Rejoice O' heavens, but woe to the earth.

Would you consider me a cheater if I told you I have been reading ahead. This is such an exciting time we live in. Just this morning, 02/17/2013, I read that a top Iranian military official attended the nuclear test in North Korea. You might wonder how this plays into anything. What we do know from scripture is that in the short future armies will amass against Israel. God will step into that fight and rain torrential floods upon the enemies of Israel, but he will also rain fire and brimstone, just like Sodom and Gomorrah. There is the possibility that this war will have a nuclear aspect to it for Ezekiel 38, 39 describe a scene in which people mark bodies for future disposal and normal burial teams are instructed not to touch them. Go figure!

“ For this reason, rejoice,”

"For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time."

(Revelation 12:12 NASB)

We seem to think that the beginnings of the earth are tumultuous, almost as though they were filled with a rage. The statements made in Genesis 1 about the formation are difficult to argue at best.

The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. (Genesis 1:2 NASB)

But at some point God called it all good. It appears that God's handiwork really kicks in a verse later.

Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. (Genesis 1:3 NASB)

Here is my point. If I base my ideas of creation on some science fiction movie I could be off by 180 degrees. Let's just say, for the sake of argument, that what God made was perfect and something happened to it. It could be that the something was Satan crashing violently into the earth, for Jesus told us that he saw him get thrown out. And we know he was in the garden at some point with the express purpose of deceiving Eve.

If the whole earth was perfect then why make a garden? Just speculating here. Paleobotanists' have found petrified plant life that only grew in lush environments, in the harshest of terrains, across the entire globe, suggesting that the entire earth was a garden. Obviously something changed. We can argue when that happened and why until we are blue in the face, but you cannot deny that there was a drastic change. I have always associated that change with Satan's entrance into the world.

If God tossed him angrily, so early, and Satan immediately begins making useless plans for retaliation from the very beginning, could we then assume that “woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time." could apply?

That would mean that the earth was would have been under Satan's wrath from the beginnings of man. But that is not what this passage is telling us.

We have been looking at a context and it applies, primarily, to the last days. Specifically to the final seven year period. Some of the best evidence we have for this argument is:

1. When does this take place.
   And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. (Revelation 13:2 NASB)
   The logical assumption for this empowerment of the Antichrist is right at the beginning of the seven years, or slightly before it. It would not make sense for someone to usurp authority without some previous demonstration of ability. But then we are dealing with demonic abilities being given. This is empowerment is exactly what Jesus turned down. Satan offered him everything and said it was his to give. Think about that.
   The him in this passage is the beast. That is not some mythological monster but a man; a man empowered by the devil himself.
   Here is where the water gets muddy. There are several beasts and you need to keep your beasts straight, sort of. Daniel, in the seventh chapter states that there are four beasts. John, looking into the future describes “a beast coming out of the sea”. Read what he says he saw.
   And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. (Revelation 13:1-2 NASB)

You ought to know by now that the sea represents people of the nations (Those outside of the church and Israel). This ugly thing had seven heads and ten crowns. Think about that for a moment. Heads represent governing bodies or tyrannical rulers, and history has proved them all out but for a couple. We are watching one of the last described as falling happen on the news as we speak (Syria). But crowns represent rulers or ruling bodies so it is safe to assume that one or more switch controlling bodies, several times.

I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; (Revelation 13:3 NASB)

Wait a second. We know that Satan empowers the beast, and that is true. Why we even know that several men gained the title of beast in apocalyptic writings. But here you have a beast with heads and one of the heads sustains what many feel is a mortal wound. With modern science it is possible to recover, to some degree, from a mortal head wound. Here in America senator Gabriel Giffords recovered to deliver a speech to congress about the need for gun control. If you happened to see it I think you would agree that it will be some time before she can return to an authoritative position, if at all. That being said, I do not think we should be looking for a man to sustain a head wound. If the heads are governing bodies then we certainly have an excellent choice if we intently consider the Ottoman/Islamic empire.

We are not told to separate this head from the freakish body that John sees, and yet we do. So the clue as who this is comes more from the pattern (More on that later.)

