Grace and peace in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Verse 18 of our Gospel reading tells us that Jesus saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Likewise, in Revelation 12: 7-12. Saint John represents Saint Michael and the holy angels fighting with Satan and his angels and expelling them from heaven. But the victory belongs to Jesus and his disciples share this victory.
Many commentators have interpreted this fall of Satan and his angels as something that happened shortly after the creation and before the fall of man. However, the evidence indicates that these verses do not refer to the original rebellion of the evil angels. In the book of Job, for example, Satan could still come into God's presence to accuse Job. In the context of Revelation chapter 12, the battle between the angels happened after the birth of Jesus Christ.
“And a great sign appeared in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. And being pregnant, she cried out in labor pains, and anguish to give birth. And another sign was seen in heaven; and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads seven diadems. And his tail dragged a third of the stars out of the sky and hurled them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was giving birth, in order to devour her child as soon as he was born. And she gave birth to a male child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron; and his son was caught up to God and to his throne. "
This woman symbolizes the church, the people of God. She has a crown of twelve stars for the twelve tribes of Israel. Her son is Jesus, the son of Mary, but in this context it is the Old Testament church, the people of Israel, who bring the Messiah into the world. The dragon represents Satan, the ancient evil serpent.
The victory of the Son was decreed in Genesis 3:15, the first promise of the Savior, and was completed on the cross. But the entire life of Christ, from his birth to his resurrection, was a victory over Satan. And his disciples share this victory.
From among the largest group of disciples who accompanied Jesus on his travels, he appointed seventy to prepare for him the way where the Lord was comparatively unknown. Jesus sent them two by two, for the purpose of companionship and mutual aid. The mission of the seventy was attended with great success and they returned with joy. They had cast out demons in the name of Jesus. All the demonic and dangerous powers that tried to harm the disciples of Jesus in their work of preaching the Gospel were subjected to them.
As Psalm 91 says, we have the protection of the good angels, also in the name of Jesus, the church on earth has power over the bad angels.
The dragon was defeated, but it still exists until the last day and will continue its war against Christians who continue in the Word of their Lord, who hold on to the Gospel of salvation through the redemption of Jesus. Through his instruments, the children of unbelief, he persecutes the church. But the church of God cannot be destroyed, even if all the powers of hell are placed against it; God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her, and that from the beginning.
Believers, born in Christ and with Christ, through the Word, through Baptism, would certainly be in great danger from Satan and his minions, were it not for the fact that, with Christ and in Christ, their souls are safe now on the throne of God, in the hands of the Lord.
Therefore, this is not the greatest cause for rejoicing, that demons submit to us in the name of Christ, but that the happiness of Christians is based on the fact that their names are inscribed in the heavens. "Be glad that your names have been inscribed in heaven." Because of his perfect life, suffering, death and resurrection, Jesus has given you the best gift, eternal life with Him in heaven.
“And I heard a great voice in heaven saying: Now has come salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ of his; because the accuser of our brothers has been struck down, who accused them before our God day and night. And they have overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of his testimony; and they have not loved their lives to death. "
All the devil's accusations, true and heavy as they would be in themselves, have lost their force in view of the fact that Christ's atonement has covered all these sins and their guilt, that the redemption he wrought has brought about a complete reconciliation with God. .
That is the glorious assurance of believers, who know that God has chosen them from the beginning for salvation. On that day we will gather with angels and archangels and the entire heavenly choir to sing “Holy, holy, holy, God of the universe. The heavens and the earth are full of your glory. "
May the peace that passes all understanding be with you. Amen.
Send Pastor David Ernst an email.
Welcome
