S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The last great angelic battle and Satan's ultimate expulsion from heaven are described in Revelation 12:7-12. In this passage, John sees a great war between Michael and the angels of God and the dragon (Satan) and his fallen angels or demons that will take place in the end times. Satan, in his great pride and delusion that he can be like God, will lead a final rebellion against God. It will be a cosmic mismatch. Thus, the dragon and his demons will lose the battle and be thrown out of heaven forever.

 A common misconception is that Satan and his demons were locked away in hell after the fall of Satan. It is clear from many Bible passages that Satan was not barred from heaven or the earth after his first rebellion, which predated the creation. In Job 1:1-2:8, he appears before God to accuse Job of ulterior motives in his worship of God. In Zechariah 3, he again appears before God to accuse Joshua, the high priest. Indeed, the name Satan means "accuser." In Genesis, he visited the Garden of Eden and tempted Eve. He tempted Jesus in the wilderness before Jesus began His ministry, an incident recorded in Matthew 4:1-11. The question arises that, if Satan had already rebelled and been cast from heaven before the world was created, why is he free to be in heaven and on earth?

 In 2 Corinthians 12:2-3, the apostle Paul provides a major revelation that there are three "heavens." In this passage, he seemingly talks about himself being taken up to the "third heaven" where God the Father and Jesus dwell. The second heaven is the universe or outer space, and the first is our atmosphere or air. The Bible indicates that Satan and some of his demons are allowed to move in this space (Ephesians 2:1-2; 6:12).

 In this age, Satan and his highest ranking angels can still oppose the work of God and hinder the angels of God (Daniel 10:10-14) within the boundaries of the middle or second heaven. The battle recorded in Revelation 12 removes Satan and his minions from this realm.

 When Satan is expelled from the middle heaven, there will be great rejoicing in heaven, since the age-old accuser will be forever banned from his mission of accusation and slander against the elect. Satan's power and freedom will be seriously curtailed. However, the inhabitants of the earth will suffer terribly after this event, because Satan will be enraged. He will also be aware that he only has three and a half more years until he is bound and cast into the bottomless pit. This will usher in a period of intensified suffering on earth (the Great Tribulation) during which the Antichrist violates his peace treaty with Israel, desecrates their temple, declares himself as god, and begins to systematically murder all those who refuse to worship him.

See http://www.gotquestions.org/war-in-heaven.html

July 01 2013 • 5 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Rotimi EWEDEMI Very keen Bible Researcher

The war in heaven described in Revelation 12 was actually as a result of the successful delivery and enthronement of the "man child" who is to "rule all nations with an iron rod", Revelation 12:5. 

But who is that child or what does the child represent? This is an important question because we are told in verse 1 that the revelation was presented in signs or symbols to John. 

Revelation 2:26,27 help us to know what the child represents. "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father (Revelation 2:26 -27 KJV). 

Jesus' words here correlate beautifully with other scriptures as Daniel 7:13,14,18,21,22,27; 1Corinthians 6:1-4; Luke 12:32; John 14:1-4; as well as others quoted below:

1. "Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Luke 22:28-30 KJV).

2. "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth" (Revelation 5:9 -10 KJV)

3. "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years". (Revelation 20:6 KJV).

4. "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven...and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song...and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God" (Revelation 14:1 -5 KJV).

Our conclusion? 

The male child that was born and that God put on his throne represents the rulership of God's Kingdom, that is Jesus Christ plus the saints of God! That kingdom according to Daniel 2:44, will eventually crush or break in pieces human rulership. 

The very first action that the kingdom took was to fight a war with the "ruler of the world", Satan (see John 14:30; 2 Corinthians 4:4). This understanding is reinforced by Revelation 12:10, which says:
" 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" (KJV)

Clearly, then, it was the establishment of the Kingdom or Government under Jesus (Isaiah 9:6,7) that necessitated the war in heaven. That war in heaven and its resultant effect marked the beginning of the "time of the end". How so? 

" 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 (Revelation 12:12 KJV)". 

That short time extends from the time of the enthronement of God's Kingdom in heaven up to the time that the Kingdom will take over rulership of the earth.

However, we do not know when that time, that is, the end will be (Matt 24:36). 

Jesus said his followers should to pray for it to come (Matthew 6:9,10).

That prayer will be answered when the prophesy in Revelation 21:2-3 fulfills.

February 17 2015 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report