REVELATION 12:7 – A WAR IN HEAVEN BUT WHY?
For years we have had a standard interpretation of the Book Revelation 12 which dwelt on the beast but forgotten another important aspect of that chapter. Indeed, it has been accepted as the whole truth of the matter but that is not the case. We take a look in what led to the change of Lucifer into Satan and his cast out of heaven. We read:
Revelation 14:12-16
12 How art thou FALLEN from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my THRONE ABOVE THE STARS OF GOD: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. 16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, [and] consider thee, [saying, Is] this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
Ezekiel 28:12-19
12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, FULL OF WISDOM, and perfect in beauty. 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone [was] thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou [art] the ANOINTED CHERUB THAT COVERETH; and I have set thee [so]: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou [wast] PERFECT IN THY WAYS FROM THE DAY THAT THOU WAST CREATED, TILL INIQUITY WAS FOUND IN THEE. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: THEREFORE I WILL CAST THEE AS PROFANE OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 THINE HEART WAS LIFTED UP BECAUSE OF THY BEAUTY, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. 18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. 19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never [shalt] thou [be] any more.
There is striking resemblance of the passages in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 that will make you conclude this is not speaking about a human being. The war that started in heaven was extended here on earth but what was the issue all about?
Revelation 12:7: And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8: And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Some have never gone beyond the simplicity of this verse to peep behind the story. Here we have a clue of this: –
At length all the angels are summoned to appear before the Father, to have each case decided. Satan unblushingly makes known to all the heavenly family, his discontent, that Christ should be preferred before him, to be in such close conference with God, and he be uninformed as to the result of their frequent consultations. God informs Satan that this he can never know. That to his Son will he reveal his secret purposes, and that all the family of Heaven, Satan not excepted, were required to yield implicit obedience. Satan boldly speaks out his rebellion, and points to a large company who think God is unjust in not exalting him to be equal with God, and in not giving him command above Christ. He declares he cannot submit to be under Christ’s command, that God’s commands alone will he obey. Good angels weep to hear the words of Satan, and to see how he despises to follow the direction of Christ, their exalted and loving commander. {3SG 37.3}
Now this is how Satan started the story but there was more to this than we think of. The law of God was the one Satan was attacking subtly.
The heart is not in harmony with the law of God, but is at enmity with that law. Thus was the great rebel in heaven. Will the Lord take men and women to heaven who have no respect for the law of His universe? {OHC 141.2}
Satan by attacking the sonship of Christ was going after the law. Which one?
Exodus 20:3: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
No wonder that when Revelation 12 is ending we find that
Revelation 12:17: And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Angels were expelled from heaven because they would not work in harmony with God. They fell from their high estate because they wanted to be exalted. They had come to exalt themselves, and they forgot that their beauty of person and of character came from the Lord Jesus. This fact the angels would obscure, that Christ was the only begotten Son of God, and they came to consider that they were not to consult Christ. One angel began the controversy and carried it on until there was rebellion in the heavenly courts among the angels. They were lifted up because of their beauty. {Lt42-1910}
Christ was the only begotten Son of God, and Lucifer, that glorious angel, got up a warfare over the matter, until he had to be thrust down to the earth. He knows what I am saying today. He knows whenever there is a company assembled together as you are here. He knows when we are making efforts in every way possible to reach out to win the minds of the people. … {Ms86-1910}
Again and again during my experience in the Lord’s work, I have been called upon to meet these erroneous sentiments. In every case, clear, powerful light has been given that God is the eternal, self-existent One. From my girlhood I have been given plain instruction that God is a person, and that Christ is “the express image of His person.” God always has been. That which concerns us is not the how or the wherefore. {Ms137-1903}
Sometimes we have wondered how Lucifer was able to deceive holy angels in heaven and pull a third with him down as Satan, here are insights to how this came to be.
