(Part 4 - Revelation 12:8-10)
VERSE EIGHT
- "And prevailed not; neither was their place found anymore in heaven".
VERSE NINE
- "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his messengers were cast out with him."
When Christ sent the
70 (the number 70 was representing the fullness or totality of the church) out to witness two by two, and when they returned, He said He saw Satan as lightning fall from heaven (Luke 10:18),
THIS is what Revelation 12 is symbolizing. The accuser is cast out! There is no longer a fear of death as the law does not condemn us, and he no longer has power in the Congregation of Israel, the Church. Michael (Christ) and His Messengers (believers) fought against Spirit of Satan and his messengers (Scribes, Pharisees, and all people with them)
by the work of the cross. Ultimately, through Christ's death, Satan was cast out and the Lord's army gained the Victory. They go forth Conquering and to conquer, because Christ went forth Conquering and to Conquer and they were risen in Him. They go forth in battle, and overcome not of themselves, but by the blood of Christ. Devils are subject to them through Christ's Power of the cross.
Christ gave us the power to overcome Satan by the Cross alone, and this assured that nothing Satan could do could harm Christians, spiritually. He can physically kill us, have us stoned to death, or fed to the Lions, but ultimately, he has lost and has no power in the Kingdom because his accusations mean nothing because of the work of Christ. He cannot harm us in any way, and certainly not by false Gospel. Again,
Luke 10:18
- "...I beheld Satan as Lightning fall from heaven. Behold I give you power to tred on SERPENTS and SCORPIONS, and over all power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
Some morons think they want to go out in the desert and handle literal snakes, or think that they can drink literal poison (Mark 16). But that's NOT what is in view. When Mark 16 says we can pick up serpents and not be harmed, and when this verse says we can tred on serpents and scorpions and not be hurt,
what is in view is Satan. He is the Serpent that cannot harm us, not a literal snake in the grass. He is the scorpion whose sting in his tail cannot harm us.
This is Symbolic language! It is
NOT a literal promise that you can't be poisoned or killed by a snake!
This is the symbolism of God's Word, and unless we start listening to God's Word, we're not going to know which way is up as far as interpretation. We will leave ourselves open for any type of deception. But when you get it from the Bible, by the Holy Spirit that tells you it's true, you know that you are on the right track. It was Christ who cast Satan from heaven, and it's through Christ that we have the power over serpents, scorpions, and poisonous drinks. Poisons from the lips of Satan's false Prophets.
And how did these Messengers of Michael overcome Satan and his messengers? We need not speculate; we get it directly from the scriptures there. And scripture tells us:
VERSE TEN
- "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 the brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."
See? The accuser of the brethren is sin. Satan is the essence, the embodiment of sin. But at the cross Michael (Christ) cast down the accuser by purging us from sin, and destroying (making idle or void) Satan who held this fear of death over us (Hebrews. 2:14). We read,
NOW has come
Salvation and Strength! That was at the Cross! Not in the future, else you are NOT saved! Selah! This was HOW Christ strengthened or confirmed the
Covenant in His Blood at the cross (Hebrews 9:17). That was when Satan was cast down. That was when Salvation came. Who did it? Of course, Christ! He is Michael, the Chief Messenger of that Covenant. This verse tells us how the victory was achieved.
Now is Come the Kingdom..
Consider wisely the significance of what Jesus told the people when He cast out Satan from a man and said the Kingdom had come. It was an illustration that This "indeed" was the Messenger of the Covenant promised, and indeed the Kingdom Had come, and He indeed would bind satan and deliver those held captive by Him. Consider wisely:
Matthew 12:26-30
- "And if Satan cast outSatan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
- And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
- But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then The Kingdom of God is come unto you.
- Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
- He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad".
That tells it all!!!! The strong man is Satan, He who came to spoil (take by right of conquest) his house is Christ, but note God says
FIRST He (Christ) had to bind Satan. Then he could spoil or take his possessions. That's what Christ did to satan by the Cross. Bound him, made him void, destroyed him that he could deliver his captivity and set them free from bondage. And Matthew 12:30 goes right on in the same vein of those with Christ and against him. Either his army fighting with Him, or those fighting against Him. we note also Christ says "if" he by God casts out Satan, then the Kingdom of God has come unto you. Again, just as we read in Revelation chapter 12. Now is come the Kingdom and Salvation because "the accuser of the brethren", Satan, is cast down. He is bound that he cannot hurt us. This is the same picture God is painting here in matthew 12.
The Kingdom has now come, it is within us as Christ is within us (luke 17:12) and Satan is cast out (
just as jesus cast the Devil out in matthew 12 and said all these things). Satan has no power in "THIS" Kingdom because he was defeated by Christ's death and it's a more perfect Kingdom. Not of this world, but a spiritual Kingdom with us (
Christ's messengers) as those with power over Satan.
Douggg's so-called future 1,000 millennial kingdom is nonsense!
(Part Five - Revelation 12:11 Coming soon! Stay tuned!)