Revelation (Written)

Thursday, 4 March 2021

Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. Revelation 12:10

The translation should connect “loud voice” with “heaven.” Thus, it should read, “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying…” Also, it omits definite articles that should be included: “the salvation, the power, and the kingdom of our God.” In this, it signifies that these things are firmly manifested. Also, the word “accused” is a present participle. It should read “accuses.”

Of the contents of this verse, Charles Ellicott is right when he says, “…it is not the full establishment of the kingdom which is here described; it is rather the manifestation of it.” In other words, the victory is won, even if it is not yet fully realized. This is speaking of the state of things as fulfilled even while the actual occurring of the event is future.

With these things understood, John begins with, “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying” (NASB). It is a divine proclamation with the intent of conveying an absolute truth that can be held to for those who hear it. With that in mind, John continues with, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come” (NASB).

The verb is in the aorist tense, signifying that these things have come at a specific point in time. And yet, as just noted, these things are made manifest even though they have not been established. The only way to make this understood in English is to state them in the perfect tense.

To understand, if a new president is elected, the people can say, “Now is the time for our tax breaks, and now reason will be brought back to the White House.” It is something that is assured, even though there are still several months before the new president is seated. This is the same idea here.

In saying, “Now is the salvation,” it means that complete deliverance from Satan’s power is realized through what has occurred, even if Satan is still affecting those who are saved. In saying, “Now is…the power,” it conveys the idea that all that is necessary to ensure the final consummation of things has been put in place. And in saying, “Now is…the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ,” it means that these things are assured for His people because of what has occurred.

To then explain why this is so, John next says, “for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night” (NASB 1977). Because Satan was cast out of heaven, he has no ability to accomplish anything within the heavenly realm to thwart the redemptive plan. Instead, he can only work within the limits of time to stand and accuse the people of the world. That is why the present tense “accuses” is used. It speaks of his ongoing accusations against humanity.

However, the words “our brethren” indicate that the accusations are against God’s people, the redeemed. As such, they carry no weight. This will be seen in the coming verse. For now, the verse speaks of the reality of what God has done being made manifest. It cannot be thwarted, and the redemptive narrative that is prophesied in Scripture will certainly come about, exactly as the word reveals.

Life application: Since the beginning, Satan has continued to bring accusation and destruction to humanity. He did it in the Garden of Eden. He did it during Job’s time – attempting to malign and destroy that godly man. He did it after the exiles of the Babylonian captivity when he stood accusing Joshua the High Priest in Zechariah 3:1. And, he stood to oppose Jesus during His time of fasting in the wilderness.

Satan has been active throughout the ages and he continues to accuse the church, even to this day – “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

The devil has been active, but the book is written, and the writings are sealed. His time is limited, and he will be cast down. Great is the Lord who has defeated the devil! Great is the One who has prevailed. He is our Savior. He is JESUS!

Heavenly Father, please give us strength to resist the devil. Be with us, O God, in our times of weakness and temptation. We know the victory is won, but in our flesh, we are still weak and at risk of falling. Help us to never do that which would bring dishonor to You and Your glorious name. Amen.

Wednesday, 3 March 2021

So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Revelation 12:9

Verse 4 described the fiery red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. That was seen to be an earthly governmental body, probably a group of nations. Verse 4 said his tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. Of those stars, it was determined that they were probably human rulers and could be either religious or political figures.

What is said in these verses shows that the dragon now being described is an angelic being. This account is given to reveal why this angelic being has concerned himself in earthly affairs. Michael and his angels defeated the dragon who then has worked out his wicked plans among humanity. If he cannot rule the universe, he determined that he would rule over God’s highest form of creation in the universe.

With that in mind, John says, “So the great dragon was cast out.” The Greek reads, “the dragon, the great.” It is showing that this dragon is not the same as seen in the earlier verses, even if he is behind the power of that group of nations.

Saying he was “cast out” means that he lost his angelic position and no longer bears any authority or right to rule in the heavenly realm. With that stated, John then explains exactly who this great dragon is, saying, “that serpent of old.”

