In this week’s study, I start continue in Chapter 12.
chapter 12:1-12.
A Great Sign.
This morning we will be covering verses 7 through 12. We find John recording for us this amazing battle that takes place in heaven where Michael is used by Yahweh to permanently expel Satan from the presence of Yahweh and cast him to the earth. And soon thereafter we find that he will be cast into the abyss, the lake of fire which will be his permanent, eternal abode.
I have divided these few verses into three parts. We will first see the war in heaven, secondly, the dragon’s defeat and, thirdly, the heavenly celebration. Before we look at it, let me give you one other important fact that I find deeply encouraging.
Now, throughout history Satan and his forces have been at war with Yahweh and the holy angels and certainly all those that belong. Beyond the veil of our earthly existence there is an angelic war that is going on all the time.
It is interesting the Lord describes this wicked evil person in five ways. He is called the great dragon, underscoring the vicious cruelty of this monster. He is described as the serpent of old, identifying him as the serpent in the garden that tempted Adam and Eve. He is described as the devil, that means the slanderer, the maligner, the one who roams about the earth collecting evidence to accuse the saints before Yahweh’s bar of justice. He is described as Satan which is actually a transliteration of the Hebrew word satan that refers to a super human adversary. And he is also, finally, described as he who deceives or literally misleads the whole world, the one who is an absolute genius in seducing people to believe what is false while at the same time convincing them that it is true. And then when he causes them to fall he accuses them before Yahweh.
By the way, any time something is wildly popular with the world, go to Matthew Chapter 7 and be reminded . . . be reminded of the few and the many. There is a narrow gate and there is a broad gate. And whenever you see hordes of people running towards something, be at least a little bit suspicious. Satan is so clever in his counterfeits. And then, again, to think that he deceives us through temptations. He tricks us. And then when we yield to temptation and we walk into his trap, then he runs and accuses us before Yahweh. What a wicked monster he is. Remember what Paul tells us in Corinthians?
2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of the Messiah.
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Now think of it this way. Satan and his minions were not asked to leave. They were not just kicked out. He didn’t get the boot. Beloved, he was thrown down!
Don’t end up like those in Hosea 4:6 ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God (Elohim), I will also forget thy children.’
But, be like those in 2Timothy 2:15 ‘Study to shew thyself approved unto God (Yahweh), a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.’
Join me as we go Chapter by Chapter, Verse by Verse, Unraveling the Words of Yahweh!
Have any questions? Feel free to email me at keitner@netzero.net