Lucifer’s High Position
“Sin entered the world by the defection of one who stood at the head of the holy angels. What was it that wrought so great a change, transforming a royal, honored subject into an apostate? The answer is given, ‘Thy heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.’ HAD NOT THE LORD MADE THE COVERING CHERUB SO BEAUTIFUL, SO CLOSELY RESEMBLING HIS OWN IMAGE; HAD NOT GOD AWARDED HIM SPECIAL HONOR; HAD ANYTHING BEEN LEFT UNDONE IN THE GIFT OF BEAUTY AND POWER AND HONOR, then Satan might have had some excuse. But God declares: ‘Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering. . .. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so; thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned; therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God; and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. {GCDB, March 2, 1897 par. 33}
Evil originated with Lucifer, who rebelled against the government of God. Before his fall he was a covering cherub, DISTINGUISHED BY HIS EXCELLENCE. GOD MADE HIM GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL, AS NEAR AS POSSIBLE LIKE HIMSELF. OF HIM IT IS WRITTEN, “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” But self-exaltation entered his heart. Inspiration records the charge against him: “Thine heart wast lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.” “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend unto heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” {RH, September 24, 1901 par. 4}
Lucifer was the covering cherub, THE MOST EXALTED OF THE HEAVENLY CREATED BEINGS; HE STOOD NEAREST THE THRONE OF GOD, AND WAS MOST CLOSELY CONNECTED AND IDENTIFIED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF GOD’S GOVERNMENT, MOST RICHLY ENDOWED WITH THE GLORY OF HIS MAJESTY AND POWER. —ST April 28, 1890.
The LORD HIMSELF GAVE TO SATAN HIS GLORY AND WISDOM, AND MADE HIM THE COVERING CHERUB, GOOD, NOBLE, AND EXCEEDING LOVELY. —ST Sept. 18, 1893.
Among the inhabitants of heaven, SATAN, NEXT TO CHRIST, WAS AT ONE TIME MOST HONORED OF GOD, AND HIGHEST IN POWER AND GLORY. —ST July 23, 1902. {TA 28.2}
Lucifer, the “son of the morning,” IN GLORY SURPASSING ALL THE ANGELS THAT SURROUND THE THRONE, . . . [WAS] UNITED IN CLOSEST TIES TO THE SON OF GOD. —DA 435. {TA 28.3}
Lucifer, “son of the morning,” WAS FIRST OF THE COVERING CHERUBS, HOLY AND UNDEFILED. HE STOOD IN THE PRESENCE OF THE GREAT CREATOR, AND THE CEASELESS BEAMS OF GLORY ENSHROUDING THE ETERNAL GOD RESTED UPON HIM. — {PP 35}
He [Lucifer] had been THE HIGHEST OF ALL CREATED BEINGS, AND HAD BEEN FOREMOST IN REVEALING GOD’S PURPOSES TO THE UNIVERSE.—{DA 758}
All who are determined to hold fast to every feature of our faith should stand against the wiles of the devil. We are all to understand that there is a fallen angel who was once next to Christ in honor among the heavenly host. His work of deception was done in so great secrecy that THE ANGELS IN LESS-EXALTED POSITIONS SUPPOSED THAT HE WAS THE RULER OF HEAVEN. SATAN MADE THE REPRESENTATION THAT ALL WRONG INSINUATIONS EXISTING IN HEAVEN ORIGINATED AMONG THE ANGELS, WHILE HE HIMSELF HAD MADE SUGGESTIONS WHICH WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ENTERTAINED BY THE ANGELS, HAD HE NOT CREATED THEM. He artfully presented these things to God, as having come from the angels, while they all originated with the evil Satan himself. {Lt292-1906}
Satan was once an honored angel in heaven, next to Christ. HIS COUNTENANCE, LIKE THOSE OF THE OTHER ANGELS, WAS MILD AND EXPRESSIVE OF HAPPINESS. HIS FOREHEAD WAS HIGH AND BROAD, SHOWING GREAT INTELLIGENCE. His form was perfect; his bearing noble and majestic. But when God said to His Son, “Let us make man in our image,” Satan was jealous of Jesus. He wished to be consulted concerning the formation of man, and because he was not, he was filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred. He desired to receive the highest honors in heaven next to God. {EW 145.1}
Lucifer in heaven, before his rebellion, was a high and exalted angel, NEXT IN HONOR TO GOD’S DEAR SON. His countenance, like those of the other angels, was mild and expressive of happiness. His forehead was high and broad, showing a powerful intellect. His form was perfect; his bearing noble and majestic. A SPECIAL LIGHT BEAMED IN HIS COUNTENANCE AND SHONE AROUND HIM BRIGHTER AND MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN AROUND THE OTHER ANGELS; YET CHRIST, GOD’S DEAR SON, HAD THE PRE-EMINENCE OVER ALL THE ANGELIC HOST. He was one with the Father before the angels were created. Lucifer was envious of Christ, and gradually assumed command which devolved on Christ alone. {SR 13.1}
