The Seven Personages: Michael
I. Revelation 12:7-17
A. Satan, defeated in a quick victory over the Christ, tries to carry the battle to heaven.
1. Satan could not get a hold on Jesus - John 14:30
B. But he now learns the hard way that his defeat has sealed him from heaven.
II. Michael, the archangel
A. His name means “Who is like God?”.
B. Other mentions of Michael
1. Dan 10:13 - One of the chief princes (angels)
2. Dan 10:20-21 - He is the prince of Israel
3. Dan 12:1 - The great prince who stand guard over Israel
4. Jude 9 - Says Michael disputed with Satan over the body of Moses
5. I Thess 4:16 - mentions an archangel, though he isn’t named.
III. The Dragon is described in detail
A. He is the serpent of old. A reference to the serpent in the garden of Eden - Gen. 3
B. He is called the Devil, which means accuser, slanderer, or one who maligns.
C. Satan means an adversary, an opponent, an antagonist, or an enemy - Zech 3:1-2
D. Satan’s power is in deception
1. He deceived Eve in the garden - I Tim 2:14
2. Rev 12:9 - He deceives the whole world
E. At one time, Satan had access to heaven
1. Job 1:6-12 - Satan accuses Job in God’s presence.
IV. The actual war has brought a great variance of interpretations
A. We should note that the time is after Christ’s ascension and before the great persecution of the church
B. This is a continuation of the on-going battle between God and Satan. Satan is losing ground.
C. When the seventy went out and discovered they had power over demons, Jesus said he saw the fall of Satan - Luke 10:17-18
D. Do you recall the question the demons asked Jesus? - Matt 8:29
1. It could be a reference to the final judgment, but it could be a nearer event.
2. II Pet 2:4 - They are now bound in torments, awaiting judgment
E. Satan is a strong man, but Jesus is stronger and has come to plunder Satan’s stronghold - Luke 11:18-22
1. As prophesied by Isaiah - Isa 53:12
F. Satan would be cast out from his position - John 12:31, 16:11
G. Jesus, through his resurrection, took away Satan’s power - Heb 2:14
1. He despoiled Satan - Col 2:14-15
2. Jesus, not Satan, now holds the keys to death and hades - Rev 1:17-18
V. He turns his attention to the church, but God has shielded his people from harm
A. The victory is not Christ alone, but it is also for his followers as well.
1. They overcome Satan through the blood of Christ
2. And through their testimony (confession)
a. Rom 10:9-10 - Saved by confessing Christ
b. Heb 10:23 - Holding firm to the confession of hope
3. While all may not be called upon to die for their faith, all are willing to lay down their lives if necessary.
B. Satan could not defeat Christ, so he has turned his wrath on Christ’s followers
1. His defeat is assured and seen in his inability to gain a foothold in heaven
2. It is a cause of great rejoicing, but the end is not yet and the enraged beast will cause much misery.
a. The earth and the sea represent the great mass of humanity who will suffer under Satan’s wrath
3. John 15:20 - God’s people would be persecuted.
C. God’s people are shielded from total harm - I Pet 1:4-6
1. Often, God’s people are said to be protected by eagles
a. Israel’s rescue from Egypt - Ex 19:4
b. God’s care for His people - Deut 32:9-11
c. Protected like chick’s under a mother’s wing - Ps 36:7
d. Strengthen and born on eagle wings - Isa 40:31
2. The protection would be for a short, indefinite time (time, times, and half time = 3 ½ years)
a. Col 3:3 - Our lives are hidden with Christ
b. Eph 2:6 - He has born us up.
D. Satan’s attack is seen as a flooding river
1. The Assyrian hosts were seen as a rising flood, threatening Judah - Isa 8:5-8
2. Times of trouble is seen as passing through a flood - Isa 43:2
3. God will protect us from the flood - Ps 32:6-7
E. The earth helps by swallowing the flood
1. Satan’s power is in deception, lies, temptations, and false religions. With these he tried to overflow the church and carry it away.
2. Instead, the lies and deceptions are swallowed by the mass of humanity
a. To the world, this is an incidental
b. I Pet 4:1-5 - We are not caught up in worldliness, even though most are.
c. This causes a separation between God’s people and the lost in the world - John 15:19
d. They reject us as we reject them - II Cor 2:17
3. It is much like Israel in Egypt. The Egyptian disdain for foreigners kept the people from being swallowed up into an alien nation.
a. The world’s disdain for righteousness is helping to keep God’s people pure
b. Phil 2:15 - righteous in the midst of wicked
VI. Satan is now furious
A. He was unable to stop the Savior from His work in the world
B. He cannot attack heaven
C. He could overwhelm the early church
D. Now he is focused on the descendants of the early church
1. Jesus is the first among many brethren - Rom 8:29
E. Satan is looking for victims - I Pet 5:8-11
VII. Will you come out from the world and stand with the brethren against Satan?