Read Revelation 12:7–12
Questions from the Scripture text: What broke out where (v7)? Who fought with whom? With what result (v8)? Who lost (v9)? What does he do now? Where? With whom? What is heard from where in v10? What four things does it say have come? Why—what has been done to whom? What did he used to do? How does the battle go for him on the earth—who overcomes (v11)? By what two things? In what action? Who should rejoice, then (v12)? And upon whom is there woe? Why—who has come where? In what manner? Why—what does he know?
Why shouldn’t believers fear the devil? Revelation 12:7–16 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the devil has been continuously defeated, from the time of his fall.
In the interlude between the trumpet blast warnings about wrath, and the actual pouring out of the wrath (bowls), Jesus’s Revelation portrays to us the great battle that takes place throughout this age. In our brief passage, a description of three defeats of the devil prepares us to think about this battle.
The original fall of Lucifer, v7–9. Isaiah 14:12–14 recalls Satan’s original fall. He was called Lucifer (“light-bearer”), the greatest among the angels, “the stars” of Isa 14:13. But he aspired to rise above the level of creature to put himself in the same category as the Most High. v4 has already referred to this event, and his power (represented as his “tail,” cf. 9:10, 19) sweeping one third of the remaining angels with him. But even then, he was easily defeated. The new, chief arch-angel Michael, and the remaining two-thirds of the angels prevailed (v7–8). Though he retained the ability to accuse the brethren, he no longer had place or power in glory. This is why all of his activity is on the earth, primarily the activity of deception (v9).
For the purposes of this passage, the point is that he was defeated—not only immediately by the infinitely greater power of God, but even mediately by the other creatures (as upheld, of course, by the power of God). We must take his raging seriously; his presence and deception and warring are real. But, we must also face it with confidence, remembering that he has suffered continual defeat from his very fall.
The decisive victory of the cross, v10. Other Scripture helps us place the chronology of v10. In Jn 12:31–32, Jesus identifies it as the time of His life and death. In Luk 10:18–19, He associates it with His giving the disciples power on the earth. And they’re going to need it! But, here again, we have a decisive defeat of the devil. His attempt upon the Son (cf. v4–5) results in his displacement by the Son in glory.
Jesus’s death and resurrection is the occasion upon which Satan is no longer permitted to accuse the brethren. We are not told why the Lord had permitted this (cf. Job 1:6, 2:1). But from what happened, we can infer at least one reason: so that Christ may be glorified when our adversary is displaced by Him, our Advocate! With the ascended Christ on the throne, there is no more room for an accuser (v10).
This not only encourages us that the devil continues to be defeated at every turn, but also that Christ is always interceding for us, and that God refuses even to hear accusations now.
The ongoing victory of the persecuted saints, v11–12. The church has fled into the wilderness (v6), and the devil is full of wrath (v12), but even here, where he has been cast down, he suffers continual defeat. Christ is building His church, and the gates of Hades cannot prevail against it (cf. Mt 16:18). The rage is great, the woe is grave (v12), but the victory is real. All the while that saints are being attacked and martyred, they are overcoming. They overcome by the blood of the Lamb: they do not fear death, because they are reconciled to God, washed clean, and being fitted for glory. They overcome by the word of their testimony: they cannot be brought to renounce Christ. In two thousand years of attacking Christians, Satan has never successfully separated a single saint from Christ. Not even by threat of death. They love not their lives, even unto death. Dear believer, individual Christians, and the church as a whole, are under woeful attack, but they are victorious even on the earth.
How have you been under attack of deception? How have you been under attack to compromise your devotion to Christ? How have you been under attack through fear of suffering or death? How are you overcoming by the blood of the Lamb? How are you overcoming by the word of their testimony? How much do you look forward to death, so that by comparison, you don’t love your life?
Sample prayer: Lord, we thank You that You have defeated the devil at his fall, and especially at the cross of Jesus Christ. And we thank You that You are constantly defeating him in the lives of Christians. Forgive us for failing to take the devil seriously. And forgive us, on the other hand, for being intimidated or discouraged by the devil’s activity, when he is constantly being defeated. Grant that we would overcome by the blood of the Lamb. Forgive us, for when Christ’s redeeming us is far from our minds. And forgive us for when we are in love with this life. Grant that we would love not our lives to the death, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP2 “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage” or TPH244 “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
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