2. Because of Satan's empowerment, the beast sends the remnant of Israel running into the desert where they are protected by God for three and one half years. You should understand that not all leave. Why they stay I am not sure, but the concept of the entire remnant escaping is not valid.
   And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she *was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. (Revelation 12:13-14 NASB)
   If Satan was tossed, as this verse describes, at the beginning of time, there was no Israel to call a woman and persecute. So this is clearly a last days event.

So, try as you might, you cannot place this passage anywhere else and make it fit. It is true that Satan got tossed out of heaven, but to what extent. This is a subject that I toyed with in a previous chapter (post).

“Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath..”

The earth can be taken literally, but the sea, which meant people only moments before is quite probably the same thing now.

What is the most prolific attribution given to cataclysmic weather or seismic events? An act of God! Really? Why would Satan change his style or character just because God finally locked him out of heaven? He wouldn't. So if he was thrown to the earth previously with his bad attitude, and he gained control of the earth in the process, then who is causing all the harm around here?

Certainly the Revelation tells of God throwing his wrath at the earth but that is during a specific time period. If only we could understand this.

Now consider this aspect of the “sea”. If we are talking people then who? Satan directs most of his energies against anything that looks like God and the Saints of the tribulation period fit that bill as he goes on an all out killing spree.

As for the wrath aspect. Certainly the killing of the saints as they refuse the mark, name and number of the beast, but he also goes after Israel with a vengeance.

And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. (Revelation 12:13 NASB)

“..so that she might fly..”

The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach.

(Revelation 12:14 NIV)

God is not strapping two wings to the back of an entire nation but he can certainly give them swift feet. You, nor I know how they are getting out of town, nor do we know if all Israel has some contingency plan should such a massive attack be leveled against them.

In the whole land," declares the LORD, "two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it. (Zechariah 13:8 NIV)

It is the majority of this one third that will make great haste out of town.

The idea of God taking care of someone supernaturally is not new. Consider Elijah:

Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there." So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. (1 Kings 17:2-6 NIV)

By the way, how long did Elijah live in the wilderness and get fed by Ravens? Three and one half years.

You cannot exclude the probability that God will do the same thing once again. Here Israel, what is left of them, will hide for three and one half years, the entire second half of the tribulation period. How do I know that? Jesus said, “So when you see the appalling sacrilege [the abomination that astonishes and makes desolate], spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place--let the reader take notice and ponder and consider and heed [this]”--[Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11.] (Matthew 24:15 AMP)

Jesus continued to say, “then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. “Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. "Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! "But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. "Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” (Matthew 24:16-22 NASB)

This appalling sacrilege happens three and one half years into the seven years of the tribulation time.

“like a river out of his mouth”

And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood.

(Revelation 12:15 NASB)

“And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth..”

In a previous post I struggled with this concept, even toying with the idea of a dam breaking, but a friend of mine suggested that this was a mass of people come against Israel once again. It only took me a moment to see the strength in this idea.

The serpent is Satan and he apparently has not had a creative idea since his inception, so why start now. This is a highly symbolic statement and not that dissimilar to John seeing the beast come out of the sea.

Revelation 13:1 NASB And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names.

Here the sea is representing people, nation, and tongues. How do I know that?

Revelation 17:15 NASB And he *said to me, "The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.

So it would not be all that far-fetched to use that analogy here.

The concept of a flood is not new to John's readers: Job spoke of it -

Job 27:20 NASB "Terrors overtake him like a flood; A tempest steals him away in the night.

In this case terrors were said to overtake someone, probably Job.

“And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth..”

This same word poured, was translated as cast in the King James version. In my mind they have two distinct meanings, and yet not. I will explain. If I pour out something it can be directed or targeted, and with a very specific intent, such as watering a plant. But it can also mean to dump with no intent or specific target and cover a wide area. Were I to be watering plants in this manner it would be very ineffectual.

Cast however, based on Thayer's definition (to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls), implies something more like a shotgun blast. The impact will cause damage, but the intent is to take out as big a target as possible, not really caring who gets hit.

“And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth..”

The word mouth sounds benign enough until you dig into the definition.

Thayer Definition: For the Greek word stoma.

1. the mouth, as part of the body: of man, of animals, of fish, etc.
2. the edge of a sword.

In this case it is easy to visualize Satan pouring water out of his mouth. Of course it is for most of us have seen some statue that has water spewing out of its mouth. But only one verse later the earth is opening its mouth and swallowing the flood. The word stoma has not changed, nor has the definition, but the earth does not, as we understand it, have a mouth. So what is he talking about.

