Flipped Fear - Rumor notes 99

 Revelation 12

12 Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil has gone down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time."

rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them

Rejoicing is how victory is achieved and internalized, not just something to do after all the dust settles.

A voice came forth from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, the small and the great!" I heard something like the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunders, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns! Let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let us give the glory to him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready." (Revelation 19:5-7)

This theme of rejoicing is not merely a spontaneous response to good news fulfilled. Rather it is the very means by which evil is overcome with the goodness of God reflected in the hearts and lives of all who willingly follow the Lamb. It is the very definition of the New Song, one of the most important threads that runs through Revelation but is seen throughout all of Scripture. This is the primary weapon to be used to dispel darkness and gain ground for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar, and its fullness! Let the field and all that is in it exult! Then all the trees of the woods shall sing for joy before Yahweh; for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, the peoples with his truth. (Psalms 96:11-13)

For though the fig tree doesn't flourish, nor fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive fails, the fields yield no food; the flocks are cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in Yahweh. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:13-14)

Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall exclude and mock you, and throw out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for their fathers did the same thing to the prophets. (Luke 6:22-23)

Nevertheless, don't rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:20)

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not tiresome, but for you it is safe. (Philippians 3:1)

Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. (Philippians 4:4-5)

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)

you who dwell in them

What does it mean to dwell in heaven? Who are those identified here as dwelling there? What is meant in prophetic symbolism to dwell somewhere?

There are only two classes of people at the end – those who dwell in heaven and all those who dwell on the earth. It is vital that we understand this in order to make intelligent decisions about which side we will be on. If we remain clueless, thinking this is simply referring to heavenly angels or maybe even inhabitants of other planets in the universe, we miss a most important element of this prophecy, for this is intended to alert us how we position ourselves in regards to our dwelling place.

This mention of dwelling is connected to what we just studied about how there was no place found for the dragon and his angels, resulting in them having to leave heaven and go to this earth. I believe this is significant and something we should examine very closely.

Let me begin by summarizing some of the conclusions I have come to as I have pondered this for some time. I believe this issue of dwelling is not about physical location of our body but is all about emotional and spiritual location of our affections, our attention and what we allow to occupy our imagination (which is where our faith operates internally). I am coming to see that things like taking and holding onto offense, indulging in complaining and fault-finding and criticism along with continually dwelling on negative things about life, all condition our mental state to be among those who dwell on the earth. We won't take the time to fully explore that right now as it is not mentioned in this verse. But it is helpful to remember that this is the alternative to dwelling in heaven. What we do need to not just explore but take very seriously and practice is what it means from heaven's perspective to dwell in heaven which I think is safe to assume means where God's presence is most intensely concentrated.

What motivation do we rely on for our choices and direction of life – fear or selfless, reflected love?

The principles we allow to regulate our imagination will be the principles that form our character which determines whether we are counted among those who dwell on the earth or are among those who dwell in heaven. It is our own choices that determine how we are viewed in the light of God, and this is what the various aspects of judgment taking place involves. Heaven is examining the lives of every human being right now so as to know who is really choosing to have the atmosphere of heaven within them or are being motivated by the principles of selfishness, fear and choosing to remain in the dark.

Those who dwell in heavenly places do so through primarily in the use of their imagination which is the same as faith. This is what defines who they serve and identity with to be their source of identity, value and how to act like themselves. Those who dwell in heaven choose to follow the Lamb everywhere and do not love their lives more than others just like the Lamb did. Their life is hid with God in Christ, and because God is also in Christ and they are in Christ, they are being transformed into unity with the Godhead.

This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ. (John 17:3)

I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me. They have kept your word. Now they have known that all things whatever you have given me are from you, for the words which you have given me I have given to them, and they received them, and knew for sure that I came forth from you, and they have believed that you sent me. (John 17:6-8)

I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. Those whom you have given me I have kept. None of them is lost, except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves. I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth. (John 17:11-17)

Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me. (John 17:20-21)

As we consent for God and Christ to dwell in us without resistance, we will continue to be physically located on this earth but may dwell in the atmosphere of heaven. This is accomplished by the proper use of our imagination. No wonder the enemy is pulling out all the stops to capture our attention and allure us with anything imaginable to distract and occupy our imagination today. This is vital to understand if we are to be serious about being aligned with the Father and Son in unity of Spirit. As we allow Them to have access to our sanctuary as a place for them to dwell in, God's plan to dwell in us and to be our God is at last realized. This is what it means to dwell in heaven.

Say to them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, where they are gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all; and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all; neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 37:21-23)

My tent also shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. The nations shall know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them forevermore. (Ezekiel 37:27-28)

For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my ordinances, and do them. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness: and I will call for the grain, and will multiply it, and lay no famine on you. (Ezekiel 36:24-29)

Here are other passages to help clarify what it means to dwell in heaven and who is there.

Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn't come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. (John 5:24)

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)

Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The Kingdom of God doesn't come with observation; neither will they say, 'Look, here!' or, 'Look, there!' for behold, the Kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20-21)

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. They cried with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Revelation 7:9-10)

He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his dwelling, those who dwell in heaven. It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him. (Revelation 13:6-7)

After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation, power, and glory belong to our God: (Revelation 19:1)

I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself. He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called "The Word of God." The armies which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen. (Revelation 19:11-14)

In the shelter of your presence you will hide them from the plotting of man. You will keep them secretly in a dwelling away from the strife of tongues. (Psalms 31:20)

For this, let everyone who is godly pray to you in a time when you may be found. Surely when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach to him. You are my hiding place. You will preserve me from trouble. You will surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on you. (Psalms 32:6-8)

Lord, you have been our dwelling place for all generations. (Psalms 90:1)

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalms 91:1)

But our God is in the heavens. He does whatever he pleases. (Psalms 115:3)

For Yahweh spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying, "Don't say, 'A conspiracy!' concerning all about which this people say, 'A conspiracy!' neither fear their threats, nor be terrorized. Yahweh of Armies is who you must regard as holy. He is the one you must fear. He is the one you must dread. He will be a sanctuary, but for both houses of Israel, he will be a trap and a snare for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Many will stumble over it, fall, be broken, be snared, and be captured." Wrap up the testimony. Seal the law among my disciples. I will wait for Yahweh, who hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. (Isaiah 8:11-17)

In that day I will make a covenant for them with the animals of the field, and with the birds of the sky, and with the creeping things of the ground. I will break the bow, the sword, and the battle out of the land, and will make them lie down safely. I will betroth you to me forever. Yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, in justice, in loving kindness, and in compassion. I will even betroth you to me in faithfulness; and you shall know Yahweh.

It will happen in that day, I will respond," says Yahweh, "I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth; and the earth will respond to the grain, and the new wine, and the oil; and they will respond to Jezreel. I will sow her to me in the earth; and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; and I will tell those who were not my people, 'You are my people;' and they will say, 'My God!'" (Hosea 2:18-23)

For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like God's angels in heaven. (Matthew 22:30)

Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:13-14)

Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can't bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4-5)

that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me. The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me. (John 17:21-23)

Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (Ephesians 2:4-8)

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God. We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. (1 John 4:15-16)

These are all related to those who are affirmed as ones who dwell in heaven, regardless of what circumstances may suggest. Their hearts have been surrendered to reflect love by receiving it freely and reflecting it freely. The principles of love shape their thinking and regulate their relationships in preparation to enjoy the intense passionate love that defines heaven's atmosphere. Heaven indeed begins here on earth, for heaven is not so much a location but a state of mind and heart. Heaven is where the Spirit of God indwells in those willing to submit to the reshaping, healing power of salvation that results from the good news about God penetrating the darkest recesses of the soul.

Those who dwell on earth become inflexible in their thinking and relationships, imagining that God is defined by rigid rules requiring enforcement, just as the inventor of this system portrays Him to be. Those who are squeezed into the mold and mindset of this world in their view of God and their beliefs about social order, react violently to any who dare to disrupt or fail to conform to the world order regulated by law-enforcement, and seek unity through conformity. Indeed, everything is spiritual, for there is no part of our life that is not directly involved in spiritual principles.

The determining factor between those who dwell on the earth and those who dwell in heaven is the spirit that is allowed to be the guiding force of the heart. The outward activities are only symptoms that reveal the nature of the spirit that inhabits the soul. Placing the most emphasis and importance on external behavior as the criteria of salvation is a decoy blinding us to the true nature of the war, until it is too late to change direction. Keeping the right day as Sabbath or believing the right set of doctrines can be informative. Yet they are externals, and forcing ourselves to maintain the appearance of righteousness while failing to be motivated by the Spirit of righteousness that reflects the pure, selfless love of heaven, is to remain in darkness while imagining nothing is wrong.

In such a life there is no deep abiding peace, joy or genuine fruit of the Spirit of the Lamb in the heart. These may have a form of godliness and display what appears to be good fruits, yet without love such a life is like a compelling hologram that is devoid of substance and merely an illusion, leaving such a person in fatal deception and empty of what is needed to survive the coming showdown. This is a very real and present danger that we all do well to avoid at all cost.

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, (2 Thessalonians 2:9-11 NKJV)

Woe to the earth and to the sea

Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown. (Revelation 3:10-11)

After this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth, or on the sea, or on any tree. I saw another angel ascend from the sunrise, having the seal of the living God. He cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Don't harm the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, until we have sealed the bondservants of our God on their foreheads!" (Revelation 7:1-3)

the devil has gone down to you, having great wrath

The devil's wrath is not at all like God's wrath. Rather than letting go, which is what God does in wrath, he does the opposite and attempts in every way possible to impose control through force, fear and manipulation while distorting and twisting truth for his own diabolical purposes.

The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep God's commandments and hold Jesus' testimony. (Revelation 12:17)

The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he 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. (Revelation 12:9)

and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, (Revelation 10:6)

he has but a short time

and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, (Revelation 10:6)

Once the cross exposed his true character to the watching universe, Satan had to scramble to develop an even more expansive system of lies and excuses to suppress the light released by the cross, because it was now clear to everyone who understood the implications of what happened there that Satan's potential eternal existence was no longer possible. He now realized with terrible clarity that his existence would come to an end once he lost the trust of anyone in of his lies against God. Then there would be no one left from whom he might siphon life for himself. A parasite cannot live very long once there is no body left for it to exploit. Indeed, there will be no place left for Satan or his angels to dwell.

Overcoming Principalities - Rumor notes 98

 Revelation 12

11 They overcame him because of the Lamb's blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn't love their life, even to death. 12 Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil has gone down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time."

They overcame him because of the Lamb's blood

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, "For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter." No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)

It is important that we become aware of what it is that we overcome, or else it is likely we will put our focus on trying to overcome the wrong thing, fight our battles in the wrong places, mistake who is our enemy and end up fighting people instead of cooperating with the Lamb and the holy angels.

