The Last Days
| |||||||
|
| |||||
Lesson 49 | 12/07/25
Revelation 12:10-11 | Victory in Christ
After the 7th Trumpet sounded in heaven, there was a shout of victory announcing the final procession of our King and the coming of His Kingdom. And in connection with this Trumpet blast, God opens the windows of heaven to display His heavenly Throne, the plan of redemption, and the victory over the Dragon, all because of Jesus Christ. Last week we ended with the war in heaven between Michael and the Dragon, which resulted in Satan being cast down and confined to the earth. Bringing him one step closer to his final demise in the lake of fire. And again, just as there was praise in heaven from the 7th Trumpet, heaven erupts again in praise after they see Satan cast down. Let’s read Revelation 12:7-12.
Satan knows his time is short, especially once he sees the Church get raptured and the Tribulation begin, so in these last 7 years, he is doing everything he can to thwart the plan of God. Satan storms heaven and wages war against Michael and his angels, but he does not prevail and is cast down to the earth. This is a vision that God is showing the world following the 7th Trumpet blow, just before the mid-point of the Tribulation. The 7th Trumpet is ushering in the King and His Kingdom, so God plays the “movie” of redemption for everyone to see. And it starts by going all the way back to the beginning of time and leads up to the middle of the week. This war with Michael happened nearly 3 years ago, but I think God replaying it for all the world so they will know the demise of Satan, Ezek 28:18-19. This is God exposing the deceptions of the enemy.
Picture all of heaven and the earth watching this vision, kind of like a night at the movies with God, and when Michael defeats Satan and casts him to the earth, heaven, in real time at the mid-point of the Tribulation, erupts in praise as they are seeing this victory played back.
12:10) Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have become (ἐγένετο), because the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”
This is the same praise as we heard at the 7th Trumpet. Notice the similarities...
Revelation 11:15- Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become (ἐγένοντο) the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
I believe the 24 Elders are singing this praise, both in chapter 11 and in 12. Notice they say, “our” brethren. Whoever is speaking are not angels, they are Christians, they’re brethren. And now this praise from the 24 Elders shows us another step in the process of Jesus taking back His Kingdom saying, because the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
At the cross, Satan lost his access into the 3rd heaven, the heavenly dwelling of God. And now after this battle, Satan is cast down to the earth and no longer has any access into the heavenly realm, including the 2nd heaven, outer space, Rev 12:8. And it seems his control may be very limited because he is now confined to the earth, and maybe the earthly realm to some degree. This may be why he will give his power to the antichrist, Rev 13:1-2. Notice the title the 24 Elders give Satan, “the accuser of the brethren.”
So who is Satan accusing if he is not speaking directly to God? He is accusing the brethren by speaking to us, trying to deceive us into thinking we’re not worthy and no good. He uses guilt to try and condemn us and separate us from God. That’s Satan’s only move. He can’t steal our salvation, he can only guilt us into condemnation to the point we become ineffective for the Kingdom. So we have a choice when the accuser comes whispering in our ear... accept his words or plead the blood of Jesus. Notice the next verse 11...
12:11) And they (brethren) overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
This is our victory, νικάω... Notice the progression of our victory in Christ, past, present and future much like our complete salvation. We overcome by the blood of Jesus (past/Justification), by the word of our testimony, (present/Sanctification), we love not our lives even unto death (future/ Glorification). John 14:6- I AM the Way (Justification), the Truth (Sanctification), and the Life (Glorification)...
The Blood (Justification)
When the accuser tries to accuse us, the accusations of sin might even be true, but we have overcome by the blood of the Lamb. His blood cleanses us from all sin, 1 John 1:7-2:2; 5:4-5; The blood of Jesus and His victory on the cross gives us our victory... freedom from sin and access into the presence of God forever, Heb 10:19-23; 9:14; Eph 1:7; 2:13; 1 Peter 1:18-21; Col 1:14; Romans 3:25; 5:9. Satan tries to condemn our conscience and make us feel ashamed because a guilty conscience will keep us from coming boldly to the throne of Grace. But Jesus has His hand stretched out saying, “Come to me, your sins are forgiven,” but a guilty conscience will keep us bound. This is why confession is so powerful. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, Hebrews 10:23. Our confession brings us to the throne, into fellowship with God.
I love what Paul says in Romans 8:31-39. No angel or demon or any created thing can ever separate us from the love of God. Christ is the only Righteous Judge who has the authority to condemn, κατάκριμα- to intensely judge down, and that condemnation is set for a future judgement at the Great White Throne. But those who are in Christ will never be condemned, Romans 8:1. So when Satan comes to accuse us, we can have confidence to stand boldly and unashamed because of the blood of Jesus.