This same word was translated as the edge of the sword twice: Luke_21:24, Hebrews_11:34

Jesus was speaking of this very scenario when he said,

Luke 21:24 NASB and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

So what we have is another large attack against those of Israel that:

1. Still remain in Israel
2. Have not taken the mark, the name, or worshiped the beast.
3. And obviously have not been slaughtered yet.

But the earth helped the woman

But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth.

(Revelation 12:16 NASB)

“But the earth helped the woman,..”

Back to Thayer. I realize that to say the earth is fairly understandable but having God thrown in the mix tends to give it a life of its own.

Thayer's definition includes:

1. arable land
2. the ground, the earth as a standing place.
3. the main land as opposed to the sea or water

So the earth helped Israel.

Is this a new concept? Not if you have read through the bible. I will give you a couple of examples:

And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

(Numbers 16:32 KJV)

and what he did to Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab the Reubenite, when the earth opened its mouth right in the middle of all Israel and swallowed them up with their households, their tents and every living thing that belonged to them.

(Deuteronomy 11:6 NIV)

In the two passages shared here there is no water or sea but people, and again, I do not believe that this a flood of water referred to in Revelation 12.

“..and he went away to wage war on the remainder..”

So then the dragon was furious (enraged) at the woman, and he went away to wage war on the remainder of her descendants--[on those] who obey God's commandments and who have the testimony of Jesus Christ [and adhere to it and bear witness to Him].

(Revelation 12:17 AMP)

Thwarted in his attempt to kill the escaping remnant, he goes away, back we assume into Israel, to make war on the remainder of the descendants. A word of caution: When you have a clear, logical path assumption is not bad and provides clarity, but without a clear path assumption can lead you incorrectly and have you looking in the wrong direction.

If I look at the broader picture. Christ came into the world and the dragon was waiting to kill him. Unable to do that he waged war on the church. But you have to keep the context clear on your exploratory missions. This is about him waging war on the descendants of the woman, and the woman is Israel.

Again, this is exclusively an end times event being spoken of.

Israel, being warned of God to flee when they see the abomination in the temple, should have evacuated the country. Maybe that is the problem. Most will understand that the majority of the comments about Israel seem to focus on Jerusalem, therefore the majority who escape are from Jerusalem while others in Israel think they are safe. That will not be the case.

Revelation 13:10 CJB "If anyone is meant for captivity, into captivity he goes! If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he is to be killed!" This is when God's holy people must persevere and trust!

This passage is integrated into the context of the beast's war upon the saints and its potential impact. It is easy to see that some will survive, making it all the way to Christ's return. How Christ deals with those is entirely up to him. I can speculate but that is really pointless.

the rest of her seed, those keeping the commandments of God, and having the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Satan went away to make war with “her descendants”, and yet it speaks of those who obey God's commandments and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Wait a minute, think this through.

Typically, we do not understand Israel as having the testimony of Jesus Christ. I would love to see that happen but I know that will not be the majority. Scripture even tells us that the “elect” will be deceived by the miracles that the false prophet works. The deceived will take the mark and worship the beast, sealing their fate. But keep in mind that we rarely are to take comments like “all Israel” as literal. Instead, is it wiser to think in terms of a majority, or a lot of them. If this passage says they have the testimony of Christ, then we have to assume that during the tribulation many of Israel will turn to Christ as the Messiah they were waiting for.

God performs a few of his own miracles to catch the elect. Observe.

And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having an everlasting gospel to proclaim to those dwelling on the earth, even to every nation and tribe and tongue and people, saying in a great voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him, because the hour of His judgment has come; also, Worship "Him who has made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea," and the springs of waters. Ex. 20:11

(Revelation 14:6-7 LITV)

Revelation 14 is not the first place we see this type of activity, and there is no doubt that it will have a huge impact, not only on Israel but on the world.

This has the possibility of including followers of Jesus Christ, tribulation saints, as well as Jews, because this terminology “having the testimony of” can also include tribulation saints.

And when He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those having been slain for the Word of God, and for the witness which they had.