For though we walk in the flesh, we don't wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:11-13)

This word principalities has a deeper meaning than what appears on the surface in our language. It is often translated as beginning, yet its meaning extends far beyond simply an origin in time. It taps into the very foundational issues of the war we have been studying throughout this book. It refers to the underlying principles used to govern, and which ones are more reliable. The original word here means beginning, commencement, chief, magistrate, corner, principle, rule. This is about the beginning principles that are relied on to regulate life and used to maintain order in society. This takes us to the core issues involved in the arguments that started the war originally.

God's principles are founded on and defined by love alone, while the new system developed in the mind of Lucifer (the one who came to initiate the rebellion against God's government) was asserted to be an improvement on God's design, a more effective way to maintain order and avoid potential problems should anyone choose to abuse their freedoms. But God would not agree to integrate Lucifer's ideas and methods into heaven's social order, and the result was what we studied previously about Michael and the dragon facing off in the first round in heaven.

Keep in mind that Satan's system is shaped around the principles of commerce. So his principalities are angelic enforcers of this world's system of variable value, trading and exchange, and relative importance of people and things that is constantly in flux depending on many factors such as desire, intelligence, abilities and power. The world's systems today are guided by the principles originally invented by Lucifer in heaven, and his angels keep his system firmly under control here on earth so they can maintain their position as masters over us. This is all about the enforcement of hierarchal authority, artificial law and a system of value and worth as defined within the design of commerce and trading. This is all involved in the meaning of the principalities of this world.

Overcoming is directly related to what we studied previously, where the dragon and his angels did not overcome but lost their place in heaven and had to exit. Satan's attempt to have his principles used in conjunction with God's principles did not succeed there, leaving him no choice but to find somewhere else to carry on his ideas. That is how we became involved, when our Adam who represented all of us chose to embrace Satan's principles and turn away from the design of love. Now the war continues with us who currently live in this battle zone. What is still contending to overcome involves what we will choose as the principles that will shape our lives and define our character.

Now therefore fear Yahweh, and serve him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt; and serve you Yahweh. If it seem evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh. (Joshua 24:14-15)

Elijah came near to all the people, and said, "How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." The people answered him not a word.

(1 Kings 18:21)

It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life. But there are some of you who don't believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who didn't believe, and who it was who would betray him.

He said, "For this cause have I said to you that no one can come to me, unless it is given to him by my Father." At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Jesus said therefore to the twelve, "You don't also want to go away, do you?" (John 6:63-67)

Jesus brings heaven's principles to light in His words, actions and disposition in every circumstance He encountered while living among sinners here on earth. He is the light that exposes the principles of darkness that have controlled the thinking and behavior of this world. Now the choice comes to each of us as to whom we will serve based on the principles each side represents.

This word principalities does not merely apply to the principles of Satan's kingdom of darkness, but also refer to the principles of God's kingdom of love.

For by him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things are held together. He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:16-18)

For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily, and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power; (Colossians 2:9-10)

to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 3:10)

This verse actually involves both sides in the supernatural realm who are witnesses observing the unfolding of the fruit from both sets of principles in the lives of people on earth. The assembly of all who listen and follow the principles embodied in the Lamb of God, provide the final testimony in God's trial corroborating the testimony of the Faithful Witness whose principles have transformed their lives to look and act just like Him.

For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. (1 Corinthians 4:9 NIV)

Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place. (2 Corinthians 2:14)

Therefore don't let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. Neither present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? May it never be! Don't you know that to whom you present yourselves as servants to obedience, his servants you are whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto you were delivered. (Romans 6:12-17)

We need to grasp the contrast between the principles governing how life ought to be regulated. These passages reveal that we are on a stage demonstrating freedom versus compulsion.

When the war originally broke out in heaven, it did not involve angels living in fear for their lives. It only involved a war of words, ideas, politics, meaning that the battle was over what principles should be relied on to govern the interactions and activities of intelligent beings. The word principalities extends to the governing leaders in the supernatural realm that now support one side or the other. We choose which side we will embrace, which set of principles will determine how we think.

After the war expanded to our world, allowing the dragon assumed the role of prince of this world and the stakes suddenly became much higher. The dragon wields fear as his primary tool for maintaining control and keeping order. This introduced a whole new dimension in the war, involving punishment, suffering and ultimately death which had never existed previously. This intensified the war far beyond what angels had originally experienced in the early stages of the war in heaven. Now it becomes an issue of life or death, yet the real issue is over who is behind death – God or someone else. The war is still over whose methods will be trusted to maintain order and long-term security in all societies, and what will be the motives relied on to maintain peace, order and harmony.

When the war came to include those on earth who were created to experience what we call death, profound issues began to emerge as the eternal consequences and true danger of sin became clearer to the watching universe. Angels may have never contemplated the potential of death for themselves, especially in the mind of the leader of the revolt against God's way of running the universe. Denouncing God's ways and pulling out from living in harmony with Him did not at first seem lethal until a form of death was witnessed as resulting from sin on this uniquely new planet.

This passage in chapter 12 summarizes the history of the war and especially the tipping point where the dragon committed the greatest crime possible by instigating the torture and execution of the Son of God. God took on the form of humanity, making Himself vulnerable to experience all physical and emotional suffering and even death to exemplify the final effect that sin produces. I believe the design of this whole world's ecosystem is unique in many ways, one of which is the capacity for living things on this planet to die. I believe God created it this way in order to provide a venue in which the true outcome of withdrawing from a relationship of trust and love with the Creator could be witnessed in a way that was not permanent, yet so real and intense that the true nature of sin would be exposed in a dramatic way that was impossible to appreciate previously.

