Typically when we think of Christmas, we think
of peace and joy. We think of family time. We
don't typically think of battle. We don't typically
think of war. We don't normally think of spiritual
and... cosmic conflict between forces of God
and forces of evil. Our text today presents us
with a grand and glorious battle. And it is a
battle that Christmas itself declares to the
people of God. we have seen time and time again,
as we've considered Revelation 12, that the incarnation
and the work of Christ in the Gospel, His resurrection,
His ascension, His exaltation to the right hand
of God, it is no passive act. It is an act of
war in which He is seeking to accomplish and
bring about His glorious ends for the world which
the devil sought to derail early on in creation
and even before the created world when he fell.
So today, we're going to consider this war that
verses 7 through 11 speak of. We'll do this in
three ways. We'll consider the war which defeats.
or overcomes the devil or the dragon. We'll see
this in verses 7 -9. And then we'll consider
the Lamb's victory, which is proclaimed. We see
this in verse 10, where there's a shift, a change.
Following the casting out of the dragon, we see
this loud proclamation, this hymn of victory.
where we read, Then I heard a loud voice in heaven.
So we'll consider the victory of the Lamb that
is proclaimed in heaven. And then we'll also
consider the saints' participation in the Lamb's
victory. We see this in verse 11, where we read
these words, 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. So beginning
with the first, the war which defeats the dragon.
In verse 7 up to verse 9, we see this battle
and conflict taking place. Something that we've
alluded to, we've discussed, and we've already
interacted with, at various times throughout
this study. But today, we're going to consider
it in detail. We're going to seek to get clarity
on the nature of this war, the nature of this
battle, and the nature of Christ's victory over
the devil and what this means. What does it mean
that Christ is victorious? John using this heavenly
language, this symbolic language to portray and
communicate these realities. Now, we also have
seen that John is using apocalyptic language.
Revelation is apocalyptic literature. Therefore,
we have to understand its meaning in that context
as apocalyptic literature. So as we talk about
this war, we should consider it as this, the
symbolic heavenly reality that expresses the
historic redemptive work of Christ in the gospel.
This heavenly war is communicating The realities
of Christ's work in the gospel in his birth,
his life, his death, his resurrection, his ascension,
and ultimately his enthronement at the Father's
right hand. Now, if we're going to understand
this war, we have to understand the players in
it. We have to understand who the war was waged
against. Notice in verse 7, and there was a war
in heaven. Michael and his angels waging war
with the dragon. So who is the antagonist in
this battle? The dragon. And who is the dragon?
The devil. Satan. He's given several different
names in this text. He's referred to as the dragon,
the great dragon, the serpent of old, referring
back to Genesis chapter 3. And his work in the
fall. And his work in bringing condemnation into
the world. And showing the fallibility and the
sinfulness and the sinful inclinations of men.
And ultimately in the conflict that expressed
itself throughout the ages leading up to the
coming of Christ. And we see he's called the
devil. And Satan who deceives the whole world.
This is the arch enemy. Of God. We've seen this
and we understand this. But John wants us to
be clear who he is talking about. He is talking
about the one that opposes God's people. And
he always has opposed God's people. He is the
one that war is being waged against. The devil
did not initiate this in verses 7 -9. Michael
initiates this battle. Michael initiates this
war. The devil is the adversary that is being
warred against by the angelic forces of God.
Now, who is it that is initiating and leading
the charge in this battle that John describes
for us? It is Michael. the archangel. Now we
know some about Michael throughout the scripture.
He seems to have a place of militaristic stature
and leadership among the angelic forces, the
heavenly hosts of God. In Daniel chapter 10,
it is said of Michael that speaking to Daniel,
he is your Prince. Meaning that Michael is the
angel of God's covenant people. Daniel, yes too,
but all of God's covenant people. It seems as
though he is the great protector and the great
warrior with regards to the spiritual forces
and the angelic hosts on behalf of God's people.