(Revelation 6:9 LITV)

You do not have to wait until an angel flies overhead shouting out the glories of God and how to become his; give your life to him now, you are making a mess of it anyway and Jesus already paid the price for your freedom. Run to him, accept his love for you and be received into his kingdom. Doing this gives the hope of a life with him, and Jesus told us that he would come back for us, and rescue us just before pouring out his wrath on the earth. Sure you can wait if you wish, missing out on the period of grace, choosing to endure what is to come during the time of wrath, but why?

Life here on earth during the seven years after the church is pulled out of here will be a little taste of hell. Jesus told us that he is the only way to the Father, not religion, not cults, not good works, but a faith in Jesus Christ alone. That act of belief is the only hope of being caught up with the church before the tribulation.

But is it the only hope? Not necessarily. You can refuse the mark of the beast that indicates your allegiance to the beast and his ways, and you must refuse to worship the beast. Scripture tells us that very few will survive this onslaught. Refusing to take his mark should get you beheaded and get you your ticket to reign with Christ during the millennial years. But as I noted before, there may be survivors of the beast that make it through until Jesus returns. Standing as one that testifies to Jesus Christ as King of the earth should get you into the kingdom, but what your life will look like I do not know. I can see a picture of heartless captivity for you, and it will not be pretty. Why wait to find out.

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The Salvation and the Power.

Revelation 12:10,11

Now is come salvation

Cover via Amazon

Before I begin allow me to share something with you. I have gone through a very tough time emotionally. All the aspects of this internal trauma coincide with a book I am reading called Wild At Heart, by John Eldredge. I have struggled all my life to find a center, where at least I understand why I am here. I found that place briefly in my early twenties and then I got married. What a tragic mistake she was. We think we marry to complete us, but only God can do that. The woman becomes a substitute for God; that hole which we fill with a woman is really crying for a restored relationship with the Father. To be honest, to some degree writing these messages to the struggling church is an aspect of what makes me feel alive and a part of why I am here.

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 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.

(Revelation 12:10 KJV)

(ASV) “And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power,”

If you have had any religious background or training at all, the concept of salvation should not be new to you. That does not mean you have it, or that you understand it. But in essence something tells you that it happened long ago when Jesus went to the cross.

What happened on the cross?

Jesus was made to be sin and the payment for our sins. Not only our sins but the sins of the whole world. That act on the cross effectively freed us from the debt of sin.

Didn't the cross bring our salvation?

Released from the bondage to sin it gave you the freedom to choose the one who freed you. The ability to choose proves your freedom but it does not bring about salvation, it merely gives you an opportunity you did not have prior to the cross, for we were trapped, a prisoner to our sins.

Our salvation in Christ comes as we ask him to come into our lives. Doing this demonstrates your acceptance of Christ's relationship with the Father and the payment he made for you.

Assuming we have done that why then are so many of us still going through a life so filled with hell?

Because the accuser/deceiver/Satan still roams the earth. His one sole purpose seems to be to destroy anything that looks like God, and with Christ inside of you, you look just like the Son. Of course you are a target.

This is an entirely different approach to the text than my first attempts for originally my mindset screamed that Satan had already been expelled from heaven; Jesus said so. My comprehension was based upon what people told me and so I merely assumed that Satan had been stripped of all power and rendered useless. If you look forward in Revelation you will find Satan empowering the beast and the false prophet, so clearly, at this time, he is not stripped of power. Fortunately God is merciful and leaves us room for error on our part. 

Having explored the context I now understand that Satan has had access all along, but will soon have it stripped. 

The word salvation is the Greek word sōtēria. Thayer's Definition: 1) deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation.

Salvation means so many things but it all depends on what you are being saved from. Deliverance or preservation speaks to me of rescue. With Satan finally expelled, he is only moments away from a thousand-year lockup, and man's motivation to sin is just about gone, for at least a while.

“"Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come,”

Now comes the deliverance, the strength and ability. It feels as though God finally gets a chance to brag about his Son. This time is for real and Satan is shut up and stripped of any power he had. It's about time. 

“and the kingdom of our God ….. have come,”

This is another place where some will struggle. The world looks at things like this and claim it is a contradiction. I believe God was looking into future time when he spoke the words of Revelation 11:15

Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever." (Revelation 11:15 NASB)

Only moments later that time is here. Do not let your religious opinion constrain you; READ, you never know if your life depends on it.

What changed if the kingdom of our God is now come?

