December 30 (Daily reading: Revelations 12-18) (Revelations 12:7-17) Heaven will be a place of complete and final victory. God was victorious over Satan in a war in heaven fought between Michael and his angels and Satan and his angels. Satan and company lost the war, and “there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.” Satan continued his war on the earth against the people of God. He is described as the devil, the deceiver, and the accuser. The secret of victory over him is revealed. The believers who were accused by Satan “overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony.” Satan was defeated through Jesus’s death and resurrection, and the preaching of the same!
Satan, even though he knows he is defeated, willfully continues his war against God’s people. “The devil has come down to you with great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.” It enrages him when he is unsuccessful, and he will never stop his war against those “who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”
John was given many details about Satan’s war, and he wrote a powerful summary statement: “These (Satan and all his forces) will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful” (Rev. 17:14).
Jesus will ultimately be victorious over Satan, and so will His “chosen and faithful” followers! We are told Satan will ultimately be “thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:10). “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57).
– Al Gary
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