The War Christmas Declares - Revelation 12:7-11

Typically when we think of Christmas, we think

of peace and joy. We think of family time. We

don't typically think of battle. We don't typically

think of war. We don't normally think of spiritual

and... cosmic conflict between forces of God

and forces of evil. Our text today presents us

with a grand and glorious battle. And it is a

battle that Christmas itself declares to the

people of God. we have seen time and time again,

as we've considered Revelation 12, that the incarnation

and the work of Christ in the Gospel, His resurrection,

His ascension, His exaltation to the right hand

of God, it is no passive act. It is an act of

war in which He is seeking to accomplish and

bring about His glorious ends for the world which

the devil sought to derail early on in creation

and even before the created world when he fell.

So today, we're going to consider this war that

verses 7 through 11 speak of. We'll do this in

three ways. We'll consider the war which defeats.

or overcomes the devil or the dragon. We'll see

this in verses 7 -9. And then we'll consider

the Lamb's victory, which is proclaimed. We see

this in verse 10, where there's a shift, a change.

Following the casting out of the dragon, we see

this loud proclamation, this hymn of victory.

where we read, Then I heard a loud voice in heaven.

So we'll consider the victory of the Lamb that

is proclaimed in heaven. And then we'll also

consider the saints' participation in the Lamb's

victory. We see this in verse 11, where we read

these words, And they overcame him because of

the blood of the Lamb. and because of the word

of their testimony. And they did not love their

life, even when faced with death. So beginning

with the first, the war which defeats the dragon.

In verse 7 up to verse 9, we see this battle

and conflict taking place. Something that we've

alluded to, we've discussed, and we've already

interacted with, at various times throughout

this study. But today, we're going to consider

it in detail. We're going to seek to get clarity

on the nature of this war, the nature of this

battle, and the nature of Christ's victory over

the devil and what this means. What does it mean

that Christ is victorious? John using this heavenly

language, this symbolic language to portray and

communicate these realities. Now, we also have

seen that John is using apocalyptic language.

Revelation is apocalyptic literature. Therefore,

we have to understand its meaning in that context

as apocalyptic literature. So as we talk about

this war, we should consider it as this, the

symbolic heavenly reality that expresses the

historic redemptive work of Christ in the gospel.

This heavenly war is communicating The realities

of Christ's work in the gospel in his birth,

his life, his death, his resurrection, his ascension,

and ultimately his enthronement at the Father's

right hand. Now, if we're going to understand

this war, we have to understand the players in

it. We have to understand who the war was waged

against. Notice in verse 7, and there was a war

in heaven. Michael and his angels waging war

with the dragon. So who is the antagonist in

this battle? The dragon. And who is the dragon?

The devil. Satan. He's given several different

names in this text. He's referred to as the dragon,

the great dragon, the serpent of old, referring

back to Genesis chapter 3. And his work in the

Genesis 3 · chapter mention

fall. And his work in bringing condemnation into

the world. And showing the fallibility and the

sinfulness and the sinful inclinations of men.

And ultimately in the conflict that expressed

itself throughout the ages leading up to the

coming of Christ. And we see he's called the

devil. And Satan who deceives the whole world.

This is the arch enemy. Of God. We've seen this

and we understand this. But John wants us to

be clear who he is talking about. He is talking

about the one that opposes God's people. And

he always has opposed God's people. He is the

one that war is being waged against. The devil

did not initiate this in verses 7 -9. Michael

initiates this battle. Michael initiates this

war. The devil is the adversary that is being

warred against by the angelic forces of God.

Now, who is it that is initiating and leading

the charge in this battle that John describes

for us? It is Michael. the archangel. Now we

know some about Michael throughout the scripture.

He seems to have a place of militaristic stature

and leadership among the angelic forces, the

heavenly hosts of God. In Daniel chapter 10,

Daniel 10 · chapter mention

it is said of Michael that speaking to Daniel,

he is your Prince. Meaning that Michael is the

angel of God's covenant people. Daniel, yes too,

but all of God's covenant people. It seems as

though he is the great protector and the great

warrior with regards to the spiritual forces

and the angelic hosts on behalf of God's people.

