But what has caused this important victory?
But what has caused this important victory?
They [the brothers and sisters] triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Revelation 12:11)
It is for this reason that Michael and his angels were given strength by the Father to the extent they could throw Satan and his angels from the heavenlies to the earth.
By the blood of the Lamb. The saints of God never can gain victory over Satan and his angels except when they are standing in the authority of the blood of God's Lamb that made an atonement for the sins of mankind.
By the word of their testimony. The saints of God never can gain victory over Satan and his angels except as the testimony of their words and their character, of God's Person, will, and ways, are in line with the Bible.
By not loving their lives so much as to shrink from death. The saints of God never can gain victory over Satan and his angels except as they regard the will of Christ more important than their own life. We do not overcome the accuser by our life and efforts but by dying the several deaths God has assigned to us.
Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short. (Revelation 12:12)
It is good to know that the reign of the wicked soon will be over, isn't it?
I believe the Spirit of God is proclaiming that we are entering the third Day of Redemption, the time when we shall live in His sight, according to the Prophet Hosea.
Whether the battle between Michael and Satan has begun, or soon will begin, we are wise if we draw close to the Lord Jesus. The Spirit is commanding us to confess and turn away from our sins. The Lord Jesus will help us do this if we will call upon Him.
We need to prepare for the trouble in the spirit world, and also the trouble as the nations of the earth reflect in themselves the spiritual conflicts by going to war with one another.
How do we prepare for the coming troubles? By drawing closer than we ever have been to the Lord Jesus.
All day and part of the night we should be praying: "What are you thinking, Lord Jesus? Where do you want me to be? What do you want me to do? What do you want me to say?"
You might not believe that you can keep up a running dialogue with the Lord Jesus while you are occupied with your other responsibilities, but you can. Also, you will discover that by so doing His Presence will become increasingly noticeable to you. Because you mind is stayed on Him, His protecting angels will be with you in every circumstance.
Christ never will leave you or forsake you if you do not leave or forsake Him.
Satan and his angels are coming to the earth. Your only protection and safety are in the Lord Jesus. Seek Him now as never before. Soon the spiritual oppression may be so great your mind will not be clear enough to pray as you should.
When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach. (Revelation 12:13,14)
It looks to me like the devout Christians who had travailed in birth until Christ was formed in them became the special target of Satan. Since the male son, the Ruler, already has been caught up "to God and to His Throne," then pursuing the woman was no more than an act of spite on Satan's part.
This is not surprising. It appears much of Satan's actions are motivated by spite rather than by an intelligent effort to accomplish a definite goal.
I do not have the faintest idea what the "two wings of a great eagle" represent. Sufficient to say that the devout Christians who travailed until they brought forth the Body of Christ were enabled to flee to a prepared place in a wilderness. There they will be taken care of—perhaps during the second half of the "week of years"---after they have given their testimony.
Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. (Revelation 12:15,16)
Chapter Twenty-five of the Book of Matthew may be referring to the "water" Satan uses to try to sweep the Christians away.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'(Matthew 25:35.36)
The "water" may be hunger, thirst, homelessness, nakedness, sickness, imprisonment. These may be used by Satan in the attempt to destroy the fervent Christians who travailed until Christ was formed in them.
Because Christ was in these believers, Jesus referred to them as His brothers and sisters.
And indeed they are. Christ is the Firstborn of many brothers. They have the same Father. They have been predestined to be in His image.
The King will reply, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40)
And I think the fact that people assisted these brothers and sisters of Christ is the meaning of, "the earth helped the woman." Those who helped the saints are the "sheep" of Matthew 25. The Kingdom of God has been prepared for them. At the final resurrection they will be granted citizenship on the new earth.
Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God's commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus. (Revelation 12:17)
It is my opinion that these events took place during the second half of the "week" of years, when Satan and Antichrist were governing the earth.
It is interesting to note that some Bible scholars present such people as Jewish Christians, because they keep God's commands as well as maintaining their testimony about the Lord Jesus. This would mean that only Jewish Christians brought forth Christ. This is not possible because according to the Apostle Paul, Jews and Gentiles are one new Man in Christ.
The Lord Jesus on several occasions said that only believers who kept His commands would receive the fulfillment of His promises, not just Jewish people.
Jesus replied, " Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." (John 14:23)
We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. (I John 2:3,4)
When we do not obey what the Lord commanded, we are building our life on sand.
So it is not true that those who keep God's commands are necessarily Jews. Every true Christian obeys the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These are the people who always will be the focus of the attacks of evil spirits.
The Words that the Lord Jesus spoke on the earth, and still is speaking, are the Law from Zion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem. These Divine injunctions shall govern all saved people for eternity.
Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3)
The Events Leading to the Removal of All Rebellion Against God
The blood atonement made on the cross of Calvary.
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (I John 2:2)