No More Access: Daily Thoughts from Revelation (Revelation 12:7-12)

Have you ever heard someone say that God cannot abide the presence of evil? That is patently false, as we can see from the book of Job, in which God talks to Satan in heaven about Job, and, as we shall see, in this passage in Revelation today, where, in the future, Satan’s access to heaven will cease.

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And 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 brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”  (Revelation 12:7-12 ESV)

Daniel 9 gives a timetable for the coming of the Messiah (anointed one) and the establishment of his kingdom.  It does this in multiples of seven years.  The last seven years are marked by a ruler who makes a covenant with Israel for seven years but who breaks that covenant half way through (three and a half years in).  The last three and a half years when there should have been peace instead are marked by this ruler attacking Israel and seeking to subject her (Rev. 19).

Revelation is all about that last three and a half years, called by Jesus the great tribulation.  In heaven it is started by Michael’s defeat of Satan and throwing him and his angels to earth. 

Michael is God’s highest ranking angel and guardian of Israel (Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9), God’s archangel. Archangel means ruler of angels.  God has up until this time allowed Satan access to his council and Satan has used this opportunity to accuse us of being bad followers and disloyal subjects of God (see Job 1&2).  But with the deposing of Satan from heaven comes the announcement again of the coming of God’s kingdom to earth.  This demonstration of God’s and Christ’s authority is the beginning of Him taking over.

Though Satan has accused us before God’s throne day and night, we have overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb (by claiming Christ as our sacrificial substitute who has forgiven our sins) and by the word of our testimony (by our claim on Jesus as our Lord even to the death).  We do not love our lives even if it means we are given a choice to reject Jesus and save our lives.  We would rather be killed for our faith in Jesus than deny Him.

Heaven is relieved at Satan’s deposing, but this means he will redouble his efforts on earth to thwart God’s kingdom because he knows he only has three and a half years left to accomplish this.  His fury against God and God’s children seethes at all times and will now be poured out on the earth and the sea, on everyone he has a chance to harm.  He hates us.