The Testimony (Sanctification)
The word testimony, μαρτυρία means witness. Our testimony is our witness of Jesus. Jesus has called all of us to bear witness of the Truth for Him, to be the Light of Jesus to the world, Luke 11:33-35; John 17:17-19; 2 Tim 2:10-22. But to be a witness of Jesus Christ, often times means you will suffer persecution... even unto death, 2 Timothy 1:8-9. The word “testimony” comes from the root word μαρτυς, which we get the word martyr. For a Christian, death is not the end. It is simply the pathway to eternal glory, which leads us to the final stage of Salvation, our Glorification...
The Death (Glorification)
Notice that last phrase in verse 11... they did not love their lives to the death, ἄχρι θανάτου- even as far as death. The book of Revelation speaks extensively of those Christians who are persecuted for the Testimony of Jesus Christ, Rev 1:9; 6:9; 11:7; 12:17; 20:4. Paul is such an inspiration with this. Not that he wanted to die, but he was willing to give everything, even his own life, for the sake of the Gospel, Acts 20:22-24; Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:1-23; Phil 1:19-23; 3:10; 2 Tim 1:8; 4:6-8. Not every Christian will die a martyr, but we are to live as though our lives are not our own. Jeus tells us to take up our cross daily and follow Him, Luke 9:23-25; John 12:25. Prioritize Jesus even over your own life.
God is well please with those who are willing to lay their life down as a witness for the name of Jesus... even unto physical death, Revelation 2:10-11; 2:13; Matt 5:11-12; Heb 11:35-38. But you might ask, how can death give us victory? For a Christian death is the pathway to eternal glory. Whether we are dying to self, dying to sin, or physically dying as a martyr, this type of sacrifice leads to eternal life with eternal glory in Christ, Romans 8:16-18; 2 Cor 4:4:16-18. We walk by faith and not by sight, 2 Cor 5:7-8.
For 2,000 years, millions of Christian martyrs have been standing on Revelation 12:11 and there are many who are still dying for the name of Jesus and even after the rapture this verse will be an assurance to the Tribulation Martyrs.
We overcome by... the blood of Jesus, the testimony of Jesus, and humbling ourselves to Him... even unto death. This is our victory in Him.
PREVIOUS LESSON 48 ← GO TO → NEXT LESSON 50
Satan knows his time is short, especially once he sees the Church get raptured and the Tribulation begin, so in these last 7 years, he is doing everything he can to thwart the plan of God. Satan storms heaven and wages war against Michael and his angels, but he does not prevail and is cast down to the earth. This is a vision that God is showing the world following the 7th Trumpet blow, just before the mid-point of the Tribulation. The 7th Trumpet is ushering in the King and His Kingdom, so God plays the “movie” of redemption for everyone to see. And it starts by going all the way back to the beginning of time and leads up to the middle of the week. This war with Michael happened nearly 3 years ago, but I think God replaying it for all the world so they will know the demise of Satan, Ezek 28:18-19. This is God exposing the deceptions of the enemy.
Picture all of heaven and the earth watching this vision, kind of like a night at the movies with God, and when Michael defeats Satan and casts him to the earth, heaven, in real time at the mid-point of the Tribulation, erupts in praise as they are seeing this victory played back.
12:10) Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have become (ἐγένετο), because the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”
This is the same praise as we heard at the 7th Trumpet. Notice the similarities...
Revelation 11:15- Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become (ἐγένοντο) the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
I believe the 24 Elders are singing this praise, both in chapter 11 and in 12. Notice they say, “our” brethren. Whoever is speaking are not angels, they are Christians, they’re brethren. And now this praise from the 24 Elders shows us another step in the process of Jesus taking back His Kingdom saying, because the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
At the cross, Satan lost his access into the 3rd heaven, the heavenly dwelling of God. And now after this battle, Satan is cast down to the earth and no longer has any access into the heavenly realm, including the 2nd heaven, outer space, Rev 12:8. And it seems his control may be very limited because he is now confined to the earth, and maybe the earthly realm to some degree. This may be why he will give his power to the antichrist, Rev 13:1-2. Notice the title the 24 Elders give Satan, “the accuser of the brethren.”