Again, the Greek reads, “the serpent, the old.” These words take the reader back to Genesis 3:1 where the serpent was introduced. It is he who deceived the man and brought him under the power of sin and death. In John 8:44, Jesus says –

“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

Jesus uses the term archēs, or “beginning.” Here John uses the term archaios, meaning “original,” “primitive,” “ancient,” and so on. Both words are etymologically linked. In other words, the connection between the serpent and the Devil has already been made in Scripture, but John’s words now are definitively tying them together, as he next says of this serpent, “called the Devil and Satan.”

The serpent is the Devil, but he is also Satan. The word comes from the Hebrew ha’satan, or “The Accuser.” His role is poignantly highlighted in Job 1 and 2. In particular, it says in Job 1:6 (and as repeated in Job 2:1) –

“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. ⁷ And the Lord said to Satan, ‘From where do you come?’”

By this time, Satan had already been cast out of heaven and thrown down to the earth. Therefore, when it says that “the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord,” it is not speaking of angels. Rather, it is speaking of men who worship the Lord. Satan, as he has done since the beginning, has come among them to destroy this union between men and the Lord. This is evidenced by Satan’s response –

“So Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.’” Job 1:7

This is now his realm, and it is where he conducts his wicked affairs, just as both Paul and Peter state –

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 

Even John refers to this working of Satan (the devil) in his first epistle –

“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8

It is this entity, the serpent who is the Devil and Satan, “who deceives the whole world.” He deceived Adam at the beginning, and he continues to deceive humanity. He will continue to do so right up until the time of the millennium where it says –

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. ² He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; ³ and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.” Revelation 20:1-3

This is the foe that is being described now. The apocalyptic scene has taken us back to the very beginning to show what happened, and why the serpent has been hounding humanity all along. As noted above, if he cannot rule the universe in the spiritual realm, he would still attempt to rule over God’s highest form of creation in the physical realm by working out spiritual darkness all around him. And this rule is one of deception. Jesus said so in John 8:44 (above) and Paul clearly indicates this in his words –

“Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:10, 11

Seeing the progression of thought concerning him here helps us to understand what occurred and why. John finishes by saying that after he was defeated in heaven, “he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

The satanic and demonic forces of the spiritual realm are here because they were cast out of their position in heaven. Their desire is to thwart God’s plans, ruin God’s people, and to destroy humanity who bears God’s image. If one wonders why, for example, women literally rejoice at the passing of laws allowing for abortion, it is because they are being influenced by the deception of the devil to destroy the very image-bearers of God that he is determined to destroy.

What John is describing now shows why the world is in the state it is in. Satan and his angels are here among us, and they are working out their wickedness as vehemently as they can.

Life application: The serpent corrupted man in the Garden of Eden and man fell. This fall has brought about wickedness in man since then. In similar fashion, the devil has also caused angels to fall along with him. It is the pride of his beauty and the lust of holding the power of the universe which brought all of this about. Instead of looking to his Creator, he looked to replace Him.

In the end though, it will only bring about his final and eternal destruction in the Lake of Fire. Until that day, he will continue to deceive the whole world and bring about more chaos and death.

Understanding that the dragon is the serpent, the devil, and Satan, we can see that all of these individual titles found elsewhere in the Bible are tied into this one wicked and destructive being.

It is he who even tempted the Lord at the beginning of his ministry, but he failed there. It is he who again tempted the Lord when Peter spoke and indicated that he wouldn’t let Jesus fulfill His ministry by dying. Again, he failed there. The devil tried and failed in each instance to bring about ruin in the ministry of the Lord, but God’s Messiah prevailed over his attempts. In this, we must be ever thankful because He has done what we could not do. He has destroyed the works of the devil because He is JESUS!

Great is the Lord God Almighty and wondrous are His deeds. The Lamb has prevailed over the work of the devil, and so all who call on Him are freed from the penalty of sin and rebellion which has endured throughout the ages. Thank You Lord for coming and releasing us from this impossible debt! Great and glorious is the Lamb of God! Amen.