The fallen angel whom God had made covering cherub, was ruined by his selfish, independent will. GOD HAD MADE HIM NOBLE, HAD GIVEN HIM RICH ENDOWMENTS. HE GAVE HIM A HIGH, RESPONSIBLE POSITION. He asked of him nothing that was unreasonable. He was to administer the trust given him of God in a spirit of meekness and devotion, seeking to promote the glory of God, who had given him glory and beauty and loveliness. But Lucifer abode not in the truth. He fell from his integrity. Let everyone learn the lesson which he should learn from this wonderful history. {SSW, March 1, 1893 par. 2}
There was a time when Satan was in harmony with God, and it was his joy to execute the divine commands. His heart was filled with love and joy in serving his Creator, UNTIL HE BEGAN TO THINK THAT HIS WISDOM WAS NOT DERIVED FROM GOD, BUT WAS INHERENT IN HIMSELF, and that he was as worthy as was God to receive honor and power. —ST Sept. 18, 1893. {TA 31.3}
From the above quotes it’s so amazing that angels supposed Lucifer was the Ruler of Heaven and that he had created them. No wonder:
“The King of the universe summoned the heavenly hosts before Him, that in their presence HE MIGHT SET FORTH THE TRUE POSITION OF HIS SON and show the relation He sustained to all created beings. {PP 36.2}”
From the above quotes, his resembling of Christ so closely:
“By sly insinuations, by which he made it appear that CHRIST HAD ASSUMED THE PLACE THAT BELONGED TO HIMSELF, Lucifer sowed the seeds of doubt in the minds of many of the angels. — {Educational Messenger, Sept. 11, 1908.}”
From all the above you can now understand:
“CHRIST WAS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD, AND LUCIFER, THAT GLORIOUS ANGEL, GOT UP A WARFARE OVER THE MATTER, UNTIL HE HAD TO BE THRUST DOWN TO THE EARTH. He knows what I am saying today. He knows whenever there is a company assembled together as you are here. He knows when we are making efforts in every way possible to reach out to win the minds of the people. He has his agencies appointed so that after this meeting will be over, circumstances will arise and the enemy will try to gain the victory. {Ms86-1910}”
And eventually:
“ANGELS WERE EXPELLED FROM HEAVEN BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT WORK IN HARMONY WITH GOD. They fell from their high estate because they wanted to be exalted. They had come to exalt themselves, and they forgot that their beauty of person and of character came from the Lord Jesus. THIS FACT THE ANGELS WOULD OBSCURE, THAT CHRIST WAS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD, AND THEY CAME TO CONSIDER THAT THEY WERE NOT TO CONSULT CHRIST. One angel [LUCIFER] began the controversy and carried it on until there was rebellion in the heavenly courts among the angels [A THIRD]. They were lifted up because of their beauty. {Lt42-1910}” emphasis mine.
When Christ first announced to the heavenly host His mission and work in the world, He declared that He was to leave His position of dignity and disguise His holy mission by assuming the likeness of a man, WHEN IN REALITY HE WAS THE SON OF THE INFINITE GOD. And when the fullness of time was come, He stepped down from His throne of highest command, laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown, clothed His divinity with humanity, and came to this earth to exemplify what humanity must do and be in order to overcome the enemy and to sit with the Father upon His throne. Coming, as He did, as a man, <to meet and be subjected to> with all the evil tendencies to which man is heir, <working in every conceivable manner to destroy his faith>, He made it possible for Himself to be buffeted by human agencies inspired by Satan, the rebel who had been expelled from heaven. {Lt303-1903}
Some are following cunningly devised fables, but what does Peter and EGW tell us?
2Peter 1:15: Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. 16: For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17: For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18: And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
When was this Peter and why are you telling it when now Christ is in heaven?
Matthew 17:1: And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2: And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3: And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4: Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5: While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6: And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 7: And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8: And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. 9: And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.
What about you the prophetess? Are you following cunningly devised fables!
The Bible to me is the voice of God. I have the witness in myself that the word of God is true, and that Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God. I am following no cunningly devised fable.” {ST, September 3, 1894 par. 4}
Who was to incarnate?