Ask yourself a question. Was Christ ever stripped of power? The answer is no, but then to be fair you might not have known that. Christ voluntarily set aside his power to be a man. One that had to operate on this earth the way we do. He healed the sick, raised the dead, and brought life to the world. 

Does that sound like a powerless man?

No; so what changed? When Jesus was tested after the baptism, Satan offered him all the kingdoms of the world. You must assume that power was part of the deal. The truth is Adam handed the earth over to Satan, and God had previously given man dominion/authority to deal with it as he saw fit. Dominion is the Greek word basileia and means royal power. This was the authority that Adam had, royal power. He acted as God's representative and in that place he handed the control of the earth over to a fallen angel. 

So until the moment that God retakes control, the earth belongs to the dragon, and we have had to deal with the toxic brunt since Cain and Abel walked the earth. The payments have been made, God's people have acted wisely, punishment and judgment have been dealt now that thing that man has hoped for is finally come, the kingdom with Jesus on the throne and peace at last.

“and the authority of His Christ have come,..”

Authority is the Greek word exousia, and means, according to Thayer, power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases.

Jesus had already established that he did nothing outside of the Father's instructions, so he is not turning into some tyrannical dictator now. But with the Father's blessing he has the liberty to do as he pleases, and he did nothing outside the Father's will.

 

"I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

(John 5:30 NASB)

 Think about that a moment. When he was here on earth what did he do?

Fed multitudes, healed sick people, restored life to the dead, taught that a life and relationship with the Father far outshines anything this broken world has to offer, and freely gave his life so that we may gain ours.

We should already have a clue about what his next few moves are: battle with those that wish to fight against him, establishing justice once again, and reign appropriately from his throne.

Many will say, I have nothing to fear. That is awesome, if you have a relationship with the Father, but should you find yourself concerned or feeling lost, then maybe I would re-examine my relationship with the Father before it is too late for grace to intervene.

“of His Christ...”

Separate and yet one. This struck me in a powerful way, as matter of fact the whole verse did. Finally God gets to brag on his Son, and the Son finally gets to shut the arrogant mouths.

Having dealt all the cards, it is God's turn. Just look around you right now, the world is imploding. This is what Satan is capable of as he attempts to kill off everything that looks like God, and according to the words of Jesus, as found in scripture, he will come close at some point. But God is in control, even when it does not look like it. 

“ for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.”

Do you have any questions as to who the accuser is? Satan, and he has had free access to God from day one. Imagine what God has had to listen to.

Using myself as the example I have given him plenty of fodder as I exhibited anger and frustration about life, work, and other things that I cannot control. Yeah, I know, your life is perfect. LIAR! Isaiah 6 tells us that it is our righteousness that is the stinky rags before God's face. So even on our best day our works don't cut it. You have to put your faith in Christ and his sacrifice for you – that is the only way.

And they overcame him

"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

(Revelation 12:11 NASB)

“And they overcame him because of the blood of the lamb and because of the word of their testimony,”

Who is the “they” here?

I might try the obvious approach and say the church, but the blood of the lamb was not just poured for them. The fact that they accepted Christ blood as theirs makes them the church but there are people within the church that are not overcoming anything. Life has just beat them down.

This passage tends to imply people who overcame something, but what?

The verse itself tends to answer the question: “and they did not love their life even when faced with death.”

What has been the immediate topic of discussion here in Revelation?

The martyred saints. We tend not to think of them as over-comers, saving that title for ourselves, the church. And why would we take that attitude? Because we are judgmental, not willing to see God's mercy poured out on anyone that did not buy an early ticket or stand in the long line awaiting heavens gates to open. But that misses the point; God's mercy never fails.

Either way, whether it be Saints or the church, God sees us as victorious over the deceiver primarily because of the blood of Jesus, but it is also the word of our testimony. 

That word of our testimony aspect may not be that elaborate. During the judgment years (the seven year period we inaccurately call the tribulation) the deaths of saints will increase to a fevered pitch. So much so, that they will not tolerate your long reasoning's and attempts at converting them. It may become a mere yes or no response. Regardless denying Christ and choosing to worship the beast will get a quick ticket into the hell reserved for Satan and his followers, while refusal to follow the beast will get you, rather quickly, into the presence of God. 