Tuesday, 2 March 2021

but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. Revelation 12:8

This continues the thought of the previous verse. It is a look back on the reason why the devil and his angels have so relentlessly pursued God’s people over the ages –

“And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, ⁸ but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.” Revelation 12:7, 8

In an attempt to rule God’s creation, a heavenly war broke out. Little is actually stated about this event, but it can be inferred that it is a spiritual battle for control over humanity. Satan (the serpent of Genesis 3) entered the picture and deceived man. At that time, the man was cursed. Hints of these things are scattered throughout the Bible, but not enough to form more than a cursory picture of what is being referred to now by John.

However, this has not stopped sensationalists from publishing innumerable volumes of books claiming insights into these things. They sell well simply because they are sensational, but they do not add anything of value to Scripture. What we do know is what John next says, “but they did not prevail.”

The dragon and his angels were defeated by Michael and his angels. In what way they are defeated is not stated. As they are spirit beings, we can only form assumptions as to what actually occurred. However, this battle, and the ongoing results from it, might be what Jesus was referring to in Luke 10 –

“Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’
¹⁸ And He said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. ²⁰ Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.’” Luke 10:17-20

It appears this battle may be what Jesus refers to because John next says, “nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.” Satan and his angels were cast out of the place, and the consequences of that are permanent. Of this, Charles Ellicott says, “The whole power of the evil hosts failed them. There is an inherent weakness in evil: a spot which may be touched whereupon all its vaunted strength withers.”

Life application: Too often in our society, and going back for eons as well, men have credited the devil with far more power than he actually possesses. It is true that he has great power, and it is surely magnified when combined with those who rebelled with him. But the fact of the matter is that, despite his capabilities, it is far less than that of the heavenly host.

This verse shows that the devil and his angels could not prevail over the good angels, and they lost the heavenly realm that they once had access to. In an unfortunate turn of events for the world though, this means that their dominion is now where man treads upon the earth.

And yes, it is true that the devil causes havoc here. But the devil is finite while God is infinite. Therefore, whatever power the devil has is infinitely less than God’s. Because of the work of Jesus Christ, we have access to the very throne of God. And through acceptance of His work, we become sons of God through adoption. Because of this, we have the strength of the Almighty to protect us. When things are tough, let us remember this –

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

There is a throne where God rules and He graciously allows us to enter His presence through the Mediator. When the devil is about and causing us grief, we need to remember this and use this heavenly gift to seek out comfort from our loving and all-powerful Creator. Because He has appointed a Mediator, let us be sure to go through Him, our Lord JESUS!

What great love You have poured out on us, O God! You sent Jesus to lead us back to You and to give us power over the devil. When we are afflicted, you offer comfort. When we are tried, you lead us to the still waters. When we are overwhelmed, you offer us a seat at Your table. Thank You, Lord. Please help us to remember this heavenly access when it is needed. Amen.

Monday, 1 March 2021

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, Revelation 12:7

John has been describing the events, most probably future to us now, concerning Israel’s birthing of Jesus as their Messiah. This is symbolized by the woman bearing a Child. It said in the previous verse that “the woman fled into the wilderness.” There she will be kept by God for a set period of time. Now, John’s eyes are directed to another vision that is not necessarily chronological, but rather it is topical. He says, “And war broke out in heaven.”

It is an aorist verb. At a particular time, not necessarily at the time of the events previously described, war broke out in heaven. There are innumerable ideas about the event, but the two most likely scenarios are either 1) that this was at the beginning when the heavenly hosts rebelled against divine authority, or 2) that this occurred at the time of Christ’s work – His incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection.

It seems most likely that the first scenario is what is being described. It is what Jude 1:6 appears to be referring to –

“And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.”

The words of Jude are speaking of heavenly beings, and they follow after Peter’s words found in 2 Peter 2:4 –

“For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment.”

