What's Next? Revelation Series With Skip HeitzigSample

Satan's Global Conflict

Path
The Bible reveals the startling truth about Satan: he is real, he has access to heaven, and he is not in charge of hell, nor will he ever be. There are two major themes in Revelation 12: war in heaven and wrath on earth. In considering them, we learn a few character traits about the Devil:

Points
Satan Is Persistent (vv. 7-12)

• In the future, heaven will be a war zone. Satan fell from heaven and failed to destroy God's Messiah (see Revelation 12:4), but he will try once again during the tribulation to conquer heaven and thwart God's plans.
• Satan doesn't give up easily. He wants to create as much chaos and destroy as many lives as he can--like a "roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8).
• When God said, "Have you considered My servant Job?" (Job 1:8), He acknowledged that Satan had been watching Job, looking for weaknesses.
• One of Satan's biggest lies is that he is the evil opposite of righteous God. God does not fight battles; He wins them. Satan will fight a losing battle against God's angels--particularly Michael, an archangel associated with Israel's protection (see v. 7).

Satan Is Perverse (vv. 9-10)

• Dragon (a fierce tyrant)
• Serpent of old (his subtle treachery)
• Devil (slanderer, gossip)
• Satan (adversary, enemy)
• Deceiver (false religion, security, and hope)
• Accuser (spews accusations against us)

Satan Is Pernicious (vv. 12-17)

• Heaven will rejoice at Satan's banishment from heaven, but the earth will recoil.
• The tribulation includes not only God's judgment against the earth but also Satan's great wrath as he and his minions are confined to earth for three and a half years.
• Satan will vent all his outrage on the earth, specifically against Israel. Through the Antichrist, two-thirds of all the Jews will be killed (see Zechariah 13:8), and the abomination of desolation will occur (see Matthew 24).
• God will protect His people from the flood of Satan's wrath; Israel's darkest hour will lead to its brightest dawn.

Satan Is Preventable (v. 11)

• Believers in the tribulation "overcame [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb" (v. 11). Satan has built a case against us, but our defense attorney, Jesus, makes a stronger case by His blood (see 1 John 2:1).
• Like the martyrs, we overcome Satan by the word of our testimony (see v. 11).
• Our spiritual loyalty is more important than our physical life.
• Once we know how to die, we know how to live (see John 12:25).

Practice
Connect Up: Satan studies how to harm us, but he operates within strict parameters--by God's permission and for God's purposes. What battles do you need to give over to God, trusting that His ultimate victory is sure?

Connect In: The solidarity of Christians is important in resisting Satan's influence. How can you support other believers in the challenges you face?

Connect Out: What is your testimony? Prepare a brief account of how God has changed your life.