Walking through the book of Revelation

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world— he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And 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 brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” ~ Revelation 12:7-12

 

Over the summer at my church we have been walking through the book of Revelation Sunday by Sunday. The goal has been to dispel some of the strange modern interpretations of this heavenly vision given to St. John, the Apostle and Evangelist. What does this heavenly vision mean? How are we Christians to take this mysterious holy text, which God has given and preserved for His people?

 

Well, as I often say, the message of Revelation is no different than the message of the rest of Scripture. It shows us the real and ever-present threats that we face in this fallen world and as fallen humanity. However, it also shows us where are salvation lies - namely, in Christ Jesus our Savior.

 

In the verses above we hear of a heavenly battle between "Michael and his angels... and the dragon and his angels." I have always had a personal affinity for St. Michael (the Archangel of heavenly protection, and commander of God's angel army) after all my given name is Michael. I also was confirmed and married in a parish by the same name, St. Michael Lutheran Church.

 

The name Michael means "Who is like God?" It is a rhetorical question pointing to the obvious conclusion that there is no one like God. He alone is God - uncreated, holy, good, almighty, from before all creation, and self-sustaining. Although the devil - that ancient serpent, and dragon... the accuser of our brothers - wishes to deny us of our salvation and usurp the kingdom and power of God and the authority of Christ, he is defeated. He has lost the war! Alleluia! And this makes him angry.

 

He wants to take it out on humanity because we are the objects of God's steadfast love and faithfulness. Therefore, he rages against us, trying to tear us away from God, to destroy our faith, and to lead us into eternal ruin.

 

This is a good summary of all of Scripture. God made gracious promises all the way at the beginning to send a Savior by the "seed of the woman" (see Genesis 3:15), and behind the scenes the devil worked tirelessly to stop God's faithful Word from proving true. The devil at every moment of history was warring against the promises of God, and against God's faithful people in order to keep Christ from coming and redeeming God's people. And now that Christ has come, even now the devil is constantly working to lure us or drive us away from the blessings and salvation of God for us in Christ Jesus our Savior.

 

But notice, how can we - like St. Michael and his angels - defeat the dragon and his angels? How can we fend off all of his attacks, and even be on the offensive against him?

 

“And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” ~ Revelation 12:11

 

Christ has won the war for us! We gain the victory in our own lives as we stand firm in the grace of God for us in Christ, living in the testimony that Christ "has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and His innocent suffering and death." (Luther's Small Catechism, 2rd Article of the Apostles' Creed).

 

Christ, our crucified, resurrected, and ascended Lord and Savior is the reason that we can live free from the fear of the devil and his accusation and attacks. Though he may come at us to destroy us, God has the power, and He has given us the promise of resurrection unto glory, and life everlasting, through the blood of Christ Jesus.

 

The devil's time is short. He knows it, and he hates it, and he hates us for it. But God has given us His Word in Revelation and in the rest of Holy Scripture so that we would know it too, and love not our lives even unto death, but love and trust in the One who redeems from sin, death and hell - even Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, whose blood set us free to be people of God.

 

Living Forever, Now, 

Pastor Grannis, St. Paul Lutheran (LCMS), Waseca