(A quick thought about the beast. This is bible terminology, and an allusion to something else, but let's break it down. Our minds perceive some hideous representation when we hear the word beast, and I am sure it is to God, but in reality it represents a large entity that is in vile opposition to God's will and ways. Can you think of anything, off the top of your head, that fits those  parameters? Allow me to help you. Islam perfectly fits those parameters, and is therefore the beast.)

• I tend to ask myself if I am making any sense and changing lives. One can only hope, but I have to trust God. I am not one to exude with confidence but do have the desire to see you do so. Get serious about God's word for in it is the way to life, and answers to all of life.
  
  
  Turn your life over to Jesus Christ. Admit that you are not capable of handling it and that you want him in control.
  Try something like this: Jesus, I need you and I need you to take control. I want to live with you in heaven so I am asking you to cleanse me and make me whole. Bring me into your kingdom with you. While I am here on this earth I am asking your Holy Spirit to guide me and give direction. I put my faith in you Jesus, knowing that you will not disappoint and not forsake me. I thank you for being my savior and cleansing me with your blood. Thank you for giving your life for me, and returning soon to receive me into your kingdom. Take my life, it is yours, and do with it what you need. In Jesus name.

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• Salvation - A Word Lost To The 21st Century (Except For The Salvation [Rescue & Deliverance] Army)
• Mother of Salvation: It will soon become unlawful to declare that you follow Jesus Christ
• Mother of Salvation: Only with the Love of God in your souls can you spread the Word of God
• Binding Prayer Against Evil Thoughts, Words and Deeds
• ABC'S of SALVATION
• End Times Prophecy Headlines: July 3, 2014

I am going to tell you straight up that my understanding has changed as I attempted to write this. Two things stand out in my mind:

• I went to my men's bible study Sunday morning and talked for a short time about the act of writing. I told the leader that you have to work at not putting out garbage. And I do not wish to put out garbage here now.
• The second thing that change my thinking was that I caught Dr. Ed Hinson on the Calvary Chapel radio station doing an hour-long overview of Revelation. Statements that he made about these passages must have been the work of the Holy Spirit.

If I leave this post almost the same as I started then maybe you can see my thought process and the point of change in thinking. I have tried to think this through and figure out how to explain what scripture is doing to us. All I was doing was to come up with conjecture that gets you no where and in trouble. Perhaps the best explanation for a passage is to compare what happens in there to what other prophetic authors of the old testament said by giving us accounts of the same things we read in Revelation.

An example might be:

And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator."(Daniel 9:26-27 ESV)

Many have toiled over this in an effort to understand future events, and many have attributed the prince to Antiochus. While he did perform abominations in the temple, it is also an allusion to the beast of the near future.

So is it bogus information? No, it has a reason and purpose, and while it may be confusing at times, it is comparative and forth telling of future events.

One of the things I have said several times over is, nothing is in this book we call a bible by accident, everything has a purpose and reason. It is up to us to dig and find it out.

Much like a nurseryman who takes pride in the growth of his plants he is selling; we too should take some pride in the growth that we find in ourselves. Just don't get your head swelled too much because Isaiah 6 is where you find the statement about how your righteousness is as filthy rags. In other words, even on your best day you should be undone by the Holiness of God.

God understands you better than you do and I suspect that he can handle you. Having a little warm fuzzy over gained understanding only encourages you to dig more; so keep on digging. It is a pearl of great price.

Now war arose in heaven.

Revelation 12:7-9 ESV 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.

What have the previous verses of Revelation been talking about?

The dragon, which has various names, one of them being Satan, was anxiously awaiting the man-child (Jesus Christ) to be born so he could kill him. Those previous verses speak of the dragon being cast to earth and dragging the angels that followed down with him. Revelation 12:4 calls the fallen angels stars. We are not talking literal stars here. Stars are symbolic.

An attempt at logic without adequate understanding.

So what takes place first? - Obviously his being cast to earth. We first see the serpent in the third chapter of Genesis deceiving Eve.

Genesis 3:1-7 MKJV Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he said to the woman, Is it so that God has said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (2) And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden. (3) But of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. (4) And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die, (5) for God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as God, knowing good and evil. (6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasing to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make wise, she took of its fruit, and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. (7) And the eyes of both of them were opened. And they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made girdles for themselves.

Even here, in a state of death, God speaks prophetically to the woman about her offspring.

