Overview of Revelation 12:7–12
“Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” (Revelation 12:7-12).[1]
Revelation 12:7 lets us know that there was war in Heaven.[2] According to the Strong’s Concordance, war (πόλεμος, στρατεύομαι), in the Greek, means to fight, wage war, to serve as a soldier or strife.[3] The Bible lets us know that Lucifer developed pride in this heart because of his beauty and wanted to be worshiped like God. “You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:13-14).[4] Due to the pride in Lucifer’s heart and his lack of reverence towards his Creator, there was a war in Heaven with Michael and the remaining loyal angels against the devil and the third of angels he convinced to join his cause. Theologians have debated the issue of rather there was a physical war and/or war of the words and spirit. This could have involved both the physical and verbal aspects of war because Lucifer wanted to dethrone God and create a new regime. Michael, who is an archangel and defender of God’s people, fought against the dragon. “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered” (Daniel 12:1).[5] The dragon being referenced here in this text refers to the devil. “And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:2).[6] There is still a battle being fought in the spirit realm where the devil is trying to take as many souls with him to the pit of hell as possible. Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the whole armor of God. This is the only way to fight him because he has wanted to wage war against God since the very beginning.
Revelation 12:8-9 lets us know that the dragon and his angels lost the war in Heaven and were kicked out. Heaven could no longer be their home because sin had filled their hearts and caused a separation between them and God. “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).[7] Everything that the devil stood for was contrary to who God is. Therefore, wickedness could not be an occupant of God’s dwelling place. The devil is a deceiver and tempts the whole world to sin through his art of deception just as he did with the angels who followed him and Eve. When rebuking the Jews who opposed him, Jesus spoke of the devil being a deceiver and that truth was foreign to him. “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).[8]
Revelation 12:10 tells of the Apostle John, who is the author of the book of Revelation, giving his description of what he heard spoken in a loud voice in Heaven. Through Jesus’ death, God made if possible for man to be saved as He promised Eve in the Garden of Eden. “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15).[9] Jesus accomplished what Adam could not at the cross and paid the debt for man’s sins. He gave the devil the ultimate bruise and in so doing, got the power and victory over death where man would not be eternally lost. This victory was a win for the kingdom of God and a defeat for the devil and his dark forces. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55).[10] The devil stands as the prosecuting attorney against all the saints day and night, but due to the blood of Jesus, who is our Advocate, his accusations are thwarted. He attempts to point out our past sins, but when we accept Jesus into our hearts and repent, our sins are remembered no more. “He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:9).[11]
Revelation 12:11 lets us know that the saints of God were victorious over the enemy because the Lamb that was slain made it possible and because of their testimony in being willing to give up their lives for the sake of the gospel. Many Christians were slaughtered in the early church as they are today in many parts of the world. Jesus warned the disciples that we must be willing to lose our earthly lives in order to gain eternal ones. “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).[12] To be a true follower of Christ means being willing to give up all earthly possessions if called upon, including our lives, to be witnesses for those who do not know Him. We must be willing to pick up our cross and follow Jesus having counted the cost. Those who have already gone before us can now rejoice in the fact that they endured to the end. For those who are still on this earth, however, the devil is out to take the lives of the faithful because he knows what his end will be and that time is wrapping up for his ultimate demise. “And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).[13]
[1] Rev. 12:7-12 (English Standard Version).
[2] Rev. 7 (English Standard Version).
[3] Strong's Concordance, "Strong's Greek: 4754. στρατεύομαι (strateuó) -- to Make War, Hence to Serve As a Soldier," Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages, last modified 2017, http://biblehub.com/greek/4754.htm.
[4] Isa. 14:13-14 (New International Version).
[5] Daniel 12:1 (New International Version).
[6] Rev. 12:2 (English Standard Version).
[7] Isa. 59:2 (New International Version).
[8] John 8:44 (New International Version).
[9] Genesis 3:15 (English Standard Version).
[10] 1 Cor. 15:55 (King James Version).
[11] Mic. 7:9 (English Standard Version).
[12] Rev. 16:25 (English Standard Version).
[13] Rev. 20:10 (English Standard Version).
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