This helps explain the confusion between soul sleep and full-on eternal death, and why it is so important to distinguish between them. One purpose God had for our planet was to clarify the danger of sin before allowing anyone to experience the full eternal consequence of it. If humans chose Satan's system over God's, the resulting suffering, injustices and death we would experience on earth would serve to demonstrate the far worse outcome of eternal death that was impossible to grasp before it was witnessed destroying our environment of beauty. But this is only temporary though very real.

When humanity handed dominion over to Satan, he gained access to manipulate this unique design, and immediately it began to be seen how sin degrades not only the ecosystem but also the reflection of God in humans. Distrust of God is like caustic acid tearing apart relationships and replaces love with fear. Yet even in all the death and brutality witnessed after the fall of this world, heavenly beings still could not completely understand what God meant when He warned that disobedience (disconnecting from trust and synchronizing with God's heart) would result in death. In other words, all the deaths witnessed for the preceding 4,000 years before the death of Christ still could not fully illustrate the kind of death God warns about as resulting from sin until it was finally revealed in the unique death of Christ. God in human flesh dying as sin on our behalf was the first true revelation of the result of turning away from God. Before allowing anyone else to experience the full effects of sin, God Himself became the grand exposé of what sin will produce in created beings unwilling to be rescued from its terrible power by being restored to harmony with love.

For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

This is the essence of what it means to overcome because of the Lamb's blood. The death of the Son of God is the ultimate evidence that turned the tide of the war. The evidence the blood of the Lamb provides is in that Jesus died from the internal effects of sin in His psyche rather than merely His body dying like all previous deaths have involved. This cracked the secret formula Satan relied on that mask his true nature. Even angels could not understand fully until they witnessed what happened to Jesus at the cross. This was the game-changer that severed all lingering sympathies with Satan's compelling arguments. His true nature was now exposed by the power of love. Fear and love faced off at the cross in the greatest showdown of all history, as God in human flesh chose to become the first to receive the full wages that sin pays when it is allowed to have its way.

But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:22-23)

What these verses refer to is the evidence about true nature of sin. They counter and expose the lies that has kept the dragon in power for so long. God Himself in human form displayed for the first time ever, the kind of death of which all other deaths previous to this were merely a shadow. The physical death of Christ was incidental in comparison to the kind of internal, emotional death that caused His physical death. Jesus said ahead of time that no one would take His life from Him, for His death would happen by His choosing to allow it to happen to Him, not forced against His will.

Jesus never participated in sin by distrust or disconnecting from His heavenly Father at any time. This meant that the sin causing His death had no roots inside of Him (John 14:30). His death then proves that the natural consequences of the principles of God's design in creation cannot be ignored. Eternal death is the inevitable result of choosing to separate from the only Source of life.

I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, even so I do. (John 14:30-31)

What was also exposed by the unique experience of the Lamb of God is that fear of death does not have more power to control than the power of love received from God. This laid the ax to the very root of Satan's assertions that God's system based on love alone is not strong enough to prevent chaos and anarchy. This cosmic display of unconditional love and forgiveness to everyone involved in His torture and execution became the overwhelming testimony vindicating God's design of creation, that love is stronger and there is no place in His design for fear whatsoever.

He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love. By this God's love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

(1 John 4:8-10)

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us. (1 John 4:12)

If a man says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn't love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? (1 John 4:20)

No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him. (John 1:18)

...who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:15-16)

What is being exposed in this study may help to explain why John declared that no one has every seen God. What was never seen before was the hidden alleged 'dark side' of God that was shrouded in mystery. It was this unknown region of God that Lucifer had originally exploited to gain traction for his assertions implicating God as having darker attributes like what Lucifer insisted were necessary to govern effectively through use of rewards and punishments. He asserted that God was both good and evil (Genesis 3:5), and that what created beings need is sufficient knowledge of both light and darkness so as to be able to know how to have more power. This entire matrix of cleverly devised insinuations and assertions have had enormous influence on nearly everyone throughout the universe, which is why only the true Son of God, the representative who alone intimately knew God's hidden side, was qualified to overcome the accusations of Satan. The Lamb is that revelation.

In this love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. We love Him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:17-19)

This adds deeper meaning to what we studied previously about there being no place found for the dragon and his angels in heaven. The dragon argued that fear was needed to supplement what love was too weak to provide – security and deterrence to prevent or put down any potential lawlessness. This is at the very core of the war that began in heaven, and this is what the death and resurrection of Jesus overcame with a resounding victory that can never be fully obscured. God's kingdom of love has no place for fear. And all who choose to follow the Lamb will be cleansed of all lies that involve fear. This is what it means to overcome.

The people who overcome are those who embrace the true meaning of the Lamb's blood. They reject the pagan construct that has been used to reinterpret blood as being a means of manipulating God and satisfying a false version of justice attributed to God. It is vital that we make a clean break from all the distortions the accuser uses that anchors fear and darkness in our heart. We must embrace the true meaning of the literal blood of Jesus so we may understand the true purpose of the symbols of His blood. Out of a right understanding of the true purpose of Jesus coming to live and die among us, liberating truth can be released into our lives that overcomes all the dragon's accusations against God and His Christ. This is the true meaning of the purpose of the Lamb's blood.