So in this In this story that John is putting
forth, in these terms, in this language, Michael
is the one waging war against the dragon, Satan.
Now, what is the outcome of this battle that
John is describing? Well, it is the defeat and
the downfall of Satan himself, the dragon. And
we know this because he says this in various
ways in the text. He first says, they were not
strong enough. He says this in verse 8. And then
he says this, there was no longer a place found
for them in heaven. Meaning, there was no more
room for the devil. There was no more room for
the dragon. But he also goes on and describes
it further. He says, the dragon was thrown down.
And then he says, he was thrown down to the earth
and his angels were thrown down with him. Three
times in verse 9, this idea of Satan being thrown
down is repeated. So what is the outcome of this
heavenly symbolic battle that John is... putting
forth for us to look at. The devil is defeated.
The devil is overcome. The devil is conquered.
But it's not put forward in terms of destruction.
That's important for us to understand. He's not
presenting it as though the devil is obliterated.
The dragon is not just destroyed. He is... Cast
out. In a sense, he is exiled. He experiences
expulsion and removal from the presence of God.
And this is how he's presenting it to us. He's
not destroyed. He's cast out. He's removed. He
loses his place as John presents it. He's presenting
it as the devil being ejected. From the divine
court of God, in a sense. Now, this brings us
to the Lamb's victory, which is proclaimed in
verse 10. We read this, Then I heard a loud voice
in heaven, saying, Now the salvation and the
power and the kingdom of our God and the authority
of his Christ have come. For the accuser of our
brethren has been thrown down. He who accuses
them before our God day and night. Now John is
continuing the picture. He's continuing the imagery.
What is the result of the dragon being ejected
from heaven? Press on in the image. It is heaven
itself manifesting the victory that has taken
place. It is heaven itself declaring the downfall
and the defeat of the great dragon. Why? Because
of the exaltation and the lifting up and the
victory of the lamb, the male child that was
caught up to God who accomplished his work successfully.
and victoriously. He's continuing the picture.
But he uses this language that clearly communicates
the fact that he wants us to understand that
it is the historical accomplishment of Christ's
work which brings about the defeat of the dragon.
Notice in verse 10, he says this, now the salvation
and the power and the kingdom, meaning it's taken
place. Then he says this, his Christ have come.
It has happened. It has occurred. It has taken
place in time and history. There is a historic,
redemptive element that John is pushing in this,
and there's a reason for that, brothers and sisters.
He wants us to know that the accomplished work
of Christ, which has taken place in time, in
history, is that which has brought about this
great victory. He wants us to think back to verse
5. And she gave birth to a son, a male child
who was to rule all the nations with a rod of
iron, and her child was caught up to God and
to his throne. That's a statement about the work
of the Lord Jesus. When it says that he was caught
up to God and his throne, it's talking about
the fact that Christ was born. Of a woman. That
Christ lived perfectly. Unto the law of God.
And he obtained righteousness. As a result of
his obedience to the law of God. That he completed.
His atoning work. On the cross. That he rose
from the dead. And he conquered the grave. That
proves and evidences. The success and victory
of all his other work. That he appeared to the
disciples. For a period. And then he ascends
to the Father's right hand and he is enthroned
and he rules. The Messiah's kingdom, the Messiah's
redemption, the Messiah's work has occurred.
It's not something that is being waited for.
It's not something that is yet to come. It has
definitively taken place in this. is what brings
about the downfall and the defeat of the dragon.
John wants us to understand this. The downfall
of the devil is actually a sign that Christ's
work has been accomplished. The fact that the
devil has been... If we think about Revelation
12. The fact that the dragon is ejected is a
sign of what? That the male child is caught up
to God. The fact that Christ is ascended and
that Christ is exalted and that Christ is ruling
and reigning, that Christ is authoritatively
on the throne, the fact that the Messiah is ruling
and reigning over God's people, that is... What
brings about the defeat? And the defeat of the
devil, the ejection of the devil, is a sign that
Christ's work has happened and has taken place.
