The End Times as God Reveals Them Pt. 36 The Dragon: Know Your Enemy!

War in heaven: Good versus Evil

Revelation 12:7-9  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8) And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9) 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 were cast out with him. 

John saw a war in heaven between the fallen angels led by Satan and the archangel Michael who is leading heaven's army. This specific war in heaven has not yet been fought. 

How do we know this? One reason is that Satan still has access to heaven because we know that he goes to the throne of God to make accusations against the redeemed of God (Zechariah 3:1-2).

Satan has some limited access to heaven. We know this from reading the book of Job, chapters 1 & 2. In that text, angels are called "sons of God" and when the angels of God come to Jehovah's throne to report their activities to Him, Satan also came among them. 

There are many New Testament texts that make it clear Satan is still very active during the church age. (See for examples Acts 5:3; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 7:5; 2 Corinthians 2:11; 11:14; 12:7; 1 Timothy 1:20).

When will this war take place? It will begin around the time when the seal judgments of God begin or about 3 1/2 years into the 7 years of the great tribulation. 

Also take note that the outcome has already been assured. The devil and his fallen angels will fight but not prevail. Any access to heaven that Satan was allowed to have up to the time of the war (Revelation 12:7-9) will be permanently cut off. John used the word "cast" three times to let us know that Satan and the fallen angels will lose the war. They will be cast out of heaven.

The name "dragon" literally means "a serpent" and instantly connects us back to the serpent who seduced Adam and Eve to sin. The name "Devil" means false accuser or slanderer of innocent people. The name "Satan" means adversary, one who promotes apostasy from truth and leads people to sin. He promoted idolatry and perversion. 

Satan's access to heaven. 

Job 1:6-7  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 7) And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 

The book of Job is one of the oldest historical books in the Bible. It predates Abraham, the patriarchs, Moses, the priesthood and the law. From these texts, we can tell that Job lived sometime after the flood of Noah, but before Abraham's family is introduced in Genesis 11. 

What we see in this text is created spiritual beings giving an account to their Creator. It would be similar to an employee giving an account of completed tasks to a supervisor. The devil is compelled to report to the throne of God and give an account of his actions. When Jehovah asked what Satan had been doing, the devil was required to reply. 

Notice how Satan pours ceaseless energies into wicked planning, evil scheming and malicious  methods. He walks back and forth, in all directions seeking to seduce mankind into sinning against Holy God. Peter tells us that Satan is like a roaring (ravenous) lion who ceaselessly walks around seeking souls to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

Therefore, it is clear that the fall of Lucifer and his transformation into Satan happened a very long time ago. He was already an evil being when he seduced Eve to sin in Genesis 3. 

Lucifer's fall & Satan's origin.

Isaiah 14:12-17  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13) For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15)  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. 16) They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; 17) That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? 

Isaiah spoke about the fall of Lucifer and the root of Satan's rebellion is seen in the 5 "I will" statements that he made. The last one shows his true heart. He wanted to replace God because he said "I will be like the most High." 

Notice the wicked ways of Satan. His malevolent moving behind the scenes, influencing men and governments resulted in weakening all nations. He makes the earth to tremble by shaking  political powers, causing chaos and ruining lives. 

From the book of Job, we learn that Satan can inflict weather related disasters, cause financial ruin, kill good people like Job's children and afflict Job with various diseases. His constant push for endless wars leaves many parts of the world wasted like a warzone or desolate like a wilderness. Cities are destroyed and cultures ruined and people uprooted. Satan is behind all of these evil actions. 

Description of Lucifer before he sinned.

Ezekiel 28:11-19  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 12) Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13) Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14) Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15) Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16) By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17) Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. 18) Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. 19) All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more. 

Ezekiel begins with a lament for the king of Tyre. There has never been a historical king like this one and this is why we see that the prophet is actually speaking about Satan. Verses 11-14 show us what a beautiful cherubim Lucifer must have been. The pipes and tabrets refer to musical instruments and were part of leading worship in heaven. 

Lucifer is a created being and he was perfect until iniquity was found in him. This would relate to the 5 "I will" statements that Lucifer made in Isaiah 14. However, Ezekiel records God making His own 5 "I will" statements of judgment that void each one of Satan's stated desires (Verses 17-18). 

Ezekiel also noted that Lucifer became violent, filled with pride, profane, corrupt and defiled. Notice that God also said that Lucifer was in the garden of Eden and we know that the serpent tempted Adam and Eve to sin (Genesis 3). 

Thoughts to Ponder...

It is important for us to know our enemy. The enemy of God is our enemy. He goes by different names and he is full of pride and evil. 

The beautiful covering cherubim named Lucifer became filled with pride and demanded to be worshiped as God. His goals have remained  consistent year after year. He is the temporary ruler of the world. If you ever wonder why there is so much heartache, trouble and sorrow in the world, so much hatred and vile behavior, it is because Satan rules this world. Everything that God is for, he is against. Everything that God is against he is for. 

Satan's heart was laid bare in the 5 "I will" statements that he made when he became filled with pride. God's judgment was put in place in the 5 "I will" statements where He promised to end Satan's rebellion. 

Remember what Romans 6, Ephesians 2:1-5 and Colossians 1:12-23 teach us about who we were before being regenerated by the Spirit of God. We were slaves to sin. We were dominated by the devil unable to change the direction of our lives. We were enemies of God.

Satan is doomed. The resurrection of Christ was a head crushing blow to the serpent. The defeat of the devil and his fallen angels is certain. Victory for the believer is secure anchored in the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf.

If you are not born again, you are an enemy of God and His condemnation rests upon you. Is this how you really want to be?

Are you fearful of all the strange things that are happening in the world today, wondering what it all means? 

Jesus Christ came to this earth to die on the cross in order to pay for our sins and to redeem us from being slaves in the devil's camp. He came so that through death He might destroy him (the devil) that has the power of death Hebrews 2:14). Jesus came that He might destroy all of the evil works of the devil (1 John 3:8).

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31). God so loved the world that He gave His son Jesus Christ to die for us that we might have eternal life (John 3:15-18). You must believe on Him. I pray that you will call upon the Lord for salvation this moment. He will save all who call upon His name (Romans 10:13).

God did everything necessary to brings sinners back into a right relationship with Him. please give your heart to Him before it is too late.

Bob