Everyday Life in Revelation: Part 7 Cosmic WarsNäide

I believe Revelation 12 has been written for the church to understand why there is suffering for God’s people on earth. Today, we read of a cosmic battle between Michael and the dragon in heaven.

This passage shows us that Satan and his army lose this battle. He and his demons are thrown to earth. Essentially, Satan suffered a decisive and definite defeat. His presence was cast from heaven. To describe it in another light, the atonement of Jesus has rendered forever useless Satan’s accusations that we should be punished eternally for our sin. Now, we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ and are declared to be sons and daughters of the living God. We are reminded of this in the call to praise in verses 10-12.

While on earth, Satan continues to war against God’s people. We are to overcome him not through our strength or power but the blood of the Lamb. This is the work of Christ and His gospel being proclaimed and accepted in our lives.

This passage can be summed up by the commentary of Matthew Henry, “When the love of life stood in competition with their loyalty to Christ; they loved not their lives so well, but they could give them up to death, could lay them down in Christ’s cause.”