Transcript

Christ's Championship, Devil's Defeat-Part Two

Revelation 12:1-17
Sunday, January 17, 2015
Pastor Randy Smith

The Bible leaves no doubts. The Bible gives significant warnings. Yet perhaps more than ever, more people when asked about the reality of Satan respond with a "is that a serious question" kind of look. Thanks to the latest show scheduled to air this month on Fox, they might even respond with a laugh.

It's simply entitled, "Lucifer." The storyline narrates the devil's escapades as he's chosen to call it quits and move to southern California, specifically the "city of angels." With great looks, fancy sports cars, supernatural powers and beautiful women, Lucifer will now be associated with every young man's dream. Satan, if he exists is now cool. Good is out and evil is in.

That's the world. How about the church? According to research by The Barna Group, "Four out of ten Christians (40%) strongly agreed that Satan 'is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.' An additional two out of ten Christians (19%) said they 'agree somewhat' with that perspective. A minority of Christians indicated that they believe Satan is real."

Did you hear that? I didn't say four out of ten people. I said four out of ten Christians. So this week I did some research in my attempt to better understand their reasoning. After all, Satan is clearly represented in the Bible from cover to cover and presented as a person (not a symbol of evil) on par with the personhood of Jesus Christ. So why do Christians say he's not real? Here is what I concluded.

First is the era in which we live. Did you ever notice how recent major theological shifts in the church (acceptance of evolution, fornication, so-called "gay marriage," self-esteem, etc.), have not come as a result of Christians studying their ibles. Rather, the shifts have come from the pressure of the world that has persuaded Christians to believe contrary to what is in their Bible. Tell the world you believe in a literal Satan in this age of enlightenment and many will think you are primitive, unsophisticated and simply weird.

Second, in an effort to combat extreme Pentecostalism who are battling demons on every occasion, often in bizarre and unbiblical ways, many Christians have gone too far to the other extreme, throwing the baby out with the bathwater, and have thus completely dismissed the existence and threat of Satan altogether.

Listen, the existence of Satan is seen throughout the Bible. And in the book of Revelation, the place where we see final triumph of Jesus Christ over evil, we find him mentioned in almost every chapter always presented as a literal, historical being that deceives the world and hates anything to do with God.

My goal this morning is not to prove the existence of Satan, but simply to accept the biblical teaching and focus on the victory that is promised to us in Christ. We'll start with a brief review of verses 1-6 in chapter 12 and then try to finish the remainder of the chapter this morning.

In verse 1 we were introduced to the people of God. They are described as a woman both Old Covenant and New Covenant. It's God entering a covenant relationship with His bride. God's people are special to Him and you can see His people described in verse 1 with radiant terms. The "twelve stars" shows the church's connection with the twelve tribes of Israel and her foundation which is the twelve apostles of the Lord (Eph. 2:20).

In verse 2 we read that she was pregnant and in heavy labor with child. This clearly points to the birth of the Messiah which, as prophesized, will come from God's people.

By verse 3 we were introduced to a third player in this drama. John simply calls him "a great red dragon." Using Scripture to interpret Scripture we see the "great red dragon" identified as "the devil and Satan" in verse 9.

And where do we find Satan in this narrative? Verse 4 uses imagery to paint a rather graphic illustration. As the church community, personified by the woman, is about to birth the Messiah, feet in stirrups, there's Satan drooling blood standing between the woman's legs waiting for the baby to arrive. We read in verse 4 that his goal was to "devour her child" the very moment he was born.

We know from the Gospel stories that Satan gave it all he had to kill the Christ-child. And when he most likely thought he succeeded at the cross, his victory came crashing to a stunning defeat when our Savior rose from the dead.

Verse 5 basically summarizes this and prepares us for the remainder of the chapter. "And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne."

In other words, first, Satan's attempts to kill Christ are over. Jesus ascended and is no longer vulnerable to the devil's attacks. Second, since Jesus was victorious over the devil, the day will come when He will judge Satan and the nations and "rule" them with a "rod of iron" (cf. Psm. 2). And third, since Satan can no longer wage war with Jesus, because he was "caught up to God" as the verse says, his aim is now set on the people who love God.

So now that you see where we are going, let's pick things up in verse 7. As we have seen frequently in our study of Revelation we are transported in John's vision from an earthy description to a heavenly description. They describe the same events, but just present the events from two different perspectives. So we've seen Satan's activities on earth in verses 1-6. Now we are transported in verses 7-12 to see Satan's activities in heaven.

