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They Overcame Him-

The events described in the twelfth chapter of the Book of Revelation are among the most significant to be found in the Scriptures.

Here we see the Christian Church, the woman clothed with Christ, the creation under her feet, and crowned with the heroes of faith of all ages.

She is in travail. The Scriptures, both Old Testament and New Testament, tell us that in the last days Zion will travail until Christ is brought forth in the Church.

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. (Micah 5:2-3)

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, (Galatians 4:19)

Satan is not overly concerned with the Church and its numerous liturgies. But Satan is terrified at the thought that the Church will cease its own works and enter the travail that will bring forth Christ.

Christ is the King, the Judge, the Ruler of the nations. The male Son is being born now as a warlike remnant of saints cease from their own works and turn their attention to what the Lord God is doing.

Satan has perfect wisdom, power in the world, and kingly authority. As wicked as he is, he is a great and majestic monarch. When we underestimate his ability to deceive we place ourselves in danger. Satan has had access to the heavens for a period of time incomprehensible to us. To the present hour he is able to approach God and accuse the saints.

Michael and his legions remain helpless. They cannot move until the Father gives the Word. The Father will not give the Word until the Son is born in the Church.

And then it happens! The Son is brought forth and is caught up to the throne of God.

Immediately the Father authorizes Michael to cast Satan from the heaven to the earth.

The casting of Satan from the heaven is of a significance we cannot grasp. The blood of Calvary made this possible.

Something else made it possible. There were some saints who overcame the accuser, and their faithfulness to God resulted in the removal of sin from the heaven.

The problem of the creation is not primarily that there is sin in the earth. The problem is that there is sin in the heaven. It is given to the saints, God's judges, to bind and loose sin in the 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. (Rev 12:9)

How did the saints overcome him?

By the legal authority resident in the blood of the Lamb.

By insuring that every aspect of their thinking, speech, and actions was in line with the Word of God; by bearing a true testimony in their thoughts, words, and actions of the Person, ways, will, and eternal purpose of God in the Lord Jesus Christ.

By putting all their treasures in Heaven, laying down their life for the Gospel's sake.

They overcame him! The wrestling match is over.

Look at the result:

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. (Rev 12:10)

This is the salvation that has been promised to the saints. Satan is cast down and can accuse them no longer. The heavens have been loosed and it is the saints, working with Christ, who have brought to an end the many eons of the black night of sin and rebellion against the Father.

Strength has come. What strength? The strength to live in a righteous, holy, obedient manner. Righteousness is a matter of strength. The good that we would do we do not do because there is wicked strength acting against us. But Christ always is stronger if we will look to Him.

The Kingdom of God comes as a result of the saints overcoming the accuser. The Kingdom of God is first righteousness, then peace and joy-all in the Holy Spirit.

The authority of God's Christ has been established for eternity. It is an eternal judgment on Satan and all of his works.

Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. (Rev 12:12)

Hurling Satan down from the heaven brings tremendous joy to all who dwell in the heavens.

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. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:17-20)

The Lord Jesus was seeing in vision that which is described in the twelfth chapter of the Book of Revelation.

The fall of Satan from the heaven is the bringing of Christ's enemies under His feet, that is, under the feet of His Bride. She is terrible as an army with banners.

And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. (Romans 16:20)

The Seed of the woman has crushed the head of the serpent.

This is the new covenant-the removal of the guilt, power, and presence of sin.

Let each one of us overcome by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of our testimony that God is true, and by loving not our life to the death. Think of the blessing we will bring to God, to Jesus, to those who dwell in the heavens. Although the immediate result will be to bring an enraged dragon into the earth, at the Lord's return one angel will imprison Satan in the bottomless pit.

Now there will be justice, peace, and Divine blessing for the saved nations of the earth. But the wicked will be ground to powder by the saints of the Lord.

For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 4:1-3)

You can be part of the army of the Lord if this is what you truly desire. But you will have to be proven faithful if you wish to ride with the Lord Jesus on that Day.