(For expanded explanations of this view of the blood of Jesus, see other articles I have written on this in the past. Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt; Covered by the Blood; Shedding of Blood.)

because of the word of their testimony

I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn't worship the beast nor his image, and didn't receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived, and reigned with Christ for the thousand years. (Revelation 20:4)

A testimony is given by a witness. God calls us to provide testimony in His favor, and if we follow the Lamb and believe His testimony about God, we will provide a similar testimony.

"You are my witnesses," says Yahweh, "With my servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he. Before me there was no God formed, neither will there be after me. I myself am Yahweh; and besides me there is no savior. I have declared, I have saved, and I have shown; and there was no strange god among you. Therefore you are my witnesses," says Yahweh, "and I am God. (Isaiah 43:10-12)

Don't fear, neither be afraid. Haven't I declared it to you long ago, and shown it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Indeed, there is not. I don't know any other Rock." (Isaiah 44:8)

When the Counselor has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will testify about me. You will also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:26-27)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

The multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul. Not one of them claimed that anything of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. With great power, the apostles gave their testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Great grace was on them all. (Acts 4:32-33)

Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. (Acts 14:3)

Their testimony corroborates and confirms the testimony of the star Witness about God's character that is interpreted through the evidence of the blood of the Lamb correctly understood. Our testimony is always given either for or against God's reputation, so it is paramount that we keep in mind that it is God who is on trial, not us. God repeatedly calls throughout history for people to witness in favor of God. We are free to testify against Him, and we do so every time we indulge in complaining, unbelief, fault-finding and focusing on fear instead of resting and trusting in His goodness and continuous care and love for us. The best way to witness in His favor is to learn and practice the New Song which is the theme that runs all through this book and even all of Scripture.

They didn't love their life, even to death

The Lamb's blood is the first witness. The testimony from their mouth is a second witness. Their actions resulting from their choices and beliefs becomes a third witness. The actions and the disposition displayed when under duress, persecution and hostility either expose a character conformed to God's image, being restored to reflect His likeness as the Lamb reacted under similar circumstances, or they expose defensiveness, fear, self-preservation and reflect the dragon's version of God in his slander accusing God as an abuser and untrustworthy to save us from the power of fear and selfishness.

The whole war is both expansive in that it involves the entire universe, while at the same time concentrated in the mind and heart of each person. Because humans especially are created to uniquely reflect the image of God our Creator, the war targets every human being's beliefs about how God relates to us and how He feels towards us. The contention is over whether or not we will choose to believe the testimony given most clearly by God's Son along with His first apostles, who declared unequivocally that God is love and light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we choose to not only believe this truth about God, but to also allow His Spirit of truth, love and freedom to be the governing motivation for all our choices, then our whole life will testify that God is who He says He is and that love really can be trusted over any other option for living and interacting with others.

They said therefore to him, "What must we do, that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." (John 6:28-29)

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:35)

Jesus said they will know we are His disciples when it becomes clear to others that we choose love over resentment, offense and self-protection. Love flows freely out of every life that allows God's love to flow into it, that is the nature of our design as reflectors. Thus love itself is the evidence seen in our lives that confirms the truth that God is love, which is what defeats the lies of the enemy that contradict this reality. To overcome means to overcome the lies of Satan by being filled with the Spirit of love and resting in full assurance that God is trustworthy, and we will trust Him above any urge to save our own reputation or even our own lives.

Cheering and Warning - Rumor notes 97

 Revelation 12

10 I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now is come the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 They overcame him because of the Lamb's blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn't love their life, even to death. 12 Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil has gone down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time."

Here we land at the very center of the hub of both this chapter as well as the entire book of Revelation. Around this hub revolves all the rest of what we are studying, the pinnacle of the chiasm which means it is the important truth at the very heart of the message of Revelation and even the gospel relating to the war that defines the backstory of all that is taking place around us. Consequently I believe it is beneficial and important to appreciating how to interpret everything we study in this book, to anchor our thinking in this core revelation.

I heard a loud voice in heaven

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet (Revelation 1:10)

I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals. I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?" (Revelation 5:1-2)

I saw, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!" (Revelation 5:11-12)

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had. They cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" (Revelation 6:9-10)

I saw another angel ascend from the sunrise, having the seal of the living God. He cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Don't harm the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, until we have sealed the bondservants of our God on their foreheads!" (Revelation 7:2-3)

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. They cried with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Revelation 7:9-10)

I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe! Woe! Woe for those who dwell on the earth, because of the other voices of the trumpets of the three angels, who are yet to sound!" (Revelation 8:13)

I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. He had in his hand a little open book. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land. He cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars. When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices. (Revelation 10:1-3)

The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!" (Revelation 11:15)

I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people. He said with a loud voice, "Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!" (Revelation 14:6-7)

Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead, or on his hand, (Revelation 14:9)

Another angel came out from the temple, crying with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, "Send forth your sickle, and reap; for the hour to reap has come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe!" (Revelation 14:15)

Another angel came out from the altar, he who has power over fire, and he called with a great voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Send forth your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for the earth's grapes are fully ripe!" (Revelation 14:18)

I went through every one of these references in Revelation listed here and noticed something in this last verse I find highly significant relating to the context of this verse. We will look at it more closely when we get to that chapter, but in every instance except this one the Greek uses the same two words. But in this instance while word for loud is the same, the word used for voice is different. The original word actually means outcry, clamor. This alerts us that something is very different about this voice than the other references to a loud voice, which I believe exposes this as a counterfeit voice.

