WAR IN HEAVEN

Chapter ten begins with John’s record of seeing another (different) mighty angel/messenger come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud, a rainbow is on his head, his face is as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire. This description has much in common with his description of Jesus in chapter one.

Revelation 1:15–16 “And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.”

I am convinced that this is Jesus since as you continue reading and follow the pronouns, by the time you come to Revelation 11:3 He makes reference to “my two witnesses.” In previous posts we discovered several instances in the Old Testament when the preincarnate Jesus was identified as “the angel of the Lord.” The purpose of this angel is to announce that the completion of God’s plan is at hand and to give John further revelation of coming judgments. He also told John about two special witnesses that would complete their prophetic assignment after the first 1260 days of the 70th week of Daniel that is more commonly known as the seven-year tribulation. He explains that they have been given special empowerment to protect themselves for that time period and to call down plagues on planet earth as needed. At the end of 1260 days, they will be killed and their dead bodies left exposed in the streets while those on earth celebrate their death. After 3.5 days God will resurrect them to life and take them up to heaven in a cloud in view of all their enemies.

Finally, the seventh angel sounds his trumpet signaling that Christ will soon establish His kingdom on earth. At this point heaven is filled with the sounds of another wonderful time of angelic praise and worship.

Chapter 12 records the account of the final war in heaven between Satan and his fallen angels and Michael and his host of holy angels. It’s at this point, the mid-point of the seven-year tribulation period, that Satan (also called the dragon, the serpent, and the Devil) that Satan and the fallen angels are evicted from the heavens permanently. No longer will the enemy be able to accuse men of faith before God.

Revelation 12:9–12 “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. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night….Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”

I think this might be the first time that Satan really knows he is beaten and is determined to take as many with him as he can.