- “accuser” is κατηγορέω- κατα + ἀγορά- to speak down against in a public gathering
- root form- κατα + αγω= to lead or bring down
- This is Satan’s tactic, to lead and bring down by deception, by “trading,” in-dealings, Ezek 28:16
So who is Satan accusing if he is not speaking directly to God? He is accusing the brethren by speaking to us, trying to deceive us into thinking we’re not worthy and no good. He uses guilt to try and condemn us and separate us from God. That’s Satan’s only move. He can’t steal our salvation, he can only guilt us into condemnation to the point we become ineffective for the Kingdom. So we have a choice when the accuser comes whispering in our ear... accept his words or plead the blood of Jesus. Notice the next verse 11...
12:11) And they (brethren) overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
This is our victory, νικάω... Notice the progression of our victory in Christ, past, present and future much like our complete salvation. We overcome by the blood of Jesus (past/Justification), by the word of our testimony, (present/Sanctification), we love not our lives even unto death (future/ Glorification). John 14:6- I AM the Way (Justification), the Truth (Sanctification), and the Life (Glorification)...
The Blood (Justification)
When the accuser tries to accuse us, the accusations of sin might even be true, but we have overcome by the blood of the Lamb. His blood cleanses us from all sin, 1 John 1:7-2:2; 5:4-5; The blood of Jesus and His victory on the cross gives us our victory... freedom from sin and access into the presence of God forever, Heb 10:19-23; 9:14; Eph 1:7; 2:13; 1 Peter 1:18-21; Col 1:14; Romans 3:25; 5:9. Satan tries to condemn our conscience and make us feel ashamed because a guilty conscience will keep us from coming boldly to the throne of Grace. But Jesus has His hand stretched out saying, “Come to me, your sins are forgiven,” but a guilty conscience will keep us bound. This is why confession is so powerful. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, Hebrews 10:23. Our confession brings us to the throne, into fellowship with God.
I love what Paul says in Romans 8:31-39. No angel or demon or any created thing can ever separate us from the love of God. Christ is the only Righteous Judge who has the authority to condemn, κατάκριμα- to intensely judge down, and that condemnation is set for a future judgement at the Great White Throne. But those who are in Christ will never be condemned, Romans 8:1. So when Satan comes to accuse us, we can have confidence to stand boldly and unashamed because of the blood of Jesus.
The Testimony (Sanctification)
The word testimony, μαρτυρία means witness. Our testimony is our witness of Jesus. Jesus has called all of us to bear witness of the Truth for Him, to be the Light of Jesus to the world, Luke 11:33-35; John 17:17-19; 2 Tim 2:10-22. But to be a witness of Jesus Christ, often times means you will suffer persecution... even unto death, 2 Timothy 1:8-9. The word “testimony” comes from the root word μαρτυς, which we get the word martyr. For a Christian, death is not the end. It is simply the pathway to eternal glory, which leads us to the final stage of Salvation, our Glorification...
The Death (Glorification)
Notice that last phrase in verse 11... they did not love their lives to the death, ἄχρι θανάτου- even as far as death. The book of Revelation speaks extensively of those Christians who are persecuted for the Testimony of Jesus Christ, Rev 1:9; 6:9; 11:7; 12:17; 20:4. Paul is such an inspiration with this. Not that he wanted to die, but he was willing to give everything, even his own life, for the sake of the Gospel, Acts 20:22-24; Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:1-23; Phil 1:19-23; 3:10; 2 Tim 1:8; 4:6-8. Not every Christian will die a martyr, but we are to live as though our lives are not our own. Jeus tells us to take up our cross daily and follow Him, Luke 9:23-25; John 12:25. Prioritize Jesus even over your own life.
God is well please with those who are willing to lay their life down as a witness for the name of Jesus... even unto physical death, Revelation 2:10-11; 2:13; Matt 5:11-12; Heb 11:35-38. But you might ask, how can death give us victory? For a Christian death is the pathway to eternal glory. Whether we are dying to self, dying to sin, or physically dying as a martyr, this type of sacrifice leads to eternal life with eternal glory in Christ, Romans 8:16-18; 2 Cor 4:4:16-18. We walk by faith and not by sight, 2 Cor 5:7-8.
For 2,000 years, millions of Christian martyrs have been standing on Revelation 12:11 and there are many who are still dying for the name of Jesus and even after the rapture this verse will be an assurance to the Tribulation Martyrs.
We overcome by... the blood of Jesus, the testimony of Jesus, and humbling ourselves to Him... even unto death. This is our victory in Him.
PREVIOUS LESSON 48 ← GO TO → NEXT LESSON 50