Revelation 12:7-18

Last time we discussed the great sign and concluded the woman makes most sense as the nation of Israel — the people through whom the Christ came. Now we read the next section.¶

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world... And 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 brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death."

Revelation 12:7-11 (ESV)¶

When was the dragon cast down?¶

At first glance this section seems to describe what actually took place in heaven that the great sign represented. But it seems John is being shown the connection of past, present, and future in Christ. Just before Jesus died, he said something interesting: "Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out" (John 12:31). In the KJV, "now the prince of this world will be cast out" — a title for Satan. In John 14:30 and John 16:11 Jesus again speaks of the ruler of this world being judged. Something takes place after Jesus' death and resurrection: he goes to the Father, and Satan is cast out and judged. And in Luke 10:18 Jesus says, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven" — possibly referencing the very event soon to take place: Satan losing his access to heaven, no longer able to accuse us directly before God.¶

We know Satan, as one of God's angels, could stand before God to give account (we see it in Job). So although Satan is not yet cast into the lake of fire, he is cast out of heaven so he can no longer accuse us — because Jesus now sits next to the Father, advocating, interceding, and covering for us. There is no more room for the devil. He may have had something to stand on before Jesus became the propitiation for all — because he would have been right: we are sinners who deserved judgment. But that all changed at the cross, for those who put their faith in Jesus.¶

No more accuser — an Advocate instead¶

God was cleaning house: now that his Son had taken the throne and all authority was given to him, it was time for the enemy to be cast out — just as when the Jews entered the promised land, the enemy had to be disposed of first. As God's people, we no longer have an enemy accusing us before God daily; instead, we have a perfect high priest who intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:22-25; Hebrews 10:19-25). This couldn't be true if we were still constantly accused before God:¶

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Romans 8:34 (ESV)¶

If we take anything away, let it be this: our accuser no longer stands before God to accuse us; he has been cast out. Now we have an Advocate and a Savior forever seated next to the Father, interceding for us always. You no longer have to listen to the accusations and condemnations, because there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. You are forgiven; you are free because of Jesus. Let us live the rest of our days for God (1 Peter 4:1-8).¶