So in this In this story that John is putting

forth, in these terms, in this language, Michael

is the one waging war against the dragon, Satan.

Now, what is the outcome of this battle that

John is describing? Well, it is the defeat and

the downfall of Satan himself, the dragon. And

we know this because he says this in various

ways in the text. He first says, they were not

strong enough. He says this in verse 8. And then

he says this, there was no longer a place found

for them in heaven. Meaning, there was no more

room for the devil. There was no more room for

the dragon. But he also goes on and describes

it further. He says, the dragon was thrown down.

And then he says, he was thrown down to the earth

and his angels were thrown down with him. Three

times in verse 9, this idea of Satan being thrown

down is repeated. So what is the outcome of this

heavenly symbolic battle that John is... putting

forth for us to look at. The devil is defeated.

The devil is overcome. The devil is conquered.

But it's not put forward in terms of destruction.

That's important for us to understand. He's not

presenting it as though the devil is obliterated.

The dragon is not just destroyed. He is... Cast

out. In a sense, he is exiled. He experiences

expulsion and removal from the presence of God.

And this is how he's presenting it to us. He's

not destroyed. He's cast out. He's removed. He

loses his place as John presents it. He's presenting

it as the devil being ejected. From the divine

court of God, in a sense. Now, this brings us

to the Lamb's victory, which is proclaimed in

verse 10. We read this, Then 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

brethren has been thrown down. He who accuses

them before our God day and night. Now John is

continuing the picture. He's continuing the imagery.

What is the result of the dragon being ejected

from heaven? Press on in the image. It is heaven

itself manifesting the victory that has taken

place. It is heaven itself declaring the downfall

and the defeat of the great dragon. Why? Because

of the exaltation and the lifting up and the

victory of the lamb, the male child that was

caught up to God who accomplished his work successfully.

and victoriously. He's continuing the picture.

But he uses this language that clearly communicates

the fact that he wants us to understand that

it is the historical accomplishment of Christ's

work which brings about the defeat of the dragon.

Notice in verse 10, he says this, now the salvation

and the power and the kingdom, meaning it's taken

place. Then he says this, his Christ have come.

It has happened. It has occurred. It has taken

place in time and history. There is a historic,

redemptive element that John is pushing in this,

and there's a reason for that, brothers and sisters.

He wants us to know that the accomplished work

of Christ, which has taken place in time, in

history, is that which has brought about this

great victory. He wants us to think back to verse

5. And she gave birth to a son, a male child

who was to rule all the nations with a rod of

iron, and her child was caught up to God and

to his throne. That's a statement about the work

of the Lord Jesus. When it says that he was caught

up to God and his throne, it's talking about

the fact that Christ was born. Of a woman. That

Christ lived perfectly. Unto the law of God.

And he obtained righteousness. As a result of

his obedience to the law of God. That he completed.

His atoning work. On the cross. That he rose

from the dead. And he conquered the grave. That

proves and evidences. The success and victory

of all his other work. That he appeared to the

disciples. For a period. And then he ascends

to the Father's right hand and he is enthroned

and he rules. The Messiah's kingdom, the Messiah's

redemption, the Messiah's work has occurred.

It's not something that is being waited for.

It's not something that is yet to come. It has

definitively taken place in this. is what brings

about the downfall and the defeat of the dragon.

John wants us to understand this. The downfall

of the devil is actually a sign that Christ's

work has been accomplished. The fact that the

devil has been... If we think about Revelation

12. The fact that the dragon is ejected is a

sign of what? That the male child is caught up

to God. The fact that Christ is ascended and

that Christ is exalted and that Christ is ruling

and reigning, that Christ is authoritatively

on the throne, the fact that the Messiah is ruling

and reigning over God's people, that is... What

brings about the defeat? And the defeat of the

devil, the ejection of the devil, is a sign that

Christ's work has happened and has taken place.