It is the same thought presented by Jude. Peter did not state precisely what sin was involved, but Jude expanded upon it, saying, “who did not keep their proper domain.” The word translated as “domain” is arché. It signifies “beginning,” as in time, but also the first as in principality or rule. Some translations will choose one option, others the other option. As this is speaking of angels that are in a place of authority, it is certainly speaking of the latter. Paul uses it this way in Ephesians 6 –

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12

These angels departed from their place of rank and authority. It is these angels which today are known as demons, and it is these unholy forces that Paul refers to. Jude next said, “but left their own abode.” The word he used speaks of a place of habitation; a house. The obvious conclusion is that in leaving their place of rule, they left their place where the rule occurs, meaning heaven.

In heaven, they were in a particular authority where angels were created to minister to man (see Hebrews 1:14). However, rather than ministering to man, the angels wanted to rule over man. This is clearly indicated in Paul’s words of Ephesians 6, but it is also found in Matthew 8, Mark 5, and Luke 8 in regard to the demoniac in the country of the Gergesenes (also known as the Gaderenes).

In these passages, it is seen that having left their heavenly abode, the angels came to earth, not as ministering spirits for God, but as invaders under Satan. Instead of being servants for the benefit of men, they came as tyrants over men. Understanding this, John continues with his words concerning this, saying, “Michael and his angels fought with the dragon.”

Michael, which means “who is like God,” is the archangel, or chief of the angels. He is mentioned four times in the Bible. He is first mentioned in Daniel 10:21 where it is said to Daniel that he is “your prince.” This is a little vague, but it is explained more fully in Daniel 12:1. In that verse, Michael is called “the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people.” Thus, the connection is with Israel. Daniel, being of the nation of Israel, shows that Michael is the protector of them.

Michael is also mentioned in the 65th book of the Bible, Jude. It is there that his designation as the archangel is made. John noted that Michael, along with his angels, fought with the dragon. The question is, “Is this ‘dragon’ the same as that referred to in verse 12:3?” The answer is, “Probably not.” And yet, the dragon of verse 12:3 is under the authority and rule of this dragon here in verse 12:7. In other words, and as noted in verse 12:3, the dragon can represent Satan, or it can represent the powers of Satan as worked out in governments. The dragon now being referred to in verse 12:7 is explicitly said to be “the Devil and Satan” in verse 12:9.

And so, what appears to be happening here in verses 12:7-9 (and which then includes a continued explanation of the event even through verse 13) is an accounting of why there is the great hostility of Satan towards the redemptive plan of God as is being worked out in history, and most especially as is recorded in the book of Revelation. God is working through a specific group of people, Israel, as He works out His plans. Those plans continue even after the rapture of the church as Israel is brought back into the focus of the redemptive narrative. With that understanding, the words of John continue, saying, “and the dragon and his angels fought.”

This concerns the events that begin during the angelic rebellion. Satan (the dragon) rebelled, and Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. Again, as stated previously, this part of the narrative is included to show us why there is hostility against the people of God. In thwarting God’s plans, it would show that He is incapable of keeping the promises He has made, promises which include protecting Israel and maintaining them as a people.

Life application: There really are spiritual battles being waged and they have occurred since the beginning, even as is recorded in Chapter 3 of Genesis. They will continue until the 20th chapter of Revelation. For those in Christ, we continue in that spiritual battle, as Paul reveals in Ephesians 6.

Through Christ, we have an assured victory, but until we are taken to glory, we still must face the attacks of the devil. The way to be prepared for those attacks is to know the word of the Lord and to put on the full armor of God as is described in it. If we do this, our effectiveness in thwarting the devil’s attacks will be possible. In the end, let us pursue this path standing firm in our faith in the Lord. Yes, let us be confident in our Lord JESUS!

Lord, help us to properly balance our spiritual lives, understanding that there is a devil and that we are in a battle against him and his forces as we continue our walk towards glory. But at the same time, help us to remember that we already have the final victory in Christ. Help us to not have unbalanced priorities by focusing too much on a battle with a defeated foe. In Christ, the victory is assured! Amen.

Sunday, 28 February 2021

Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. Revelation 12:6

Here we have a portion of the timeline that corresponds to Daniel 9:27 –

“Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate.”

