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War in Heaven
Chapter Three
War In Heaven
and there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.
Here, then, is the third of 14 events at the seventh trumpet. And as with the first two events, we are still in heaven. Consider for a moment, war in heaven. Angel fighting angel. And while angels cannot die in this war, there is apparently a fate much worse than death for the losing army.
and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Kicked out of heaven. Oh! To be a fly on the wall, for to watch this incredible war. Michael and his army, herding Satan and his army into the heaven-hole, where they tumble to the earth.
he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Would that we could even comprehend war in heaven. We've only the old testament wars to go on. Wars usually involve territory and boundary...an invading army. One warring faction lives in one territory, and the other in a different territory. It would appear that Satan and his army's "place" was in heaven. Still; if both warring factions live in heaven, one has to wonder about heaven's landscape, and how it's inhabitants have settled the land.
Wars are fought with weapons of war...from sling and spear, to sword and buckler, to fighter jet and laser-guided missile. What, then, are the implements of this war in heaven? Fist-i-cuffs? Do they hurl harps at one another? And wars take time, the execution of strategies, and coordinated troop movement.
However long the war lasts; this third event finally brings humanity into the picture. Heretofore, everything has been occurring in heaven...including this war. But now, Satan and his angels are thrown out. The war is over, and the loser is cast into the earth.
John then hears the fourth event of the seventh trumpet. A loud voice in heaven, proclaiming the jubilant news that Satan has finally been cast out of heaven. And this loud voice rejoices, saying:
Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
And following his psalm of praise, the angel gives this ominous warning:
Woe to the inhabitants 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.
This is an epic moment...both in the scriptures, and in the history of humanity. The spiritual world has just come crashing down into the physical world. And what is even more intriguing; is that their wicked insertion into our world is in fact the very seed required, to spawn the beasts and spirits that rise up in the coming events.
Those ten remaining events get pretty intense. As we follow Satan and his army to the earth, we would do well to have a good command of what just happened in heaven.
1. When the seventh trumpet sounds, there rises a crescendo of great voices in heaven. There are the solemn declarations of the 24 elders. The temple is opened in heaven. The ark of his testament is seen.
2. A heavenly woman gives birth to a heavenly manchild. A dragon appears, wanting to devour the manchild at birth. The manchild is caught up to God, and to his throne. The heavenly woman flees to safe haven for 3 1/2 years.
3. War in heaven. Michael and his army defeat Satan and his army. Satan and his angels are cast into the earth.
4. A loud voice in heaven, praising the moment when Satan is cast out, and warning the earth that Satan is now among them.
Four down, and ten to go.
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