Genesis 3:15 ERV I will make you and the woman enemies to each other. Your children and her children will be enemies. You will bite her child's foot, but he will crush your head."

Jesus, the one John stated was the creative word that spoke all things into existence (John 1:1-5), said, I was there, I saw him thrown out of heaven (Luke 10:18).

Now war arose in heaven,

Heaven, in most everybody's mind, is perfect and peaceful, but even those that reject Jesus Christ would tell you that the perfect place is a future event. That future can mean something that will happen immediately after death with no real idea of what happens, or an eventual home with Jesus and God.

I suppose I should admit that I built-in some ideas about what heavenly warfare looks like by reading several of Frank Peretti's books. Angelic warfare in the heavenly realm, all around us, is a constant theme in many of his writings.

War means exactly that, a pitched battle. I do not know how many angels Michael had fighting on his side but we understand that the dragon had a third with him. Here in Revelation 12 they are referred to as stars.

When you look up the word for heaven it conveys pretty much what you might think of when someone mentions heaven.

Thayer's definiton: 1) the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it. 1a) the universe, the world. 1b) the aerial heavens or sky, the region where the clouds and the tempests gather, and where thunder and lightning are produced.

War, it must have been a frightful sight.

I used to listen occasionally to the Bible Answer Man radio program. (I had a job that required a lot of driving.)

The show had noble beginnings and informed people about how to deal with the known cults, but it deteriorated into a show that spent most of its time berating the heresies in every aspect of Christianity that varied from the hosts. One of his repeated tirades centered on the idea that Jesus became sin, died, and during the time between his death and resurrection he went into the heavens and poured out his blood on the heavenly utensils. Going callers and church leaders with an angry vigor each day over this. The hosts would say, God would not bring himself down to that level of degradation.

Why would Jesus have to pour out his blood on the heavenly altar and utensils?

Because there had been an attempted takeover in heaven, and the heavenly pattern for the temple had been abominated as a result of the insurrection.

What had Jesus been describing to John just before this description of heavenly battle?

The dragon, on earth, ready to consume the woman's child.

So what took place first; the battle in heaven, or the dragons appearance on earth, waiting to consume the man-child?

His being thrown out of heaven.

Revelation 12:9 describes him as a dragon and several other things, but where is the first place we see the dragon?

In the garden deceiving Eve.

Genesis 3:1 CJB Now the serpent was more crafty than any wild animal which Adonai, God, had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You are not to eat from any tree in the garden'?"

But now we have a problem.

Revelation 12:8-9 CJB But it was not strong enough to win, so that there was no longer any place for them in heaven. (9) The great dragon was thrown out, that ancient serpent, also known as the Devil and Satan [the Adversary], the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.

Were there two battles or one?

If God has to battle Satan again, then doesn't that imply that God is not enough? The idea that God's actions are enough take a huge role in Christ rising from the dead. His death on the cross and his resurrection are central to our belief in everything else. An example would be to look at the hope we have in Christ.

What are we hoping in?

Salvation, but from what? The wrath that is to come. That would be the seven years of wrath to be poured out on the earth. We have Jesus word on the subject as he referenced Noah and Lot as examples of this salvation.

So then what is the passage referring to when it says,

“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "Now have come God's victory, power and kingship, and the authority of his Messiah; because the Accuser of our brothers, who accuses them day and night before God, has been thrown out!” (Revelation 12:10 CJB)

If God had him thrown out, after an intense battle, then why do we see Satan interacting with God in the book of Job. Look at it.

One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it." Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face." The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.(Job 1:6-12 NIV)

We see Satan in heaven accusing Job once again in chapter 2 of Job.

On another day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. And the LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it." Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason." "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life. But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face." The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. (Job 2:1-7 NIV)

There is no denying that Satan continued to have access to God, even after an apparent, life altering defeat.

I believe it was Ed Hinson, on the Calvary Chapel Channel, that said this verse demonstrates a future event in which Satan finally got locked out of heaven, and I believe he indicated that the end of his access occurs at the mid-point of the seven-year period.

