SATAN CAST DOWN
(Commentary)
There was a war in heaven: Satan and his angels, fought against the archangel Michael and his angels. The devil and his angels are defeated. They are cast out of heaven-ref Rev 12:7-10. Satan, which deceiveth the whole world and accused the brethren day and night, has fallen from heaven. There is rejoicing in heaven; however, it is very bad news for the people of the earth. The devil is now among the inhabitants of the earth. He is furious and has great wrath-ref 12:12. He is like a wild, raging animal with great power. He understands, at this time, that his days are numbered. He knows that he has only a short time left-ref Rev 12:12. He goes forth to utterly destroy the born-again Jews. Anyone upon the face of the earth that follows Jesus can expect the same. This happens approximately 3 ½ years before the end of the Tribulation.
At the time that Jesus returns approximately 3 1/2 years later, Satan will be bound, cast into the bottomless, and shut up, and a seal placed upon him so he can no longer deceive the nations. However, after the thousand years are expired, he will be loosed out of his prison for a little season. He shall go forth to deceive the nations once again. Then the devil that deceived the people will be cast into the lake of fire where the Antichrist and false prophet are. He will be tormented day and night forever and ever-ref Rev 20:1-3, 7-10.
It
is written, AND THERE APPEARED ANOTHER WONDER (or sign) IN HEAVEN; AND BEHOLD
(there was) A GREAT (or enormous) RED DRAGON (which is Satan). The word "great"
denotes something of importance and power. The word "red" may depict
that he is a murderer, a shedder of blood. It may signify the incredible amount
of the saint’s blood that will be shed during the Tribulation. This term "red
dragon" is used only in the Revelation denoting Satan. The word "dragon"
denotes "a fabulous winged monster, a fierce person," reference The
New Webster’s Dictionary. The word "serpent," as is often applied
to Satan, indicates great deceptive powers and can also denote being wise or
wisdom-ref Mt 10:16.
Satan is portrayed as HAVING SEVEN HEADS AND TEN HORNS, AND
SEVEN (royal) CROWNS UPON HIS HEADS-Rev 12:3. The number seven often refers
to completeness.
The
seven heads are seven mountains, and there are seven kings. There is debate,
if the seven kings apply here or not,
The ten horns are ten kings (or kingdoms) during the Tribulation.
These are also referred to as the ten toes of Dan 2:40-45. The ten horns can
also symbolize power.
The seven crowns may represent seven kings, which represent
seven empires. These may also stand for Satan’s authority during the Tribulation.
Note Rev 13:1, the description of the beast is nearly identical to the description
of Satan in this verse.
AND
HIS TAIL (note the tail of Satan) DREW (or swept) THE THIRD PART OF THE STARS
(or angels) (out) OF HEAVEN, AND DID CAST (or threw) THEM (down) TO THE EARTH-Rev
12:4.
AND THERE WAS WAR (or a battle) IN HEAVEN.
When the war began is not stated; however, the culmination of the war should
take place at approximately the midst of the Tribulation. MICHAEL AND HIS ANGELS
FOUGHT AGAINST THE DRAGON (which is Satan); AND THE DRAGON (which
is Satan) FOUGHT (back) AND HIS ANGELS-Rev 12:7. It may be noted that Satan
has angels that follow him.
(A note of interest). The angel, Michael, is
mentioned as ONE OF THE CHIEF PRINCES. He came to assist Daniel and to help
him know certain things-ref Dan 10:13,14. Also note Dan 10:20. Michael is, also,
mentioned as THE GREAT PRINCE WHICH STANDETH FOR THE CHILDREN OF THY PEOPLE
(Israel)-Dan 12:1. Michael is called THE ARCHANGEL. He contended WITH THE DEVIL
HE DISPUTED ABOUT THE BODY OF MOSES, but he did not BRING AGAINST HIM A RAILING
ACCUSATION, BUT SAID, THE LORD REBUKE THEE-Jude 9. In the Revelation, Michael
is shown to have angels. He fought against Satan and his angels. Michael won,
Hallelujah! It appears he will be present at the Rapture-ref 1 Thes 4:16. The
name Michael means, "Who is like God?"
AND (Satan) PREVAILED NOT (he was not strong enough-NIV)
(to win); NEITHER WAS THEIR PLACE FOUND ANY MORE IN HEAVEN (they lost their
place in heaven-NIV)-Rev 12:8. Satan's access to heaven, from this time, is
forever cut off. Up to this time, Satan has had access to heaven; as it is written,
NOW THERE WAS A DAY WHEN THE SONS OF GOD CAME TO PRESENT THEMSELVES BEFORE THE
LORD, AND SATAN CAME ALSO AMONG THEM. AND THE LORD SAID UNTO SATAN, WHENCE COMEST
THOU? THEN SATAN ANSWERED THE LORD, AND SAID, FROM GOING TO AND FRO IN THE EARTH,
AND FROM WALKING UP AND DOWN IN IT-Job 1:6,7. THE ACCUSER OF OUR BROTHERS, WHO
ACCUSES THEM BEFORE OUR GOD DAY AND NIGHT, HAS BEEN HURLED DOWN-Rev 12:10 NIV.