This is in accord with all of Jesus' teaching

on this subject. We can think about John chapter

John 12 · chapter mention

12. And I'll turn there and read that briefly.

John 12, we'll start reading in verse 29. So

the crowd of people who stood by and heard it

were saying that it had thundered. Others were

saying an angel had spoken to him. Jesus answered

and said, This voice has not come for my sake,

but for your sakes. Now listen to what he says.

Now judgment is upon this world. Now the ruler...

Of this world will be cast out. And I. If I am

lifted up from the earth. Will draw all men to

myself. Christ is speaking of his death. And

his crucifixion. And his redemptive work. And

what is it that casts out the devil. That does

away with his authority. That defeats him in

this context. It is Christ being lifted up. It

is Christ being exalted. It is Christ's work.

we could also look at Luke chapter 10, verse

Luke 10:18

18, which says this. Starting in verse 17, the

70 returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the

demons are subject to us in your name. And he

said to them, I was watching Satan fall from

heaven like lightning. As the disciples are going

out and the preaching of the gospel is taking

place, as the gospel is proclaimed, what does

Jesus say he's watching, he's observing? That

the devil is falling like lightning. He's being

cast out. He's being ejected. There's no place

for him. He's being removed. And thrown down

in a sense. We could look at 1 John 3 .8. 1 John

3 .8 says this. And the one who practices sin

is of the devil. For the devil is sin from the

beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose.

Meaning the Messiah came. Christ was born. Christ

lived. Christ died. Christ rose. Christ ascended.

Christ was enthroned. The gospel came about for

this purpose. To destroy the works of the devil.

Christ came. That the devil might be defeated.

That the devil might be conquered and overcame.

And it's the work of the gospel. and the arrival

of the Messianic kingdom, which does this. Now,

what exactly is the nature of this battle? Is

this talking about sword fights and fist fights

among the angelic forces? Remember John's language.

Remember how he is communicating the meaning

to the people through symbolic languages, through

signs, through figurative stories. He is communicating

grand and glorious things that he has seen. He

is communicating that a great shift has taken

place in the cosmos as a result of Christ's work.

that there is a real change that comes about

with regards to the devil before God and God's

treatment of his covenant people because of the

Lord Jesus Christ and his work. But what is the

nature of this conflict, this victory of Christ,

we could say, that is expressed in these terms?

Well, I say it's not militaristic. at all. It's

actually judicial. It's actually positional.

It's actually spiritual in nature, brothers and

sisters. We can understand this first by grasping

the identity in the primary work of the devil.

What does John say in Revelation 12? He says

this. 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 brethren has

been thrown down. That's who and what Satan does.

He brings accusations of guilt against the people

of God. And then he repeats it again. He who

accuses them before our God day and night. Meaning,

it's perpetual, brothers and sisters. It is incessant.

It does not stop. He never rests his case with

regards to accusations against the people of

God. This is who the devil is and this is what

he does. We could say that the devil has a ministry

of... prosecution against God's covenant people.

That is the core of his work, and we see it evidenced

so clearly throughout the Bible. We see it evidenced

so clearly, especially throughout the Old Testament

and prior to the finished work of the Lord Jesus

Christ. Let's look at a couple examples. That

will help us grasp the devil's prosecutory work

against the people of God. Let's look at Job

Job 1 · chapter mention

chapter 1. We all know this. In Job 1, starting

in verse 6, we hear this. Now there was a day

when the sons of God came to present themselves.

Before the Lord. And Satan also came among them.

The Lord said to Satan. From where do you come?

Then Satan answered the Lord and said. From roaming

about on the earth. Walking around it. And walking

around on it. The Lord said to Satan. Have you

considered my servant Job? For there is no one

like him. On the earth. A blameless. An upright

man. Fearing God and turning away from evil.

Then Satan answered the Lord. And listen to his

words. At their heart is accusation. At their

heart is condemnation. Then Satan answered the

Lord. Does Job fear God for nothing? Doesn't

he just obey you because of what he gets from

you? Doesn't he just obey you because of the

good that you give him? Because of the benefits

that come as a result of being faithful? Have

you not made a hedge about him and his house

and all that he has on every side? Have you not

blessed the work of his hands and his possessions

have increased in the land? But put forth your

hand now and touch all that he has. He will surely

curse you to your face. Then the Lord said to

Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power.