This is in accord with all of Jesus' teaching
on this subject. We can think about John chapter
12. And I'll turn there and read that briefly.
John 12, we'll start reading in verse 29. So
the crowd of people who stood by and heard it
were saying that it had thundered. Others were
saying an angel had spoken to him. Jesus answered
and said, This voice has not come for my sake,
but for your sakes. Now listen to what he says.
Now judgment is upon this world. Now the ruler...
Of this world will be cast out. And I. If I am
lifted up from the earth. Will draw all men to
myself. Christ is speaking of his death. And
his crucifixion. And his redemptive work. And
what is it that casts out the devil. That does
away with his authority. That defeats him in
this context. It is Christ being lifted up. It
is Christ being exalted. It is Christ's work.
we could also look at Luke chapter 10, verse
18, which says this. Starting in verse 17, the
70 returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the
demons are subject to us in your name. And he
said to them, I was watching Satan fall from
heaven like lightning. As the disciples are going
out and the preaching of the gospel is taking
place, as the gospel is proclaimed, what does
Jesus say he's watching, he's observing? That
the devil is falling like lightning. He's being
cast out. He's being ejected. There's no place
for him. He's being removed. And thrown down
in a sense. We could look at 1 John 3 .8. 1 John
3 .8 says this. And the one who practices sin
is of the devil. For the devil is sin from the
beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose.
Meaning the Messiah came. Christ was born. Christ
lived. Christ died. Christ rose. Christ ascended.
Christ was enthroned. The gospel came about for
this purpose. To destroy the works of the devil.
Christ came. That the devil might be defeated.
That the devil might be conquered and overcame.
And it's the work of the gospel. and the arrival
of the Messianic kingdom, which does this. Now,
what exactly is the nature of this battle? Is
this talking about sword fights and fist fights
among the angelic forces? Remember John's language.
Remember how he is communicating the meaning
to the people through symbolic languages, through
signs, through figurative stories. He is communicating
grand and glorious things that he has seen. He
is communicating that a great shift has taken
place in the cosmos as a result of Christ's work.
that there is a real change that comes about
with regards to the devil before God and God's
treatment of his covenant people because of the
Lord Jesus Christ and his work. But what is the
nature of this conflict, this victory of Christ,
we could say, that is expressed in these terms?
Well, I say it's not militaristic. at all. It's
actually judicial. It's actually positional.
It's actually spiritual in nature, brothers and
sisters. We can understand this first by grasping
the identity in the primary work of the devil.
What does John say in Revelation 12? He says
this. Now the salvation and the power and the
kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ
have come. For the accuser of our brethren has
been thrown down. That's who and what Satan does.
He brings accusations of guilt against the people
of God. And then he repeats it again. He who
accuses them before our God day and night. Meaning,
it's perpetual, brothers and sisters. It is incessant.
It does not stop. He never rests his case with
regards to accusations against the people of
God. This is who the devil is and this is what
he does. We could say that the devil has a ministry
of... prosecution against God's covenant people.
That is the core of his work, and we see it evidenced
so clearly throughout the Bible. We see it evidenced
so clearly, especially throughout the Old Testament
and prior to the finished work of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Let's look at a couple examples. That
will help us grasp the devil's prosecutory work
against the people of God. Let's look at Job
chapter 1. We all know this. In Job 1, starting
in verse 6, we hear this. Now there was a day
when the sons of God came to present themselves.
Before the Lord. And Satan also came among them.
The Lord said to Satan. From where do you come?
Then Satan answered the Lord and said. From roaming
about on the earth. Walking around it. And walking
around on it. The Lord said to Satan. Have you
considered my servant Job? For there is no one
like him. On the earth. A blameless. An upright
man. Fearing God and turning away from evil.