I heard a loud voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God on the earth!" (Revelation 16:1)

The seventh poured out his bowl into the air. A loud voice came forth out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" (Revelation 16:17)

After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory. He cried with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird! (Revelation 18:1-2)

After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation, power, and glory belong to our God: (Revelation 19:1)

I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the sky, "Come! Be gathered together to the great supper of God, (Revelation 19:17)

I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, "Behold, God's dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. (Revelation 21:3)

Now is come the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God

Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. (John 12:31-32)

Behold, how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn't know us, because it didn't know him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is. Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 3:1-3)

For, "He put all things in subjection under his feet." But when he says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that he is excepted who subjected all things to him. When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:27-28)

The now referred to here is a milestone, a pivot point of no return in this process of all things coming under subjection to the kind of authority that God's Christ exercises. This subjection is not accomplished the way we typically think of subjugating but is explained in the previous verses from John. All who respond to the drawing power of truth and love and submit their lives to be controlled and directed by that love; they subject themselves willingly, eagerly to live under the authority of Jesus, the Lamb who reveals exactly how God thinks and feels.

This is the whole purpose of the ministry of the Son – to expose to everyone the light of truth about God's heart, motives and methods that have been slandered, distorted, misrepresented and accused ever since the initial stages of the rebellion. This is the only way the war can be won against the great Satan – by exposing and neutralizing the power of every lie that induces distrust in God's ways and motives and disposition towards us. When we see Him as He is in Christ, all will acknowledge that His ways are true, just and righteous, whether or not we participate and cooperate with them.

They cried with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Revelation 7:10)

After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation, power, and glory belong to our God: (Revelation 19:1)

Exposing God's glory involves revealing His character which brings about His salvation. God is the one who needs the greatest salvation - salvaging of His reputation. Yet this can only be secured by a unanimous, un-coerced acknowledgment of His untainted goodness and love by everyone. This will be the final outcome of God's judgment when everyone judges Him based on the full exposure of all the evidence.

the authority of his Christ

We have discussed this surprising truth that God needs a Christ as much or more than we do, and it goes right along with salvation belonging to our God. The salvation – salvaging of His reputation – is accomplished by His Christ who is the Lamb who fully reveals the actual truth that has been obscured, twisted and slandered by the dragon accuser. This is all tied into the credibility of the One who is God's star witness who alone has what it takes to rescue God's reputation and secure His government forever.

For more on this topic review the notes for Revelation 11:15.

The first half of this verse composes the very hub of the chiasm of this chapter and the whole book. From here on we are going down the other side of the curve that parallels what we examined coming up the first side. This is a summary of the grand finale, celebrating with the New Song how God overcomes the enemy, how all things are brought back into full compliance with His will, His ways and everyone is resynchronized with His motives and Spirit. This is what needs to become our theme, our reason for living, our constant anchor so that everything else is measured and defined based on this core truth.

the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down

Accusing God's reflectors on earth is Satan's highly effective way of bolstering his assertions that God's heart is what is reflected in all the chaos and evil in the lives of those made in His image.

We discussed this extensively on the other side of the chiasm in verse 9.

accuses them before our God day and night

Day and night means relentlessly, without let up or pause or relief. Because the accuser relentlessly accuses (he is the father of lies and cannot do truth), those giving opposite testimony need to do the same – never rest from praising, honoring and giving Him glory without ceasing.

The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around about and within. They have no rest day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!" (Revelation 4:8)

Therefore they are before the throne of God, they serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. (Revelation 7:15)

The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. (Revelation 14:11)

The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)

Rather than trying to use this to prove a literal everlasting torture in hell as punishment from an unrequited offended deity, what this reveals is the principle of natural cause and effect. To the same extent that Satan accuses, the final outcome of his nonstop accusations will be nonstop torment when exposed by the light of truth that contradicts every lie he continuously circulates. This also brings in the issue of rest or lack thereof, dependent on whose version of God we choose to embrace and give authority in our life.

Among these nations shall you find no ease, and there shall be no rest for the sole of your foot: but Yahweh will give you there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and pining of soul; and your life shall hang in doubt before you; and you shall fear night and day, and shall have no assurance of your life. In the morning you shall say, Would it were even! and at even you shall say, Would it were morning! for the fear of your heart which you shall fear, and for the sight of your eyes which you shall see. (Deuteronomy 28:65-67)

This is all a result of the continual accusing inside our mind and heart instigated by the devil who uses our sins and our doubts about God's disposition towards us to rob us of all peace and assurance.

And by this we know that we are of the truth, and persuade our hearts before him, because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our hearts don't condemn us, we have boldness toward God; (1 John 3:19-21)

But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can't rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked. (Isaiah 57:20-21)

then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. (2 Peter 2:9-11 NKJV)

Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (Jude 1:9 NKJV)

All of this again highlights the theme that keeps coming back around, that the methods, motives and disposition of God in how He relates to His opponents are entirely different and nearly always opposite from those fighting against Him. If we choose to follow the Lamb, we must embrace the same.

Down to Earth - Rumor notes 96

 Revelation 12

9 The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he 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.

was thrown down/cast out

Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. (John 12:31-32)

Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don't go away, the Counselor won't come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment; about sin, because they don't believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you won't see me any more; about judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged. (John 16:7-11)

Taking Jesus' own definition of how judgment works from John 3:19-21, we learn how the prince of this world is judged and cast out. It is not by overwhelming superior force that Satan is defeated, for this is not God's method but Satan's. The example of Jesus and His revelation of God's reflected heart through a human being is what releases the kind of power that neutralizes fear and breaks the spell of lies which Satan relies on for his power. The secret power of the Lamb by which the world is overcome and Satan is exposed/judged, is a demonstration of the power of love through the most stunning display of willing vulnerability in the face of overwhelming intimidation, cruelty, shame and pain. This alone is potent enough to be the antidote to the poison of the fiery serpent. This is why the dragon cannot prevail in the long run, because selfishness and lies cannot defeat love, joy and truth embraced by those who value freedom.

