Satan’s final battle
November 27, 2019
Commentary
Notice that two of Satan’s activities in these verses is to deceive the world and to accuse the brethren (v. 10). The critical blow came to Satan when Jesus Christ shed His blood for our sins (v. 11). The victory is won by Christ’s death in our place to pay the penalty for our sin. As we face the battle with Satan, we should not fear it or try to escape from it but loyally serve Christ who brings victory. The devil begins to step up his persecution because he knows that he only has a short time (v. 12). One of the reasons God allows Satan to bring temptation is so that those who pretend to be Christ’s followers will be weeded out from His true believers. Satan is desperately trying to recruit as big an enemy force as possible for his final battle.
When Satan saw he was being thrown down to the earth he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child (v. 13). Persecuted Israel proceeds to flee quickly to an unspecified place in the wilderness where she finds protection and care (v. 14). In an attempt to dislodge the Jews, Satan will bring a flood (vv. 15-16). God will then cause the earth to open and swallow the water. John tells us that the war is still being waged but the outcome has already been determined. Satan and his followers have been defeated and will be destroyed (v. 17). However, he is battling daily to bring more into his ranks.
Application
I must never waver in my commitment to Jesus Christ. A great spiritual battle continues to take place and there is no time in my life for indecision.
Revelation 12:10– 17 (NET)
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the ruling authority of his Christ, have now come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters, the one who accuses them day and night before our God, has been thrown down.
11 But they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
12 Therefore you heavens rejoice, and all who reside in them! But woe to the earth and the sea because the devil has come down to you! He is filled with terrible anger, for he knows that he only has a little time!”
13 Now when the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of a giant eagle so that she could fly out into the wilderness, to the place God prepared for her, where she is taken care of—away from the presence of the serpent—for a time, times, and half a time. 15 Then the serpent spouted water like a river out of his mouth after the woman in an attempt to sweep her away by a flood, 16 but the earth came to her rescue; the ground opened up and swallowed the river that the dragon had spewed from his mouth. 17 So the dragon became enraged at the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep God’s commandments and hold to the testimony about Jesus.