Then Satan answered the Lord. And listen to his
words. At their heart is accusation. At their
heart is condemnation. Then Satan answered the
Lord. Does Job fear God for nothing? Doesn't
he just obey you because of what he gets from
you? Doesn't he just obey you because of the
good that you give him? Because of the benefits
that come as a result of being faithful? Have
you not made a hedge about him and his house
and all that he has on every side? Have you not
blessed the work of his hands and his possessions
have increased in the land? But put forth your
hand now and touch all that he has. He will surely
curse you to your face. Then the Lord said to
Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power.
Only do not put forth your hand on him. So Satan
departed from the presence of the Lord. What
does he do? He goes out and enacts all of these
things. He attacks Job. He strips him of all
his blessings. He takes away all the good things
that God has given. Brothers and sisters, this
is the capacity of the evil one. To accuse the
people of God before the throne of God. And we
think about Job. It was an open case in some
ways. It was a pending case. Because there was
no definitive redemption that had taken place
yet. There was still guilt lingering that had
not been paid for yet. Now, we could also look
at Job chapter 2 and find the exact same evidence
and truth that we find in Job chapter 1. But
let's turn to Zechariah chapter 3. We read the
same thing. Starting in verse 1, Then he showed
me Joshua. the high priest standing before the
angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his
right hand to accuse him. What is the devil doing?
What capacity and what work is he carrying out
at the throne of God? Accusation. To remind the
Lord of their guilt, their impurity. Their unholiness,
their failure, their sin. And here's what we
read. The Lord said to Satan, The Lord rebuke
you, Satan. Indeed, the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem
rebuke you. Is this not a bran plucked from the
fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments
and standing before the angel. I'm sure the devil's,
look at his dirty, terrible, nasty clothes. They're
filthy. And here's what we read. Then I said,
let them put a clean turban on his head. So they
put a clean turban on his head and clothed him
with garments while the angel of the Lord was
standing by. And the angel of the Lord admonished
Joshua, saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts,
if you will walk in my ways and if you will perform
my service. Then you will also govern my house
and also have charge of my courts. And I will
grant you free access among those who are standing
here. The Lord provides robes of righteousness
for Joshua, the angel of the Lord does. And that
is the basis for his faithfulness to Joshua,
the high priest. So he disregards the accusations
of the devil. Based on the fact that righteous
robes would be provided. Would be given to Joshua.
But the devil is accusing him all the while.
Now, we can also turn to Jude chapter 1 verse
9. A text that... Is typically overlooked and
never touched on. And it is a mysterious text.
We don't know a lot about it. We don't understand
everything about this text. But we do know this.
The devil is disputing with Michael. He is arguing
with Michael about the covenant people of God.
We read this in Jude chapter 1 verse 9. But Michael,
the archangel, when he disputed with the devil
and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare
pronounce against him a railing judgment, but
said, The Lord rebuke you. What is the devil
doing? What is the devil doing? He's arguing,
disputing, and accusing God based on Moses' failures.
Based on Moses' sin. Why could Moses not go into
the promised land, brothers and sisters? You
don't think that the devil brought that up? You
don't think the devil didn't bring up the fact
that Moses killed a man? The devil is disputing
the body of Moses. He is looking to God. Say,
this is not right. This is unholy. This is unjust.
How can you do these things? How can you bless
and have your hand upon this man? How can you
use this man, even after his death, as an example
for the Israelites? Well, we know the answer
to that. Because God's grace. Because of God's
covenant with His people. Because of His mercy.
Because of... Now, there's one more example I
want to show. And this one is very, very helpful
in our understanding of this. This example is
Luke chapter 22, starting in verse 31. We read
this, starting in verse 31. Simon, Simon, behold,
Satan has demanded permission. To sift you like
wheat. But I have prayed for you. That your faith
may not fail. And you when once you have turned
again. Strengthen your brothers. What is the
Lord Jesus Christ referring to here? The reality
that Peter would fall. That he would actually
deny the Lord Jesus Christ. Not once. Not twice,
but three times. The devil sifted Peter and he
demanded that God allow him to sift Peter. Peter
had his issues, didn't he, brothers and sisters?