Verse 7, "And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war." I believe only two "good" angels are mentioned by name in the Bible. Both are very powerful angels. One is Gabriel who is usually the angel that brings messages from God. The other is Michael (Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9; Rev. 12:7). Michael is the one often protecting the Lord's people and fighting the Lord's battles.

Verse 7 describes this fight scene in the heavenly realms unseen to our naked eye. It's Michael and his "good" angels in one corner against Satan and his "bad" angels in the other corner. The battle is a main event and the goal is for dominion in the heavenly places. Satan no doubt with a chip on his shoulder wishes to satisfy his desire for preeminence, the very thing that precipitated his fall in the first place (Isa. 14:12f). This is winner takes all.

I believe a good way to look at this battle is to view it as a heavenly counterpart to Christ's victory on the cross on earth. Christ's resurrection and the beginning of His rule are now immediately reflected in heaven by the war that was waging up there. The resurrection was Satan's defeat and now we see in a sense how that defeat is spelled out.

Even if we were born, we wouldn't have been permitted to observe this battle. Yet we are given the results and it wasn't even close. John in verse 8 in speaking of this decisive war reports, "And they [Satan and his demons] were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven."

It's hard to say, but up until this time it appeared Satan had some place in heaven (cf. Job 1:6-9; 2:1-6). Of course there would always be his impending judgment, but whatever remote place he was permitted to occupy in heaven has now been largely forfeited. Verse 8 says, "There was no longer a place found for them in heaven." Satan was cast out of heaven and most likely this is what Jesus referred to in Luke 10:18 when He predicted, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning."

Verse 9, "And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old [ties to the temptation in the Garden - Genesis 3] who is called the devil ["slanderer"] and Satan ["adversary," within time it became his name], who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him." So what we see here is the victory in heaven due to the work of Jesus Christ at Calvary.

How does heaven respond? Look at verse 10. "Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, 'Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.'"

The theme of the Bible can best be described in one word: redemption. Everything as you know was created "good." Yet within a short amount of time everything unraveled at the seams. When the Fall occurred (in Genesis 3), order was turned to chaos, and man in particular was introduced to death just a God promised - spiritual death immediately and physical death soon to follow. Nature was thrown off kilter. All humans were destined for separation from God. It also appeared that Satan succeeded and God's marvelous plan was foiled.

Yet as soon as the very next chapter in Genesis (chapter 4) we see God spring into action and begin His process of redemption. The entire Bible spells out God's story of redemption. The book of Revelation tells of the time when this work of redemption will be completed and all things will be made new and brought back to a position that exceeded its original state. God will prove Himself far superior to all when it is finished. God, not Satan, will be victorious and have the final word.

Yet the redemption process is slow. It comes in waves and stages over history. It becomes clearer over time. It culminates at the cross when Jesus Christ defeated sin, death and Satan. The battle is over. The kingdom of God is at hand. That victory is God's. Yet in the meantime as we await the return of our Savior there is still some mopping up that needs to take place.

The world has been and is being redeemed. Satan, however, is moving in the opposite direction. From an exalted position in heaven, to a position in heaven, to becoming cast from heaven, to being thrown eventually in the lake of fire, Satan's journey takes him from power to weakness, from glory to disgrace.

So what we see in verse 10 is heaven rejoicing that Satan was finally kicked out. And the joy is centered around one particular activity. It is mentioned twice in verse 10. "For the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night." According to this verse, the thing that bothered heaven the most regarding Satan, is what? - the fact that he continually accused God's people. And as we consider this theme of redemption, I ask you, "Why?"

Now on a superficial level I suppose we could argue that Satan's tactics were like a nauseating broken record that the inhabitants of heaven simply got sick of listening to. But on a deeper level it says so much about the honor that heaven devotes to the redemptive work of Christ on the cross.

Let's remember that Jesus receives praise in Revelation not only for who He is, but in particular for what He has done. 5:9, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation." 1:5-6, "To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood - and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father - to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."

You know what I get out of this? I see the value that all of heaven places on the redemptive work of Jesus Christ when He died on the cross and rose from the dead to take way all of our sins (Rev. 5:9; 12:11). To wash us clean and justify us blameless before the Father. To bring us complete innocence and forgiveness. And when Satan continually "day and night" makes a mockery of His work by bringing accusations against God's redeemed people in the courtroom of heaven, it's taken not as a knock against God's people, but rather a knock against Christ.