Only do not put forth your hand on him. So Satan

departed from the presence of the Lord. What

does he do? He goes out and enacts all of these

things. He attacks Job. He strips him of all

his blessings. He takes away all the good things

that God has given. Brothers and sisters, this

is the capacity of the evil one. To accuse the

people of God before the throne of God. And we

think about Job. It was an open case in some

ways. It was a pending case. Because there was

no definitive redemption that had taken place

yet. There was still guilt lingering that had

not been paid for yet. Now, we could also look

at Job chapter 2 and find the exact same evidence

Job 2 · chapter mention

and truth that we find in Job chapter 1. But

Job 1 · chapter mention

let's turn to Zechariah chapter 3. We read the

Zechariah 3 · chapter mention

same thing. Starting in verse 1, Then he showed

me Joshua. the high priest standing before the

angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his

right hand to accuse him. What is the devil doing?

What capacity and what work is he carrying out

at the throne of God? Accusation. To remind the

Lord of their guilt, their impurity. Their unholiness,

their failure, their sin. And here's what we

read. The Lord said to Satan, The Lord rebuke

you, Satan. Indeed, the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem

rebuke you. Is this not a bran plucked from the

fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments

and standing before the angel. I'm sure the devil's,

look at his dirty, terrible, nasty clothes. They're

filthy. And here's what we read. Then I said,

let them put a clean turban on his head. So they

put a clean turban on his head and clothed him

with garments while the angel of the Lord was

standing by. And the angel of the Lord admonished

Joshua, saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts,

if you will walk in my ways and if you will perform

my service. Then you will also govern my house

and also have charge of my courts. And I will

grant you free access among those who are standing

here. The Lord provides robes of righteousness

for Joshua, the angel of the Lord does. And that

is the basis for his faithfulness to Joshua,

the high priest. So he disregards the accusations

of the devil. Based on the fact that righteous

robes would be provided. Would be given to Joshua.

But the devil is accusing him all the while.

Now, we can also turn to Jude chapter 1 verse

Jude 1:9

9. A text that... Is typically overlooked and

never touched on. And it is a mysterious text.

We don't know a lot about it. We don't understand

everything about this text. But we do know this.

The devil is disputing with Michael. He is arguing

with Michael about the covenant people of God.

We read this in Jude chapter 1 verse 9. But Michael,

Jude 1:9

the archangel, when he disputed with the devil

and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare

pronounce against him a railing judgment, but

said, The Lord rebuke you. What is the devil

doing? What is the devil doing? He's arguing,

disputing, and accusing God based on Moses' failures.

Based on Moses' sin. Why could Moses not go into

the promised land, brothers and sisters? You

don't think that the devil brought that up? You

don't think the devil didn't bring up the fact

that Moses killed a man? The devil is disputing

the body of Moses. He is looking to God. Say,

this is not right. This is unholy. This is unjust.

How can you do these things? How can you bless

and have your hand upon this man? How can you

use this man, even after his death, as an example

for the Israelites? Well, we know the answer

to that. Because God's grace. Because of God's

covenant with His people. Because of His mercy.

Because of... Now, there's one more example I

want to show. And this one is very, very helpful

in our understanding of this. This example is

Luke chapter 22, starting in verse 31. We read

Luke 22 · chapter mention

this, starting in verse 31. Simon, Simon, behold,

Satan has demanded permission. To sift you like

wheat. But I have prayed for you. That your faith

may not fail. And you when once you have turned

again. Strengthen your brothers. What is the

Lord Jesus Christ referring to here? The reality

that Peter would fall. That he would actually

deny the Lord Jesus Christ. Not once. Not twice,

but three times. The devil sifted Peter and he

demanded that God allow him to sift Peter. Peter

had his issues, didn't he, brothers and sisters?