Peter was always the one speaking out of turn
and speaking without thinking, but Peter has...
an advocate. Peter has somebody more powerful
than the devil in his sifting. Peter has the
Son of God who took on flesh, interceding for
him, praying for him that he would be restored
even after the devil tempted him and he was successful.
Christ has the victory in the end in Peter's
life. Brothers and sisters, what is the work
of the devil? It is to accuse God's people and
to bring up the guilt of God's people and to
bring up condemnation and accusations. To slander
them and to slander the name of Christ in and
through it. The devil's accusations are built
on guilt. On the demands of the law, the holiness
of God, the justice of God. But brothers and
sisters, what do we see in Revelation 12? That
Christ is born. That Christ lives. That Christ
dies. That Christ raises. That Christ ascends.
That Christ is enthroned. And what takes place
then? His accusations fall flat. Because he no
longer has credible grounds because the people
of God have had their Savior die for them. The
people of God have had their Savior, their Messiah,
raised for their justification. The demands of
the law are met. Justice and mercy came together
in the cross and justice is satisfied and mercy
is dealt out to the people of God. Their sins
are dealt with in the death of Christ and their
righteousness is provided in his life and in
his resurrection, brothers and sisters. The devil
has lost his position. The devil has lost his
ability and his credibility to bring accusations
against those in Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ has
come. Redemption has taken place. And the devil's
judicial, legal accusations against the people
of God are not credible. Because they are in
Christ. The accomplished work of Christ has destroyed
the devil's accusatory powers against the people
of God. Now, we see all throughout the New Testament
that the blindness the devil inflicts on the
unbelieving, the gospel, breaks in with the rays
of truth in Christ in the face of the gospel.
and illuminates their hearts and minds, and saves
sinners by regenerating them. God lifts the blindness.
We see that his afflictions are actually made
to work for the good of God's people in 2 Corinthians
chapter 12, where Paul has a thorn in his flesh.
The devil did not intend that for good, brothers
and sisters, but God. used it for Paul's good.
That he might experience the real power of God
in his weakness. That he might rely on the Lord
and the Spirit of God more and more in his life.
The dominion and rule of the devil in the believer's
life has been broken because they have been transferred
from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of
the beloved Son, Colossians chapter 1. Sin, which
the devil so thoroughly works through in the
life of a person, is no longer the master, is
no longer the king of the believer's heart. Satan's
dominion has been broken. Those who were sons
of wrath and sons of disobedience, those who
are children of wrath and born into wrath. Those
who walked according to the course of this world
as the prince of the power of the air rules over
them through the lusts of the flesh and the lusts
of the mind. Brothers and sisters, those same
people, when they are brought into a saving union
with the Lord Jesus Christ, what happens? They
become sons and daughters of God. They are given
every privilege and every right and every glorious
promise of the gospel. And what do we find? That
even now, if the devil makes accusations against
the people of God before the throne of God, what
takes place? The people of God have a mediator.
Yes, his accusations may still be incessant and
perpetual, but brothers and sisters, Christ's
mediation and Christ's advocacy is ongoing, perfect,
and perpetual. When he brings up the accusations,
what does Christ do? He stands as their advocate.
The Father looks at him and he is pleased with
the advocate. He is pleased with the mediator,
not the person. He looks to the righteousness
of Christ and the completed work that Christ
has accomplished in every single person. in Christ
by faith, has an advocate with the Father. They
cannot be condemned, brothers and sisters. There
is therefore now no condemnation for those who
are in Christ. Now, John goes on and explains
this victory a little bit more in verse 11. And
this is where we come to the saints' participation.
In the Lamb's victory. And this is important.
Verse 11 says this. 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. John
goes on. To help us understand a little bit more
about what it means that Christ has been victorious.
And what it means for the people of God to triumph.
And to win. And to be victorious themselves.
He tells us three things. He tells us before
these that they have triumphed. So it's not something
that's potential. It's something that has taken
place just as Christ has been enthroned. He says
in verse 11, And they overcame him. Meaning the
evil one. The dragon. Satan. So those in Christ.