Verse 9 is also covering spiritual warfare
and deception.
AND THE GREAT DRAGON (which is Satan) WAS CAST (or thrown)
OUT (or down), THAT OLD (or ancient) SERPENT, (also) CALLED THE DEVIL, AND SATAN
(the adversary), WHICH DECEIVETH THE WHOLE WORLD (who leads the whole world
astray-NIV)-Rev 12:9. At this time, Rev 9:1 may take place: I SAW A STAR FALL
FROM HEAVEN. Jesus said, I BEHELD SATAN AS LIGHTNING FALL FROM HEAVEN-Lk 10:18.
Rev
12:7,8-THE DRAGON...NEITHER WAS THEIR PLACE FOUND ANY MORE IN HEAVEN.
Rev 12:9-THE...DRAGON WAS CAST OUT.
Rev 12:9-HE WAS CAST OUT INTO THE EARTH.
Rev 12:9-HIS ANGELS WERE CAST OUT WITH HIM.
Rev 12:10-THE ACCUSER OF OUR BRETHREN IS CAST DOWN.
Rev 12:12-WOE TO THE...EARTH. THE DEVIL IS COME DOWN UNTO
YOU.
Rev 12:13-THE DRAGON SAW THAT HE WAS CAST UNTO THE EARTH.
Isa 14:12-Then a statement is made, HOW ART THOU FALLEN FROM
HEAVEN, O LUCIFER, SON OF THE MORNING! HOW ART THOU CUT DOWN TO THE GROUND,
WHICH DIDST WEAKEN THE NATIONS!
AND
I HEARD A LOUD VOICE SAYING IN HEAVEN, NOW IS COME SALVATION (or God's victory),
AND STRENGTH (or power), AND THE KINGDOM OF OUR GOD (or kingship), AND THE POWER
(or authority) OF HIS CHRIST (or Messiah): FOR THE ACCUSER OF OUR BRETHREN (or
brothers) IS CAST (or thrown, or hurled) DOWN-Rev 12:10. The saints in heaven
are rejoicing. Satan has, once and for all, been cast out of heaven. Verses
10 through 12 are taking place in heaven. The devil has been cast down; this
occurs at the approximate time of the midst of the Tribulation. This gives us
the timing of these three verses.
The verse continues, WHICH ACCUSED THEM BEFORE OUR GOD DAY
AND NIGHT-Rev 12:10. Satan had accused the brethren before God, day and night.
The saints of all ages have undergone the slander and abusive accusations of
the devil. However, Jesus our High Priest sits at the right hand of God, making
intercession for the saints. Because of their faith in Jesus and through His
shed blood, no accusation against the saints can reach God. For Jesus is the
propitiation for the sins of the saints. As it is written, AND HE IS THE PROPITIATION
FOR OUR SINS: AND NOT FOR OURS ONLY, BUT ALSO FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD-1
Jn 2:2. THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION TO THEM WHICH ARE IN CHRIST JESUS,
WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH, BUT AFTER THE SPIRIT. FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT
OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS HATH MADE ME FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH-Ro 8:1,2.
The saints are justified by the blood of the Lamb-ref Ro 5:9.
THEREFORE REJOICE, YE HEAVENS, AND YE THAT DWELL (or live)
IN THEM-Rev 12:12. There is rejoicing, because Satan has been cast down.
Verse 12 now continues with the same thought as v.9. (But)
WOE TO THE INHABITERS OF THE EARTH AND OF THE SEA! FOR THE DEVIL (the adversary)
IS COME DOWN UNTO YOU, HAVING GREAT WRATH (he is very angry), BECAUSE HE KNOWETH
THAT HE HATH BUT A SHORT TIME (he knows that his time is short!-JNT64).
God is giving the inhabitants of the earth and the sea a stern warning. "Woe."
This is because the devil has been cast out of heaven. It appears he is now
confined to the earth. He is very angry. He might be compared to a raging, wild
animal with enormous power. He goes forth in great fury to destroy anyone that
follows Jesus and rejects the Antichrist. Once Satan is cast down, he then understands
that he has a short time left. That short time is approximately three and a
half years. It would appear that he understands, at this point, that his imprisonment
in the pit is only about twelve hundred and sixty days away. The demons also
appear to know of their allotted time, as they asked Jesus, ART THOU COME HITHER
TO TORMENT US BEFORE THE TIME?-Mt 8:29. The greatest slaughter of Christians,
in the history of the church, is about to begin.
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