Peter was always the one speaking out of turn

and speaking without thinking, but Peter has...

an advocate. Peter has somebody more powerful

than the devil in his sifting. Peter has the

Son of God who took on flesh, interceding for

him, praying for him that he would be restored

even after the devil tempted him and he was successful.

Christ has the victory in the end in Peter's

life. Brothers and sisters, what is the work

of the devil? It is to accuse God's people and

to bring up the guilt of God's people and to

bring up condemnation and accusations. To slander

them and to slander the name of Christ in and

through it. The devil's accusations are built

on guilt. On the demands of the law, the holiness

of God, the justice of God. But brothers and

sisters, what do we see in Revelation 12? That

Christ is born. That Christ lives. That Christ

dies. That Christ raises. That Christ ascends.

That Christ is enthroned. And what takes place

then? His accusations fall flat. Because he no

longer has credible grounds because the people

of God have had their Savior die for them. The

people of God have had their Savior, their Messiah,

raised for their justification. The demands of

the law are met. Justice and mercy came together

in the cross and justice is satisfied and mercy

is dealt out to the people of God. Their sins

are dealt with in the death of Christ and their

righteousness is provided in his life and in

his resurrection, brothers and sisters. The devil

has lost his position. The devil has lost his

ability and his credibility to bring accusations

against those in Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ has

come. Redemption has taken place. And the devil's

judicial, legal accusations against the people

of God are not credible. Because they are in

Christ. The accomplished work of Christ has destroyed

the devil's accusatory powers against the people

of God. Now, we see all throughout the New Testament

that the blindness the devil inflicts on the

unbelieving, the gospel, breaks in with the rays

of truth in Christ in the face of the gospel.

and illuminates their hearts and minds, and saves

sinners by regenerating them. God lifts the blindness.

We see that his afflictions are actually made

to work for the good of God's people in 2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 12 · chapter mention

chapter 12, where Paul has a thorn in his flesh.

The devil did not intend that for good, brothers

and sisters, but God. used it for Paul's good.

That he might experience the real power of God

in his weakness. That he might rely on the Lord

and the Spirit of God more and more in his life.

The dominion and rule of the devil in the believer's

life has been broken because they have been transferred

from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of

the beloved Son, Colossians chapter 1. Sin, which

Colossians 1 · chapter mention

the devil so thoroughly works through in the

life of a person, is no longer the master, is

no longer the king of the believer's heart. Satan's

dominion has been broken. Those who were sons

of wrath and sons of disobedience, those who

are children of wrath and born into wrath. Those

who walked according to the course of this world

as the prince of the power of the air rules over

them through the lusts of the flesh and the lusts

of the mind. Brothers and sisters, those same

people, when they are brought into a saving union

with the Lord Jesus Christ, what happens? They

become sons and daughters of God. They are given

every privilege and every right and every glorious

promise of the gospel. And what do we find? That

even now, if the devil makes accusations against

the people of God before the throne of God, what

takes place? The people of God have a mediator.

Yes, his accusations may still be incessant and

perpetual, but brothers and sisters, Christ's

mediation and Christ's advocacy is ongoing, perfect,

and perpetual. When he brings up the accusations,

what does Christ do? He stands as their advocate.

The Father looks at him and he is pleased with

the advocate. He is pleased with the mediator,

not the person. He looks to the righteousness

of Christ and the completed work that Christ

has accomplished in every single person. in Christ

by faith, has an advocate with the Father. They

cannot be condemned, brothers and sisters. There

is therefore now no condemnation for those who

are in Christ. Now, John goes on and explains

this victory a little bit more in verse 11. And

this is where we come to the saints' participation.

In the Lamb's victory. And this is important.

Verse 11 says this. And they overcame him. Because

of the blood of the Lamb. And because of the

word of their testimony. And they did not love

their life. Even when faced with death. John

goes on. To help us understand a little bit more

about what it means that Christ has been victorious.

And what it means for the people of God to triumph.

And to win. And to be victorious themselves.

