Revelation 12:7-12 – The accuser cast out of heaven

Here we are introduced to the cosmic war between the angels led by Michael, and the dragon and their angels. Michael of course is the archangel we can read about in Daniel 10. In this battle in the heavenly realm, the victory is decisive. Michael and his angels won hands down. And now the ancient serpent, called Satan or the devil, and his hosts of wicked angels were hurled down to earth. If there is anything we can make out of this cosmic war will be this: all of life’s moral and political struggles, all of life’s battle between justice and injustice, and between good and evil, are a reflection of the basic battle which has taken place in the spiritual realm.

Then John heard a song of praise sounded in heaven, giving the credit of the victory to the people of God on earth. It’s puzzling that the credit did not go to Michael and his angels but to the people of God. Why? For they have conquered him “…by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” Here we are told that what really secured the victory was the atoning work of Christ. His people share that victory as they affirm their faith in the Gospel, and as they bear witness to it through their word and deeds. Like Christ, they remain faithful to the truth even when death beckons.

After all, the dragon is the accuser of the brethren. He has been the one, and remains the one, hurling accusations at the believers of Christ. The readers of John knew this all too well. They were exposed to all kinds of accusations and lies said of them for their unwillingness to participate in the Emperor worship. They were even prepared to be martyred for their faith in Christ. They had overcome by not fearing even death. They knew that behind every accusing activity against them is the work of the accuser.

Here John also wants his readers to know the situation. The accuser had been cast down to earth. They could rejoice and celebrate the victory because the accuser no longer has a place in heaven. This is because the death of Jesus had cancelled out the charges he could otherwise bring against the people of God. However, we see that he would not admit defeat. John warned the church to anticipate the venomous attack of the dragon. He had been cast down to earth and will be releasing his worst attack because he knew his time is short. 

Christian life is challenging and we know that we are not fighting against flesh and blood. We are in fact fighting …against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. We put on the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is our sure-success armor for the ongoing spiritual battle. We have the victory in the Lord Jesus!