Nashville: B&H, 1998
MacArthur, John. New Testament Commentary: Revelation 12-22. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2000
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume V: Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983

The Woman Dragon Cast to Earth

Print or Share