And There Was War in Heaven!

That “The Mystery of God Should Be Finished.”

“And there was war in Heaven: Michael and his Angels fought against the dragon (Satan); and the dragon fought and his Angels” (Revelation 12:7).

This “war” happens at the midpoint of the Great Tribulation. Satan and all the Angels that threw in their lot with him will now be cast out of Heaven. This has to do with the “Mystery of God” that will now be brought to completion (Revelation 10:7). The mystery is; Why has the Lord allowed Satan and his followers to be in Heaven all this time? There are many thoughts on this but the Lord has not revealed His reason for this to us. This is why it’s called a “Mystery.” The result of this war is that Satan and his angels will no longer be allowed in Heaven.

“And (they) prevailed not: neither was their place found any more in Heaven” (Revelation 12:8)

Satan was defeated by Michael and the Angels of the Lord and cast out of Heaven. It’s interesting to note that this war was not started by Satan. It was brought on by the Command of the Lord. Some have questioned whether Satan has actually had access to Heaven all this time, but a reading of the first chapter of the Book of Job dispels all doubt. Satan has had access to Heaven in the past and gone before the Lord to accuse the brethren as evidenced by his accusations against Job.

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the Earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:9).

Satan is referred to here as “that old serpent” because he used a serpent to deceive Adam and Eve in the Garden and since that time has worked to deceive the whole world. Jesus warned His Disciples to be on guard against deception just prior to His Crucifixion. Satan has come to “steal, kill, and destroy” and our only defenses against the Devil and his ways are knowing the Word of God and placing our faith in Christ and His sacrificial death at Calvary. Satan now being cast out of Heaven is the beginning of his end, as we shall see.

“Therefore rejoice, you Heaven, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the Earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows his time is short” (Revelation 12:12).

Those in Heaven now rejoice because they have seen the last of the adversary. Satan has no more access to Heaven. However, this verse proclaims a “Woe” to those on Earth at this time because Satan has great anger at being cast out of Heaven and knows that he has a short time. Satan, through the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and all his minions now wreaks havoc on the Earth. He does not succeed, of course. The Lord, Who has cast Him out of Heaven, will now cast him off the earth.

“And an Angel came down from Heaven, having the keys to the bottomless pit and great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that, he must be loosed a little season” (Revelation 20:1-3).

At this time, Satan and his Antichrist have been defeated at Armageddon with the Glorious Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ which will be the greatest happening in human history since the Cross. Satan and his minions will be literally bound for a thousand years. Notice there is a rehearsal of his various names that portray him using great cunning as our adversary and our accuser. Many have fallen to his devious ways and have ended up in Hell. As we will see, he will be released for one last time of deception and rebellion against the Lord to attempt to deceive all those on Earth at that time. This will occur at the end of the thousand-year Millennium Reign of Christ on the Earth.

“And when the thousand years have expired (finished), Satan shall be loosed out of his prison and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the Earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea” (Revelation 20:7,8).

All those on Earth at that time who did not accept Christ during the Kingdom Age will join Satan’s final rebellion against God. Incredibly, it says that the numbers that follow Satan are “as sands of the sea.” They are deceived by him and follow him to their eternal doom.

“And they went up on the breadth of the Earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of Heaven, and devoured them” (Revelation 20:9).

We are not told much about this final rebellion except that Satan and his army came against Jerusalem and the Lord puts it down quickly. This is the final attack against this great city – the city of God.

“And the Devil who deceived them was cast into the Lake of Fire and brimstone, where the Beast and False Prophet are, and will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).

This is the end of Satan and his influence over God’s creation. He will never again rebel against the Lord, or be allowed to deceive, or to “steal, kill, and destroy.” His end will be eternal suffering and torment in the lake of fire. But what of those who followed him and rebelled against the Lord’s ways? I’m talking about all those who have lived from the time of the Garden until now. What is their end?

“And I saw a Great White Throne, and Him Who sat on it…. and I saw the dead small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life: and the dead were judged according to their works…and death and Hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death….and whoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake Fire” (Revelation 20:11,12).

Those appearing before the Great White Throne Judgment are all the unredeemed. The Lord will open the books and they will be judged by their works. Our works will not gain us Heaven. It is only by faith in Christ and Him Crucified that our names are written in the Book of Life. This is a judicial proceeding and will result in all those standing before God hoping to justify themselves by works being cast into the Lake of Fire. What a horrible end for those who did not come by the way of faith.

And what will become of all the redeemed? All of us who have loved God served Him and accepted the gift of Eternal Life through the Lord’s sacrificial death on the Cross. What will happen to us? Well, we have a glorious future to look forward to. In closing, let’s take a look at what God’s Word has to say about this:

“And I saw a New Heaven and a new Earth: for the first Heaven and the first Earth were passed way (pass from one condition to another), and there was no more sea. And I John (the Apostle John) saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, come down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great Voice out of Heaven saying, Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:1-4 & ESB notes).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries -tqministries.com 2023