Note: We celebrated 8 years as a ministry January 23rd which included a small video reminder of where we have met as a church and a choir presentation. If you’d like to go straight to the sermon, it starts at This video also contains Pastor Christian’s full testimony of salvation at the end.

Introduction

Revelation 12:7-17 ESV  Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,  (8)  but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.  (9)  And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, 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.  (10)  And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.  (11)  And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.  (12)  Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”  (13)  And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.  (14)  But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.  (15)  The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood.  (16)  But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.  (17)  Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

• Now this week is our Anniversary Sunday, and because we have had some extra stuff in service, and because we have potluck celebration after service, I am going to try to keep my sermon shorter this morning.
  • As such I am not going to spend a lot of time teaching this passage, mostly because all the symbols we see in this passage we will either be talking about in coming weeks, or for the majority of them, we talked about last week.
    • But let’s just quickly go over the prophetic imagery here:

The Figures of Revelation 12

• The woman represents the nation of Israel.
• The child represents the 144,00 sealed Jews.
• The dragon represents the devil.

• Now if you are curious as to why we conclude each of these figures as being Israel, the 144,00 and the devil, I would really encourage you to check out our sermon from last Sunday, you can find it on our website CedarRapidsChurch.com

• But for now, just know it is these symbols that we reason are the most accurate, and we know for certainty that the dragon represents the devil because we are specifically told that.
• Thus we have the continuation of our story from last week.
  • Israel produces these 144,000 saints, 12,000 from each tribe and they are sealed by God.
  • Satan tries to destroy them, but they are raptured.
• So we get to this week’s passage.
  • Satan, now finds himself in battle with Michael and his angles…
    • And of course, Satan get’s his butt kicked.

Revelation 12:7-8 ESV  Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,  (8)  but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.

• He is now no longer allowed in heaven, which from the book of Job we know that Satan had some access to heaven up until this point, but now He is completely kicked out… never allowed back.
  • At this time there is great rejoicing in heaven for a great victory has been won!

Revelation 12:10-11 ESV  And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.  (11)  And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

• Now Satan is really miffed… he wasn’t able to destroy Jesus, he wasn’t able to destroy the church, he wasn’t able to destroy even the 144,000… and he has just had his tail quarters kicked by Michael and the angles…
  • So, Satan find’s himself stuck on earth, angry as all get out… and he now turns his wrath towards the woman, thinking “if I can’t kill your child then I will kill you!”

Revelation 12:13-14 ESV  And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.  (14)  But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.

• So Israel flees to a place prepared for her by God where she is nourished for 3 and a half years.
  • After 3 and a half years Satan tries once again to destroy the woman, but God protects her.

Revelation 12:15 ESV  The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood.

• And failing all of that, Satan leaves Israel as a nation alone and goes and tries to pick fights with Jews and Christians around the world.

Revelation 12:17 ESV  Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

• So, there you have Revelation 12, events that are to happen in the future when the end of the world as we know it comes… Now let’s get into today’s application.

The Ebb And Flow of Spiritual Battle

Now what do I mean by the Ebb and Flow of Spiritual battle?

I mean to say that spiritual battle is something that is on going, sometimes you have major victories, other times you are being pursued and attacked by the enemy.

In the events that will take place in Revelation 12 we see this ebb and flow of battle.

Satan attacks the woman’s child. (WAR)

The Child is raptured. (VICTORY)

Satan battles Michael. (WAR)

Satan is defeated. (VICTORY)

Satan pursues the woman. (WAR)

God Prepares a place for her. (VICTORY)

Satan attacks her again. (WAR)

The God stops the attack. (VICTORY)

Satan attacks the saints. (WAR)

So we see this ebb and flow of spiritual battle.

Now there are two kinds of people in this room, people who are in a time of spiritual battle, and people who are in a time of spiritual victory. This sermon aims to address both of you…

Let’s start with those of you who are in a time of victory.

