Sermon Tone Analysis

Revelations Series #18

 

*Battle in the Heavens*

*Revelation 12*

 

IN our earthly day to day, we are often far to oblivious to the Heavenly struggles that are going on in the spiritual.

When conflict goes on here, conflict goes on in the spiritual realms more often than not.

Spiritual conflict is real even if we don't realize it.

Name for me if you will some Biblical accounts that show us a picture of Spiritual Battles going on in the physical realm as well as spiritual

1.   Eve and the Serpent ~/ Adam responding to Eve

2.   Cain and Able

3.   The Tower of Babel - we will reach heaven

4.   Noah and the Flood - we will not listen to the warnings of God

5.   Israel in Egypt, "killing of babies" … "let my people go" Satan seeks to imprison us and keep us from the promises of God … remember God had told them that they would return

6.   David and Goliath … Your God is not strong enough

7.   Shadrach Meshach, and Abednego - seek to destroy us but protected by the Son of god

8.   Herod and killing Babies in Palestine

9.   Temptation of Jesus Christ

10.

Attempt to throw Jesus from a Cliff

11.

Garden of Gethsemane

12.

The Cross - Save Yourself

13.  Stephen

14.

James' death, all of the Apostles deaths

 

Let's Read again from Revelation 12

 

 

*DIFFERING VIEWPOINTS*

 

 

Historicist -

 

Elliott identifies this *war in heaven* (v.

7) with the time of Christianity's conflict with heathenism in the days of Julian the Apostate, the emperor who sought to reestablish paganism in the empire from 361 until 363.

The casting out of the dragon was the end of that conflict, marked by the downfall of paganism at Julian's death in 363.

Julian's dying words were, "O Galilean, thou hast conquered!"

The song of rejoicing is that of the Christians at the time of that victory, celebrating the establishment of *the kingdom of our God* (v.

10), which is to be understood as Rome under Christian rulers.

The dragon is not finished bringing troubles upon the church, however.

It is announced that further *woe* is to be expected for *the inhabitants of the earth and the sea* (v.

12).

In Elliott's opinion, this woe refers to heretical persecutors arising from within the church and to the Gothic scourge soon to come.

Barnes, however, gives the future peril a different face:

I regard this, therefore, as referring to the time of the rise of the Papacy, when, /but/ for the formidable, corrupting, and destructive power, it might have been hoped that the church would have spread all over the world.

Preterist - The suggestion is simply that, as Christ has been symbolized previously as a "mighty angel" (cf.

10:1), so also here, the symbol of Christ is that of "the archangel" (as Michael is called in Jude 9).

Explaining that archangel does not mean "a member of a superior class of angels," but rather "Chief of the angels," Chilton suggests that the title is equivalent to "Commander of the Lord's army" in Joshua 5:13-15.

The fact that He is here seen leading the angels of heaven as a victorious army against the satanic kingdom further suggests the identification with the Lord, since Christ is seen in this same role elsewhere (see 19:11-16).

Chilton, Terry, and Carrington further suggest that the "angels" who accompany Michael (Jesus) are the apostles, together with the angelic forces that cooperate with them.

Russell writes:

We are not to conceive of this conflict as one of physical force, like Milton's battles in "Paradise Lost," but rather as a moral and spiritual victory gained by truth over error, by light over darkness, by the Gospel over sin and unbelief.

Because *the great dragon was cast out* (v.

9) as a consequence of the battle, we can pinpoint the heavenly battle as being at the same time as the accomplishment of the atonement at the death and resurrection of Christ.

The death of Christ did not put Satan entirely out of business, but it ended his career as *the accuser of our brethren* (v.

10), his principal role in pre-Christian times 

 

 

Futurist - The scene shifts unexpectedly from earth to heaven.

At some point in connection with the events of the previous verses, *war broke out in heaven* (v.

7) between God's angels and the forces of Satan.

The angels are seen as under the command of *Michael,* the only angel in Scripture that is called "the archangel" (Jude 9), and who is first ntroduced in Daniel.

The event here prophesied was predicted by Daniel the prophet in Daniel 12:1, where it is recorded that Michael shall "stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people."

This event marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation defined in Daniel 12:1.