What appears to be the case, is that the prophesying of the two witnesses comprised the first half of the tribulation period. As it said in Chapter 11 –

“But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. ³ And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” Revelation 11:2, 3

After that point, they are killed and taken to heaven (11:12). This corresponds to Daniel 9:27 that says, “But in the middle of the week.” Their prophesying is 42 months, or three- and one-half years. That is “the middle of the week,” meaning the middle of this seven-year period.

It is at the middle of the week that the two witnesses are killed, and sacrifice and offering are also ended. It would be at this point that the words of Paul also come into play –

“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4

It is this person that confirms the covenant of Daniel 9, and it is this person who will end the sacrifice and offering at the temple and sit in the temple of God. It appears that at this time, Israel will realize that Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecies, hence the words of verse 12:4 where it says that the woman was “ready to give birth.” In other words, the understanding of who their Messiah is begins to become known to the people.

If this is the proper understanding of the timeline and events, John now says, “Then the woman fled into the wilderness.” In understanding that Jesus is their long-rejected Messiah, they will also begin to read His words for understanding of what is expected of them. Why would they flee into the wilderness? It is because the Lord told them to do so –

“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), ¹⁶ “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ¹⁷ Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. ¹⁸ And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. ¹⁹ But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! ²⁰ And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. ²¹ For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. ²² And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” Matthew 24:15-22

Jesus’ words of the “abomination of desolation” speak of Daniel 9:27 cited above. The believers in Israel are told, in advance, that when they see this occur, they are to flee to the mountains. This is the second half of the tribulation period, and it will be the worst time ever experienced on the planet. But in taking Jesus’ words to heart, believing (not all, only the believers) Israel will be saved. This is because they will flee into the wilderness “where she has a place prepared by God.”

There is much speculation as to where this is. Based on the words of Jesus, this is a real group of people who will actually flee from Judea into the mountains. This is not to be taken metaphorically. Some speculate that they will flee to Petra, in Jordan. Wherever it is, the place is prepared for these people, and God will sustain them. As it says, “that they should feed her there.”

This clearly and absolutely defines the woman of verse 12:1 as Israel. It is Israel who is now in the land, it is Israel who Jesus was speaking to concerning events that would come upon them, and the church has already been taken at the rapture. Those of Israel who believe in Jesus will follow His word, flee into the mountains, and God will tend to them there. And this will be for “one thousand two hundred and sixty days.”

This is, again, a period of three- and one-half years. The Bible’s dating is one based on a three-hundred-and sixty-day calendar. Three- and one-half years, then, is one thousand two hundred and sixty days. This period then corresponds to the second half of the prophecy of Daniel 9:27. The timing fits, the actors in the great unfolding drama are identified, and the events of the other portions of Scripture properly align with what is stated in Daniel, Matthew, 2 Thessalonians, and Revelation.

Life application: With Israel in the land once again, many prophecies will be set to come to fulfillment. At the half-way point of the tribulation, which is forty-two months, the covenant which was made with Israel by the anti-Christ three- and one-half years earlier will be broken. These day and month timeframes are certainly to be taken literally and there are several reasons for this.

The first is that the 490-year period of Daniel 9:24-27 has been fulfilled literally, and to exact and verifiable dates. Of this 490-year period, 483 years have come to completion. This leaves a 7-year period remaining, which was promised to Israel by God. Like the other dating, this will also be exact.

A second reason to take this timeframe literally is because it is repeated several times in Revelation. It is a strong indication that they are not merely symbolic of an unknown timeframe. Israel, the woman, will be facing destruction at this mid-point of the tribulation, but God has prepared a place for her.

There is no need to worry about the ravings of people like the Iranians who say they will wipe Israel from the map. This will never happen. God will keep and protect His people in anticipation of the millennial reign of Christ. The promises have been made, God is faithful in keeping them, and He shall do so for the world to know and understand who His Christ is. They will come to see that He is JESUS!

Lord God, the events in the world today are lining up with what Your word says things will be like at the end of days. Because of this, we can look around and discern that You are in complete control of the ages. This beautiful play spans millennia, and yet is revealed beforehand in Your word. This tells us that You see all of time at once and have complete control over it! How absolutely magnificent You are! Amen.