Our first point this morning is: In victory, Expect War

Point One – In Victory, Expect War

2 Timothy 3:12-15 ESV  Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,  (13)  while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.  (14)  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it  (15)  and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

• Let me read that first verse again…

2 Timothy 3:12 ESV  Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

• Maybe right now you are in a time of victory.
  • Life is good, you are at peace, you are at rest.
  • You go down to sleep full of joy and you wake up full of joy.
  • The devil seems so far off, everything you put your hand to is succeeding…
• PRAISE GOD!
  • Those times are so wonderful and so needed, don’t ever feel bad about living in a time of victory.
    • BUT YOU MUST KNOW THAT THOSE TIMES WILL NOT LAST FOREVER.
      • Not until you go to heaven, either by grave or by rapture.
      • Because all people who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
• We see this theme time and time again in the Bible, not just in Revelation 12.
  • Think about ol’ Joseph.
  • He started out in victory, his father’s favorite.
    • Blessed even by God with visions and authority.
    • But then he went into a time of war, his brothers sold him as a slave.
    • Then as a slave he found victory again.
    • Then he was persecuted by his masters wife and thrown into prison.
    • Then he found victory in prison, even interpreting dreams.
    • Then he was forgotten and left to rot.
    • Then he found victory and became 2^nd in command to Pharoh.
    • The next thing we hear about him is that he died and went to heaven.
  • A lifetime of going from victory to war, from victory to war. And then you go to heaven.
• I could give dozens of examples, Moses, Abraham, David, Paul, John the Baptist, John the Apostle…
  • They all have the same story… so what does this mean for you who are in times of victory?
• First, enjoy it, because it likely won’t last.
  • But second, expect war.
  • Prepare for spiritual battle.
  • While things are good, while life is nice, get yourself ready for battle.
    • Read your Bible, strengthen your character, pursue holiness.
    • Pray and fast and study and serve and give…
      • Don’t get lax, don’t get soft. Get stronger, get better… continue to be more than a conqueror even in times of victory.
• To many times have I seen people cry out to God in times of war, then they receive the victory and after getting the victory the abandon God…
  • They get what they want and they leave. DON’T BE LIKE THAT.
    • If you are in a time of victory, THIS IS YOUR CALL TO STRENGTHEN YOURSELF. War is coming.

1 Peter 1:13 ESV  Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Luke 12:35 ESV  “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,

• Let me read that last one in the KJV, sometime we just need that King James power…

Luke 12:35 KJV  Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

• In times of victory church, GIRD YOUR LOINS!
  • STAY READ FOR BATTLE.
    • If you stay ready… YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET READY!
• Now that brings me to point two… in war, expect victory!

Point Two – In War, Expect Victory

Isaiah 41:10-13 ESV  fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  (11)  Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish.  (12)  You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all.  (13)  For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

• For those of you who would say “I am not in a time of victory right now, I am in a time of war”… let me address you….
  • I don’t know what you are going through right now, I know some of y’all battles, but I don’t know the depths of them.
    • The pain, the hardship, the persecution, the lies the enemy has been telling you over and over again.
      • I don’t know the full extent of the war that you are in.
      • BUT GOD DOES! GOD KNOWS! AND GOD IS WITH YOU!
• Do not be afraid, do not be dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with you!
  • Back to our text from Revelation…
  • Yes Israel will have to flee, but God will provide a place for her.
  • Yes the dragon will find her after 3 and half years and try to destroy her again…
    • But God will have the earth swallow up his attack.
• And if it is true for the nation of Israel, how much more true is it for you, if you have been washed by the blood.
  • If you are born again you are not promised a life free from battles and war… BUT YOU ARE PROMISED THE VICTORY!

Deuteronomy 20:4 ESV  for the LORD your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’

Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV  Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Joshua 1:9 ESV  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Psalms 27:1-3 ESV  Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  (2)  When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.  (3)  Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.

• Saints… whatever you are going through… if you are born again, and living a holy life… then the victory is PROMISED.
  • It will come! You will get through this war.
  • It will get better.
  • You will find rest. You will find peace.
  • YOU WILL FIND VICTORY.
• But what are you to do in the meantime? 1 Corinthians has the answer:

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 ESV  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  (58)  Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

• In times of battle, in times of war:
  • BE STEADFAST.
  • BE IMMOVABLE.
  • ABOUND IN THE WORK OF THE LORD.
  • KNOW THAT THE VICTORY IS COMING.
    • In other words, keep going, keep fighting, keep putting one foot in front of the other.
    • The devil is trying to get you to give up, TELL HIM NO!
    • Don’t quit before the race is over. MAKE IT TO THE FINISH LINE.
    • YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS!
• To those of you in battle, I leave you with this final word of comfort from our Lord:

John 16:33 ESV  I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Conclusion

Revelation 12:11 ESV  And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Share testimony… then… Gospel Call