Can we define when this happened or when it will happen.? Yes, but we have to jump ahead in the chapter to gain more clarity.
Following a chronological approach, we make the assumption that we are at the end of time, or at least near it. When Christ returns to end the warfare, we know that Satan gets bound for one thousand years. The fact that he is bound plays strongly in God's statement, “now is the accuser of the brethren cast out.” But again, it does not fit because we make assumptions about what God is saying.
Dr. Ed Hinson, stated that Satan's expulsion happens at the midpoint of the seven-year tribulation.
Pay attention to the chronology of these passages:

And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. (Revelation 12:13-15 ESV)

The woman is surviving Israel. She escapes into the wilderness for three and one half years. At some point during this time in hiding the serpent tries to sweep Israel away with a flood. This may be very literal, but then I really cannot be sure.

What is the impact of this timing? In other words, what is happening at this point. If you are a student of end times events then you should already have a clue, but I will recap anyway.

• The beast who made the seven-year treaty with Israel breaks the treaty.
  That ruler will have a firm agreement with many people for seven years, and when half this time is past, he will put an end to sacrifices and offerings. The Awful Horror will be placed on the highest point of the Temple and will remain there until the one who put it there meets the end which God has prepared for him." (Daniel 9:27 GNB)

• The abomination is set up in the temple.
  

• Those remaining in Israel need to flee.
  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: (Matthew 24:15-16 KJV)

• The two witnesses will have been taken up into heaven.
  

• The false prophet comes on the scene. There is a good chance he is already on the scene but not declared. Islamic prophecies proclaim that he will be a Jew, a convert to Islam, of the lineage of Aaron therefore potentially a priest, and this man will be the enforcer of sharia therefore an escalation in the beheading of saints should rapidly increase. Doesn't that aspect show that there are still brethren for Satan to accuse?
• (I have re-thought this since writing it.) When Christ returns to earth to end the warfare here on earth it seems to be quick and definitive, but nothing is said of warfare in heaven.

Jumping ahead to Revelation 12:13, it states, “And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman who brought forth the man-child.” This time Satan is not awaiting the child but going directly after the one that brought man-child into the world. If you think about it, hasn't attempting to destroy the lineage of Christ been Satan's theme since Israels inception?

In summation:

You have just watched me struggle through the process of understanding. Yeah I know, some would say you do not understand anything, but what I do understand that God is passionately in love with people and desires that all be saved. I happen to be one of them.

I, like many, have preconceived ideas, ideas that don't hold water when held up to the truth of God's word. There is only one way to cure that and that is to dive into God's word for yourself. The Apostle Paul praised the Bereans because they took it upon themselves to study and find out if what Paul said was true, and it was.

I had never even thought about the possibility that Satan had been cast out of heaven twice, because I have always tended to accept things I heard as more black and white. In other words I trusted that what I was being told was correct and therefore required no further thought from me; wrong! While being able to think of God and his Word as rigid and unchangeable seems ideal, there are many things in scripture that are not so clear-cut.

A few examples:

Our tendency to read the bible as a chronological time-line, when it is clearly not. Oh sure, there is a time-line but details are spread throughout scripture by different authors.

Thinking that God is merely angry, waiting for the right moment to kill all who show him disrespect. If that were true he would not have saved anyone. Now if you have read your bible then perhaps you would know that it says, “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Unlovable, unlikeable, broken, and angry, and yet God sent Jesus, because he loved us. Why? So he could have a restored relationship with people that would choose to love him back. Not out of coercion but intelligent choice.

And places where scripture says, “all Israel came before ….” The book of Daniel is one of those places where even though King Nebuchadnezzar demanded that everyone bow before his statue, Daniel was not there and therefore did not bow, nor suffered being thrown into the fire with his companions.

Does this lack of rigidity diminish God's integrity, or his word at all?

No!, it merely demonstrates the expressive way humans have conveyed many of God's dealings with man.

To tell that Jesus submitted to the cross, died and rose again is not conjecture; it is verifiable, historic fact. God and his word is trustworthy. Perhaps things like Satan's being cast out needs to be clarified so that people can have a confidence and greater understanding of the depth of God's word.

Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through me.” It is not a lie nor is it some random babble. It is the only path to the life promised to those who follow after him.

Father, receive me, a sinner covered by the blood of your son Jesus. Jesus come into my life and be my life. Change me, use me, and have your way with me. Fill me with your love, the love that I have seen in your eyes. I believe in the hope of life you have for me and a life with you in eternity. In Jesus name.

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