Revelation 12:7-17
Michael Defeats the Dragon
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7Then a war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.
8But the dragon was not strong enough, and no longer was any place found in heaven for him and his angels.
9And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
10And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down—he who accuses them day and night before our God.
11They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death.
12Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea; with great fury the devil has come down to you, knowing he has only a short time.”
13And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.
14But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle to fly from the presence of the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she was nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.
15Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river to overtake the woman and sweep her away in the torrent.
16But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth to swallow up the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.
17And the dragon was enraged at the woman and went to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
War arises in heaven. Michael and his angels fight the dragon, and the dragon and its angels fight back, but they are defeated and there is no longer any place for them in heaven.
The great dragon is thrown down—the ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. A loud voice announces that salvation, power, the kingdom of God, and the authority of His Christ have come because the accuser of the brothers has been thrown down.
The voice says that the believers conquered by the Lamb's blood and the word of their testimony, and did not cling to life at the cost of faithfulness. Heaven is called to rejoice. But earth and sea receive a woe: the devil has come down in fury, knowing his time is short.
The dragon pursues the woman, but she receives two eagle's wings to fly to her wilderness place. There she is nourished for a time, times, and half a time. The serpent pours a river from its mouth to sweep her away; the earth opens and swallows it. Enraged, the dragon goes to make war on her other children, who keep God's commands and hold to Jesus' testimony.
The accuser has been thrown down, yet the conflict on earth is fierce. The believers' victory rests on the Lamb's blood, and they testify to Him even at the cost of their lives. The dragon can threaten and persecute; it cannot undo the saving work of Christ. His people have reason to endure because their enemy's fury is not the final authority.
Questions
1 Who fights the dragon?
AnswerMichael and his angels fight it. The dragon is powerful enough to wage war but not powerful enough to keep its place in heaven.
2 What names are given to the dragon?
AnswerIt is called the ancient serpent, the devil, Satan, and the deceiver of the whole world. The names identify its activity as accusation and deception.
3 How do the brothers and sisters conquer?
AnswerThey conquer by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, refusing to love their lives even unto death. Their victory is faithful witness, not imitation of the dragon's violence.
4 Whom does the dragon pursue afterward?
AnswerIt pursues the woman and then makes war on the rest of her offspring who keep God's commandments and hold to Jesus' testimony. Faithfulness remains costly after the dragon is cast down.
What This Means for Us
When the memory of real sin leaves you feeling beyond forgiveness, confess it to God and rest your hope on Christ's blood. We do not overcome accusation by pretending to have done nothing wrong. Jesus' sacrifice is our answer. Let that confidence strengthen honest testimony about Him, even when others reject it.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, Your blood is our hope against accusation. Forgive our sins, strengthen our testimony, and keep us faithful when following You is costly. Amen.