Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 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 angels were cast out with him.
Before the creation of the world, God ruled in heaven over His angelic host. The Bible teaches us that when God created angels, they numbered in thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. Millions and millions of angels. Or as Hebrews 12:22 describes them, they are innumerable. Among those millions of angels was one special angel named Lucifer. His name means “son of the morning” or “the shining one.” Apparently he was very beautiful. Scripture describes him as:
Ezekiel 28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Notice – “Until iniquity or sin was found in thee.” Isaiah 14 tells us that the day came when Lucifer said – “I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” (Is 14:14 NIV) In other words – “I will be God.” Turning to Ezekiel again we read – “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.” (Ezek 28:17) In other words – pride consumed Lucifer and caused this beautiful angel to become corrupt in the sight of God.
Now look with me to Revelation 12. Revelation 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth… Many interpret this to mean that when Lucifer fell, he took with him 1/3 of the angels. Today we know these angels as demons. How many demons are there? One-third of an innumerable amount. Once Lucifer fell, scripture never again referred to him by this name. From that time on he is called:
Satan (adversary)
Devil (slanderer)
Abaddon / Apollyon (destroyer)
The Wicked One
The Bible also tells us about the ultimate end of Satan. Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Here’s the question that I would like to pose to you today.
Why does Satan continue to resist God when it’s obvious that he can’t win?
Does Satan know he can’t win? He has to. For one thing, the Bible is full of references to his defeat and Satan knows scripture. In addition, Jesus said that hell had been created for the Devil and his angels. But even more so, consider the cries of some of the demons when they came in contact with Jesus. “What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?” (Mt 8:29) The demons know that their ultimate end is torment in the lake of fire. So why does Satan and his demons continue to resist God when they already know they can’t win?
I. Satan’s War With God
A. Satan’s Mission
The first thing I want us to understand is Satan’s Mission.
“I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” (Is 14:14 NIV)
Satan wants to be worshiped. Consider his temptation of Jesus.
“The devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” (Matthew 4:8-9)
The ‘god of this world’ (2 Cor 4:4) promised to give Jesus all the kingdoms of this world, if Jesus would bow down and worship him. Actually Satan was saying, “You don’t have to go to the cross to win. You can win right now. You can have the world right now, if only you will bow down and worship me.” Knowing this makes Revelation 11:15 even more important – “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” Jesus will reign, but not by bowing down to the Devil. Jesus will reign because He has submitted Himself to do His Father’s will. Psalm 2:8 records the Father saying to the Son – “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.”
When Satan tried to get Jesus to worship him, our Lord said – “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Matthew 4:10) I say – “Amen and amen!”
B. Satan’s Moment
Satan is on a mission and the day will come when he will have his moment. During the Tribulation Period Satan will give it everything he has to try to win the war and gain creation’s worship. Again we read from the book of Revelation-
Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 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 angels were cast out with him.
Scripture teaches us that Satan still has access to God. We learn from the book of Job us that Satan travels back and forth between heaven and earth, and that he has conversations with God, and as Peter states it in 1 Peter 5:8 – “your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.”
At one point during the Tribulation Period, Satan will be completely banished from heaven. He and his demons will fight against the archangel Michael and the angels of heaven. Satan will lose and be cast out into the earth. Notice what the Bible tells us about that day –
Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
C. Satan’s Man
The last-half of the Tribulation Period will be Satan’s greatest moment. He focus all of his energy upon this earth and do everything he can to deceive mankind into worshiping him. Notice the sequence of events that will occur.
1. The Rise of the Antichrist and His Covenant With Israel
One of the first things to happen during the Tribulation Period will be the coming of a world leader whom the Bible refers to as the Antichrist. One of the most significant activities of the Antichrist that will occur very early in his reign will be a peace treaty he will establish with the nation of Israel. This treaty will allow Israel to live in peace and to rebuild their temple in Jerusalem.
2. The Mortal Wound and Recovery
a. Gog and Magog
But though Israel will prosper under this treaty, much of the world will not. The Bible teaches us that there will be a growing opposition among several of the nations that surround Israel. This coalition of enemy nations will be led by Russia who will just before the middle of the Tribulation Period, launch an invasion against Israel. Russia will not succeed. The Bible says that God will rain down fire and brimstone and destroy 5/6 of their armies. Scripture says that it will take seven months to bury the dead.
b. Antichrist’s Mortal Wound
Something significant that will happen during this invasion will be the Antichrist receiving what scripture calls a ‘mortal wound.’
Revelation 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed…
Three times in chapter 13 there is a reference to the fact that the Antichrist will receive some kind of deadly wound.
c. Antichrist’s Resurrection
As the world is mourning the loss of its great leader, something amazing will happen. He will come back to life.
