WAR In Heaven

TEXT:  Rev. 12:7-9

INTRODUCTION:

A.  THE UNTHINKABLE.

B.  NOT WHAT PEOPLE THINK.

          1.  Not the beginning where Satan tempts Eve.

          2.  Not the end of time.

C.  CONSEQUENCES FOR US – WHAT IS INVOLVED?

I.      CAST OF CHARACTERS (vs. 1-6).

A.  MANCHILD (vs. 5).  CHRIST.

          1.  Rules the nations with a rod of iron (Rev. 19:5;  Psa. 2:6-9).

          2.  Exhalted to God’s throne (Psa. 110:1-2;  Eph. 1:20-23).

B.  WOMAN (vs. 1-2).

          1.  Not Israel – Israel gone by this writing – More to do.

          2.  Not the Church – Did not give birth to Christ.

          3.  The Faithful from Babylon to the end of time (Isa. 66:6-7;  Micah 5:3;  4:9-10).

                   Taken to Babylon in travail, redeemed before she give birth.

C.  THE DRAGON (vs. 3-4).

II.     FIRST BATTLE.

A.  SATAN’S ATTEMPTED DESTRUCTION OF MANCHILD (vs. 4;  Matt. 2:16).

B.  THE RESCUE (vs. 5).

C.  THE NOURISHING OF THE WOMAN (vs.. 6).

III.    THE GREAT WAR (vs. 7-12).

A.  FIGURATIVE – REAL SPIRITUAL BATTLE.

          1.  Michael & his angels (Jude 9;  Dan. 10:12, 21).

          2.  Satan & his angels (John 8:44;  Acts 2:22-23;  2 Cor. 11:14-15).

B.  SATAN CAST DOWN TO EARTH.  NOT THE END OF TIME, BUT HIS FAILURE.

C.  WHEN DOES THIS TAKE PLACE? (vs. 10).  “NOW IS COME …”

          1.  Power (Matt. 8:27;  Mark 2:8;  John 11:25-27,  43).

          2.  Kingdom (Mark 9:1;  Acts 1:6-8;  Acts 2).

          3.  Authority (Matt. 28:18;  Eph. 1:20-23).

D.  THINK OF THE EFFORTS TO DEFEAT JESUS.

          1.  Temptation (Matt. 4:1-11).

          2.  Crucifixion (Matt. 16:18).

IV.   AFTERMATH OF THIS WAR – WOE!! (vs. 12).

A.  SATAN CAST DOWN TO EARTH (vs. 9).

          1.  Accuser of the brethren (vs. 10).

          2.  Attacks the woman, now the church (vs. 12).

                   a.  Rescued into the wilderness – obscurity.

                   b.  The poison river.  Earth absorbs the evil.  Satan fails to destroy the church.

B.  ATTACKS THE REST OF HER SEED.  THAT’S US!!!

          1.  2 Cor. 2:11.  Sneaky and vicious.  (1 Pet. 5:8).

          2.  Deceitful (vs. 9-10).  Accuses God (Gen 3) and accuses us (vs. 10).

V.    WHAT IS TO SAVE US? (vs. 11)

A.  THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.

          1.  Jesus died for us (1 Pet. 2:24;  2 Cor. 5:14-15).

          2.  Forgiveness (Eph. 1:7).

B.  THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY.

          1.  God’s Power (Rom. 1:16-17;  James 1:21).

          2.  Shield of faith (Eph. 6:16;  Rom. 10:17).

          3.  “It is written …” (Matt. 4).

C.  THE LOVED NOT THEIR LIFE – Martyr’s Spirit (Acts 20:24).

          1.  Jesus (Luke 9:23).

          2.  Paul (Gal. 2:20).

          3.  Peter (1 Pet. 4:1-2, 19).

          4.  Commitment (2 Tim. 1:12).

CONCLUSION:

A.  THRU THE BLOOD (Rom. 6:3).

B.  THRU HIS WORD (Titus 2:11-12).

C.  THRU COMMITMENT TO HIS CAUSE.