Those whom Christ shed his blood for. Those who
are in a saving union with the Lord Jesus Christ.
by faith and repentance. Brothers and sisters,
you have overcome. You are victorious based on
the completed, objective, finished work of the
Lord Jesus Christ. It's not talking about a future
potential victory. It's talking about those who
are in Christ. Those who believe in Christ that
have overcome. This is the only way for a person
to ultimately be victorious in this life and
the next. People are looking for victory in all
kinds of ways, brothers and sisters. We see this
throughout the world. We see this throughout
the culture. We see this in society over and
over again. What are people trying to do? They're
trying to be victorious in this life. Why do
they slave at work? Why do they give everything
for money and finances? Why do they sacrifice
everything for influence and power in the world?
Why are they willing to do anything and everything
to get ahead? Because they want to succeed. They
want to be victorious over the struggles, the
difficulties, the hardships, over the lack of
influence, over the appearance or the fear of
man, whatever it might be. Men in the world are
always striving to be victorious. But here's
the problem. No matter how victorious an unbelieving
man is in this life, he will always be conquered
at death. I don't care how successful you are
in this life. I don't care how popular you are
in this life. I don't care how strong or fit
you are in this life. How much future you have
left. I don't care how much money you make. If
you don't know Jesus Christ, you will fail at
the end of your life because you will die and
you will experience judgment. The only way that
you will succeed and you will be victorious is
by being found in Christ and to have His blood
cover you. And the only way that happens is for
you to turn from your sins and to trust in the
Son of God who took on flesh and dwelt among
us, who lived a perfect life, who raised from
the dead, who conquered the grave, and who ascended
to the Father's right hand. If you are in Him,
you will share in His victory. If you are in
him, you have already triumphed over the world
and every enemy that is against you. Now, John
is clear that this victory, this triumph that
the people of God partake in is a bit paradoxical.
Listen to what he says. He says this. At the
end of verse 11. Because of the word of their
testimony. And they did not love their life.
Even when faced with death. We have to do away.
With our worldly measures. And ideas. Of what
victory as the church of Jesus Christ is. We
have to do away with the carnal. definitions
of what it means for the church to win, for the
church to succeed, for the church to be triumphant
in this world. It is not as the world says. Victory
for the church is not conquering kingdoms and
conquering nations and conquering empires and
conquering powers. What does John say victory
in the gospel is? Suffering well in the face
of hardship. Even to the point where you are
willing to be martyred and to die for your faith.
That is gospel triumph. That is perseverance
in the dragon's face and entering into glory
and power and authority and the presence of your
Savior. Brothers and sisters, That is victory
for the church in this age. That is victory in
your life. We can't forget that though the devil
is defeated, brothers and sisters, he is not
destroyed. He is active. He is present. He is
working. He is... He is fighting. He is strategizing.
And though his accusations fall flat in the ears
of God, speaking anthropomorphically, he can
still come to you and bring accusations to your
heart. He can still bring about doubt and fear
and anxiety. And sin. And struggle. In your life.
What do you do when that takes place? Where do
you go? What do you look to? The blood of the
Lamb. You look to the work of God in your life
as he works in your life. The word of your testimony.
You faithfully bear witness. to His grace and
His mercy and His salvation as He works in you.
You faithfully confess and profess the Word of
God in your life. You press on. When those accusations
rise in your mind, in your heart, look to the
righteousness of Christ. Look to the completed
work of the Messiah. When you're tempted to think,
I'm no good. God can't love me. I'm under His
wrath and under His judgment. Brothers and sisters,
look to the atoning death of the cross. When
you think that your righteousness actually matters
for your standing before God, or that your righteousness,
your so -called righteousness, condemns you before
God, where do you look? To the justifying life
and resurrection of the Son of God. When the
accuser steps up to confront you in your heart,
look to your great and mighty advocate that is
at the right hand of the Father.