Revelation 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed…
3. World’s Worship of the Antichrist and Satan
a. The World’s Worship of Satan
During the time that the Antichrist is dead, something very important will happen. Satan will take complete control of him. I believe that the war in heaven and the war on earth will happen simultaneously and as Satan is cast out of heaven he enters into the Antichrist. Note what the Bible teaches us –
Revelation 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast…
Note, they will worship not only the beast but also the ‘dragon which gave power to the beast.’ Who is this dragon? It’s Satan. During this time period when the Antichrist is dead, Satan will take complete possession of him. This will cause him to become the evilest man the world has ever known.
b. The Worship of the Antichrist
…and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?
Note what they will say – “Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” In other words – “He is God. No one is greater than him.”
Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. (42 months = 3 ½ years or the last half of Tribulation)
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
i. The Demand to Worship His Image
Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
This is a strange event known as the ‘Abomination of Desolation.’ (see Dan 11:31; 12:11; Mt 24:15; Mk 13:14) What is the Abomination of Desolation? It’s really not that difficult to understand.
First of all, the word ‘abomination’ refers to something that is detestable. The Antichrist and the False Prophet will do something that is detestable.
The word ‘desolation’ refers to something that causes men to be stunned or appalled.
So let’s put these two thoughts together. The Abomination of Desolation is an event that is so detestable that it causes many to be horrified.
(I) What Will Be the Detestable Thing?
Scripture teaches us that the Antichrist will place within the Jewish Temple a statue or image of himself and demand the world to worship it.
(II) Who Will Be Horrified?
(A) The World Will Not Be Horrified
The Bible says that many in the world will be deceived and ‘wonder after him.’ 2 Thessalonians 2 teaches us that God will send men a ‘strong delusion’ so that they might believe the Antichrist’s lies and be damned.
Why would God do this? The Bible says that it’s because these same individuals have refused to believe God’s truth when they were given the chance. A person who refuses to believe God’s truth before the Tribulation will not have the opportunity to do so during the Tribulation. God will no longer speak to their hearts and thus they will gullibly believe Satan’s lies.
(B) The Nation of Israel Will Be Horrified
Though most of the world will not be horrified, there is one group of people who will be living at that time who will. This event will be the turning point in the spiritual life of the nation of Israel.
During the Tribulation Period, thousands, perhaps even millions of Jews will be saved and they will become the evangelists of the world. What will cause them to suddenly awaken and turn to Jesus Christ?
(1) The Grace of God
Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
(2) The Second Commandment
The second Commandment tells us to not make for ourselves graven images / idols, nor to worship them. (see Ex 20:4-5) When the Jews see the detestable image of the Antichrist standing in their Holy Place, they will know that this is not of God and they will begin to turn to God for their salvation.
ii.. The Demand to Receive His Mark
Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
We of course know that dreaded number is – 666. What will be so terrible about this mark?
Revelation 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
II. Why Would Satan Continue to Fight Against God When He Knows He Can’t Win?
So we find ourselves back to our original question. Why does Satan continue to resist God when it’s obvious that he can’t win? Perhaps the answer for us can be found in the book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
A. Sin is a Thousand Times More Powerful Than We Can Possibly Imagine
The Bible speaks of the ‘deceitfulness of sin.’ We read from the book of James – “every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” (see James 1:14) Deep within each of us are desires and cravings that the Bible often refers to as lust. Lust is an intense desire or craving for something.
Lucifer’s desire was to be worshiped. The Bible says that his heart was filled with pride. Did you know that the root meaning of the word pride is a desire to be exalted? When we struggle with pride we are actually struggling with the desire to be worshiped by our peers.
So intense are our desires that they can deceive us and cause us to do foolish things. How often does a Christian willfully sin against God because he or she is not able to resist a certain temptation?
B. Sin is a Thousand Times More Damaging Than We Can Possibly Imagine
But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Heb 3:13
The word ‘hardened’ means to be made stubborn and calloused. Thousands of years of resisting God hasn’t made Satan’s heart softer. It’s only made it harder. The Bible says that sin can sear our conscience with a hot iron. (1 Timothy 4:2) The desire to gratify his lusts has caused Satan to be blinded to the truth.
III. What Lessons Can We Learn From This?
If angels can fall, so can we. If angels can be deceived by their own desires and cravings, so can we. If angels can rebel against God, so can we. Therefore we need to do all that we can to keep ourselves strong in the Lord.
Hebrews 3:13 says that we should be seeking to encourage each other daily, while it is called today. The writer here gives a sense of urgency. Don’t play around with sin. Don’t think that you can play with fire and not get burned.
What’s the most dangerous sin a person can commit? It’s the first sin we commit that we do not deal with in a biblical manner. Anytime we knowingly sin against God and do not immediately seek God’s forgiveness, we are causing our hearts to become calloused in regards to spiritual things. If this pattern is allowed to go on long enough, we can one day find ourselves doing some pretty bizarre things and wondering how in the world we ever got there. The Bible says –
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
You and I have a privilege fallen angels have never had. You and I have the privilege of confessing our sins before God and to be cleansed by the blood of Christ.
"Seeds of Faith" 