War in Heaven, Part 4: Heaven Rejoices when Satan is Cast DOWN to the Earth - Pastor David

.

Revelation 12:10-12, “And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "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. And THEY overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 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."

This is the song of victory sung in heaven. It will be sung by those who will have been caught up to heaven out OF "the great Tribulation." (Revelation 7; Revelation 14; and Revelation 15) For they speak of "our brethren." "Now is come" is the shout of triumph which celebrates, by anticipation, the RESULTS of Satan's being cast out of heaven. This is the first step arising out of Heaven's declaration of war. The emphasis is on the pronoun "they," in verse 11, for they who overcame on earth now call on all heaven to rejoice over the wondrous victory. When the fruits of this heavenly victory are fully reaped on earth, then there will be others to call for the new songs, which are already written down for the singers in Psalm 93, Psalm 98, and Psalm 149 come to mind. This call to rejoice finds its echo in the final song of triumph in Revelation 19. But all is traced up to, and grounded on, the infinite merits of "the blood of the Lamb": and the wonderous efficacy of His atonement.

Now, AGAIN, we see that the Body of Christ cannot be here, for no one can accuse, or lay a charge against the Body of Christ before God. “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth” Romans 8:33.

Unfortunately, what others would have you believe, is that the heavenly outburst of joy was as a result of the casting down of paganism from the throne of the Roman Empire. The result of THAT was Blessing to the world.

However, the result of THIS in Revelation 12:9 is "woe to the earth." (Revelation 12:12)!

When Satan is cast down, "he hath but a short time," which is definitely stated to be 3 1/2 years, during which he is wroth with the woman, and makes war with the remnant of her seed (Revelation 12:14-17).

This "Woe" is the last of a series of three (Revelation 8:13); and must, therefore, be subsequent to the first two, which at this stage will have passed. (Revelation 11:14). The third is proclaimed in Revelation 12:12, and consists of the casting out of Satan.

This conclusively shows that, though the Vision of Revelation 12, the actual casting out, cannot take place till the middle of the last of the seventy weeks (Daniel 9:27). The Beast will be reigning on the earth during the first half of this week (Revelation 6-11); but, in his human and mortal form; and acting "peaceably" (Daniel 11:21). But now, in the middle of the week, the crisis or "Third Woe" comes (Revelation 12:12). Satan is cast out. The Beast, having received his "deadly wound," reappears in his superhuman form, and "makes war with the saints" (Revelation 13:7). This last half of the week is "the great and terrible day of the Lord." But this brings us to the next, the Fourth Vision, which is,"on Earth" (Revelation 12:13 thru Revelation 13:18).

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

War in Heaven, Part 3: "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven" Luke 10:18 - Pastor David

.

At the first advent, the First Coming of The LORD, the announcement was made "on earth, peace." But now, at the time of the Second Advent, it is "in heaven, war"; for the Dispensations have changed.

At the return of the remnant from Babylon, Satan was present to resist the restoration of the Nation, we see that in Zechariah 3:2, and he was rebuked. So it will be again when the GREAT restoration is about to take place: but this time war will be declared against him.

The mystery connected with this conflict is easy to Faith, though kind of hard for reason. A little insight is given into these spiritual realities in such passages as Job 1-2, 1 Kings 22:19-22. Ephesians 6:11-12. Jude 6.

Milton described this war, but he only drew on his imagination, which was limited by earthly battlefields. This war is wholly different in its occasion, its scenes, its combatants, and its weapons. This war has its foreknown, as revealed here in the Holy Scriptures, and therefore its foretold ending.

Ok, now onto Revelation 12:8, “And they prevailed not; nor was even their place found any more in heaven.” The great object with which that war is waged will be accomplished.

Revelation 12:9, “And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent; who is called the Devil, and Satan, he who deceiveth the whole world: he was cast down unto the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.”

There can be no doubt as to whom this "sign" refers. By four names is he defined, so that we might make no mistake. And yet, (it will hardly be believed that), in spite of this, there are interpreters who maintain that it means the "Pagan Roman Empire," and Michael is the "Christian Roman Empire." There are others who understand it of no real war at all, but only a prolonged antagonism between good and evil. How great, and refreshing to come back to the Word of God, and believe that we have there the climax which the Lord Jesus, looking forward to the result of His "sufferings" in "the glory" that should follow, already foresaw with His spiritual prophetic vision in Luke 10:18, and said: "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

War in Heaven, part 1: He who now letteth is cast OUT! - Pastor David

.

Revelation 12:7, “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going forth to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels” This reveals the fact that the initiative will be taken by Michael, and not by the Dragon: a very important point in the interpretation. The time has come in the Divine counsels for this great event of the ages. Satan, who has hitherto had access to the heavens is at length to be cast out.

We are not to think of Heaven as consisting of one place. The word is so often used in the plural, yet we are to think of many (it may be) different spheres. As the heavens are "higher than the earth," so we may look on them as being larger than the earth. And as the earth is divided into various countries and states, so may heaven have its various divisions. In one of them these mighty spiritual forces set themselves in battle array.

On the one side we have Michael, who is elsewhere described as "one of the chief princes" (Daniel 10:13); "your prince," of Israel (Daniel 10:21); "the great prince which standeth for thy (Daniel's) people" (Daniel 12:1); "the archangel" (Jude 9). He it is, with his heavenly hosts, who makes war against the dragon, and NOT the dragon who makes war against the man-child (as is so often misinterpreted). He does not do this at all, but makes war against the woman (Revelation 12:13); and that war is made on EARTH and not in heaven. So that the interpretation of this, as meaning Satan's opposing The Rapture of the church, falls to the ground. The Body of Christ will be removed long before these judgment scenes commence; and is therefore not to be looked for in any place in this chapter.

On the other side we have the Beast of Revelation 13, and Revelation 17. In Daniel 2, we have these powers in their earthly, human, mortal, successive and historical form. But in Daniel 7, and in the Apocalypse, we have the superhuman revival and concentration of them in the Beast.

The Dragon's dominion covers all the powers and governments of the world, which are here seen included in and controlled by one being, the Dragon. The sovereignty of the world is about to become the sovereignty of The LORD Jesus Christ, as we have just heard it announced "in heaven" (Revelation 11:15). We are here shown the source and the embodiment of his sovereignty. This is why the prophecy is suspended just at this point. It is in order to explain to us what this sovereignty is, whence it comes, and whither it goes. All is here gathered up into ONE head.

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)