The Future According to GodSample

REVELATION 12: How Satan Came to Earth

Today, we are in Revelation 12, which means we cross the halfway point of this book. There are twenty-two chapters in the Book of Revelation. This chapter features the dragon, the woman, Satan, and more. Have you ever wondered how Satan came to earth? Do you wonder why there is so much sin and evil in our world? Please read or listen to Revelation 12.

COMMENTS

Let’s see what my personal Bible reading journals have to say over the years concerning this amazing chapter.

In 1995, I wrote, "Michael, the archangel, was with the dragon in heaven. The devil, Satan, was thrown down to earth with his angels. We are accused before God day and night. We overcome through the blood of the Lamb and our testimony.”

In 2008, I wrote, "I thought the war of angels and Satan occurred way back when Satan was cast out of heaven in Isaiah, maybe. Or maybe it occurred at the birth of Jesus, or during His time on earth, where Satan was truly defeated at the resurrection. Satan is defeated by the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony. His access to God to accuse us is banned. Though the dragon wanted to devour the woman, God protected her. Satan wants to devour us, too. We can depend on God to protect us.”

In 2013, I wrote, “A woman, Israel, giving birth to Jesus, ‘who is to rule over all the nations’ (Rev 12:5 NASB). A great red dragon, that ancient serpent who is called the devil and Satan. War in heaven. Michael and angels against the dragon and his angels. Satan was defeated and thrown out of heaven to earth. God protects Israel, so the dragon makes war on the rest of her offspring, those who keep the commandment of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. Satan was defeated first in heaven, next by Jesus on the cross, and finally at the end by being thrown into the lake of fire. Three times he is defeated.”

DIGGING DEEPER

As we peer into Revelation 12, let’s start with a footnote in my English Standard Version Study Bible:

The Woman, Her Son, the Dragon, and the Beasts: the Cosmic Conflict between Christ and Satan. At the center point of the book, John records the vision that reveals the deepest dimension of the conflict in which the church is engaged through his sacrificial blood Christ (the seed of the woman) has defeated Satan (the accuser of his people) in light of the cross, believers’ sufferings, though intensely painful and inflicted by powerful opponents, are merely symptoms of the dragon’s desperation, since “he knows that his time is short” (Rev 12:12 ESV) (ESV Study Bible, Crossway Bibles 2008, 2479).

Hallelujah!

Have you ever seen Christmas, the birth of Jesus, through the eyes of the Book of Revelation? We see it here in Revelation 12. The woman is about to give birth, “the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it” (Rev 12:4 ESV). Do you ever see that scene when you think about the peaceful manger scene we are accustomed to at Christmas? It makes sense; Satan never wanted Jesus to be born. “She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne” (Rev 12:5 ESV). Yes, God protected Jesus right off the bat, at his very birth.

Next, we see this cosmic conflict referred to in the footnote in my English Standard Version Study Bible. It is the war in heaven between Michael and Satan. Satan is defeated in heaven and thrown to the earth. No wonder we think oftentimes it is hell on earth. No wonder this life is uncomfortable. Satan is here; it is his kingdom. He roams this earth to and fro seeking whom he may devour. He accuses us before God day and night. But it is all over here in this chapter, “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Rev 12:11 ESV). That is how we defeat Satan here on earth: By the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony.

It is clear in Revelation 12 that Satan was cast down to earth, and here he tramps around as if he thinks he rules. He causes havoc for Christians and non-Christians alike. If you wonder why your life is tough, if it is difficult, now you know it is because Satan is here trying to devour us. Look at the last verse of this chapter, “Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Rev 12:17 ESV).

Though he was defeated at the cross, he still has his desire to steal, kill, and destroy everything he can before this scene in Revelation occurs in the future. He will be bound. He will be cast into the pit of hell forever. But until then, we and he must live on the earth. Our application is just that. We need to co-exist with the enemy of our souls here on earth. The only way we can defeat him is through the blood of the Lamb, through our relationship with Jesus Christ.

PRAYER

Father, we thank you for providing a way of escape that we may be able to endure. We thank you, Satan was defeated at the cross of Calvary by the death, burial, and resurrection of your Son, Jesus. However, we do realize Satan’s kingdom is still here on earth. We see it around us every day.

But this Book of Revelation reminds us it is coming to an end. His days are short. Give us strength, Holy Spirit, to hang on, to fight the battle, to fight the enemy, until you come and reign on this earth, until you come and bind him forever.

Lord, we look to the future, but we have to live in the present. Give us spiritual power to do so because we face a spiritual enemy. Jesus, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to help us. Holy Spirit, we ask you to help us in every aspect of our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.