And as a footnote, when we doubt the work of Jesus Christ or believe we need to add our good deeds to supplement His atonement or think He only died for the "little sins" or accept His forgiveness, but "can't forgive ourselves" or accept His forgiveness, but make no effort to hate our sins and repent, we can imagine our God and all of heaven who esteem work of Christ so greatly being significantly grieved.

So heaven rejoices, the accuser has been thrown out! Verse 12 repeats this note of praise. "For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them." Things are much better in heaven once Satan has been cast out. But don't get too excited just yet. Where did he get cast to? That's right, the earth. Joy in heaven, yet woe on earth. As verse 12 continues, "Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time."

Satan's next step is the lake of fire. He knows his time is short. And he is raging mad after losing his position in heaven. Remember 1 Peter? "Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Pet. 5:8). And his war, since he no longer can get his paws on God, is now with the people God loves and cherishes. It's the cowardly attack that many adults experience - adults who try to hurt other adults by attacking their children. Right from Satan's playbook. Right from the pit of hell. Look at verse 13, "And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child." Look at verse 17, "So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus." Our problem with Satan is not that he is too strong for us in Christ's power. Our problem with Satan is that he hates us because he has been defeated.

Satan would love nothing more than for you and I to pretend he doesn't exist or acknowledge his existence and take his assault on you lightly. He would also like to see you buckle under fear at his threats and defend yourself using worldly and man-made tactics.

That's why Peter tells us to, "Resist him, firm in your faith" (1 Pet. 5:9). Paul tells us to "Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil" (Eph. 6:11). And James tells us to, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (Jas. 4:7).

And as Christians we can and will overcome. God will protect us - that's spelled out symbolically in verses 14-16 again drawing a parallel with the Exodus account. We will overcome.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

(Martin Luther, A Mighty Fortress is Our God)

Through Christ's death we have been declared "not guilty" of Satan's accusations. In Romans 8 we read, "Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, 'For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us" (Rom. 8:33-37).

And how do we overcome the devil? Right here in verse 11 we read the three-pronged approach. First, "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb." The ultimate basis for our success against Satan is not our strength, but rather our union with Christ whereby His victory has become our victory. He spilled His blood to bring us complete pardon. We are declared "not guilty" before the Judge of the world. It's not about increasing our faith for greater success. It's about taking hold of what Christ has already done and fully completed on our behalf.

Second, we overcome him "because of the word of [our] testimony." We can have success over Satan because we are confident of what Christ has done in our lives, and we are not ashamed to identify with Him and be personally convinced of our love for him.

And third, we overcome him because we "[do] not love [our] life even when faced with death." In Christ we are fearless. We will not back down even when Satan throws his greatest temptation our way (Mt. 10:28). The worst he can do is kill us, but only that if sovereignly permitted by God and in that only sending us sooner to what the Bible calls, "Paradise" (Lk. 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:4; Rev. 2:7). Satan has no power over the "second death" (Rev. 2:11, 20:6, 14; 21:8).

You know this week, Julie made me spinach. I love it, but the girls thought it was gross. So I tried to justify the need to eat spinach by appealing to one of my favorite childhood cartoons, "Popeye the Sailorman." It didn't help because my mention of that show brought nothing but blank stars.

So we (mainly my son and I) got on YouTube and watched a couple episodes. You know the theme of every show, Popeye's in trouble, but once he eats the spinach he becomes super strong and saves the day.

I remember when I was a kid how the media got me to believe that Popeye was real and the whole spinach thing would really work. I remember one day (and this was when we still lived in New York so that puts me under second grade) asking my mom to buy me raw spinach and it had to be from a can. I can't remember if she burst my fantasy, but I do remember her saying, "You're not going to like it." I kept pushing her. Eventually she backed down.

I painfully digested the spinach and with great faith awaited for the amazing to happen. I took off my shirt and stood before her three-way mirror, made a bicep and looked at my arm very closely. And you know what I saw? The very same battleship shooting its guns that Popeye had on his arm right after he ate his spinach! In my little 8 year-old-mind I was convinced. This stuff really works!

It's not hard to be deceived. The world says we are brainwashed to believe the existence of Satan. They have it backwards. Are you going to let Hollywood teach you theology or are you going to go to the eternal, trustworthy Word of God? Don't fall for the powerful false messages from the media. Don't be deceived. The devil is real. He wants you. Yet you can overcome. And you will be victorious all thanks to the work of Christ and your union with Him that announces you blameless before the one and only Judge of the world.