Season 5 Podcast 132 Book of Revelation Chapter 12 “Opening of the Seven Seals, I, “The Seventh Seal, The War on Earth.”

A New Voice of Freedom

Season 5 Podcast 132 Book of Revelation Chapter 12 “Opening of the Seven Seals, I, “The Seventh Seal, The War on Earth.”

Christ established his church on Earth.

Revelation 12:5

“5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.”

The man child is Christ. The rod of iron is the word of God. Following Christ crucifixion and resurrection he was ‘caught up unto God, and to his throne.” The twelve apostles continued to spread the gospel as he taught them. However, there was tremendous persecution. Even as John is writing the Book of Revelation, he is imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos. The other apostles are hunted and killed, and the church is being scattered

Revelation 12:6

“6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.”

It appears that the church is scattered, and Satan is winning his battle. It is interesting that John quickly refers back to the war in heaven as a reminder that Satan is still carrying on the battle against the saints of God.

Revelation 12:7-9

“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

A great apostasy occurred following the death of the apostles. Great schisms arose in the church leading to power struggles and bloodshed. Gibbons, in the ‘Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire’ vividly describes that apostasy. Michael, sometimes referred to as the Arch Angel led the war in heaven. We know that Michael was supported by Christ. Why did Christ have Michael lead the army rather than himself? First, we must ask ourselves, how could a war in heaven be fought. It couldn’t be fought with guns and knives and bullets and bombs. These are immortal spirits. The war was fought with words, with testimony by the power of God. God allowed the war in heaven because he allowed his children to have agency, just as he does on earth. John is drawing a parallel between the war with Lucifer in heaven and the war with Satan on earth. Lucifer became Satan when he was cast out of heaven. John continues.

Revelation 12:10-11

“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

Christ told his apostles that he saw Satan fall from heaven.

Luke 10:17-18

“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.”

John points out that the battles both in heaven and on earth are being fought in the same way, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

In heaven as on earth Satan wants to take away the agency of man. That is what the war in heaven was about. That is why Satan was allowed to persuade a third part of the hosts of heaven to follow him. He used his cunning devices there as he does on earth. And from history we can see that he is as successful on earth as he was in heaven in persuading mankind to follow him.