The Lamb defeats the power and venom of fear by absorbing it into Himself, not by force or accusation. This cannot be emphasized enough. In order to prepare to participate with the Lamb in the victory He will accomplish, we must allow heaven to align us with the principles the Lamb uses consistently and cease clinging to the false principles of this world that are so appealing to our flesh. One of these is found in the symbolism that revealed God's method on the Day of Atonement.

"When he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat. Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. (Leviticus 16:20-21)

The wilderness has long been a symbol of restlessness, lack of peace, danger, deprivation, chaos and associated with the habitation of demons. It is also closely tied to the meaning of the word abyss that we studied at length some time ago. This symbolic ceremony on the day of Atonement in the ancient system of figures and types foreshadows the method God uses to deal with sin and evil. The goat that finally bears all the guilt, condemnation and sins removed symbolically from God's children, is not killed but is removed from the presence of those choosing to live in harmony with God's principles and who rest in God's love. This goat prefigures Satan as well as all who choose to cling to his methods and his disposition rather than synchronizing with God's design for them.

thrown/cast down to the earth, and his angels...with him

Note here that the phrase thrown down is repeated 3 times in the same sentence. This is significant, meaning we must not overlook it and should seek to understand what it means. There are a number of things we might apply to discern why it is mentioned 3 times in a row.

Is this referencing 3 literal times that this throwing down occurs before it is final? Possibly.

Is this to lead us to look deeper into the nature of how the throwing down happens? Possibly.

Is this referring to 3 different dimensions where they are thrown down? Explore that.

Is the number 3 itself symbolic of the finality, the completeness, the permanency of whatever this is describing? Possibly.

In the very next verse we find it mentioned yet again, and again a couple verses later. Then the true character and disposition of the dragon is witnessed in how he reacts when it is clear he has lost his place. He resorts to persecution, which is reliance on violence against any who disagree with him.

I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now is come the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night." (Revelation 12:10)

When the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. (Revelation 12:13)

The fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from the sky which had fallen to the earth. The key to the pit of the abyss was given to him. (Revelation 9:1)

I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. He seized the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time. (Revelation 20:1-3)

He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places. Arise, Yahweh, confront him. Cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword; (Psalms 17:12-13)

This is tightly connected with the previous concept we explored regarding no place found for them in heaven. I believe it is important to carefully meditate on these things with an open mind and heart as these truths are extremely relevant for understanding and appreciating the difference between how God conducts Himself in this war versus how the dragon carries out warfare.

Consider the following confrontation between Satan and Christ (the very same two contenders as before) in light of the backstory and see how it may bring a different perspective to this story.

Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, 'He will give his angels charge concerning you.' and, 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don't dash your foot against a stone.'" (Matthew 4:5-6)

What are potential implications of this temptation in light of what we are looking at here? Might this be spoken out of a deep spirit of resentment and desire for revenge on the part of Satan? “I was thrown out of heaven because of you, and now look where you ended up! Maybe its your turn to throw yourself down to prove to everyone you are not the real villain here at fault for all the chaos going on.”

There are many references throughout history to throwing things, people and kingdoms down. We are very familiar with this kind of language, which might be the reason we struggle to imagine that maybe this particular throwing down could have happened differently than how we usually see it happening. We have been so conditioned to believing that if someone is thrown down or cast out, the cause of that must involve force or else it could not have been accomplished. This is the key issue I want us to examine here, for I believe it is vital that we not move past this as it is pivotal in how we perceive the methods God uses to achieve victory in contrast to what the dragon insists has to be used to defeat his power.

Elijah said to all the people, Come near to me; and all the people came near to him. He repaired the altar of Yahweh that was thrown down. (1 Kings 18:30)

He said, I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword: and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. (1 Kings 19:10,14)

Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock. They will hear my words, for they are well spoken. (Psalms 141:6)

Shout against her round about: she has submitted herself; her bulwarks are fallen, her walls are thrown down; for it is the vengeance of Yahweh: take vengeance on her; as she has done, do to her. (Jeremiah 50:15)

Yahweh has done that which he purposed; he has fulfilled his word that he commanded in the days of old; He has thrown down, and has not pitied: He has caused the enemy to rejoice over you; he has exalted the horn of your adversaries. (Lamentations 2:17)

For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; so that the fish of the sea, and the birds of the sky, and the animals of the field, and all creeping things who creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the surface of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. (Ezekiel 38:19-20)

As he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Teacher, see what kind of stones and what kind of buildings!" Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone on another, which will not be thrown down." (Mark 13:1-2)

Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to Yahweh, and said, "I will sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea."