Who is this that was to come to our world and become incarnate? THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD. “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of earth.” “THE LORD POSSESSED ME IN THE BEGINNING OF HIS WAY, BEFORE HIS WORKS OF OLD,” Christ says. “When he gave to the sea his decree that the waters should not pass his commandment: when He appointed the foundations of the earth: Then was I by Him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.” But Christ humbled Himself to come to this earth. This was the hiding of His glory. {Ms37-1898}
Who paid the Ransom?
Who was it that paid the price of the ransom for your deliverance from Satan? IT WAS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD. He was the Majesty of heaven, and for His sake, you should appreciate every power, every organ, every sinew and muscle. Preserve every portion of the living machinery, that you may use it for God. Preserve it for Him. {Lt103-1897}
What is it to be a Christian and who is Christ?
What is it to be a Christian? IT IS TO BE LIKE CHRIST. Who is Christ? THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. He is the One who wrought out the plan of salvation for the fallen race. Every blessing we have comes through this Source, through Jesus Christ. Anyone who would entertain the idea that it is a great sacrifice to become a Christian should remember, when seated around the family board partaking of the bounties there, that all these blessings come from Jesus Christ. It was in consequence of sin that man was shut out from the throne of God, but Christ steps in and pays the price; and through His merits man is brought back in favor with God. {Ms16-1886}
What made Ellen White sad?
When I read in the Bible of how many refused to believe that Christ was the Son of God, sadness fills my heart. We read that even His own brethren refused to believe in Him. {Lt398-1906}
Did in 1898 Ellen White change her beliefs when she wrote Desire of Ages?
“You desire to hear what Sister White believes,” I said. “She believes that Jesus Christ is a personal Saviour, just as she has ever believed. She does not try to do away with His personality, and put Him into a leaf or a flower or anything else that He has created.” These natural things are the works of His creation. Our heavenly Father is the God of the universe, and Christ is the divine Son, the One equal with the Father. {Ms49-1906}
What is this all about? The war in Revelation 12:7. It made angels to be thrown down and Satan will want to go down with as many as he can. He did it with the Jewish nation in the wilderness and he is determined to repeat it with the Christian church. In the TYPE he introduced false gods to make the Israelites to be overthrown from Canaan and in the ANTITYPE he is introducing FALSE gods to prevent God’s people from ANTITYPICAL LAND OF PROMISE. See how strange gods are connected with the Law of God
Satan was determined to keep his hold on the land of Canaan, and when it was made the habitation of the children of Israel, and the law of God was made the law of the land, he hated Israel with a cruel and malignant hatred and plotted their destruction. Through the agency of evil spirits strange gods were introduced; and because of transgression, the chosen people were finally scattered from the Land of Promise. THIS HISTORY SATAN IS STRIVING TO REPEAT IN OUR DAY. GOD IS LEADING HIS PEOPLE OUT FROM THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE WORLD, THAT THEY MAY KEEP HIS LAW; AND BECAUSE OF THIS, THE RAGE OF “THE ACCUSER OF OUR BRETHREN” KNOWS NO BOUNDS. “The devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:10, 12. The antitypical land of promise is just before us, and Satan is determined to destroy the people of God and cut them off from their inheritance. The admonition, “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation” (Mark 14:38), was never more needed than now. {PP 688.3}.
Going after the sonship of Christ is going after the commandments of God. The Three Angels Messages reminds us of the controversy of Revelation 12
Revelation 14:12: Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
What Satan was determined to obscure in heaven and Revelation 12 is now being repeated under the three angels messages and instead of worshiping God and giving him glory, he is weaving in another element to worship another God and break the commandment against idolatry. The war continues and it’s about to be over. You can only but disqualify yourself from being a missionary by denying the One True God and His Son:
I feel my spirit stirred within me. I feel to the depth of my being that the truth must be borne to other countries and nations, and to all classes. LET THE MISSIONARIES OF THE CROSS PROCLAIM THAT THERE IS ONE GOD, AND ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, WHO IS JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF THE INFINITE GOD. This needs to be proclaimed throughout every church in our land. Christians need to know this, and not put man where God should be, that they may no longer be worshipers of idols, but of the living God. Idolatry exists in our churches. [Means had] better be employed to save souls from death, which would be placing jewels in the crown of Jesus Christ and stars in our own crowns in the kingdom of heaven. {1888 886.3}
Blessings