It is undoubtedly the same event as in Revelation 12.

The War results in Satan being cast out of heaven and confined to earth …

There is disagreement as to when this event takes place, whether at the mid-point of the 7 years, the beginning of the Great Tribulation, or at the 6th Seal or the 5th Trumpet when Satan is kicked out like a star falling, some say that he is kicked out at the Rapture of the church as the church fills space he may have filled in the outer court

Salvation declared here is NOT salvation from sin but salvation in the sense of deliverance and completion

 

In his office as *the accuser of our brethren* (v.

10), Satan can no longer stand in heaven, but he continues his attack against the Tribulation saints on earth.

They are ready for him, however; they stand their spiritual ground and even overcome their attacker *by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony* (v.

11)

 

Spiritual ~/ Idealist - This retells the spiritual conflict depicted in verses 1-6, but from the heavenly perspective.

Wilcock writes: "The opposition of verse 7 is the opposition of verse 4b seen at a different depth of focus."

*Michael and his angels* (v.

7) prevailed over the kingdom of darkness, as Christ ministered, died, and arose on earth, the last event being the "casting out" of the accuser (John 12:31).

But if the victory is Christ's, why is it depicted as if accomplished by Michael in the heavenlies?

G. B. Caird likens Michael to the staff officer who removes Satan's flag from the heavenly map of battle in response to the Field General's real victory at the cross.

The announcement that *salvation … strength … the kingdom … have come* (v.

10) celebrates Christ's resurrection victory over Satan and the beginning of the New Covenant age (Col.

2:15; Heb.

2:14).

Satan, here alone called *the accuser of our brethren* (v.

10), until the death of Christ was able to accuse God's people before the throne of God (Job 1-2; Zech.

3:1); now, because of the atonement, he has lost all grounds for accusation (Rom.

8:31-34)

 

Satan's activity is now limited to the earthly level, accusing believers' consciences against themselves and seeking to bring them under self-condemnation.

In response to such attacks, the believer pleads the merits and accomplishments of *the blood of the Lamb* (v.

11).

This constitutes the /defensive/ aspect of the present warfare of the believer.

The *word of their testimony* (evangelism), is the /offensive/ warfare of the church.

They *did not love their lives to the death* demonstrates that the Christian's victory is measured, not necessarily in personal survival, but in faithful martyrdom.

`

 

 

Well … Let's talk about this Battle in Heaven and this Battle on Earth

 

In those last days, two old adversaries will fight a final time.

This is NOT a simple restating of a former battle, because Satan knows in this battle that his time is SHORT.

So this cannot refer only to previous battles that happened centuries and millennia ago.

How does Satan know that his time is short?

Because he knows the prophesies found in this book better than you or I and he will know what is happening.

Let's talk about these lead characters in this battle

 

*1.

Lead Characters*

 

They have done battle before … Daniel 10: 13, 21; Daniel 12:1

Jude 9 talks of them battling over the body of Moses.

They have fought before, or perhaps they have, in the heavenly view of things, never stopped fighting.

The Dragon and his Angels vs Michael and his Angels.

"LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE"

'

  A.

Satan --

    1.

Is 14:12 - calls him O Morning Star or Lucifer, Daystar; (/heylel ~/hay-*lale*~/)/ shining One … Son of the Dawn … he was and remains a beautiful one … Peter says he masquerades as an angel of light?

Why?

How?

because he WAS one and can look like one now

    2.

Ez 28 God compared the King of Tyre to Satan and says he was a "model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

… he was in Eden … he was an anointed Guardian Cherub or a Cherub who covers.

He was the highest angel whose charge it was to guard the throne of glory … but he longed to take the throne for himself … his heart was filled with Arrogance … and as the picture in Rev 12:4 depicts he was removed from Heaven and took 1~/3 of the angels with him.

The word means to pull, to tow, lead by force, drag off … he used his persuasion and force to gain the alliance of these angels … but this word used here is a PAST tense used "and flung" or "and did cast" … this is past tense action … The tenses are very important in reading this broad telling … just as the Woman … Gave birth … to one who WILL rule the nations.

That's a picture of Christ being born but yet even at this writing still didn't have actualized Sovereignty or Jurisdiction over all nations …