He tells us three things. He tells us before

these that they have triumphed. So it's not something

that's potential. It's something that has taken

place just as Christ has been enthroned. He says

in verse 11, And they overcame him. Meaning the

evil one. The dragon. Satan. So those in Christ.

Those whom Christ shed his blood for. Those who

are in a saving union with the Lord Jesus Christ.

by faith and repentance. Brothers and sisters,

you have overcome. You are victorious based on

the completed, objective, finished work of the

Lord Jesus Christ. It's not talking about a future

potential victory. It's talking about those who

are in Christ. Those who believe in Christ that

have overcome. This is the only way for a person

to ultimately be victorious in this life and

the next. People are looking for victory in all

kinds of ways, brothers and sisters. We see this

throughout the world. We see this throughout

the culture. We see this in society over and

over again. What are people trying to do? They're

trying to be victorious in this life. Why do

they slave at work? Why do they give everything

for money and finances? Why do they sacrifice

everything for influence and power in the world?

Why are they willing to do anything and everything

to get ahead? Because they want to succeed. They

want to be victorious over the struggles, the

difficulties, the hardships, over the lack of

influence, over the appearance or the fear of

man, whatever it might be. Men in the world are

always striving to be victorious. But here's

the problem. No matter how victorious an unbelieving

man is in this life, he will always be conquered

at death. I don't care how successful you are

in this life. I don't care how popular you are

in this life. I don't care how strong or fit

you are in this life. How much future you have

left. I don't care how much money you make. If

you don't know Jesus Christ, you will fail at

the end of your life because you will die and

you will experience judgment. The only way that

you will succeed and you will be victorious is

by being found in Christ and to have His blood

cover you. And the only way that happens is for

you to turn from your sins and to trust in the

Son of God who took on flesh and dwelt among

us, who lived a perfect life, who raised from

the dead, who conquered the grave, and who ascended

to the Father's right hand. If you are in Him,

you will share in His victory. If you are in

him, you have already triumphed over the world

and every enemy that is against you. Now, John

is clear that this victory, this triumph that

the people of God partake in is a bit paradoxical.

Listen to what he says. He says this. At the

end of verse 11. Because of the word of their

testimony. And they did not love their life.

Even when faced with death. We have to do away.

With our worldly measures. And ideas. Of what

victory as the church of Jesus Christ is. We

have to do away with the carnal. definitions

of what it means for the church to win, for the

church to succeed, for the church to be triumphant

in this world. It is not as the world says. Victory

for the church is not conquering kingdoms and

conquering nations and conquering empires and

conquering powers. What does John say victory

in the gospel is? Suffering well in the face

of hardship. Even to the point where you are

willing to be martyred and to die for your faith.

That is gospel triumph. That is perseverance

in the dragon's face and entering into glory

and power and authority and the presence of your

Savior. Brothers and sisters, That is victory

for the church in this age. That is victory in

your life. We can't forget that though the devil

is defeated, brothers and sisters, he is not

destroyed. He is active. He is present. He is

working. He is... He is fighting. He is strategizing.

And though his accusations fall flat in the ears

of God, speaking anthropomorphically, he can

still come to you and bring accusations to your

heart. He can still bring about doubt and fear

and anxiety. And sin. And struggle. In your life.

What do you do when that takes place? Where do

you go? What do you look to? The blood of the

Lamb. You look to the work of God in your life

as he works in your life. The word of your testimony.

You faithfully bear witness. to His grace and

His mercy and His salvation as He works in you.

You faithfully confess and profess the Word of

God in your life. You press on. When those accusations

rise in your mind, in your heart, look to the

righteousness of Christ. Look to the completed

work of the Messiah. When you're tempted to think,

I'm no good. God can't love me. I'm under His

wrath and under His judgment. Brothers and sisters,

look to the atoning death of the cross. When

you think that your righteousness actually matters

for your standing before God, or that your righteousness,

your so -called righteousness, condemns you before

God, where do you look? To the justifying life

and resurrection of the Son of God. When the

accuser steps up to confront you in your heart,

look to your great and mighty advocate that is

at the right hand of the Father.