Miriam answered them, "Sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea." (Exodus 15:1, 21)

You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their pursuers you did cast into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters. (Nehemiah 9:11)

I saw him come close to the ram, and he was moved with anger against him, and struck the ram, and broke his two horns; and there was no power in the ram to stand before him; but he cast him down to the ground, and trampled on him; and there was none who could deliver the ram out of his hand. (Daniel 8:7)

But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a mighty storm came upon the sea that the ship threatened to break up. (Jonah 1:4 NRSV)

I want to revisit something we mentioned earlier, how this is mentioned 3 times in this passage and possibly what we might tease out of that. This may refer to the first of 3 major casting downs of the dragon. The first was likely when permission for him and his angels to stay in heaven was revoked by consensus of the majority of angels in their refusal to listen his constant accusations. As a result all the fallen angels were compelled to leave with the dragon as we discussed previously related to their place being lost. I believe this also parallels the truth that likewise it is necessary for us to cast him out of our lives by rejecting his incessant lies about God and about our own identity as His reflectors. Satan has to be expelled, not tolerated or just ignored.

This multiple casting out may also refer to stages. He was cast out from the presence of loyal angels in heaven early on in the war, yet the evidence hints they in spite of that, they may well have already become infected by some of his insinuations and suggestions, causing them to retain lingering sympathies with some of his ideas. It was only after they witnessed Satan involved in the torturing and killing their beloved Leader, the Son of God and the Prince of heaven, that every lingering sympathy was eliminated from the hearts of all the remaining loyal beings of the universe. This was due to the convincing power released at the cross (Romans 1:16-17) and could constitute the second casting out (possibly referred to in Revelation 12:10). At this time Satan was cast out even more by being evicted from participation in the assembly of the sons of God in heaven (Job 1:6; 2:1), replaced by Jesus as our true human representative. This left the rest of the war to be finished among those still on earth.

At the beginning of the millennium we see Satan temporarily cast into a confinement situation caused by the absence of anyone around to tempt or harass. Finally, on the day of judgment he will be cast out for the last time by everyone, losing all credibility forever in the minds of every created being in the universe. This strips him of all authority entirely, because no one will ever again believe any of his lies as they have all been fully exposed for what they are. This brings his rebellion to a complete and final end in the lake of fire which is a symbol of the fury aroused against him on the part of all whom he has deceived and ruined. This will be the last and final casting out of the dragon, and it leaves the new earth free of all evil, sin and rebellion, ready to be recreated and our planet at last reintegrated fully into the fellowship of the loyal universe. It also establishes earth as the location for the capital of the kingdom of heaven.

What is vital to keep in mind is that in every instance, this casting down of the dragon and his supporters never involves force or compulsion on the part of God. Rather it is accomplished through evidence-based free decisions on the part of beings who choose for themselves whom they will trust and serve. God never has to resort to Satan's methods to accomplish His will, for freedom of choice is the most essential ingredient for the kind of love needed to maintain order and harmony, and this secures forever the credibility of His integrity. This is how the war will be won and all the charges lodged against God will be forever exterminated.

This verse is the entry point into the very center of the chiasm of this chapter and the whole book in verse 10. A proper understanding of all this is essential to appreciate this entire book that exposes the war involving the entire universe regarding God's credibility and trustworthiness. Satan's allegations against God's character and reputation must be exposed as baseless, yet they must be willingly expelled from every mind and heart to repair the condition of anyone who wants to live in God's presence. This must happen without any threat of coercion or force on the part of God, which is a key distinction between God's ways and that of the kingdoms of this world. Fear, force and deception are only used on the side of the enemy and have no place in God's kingdom and must not be used by His followers. This is the main point we need to take away from this study, and this principle applies across every aspect of God's dealings with others.

This story can be seen as a large version of a fractal principle that can be applied in every situation no matter how large or small. Satan must be sent to the wilderness, not through force but through the elimination of every sympathy on the part of all who choose to side with God. This alignment was accomplished among those in heaven when on the cross Jesus exposed the truth about God's heart. It will happen again just before the Second Coming when the Lamb's accomplices on earth who embrace the truth fully will again reflect God's true character just like their Master. The final casting out will be concluded on the day when the full revelation of God's character will be judged. It is then that Satan loses all credibility with everyone including his own followers, as the light of all truth about God's pure character of love exposes everything that has been hidden. This will come about through a full exposure of all His dealings with everyone throughout all of history.

What this means is that to overcome the dragon through judgment, God allows Himself to be judged by everyone! This is scandalous in religion, yet it is the true power of the gospel that alone can defeat all the power of evil without compromising with it in any way. This is the secret of the Lamb, the power released through self-sacrificing love which defines the truth about God's heart.

Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, "That you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment." (Romans 3:4)

This final isolation of Satan is symbolized by the leading of the scapegoat Azazel into the wilderness on the day of Atonement. We already looked at this earlier, but the most important thing to note in those instructions was the startling way the goat was treated. He was not to be killed or sacrificed but only to be led away into the wilderness where he was to be released, set free, left alone. If we do not see and embrace this we miss the main issue of what this war is all about and we are in serious danger of being deceived and seduced into embracing the enemy's spirit that infects us with his pernicious lies that are at the root of all sin.

God sent His only Son into our wicked world, not to condemn us but to save us from the darkness of lies and misapprehension about God's disposition towards us.

For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn't believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. (John 3:17-18)

The name of the only Son of God refers to the revelation of the true character of the One who sent Him for that very purpose. What we choose to believe about God as revealed by Jesus is the pivotal issue that determines our own destiny. What we choose to believe about God's character then becomes the determining factor by which we judge ourselves as either willing to be synchronized with His love principles or alienated from them by clinging to the misrepresentations of Him circulated by the dragon.

I will close with how God relates to the idea of casting out as explained by the One sent to reveal to us our Father.

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But I told you that you have seen me, and yet you don't believe. All those who the Father gives me will come to me. Him who comes to me I will in no way throw out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. This is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all he has given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise him up at the last day. This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:35-40)