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46. Michael's Angels Fight
Revelation 12.6-12
"The woman fled into the desert to God's prepared place, where he might take care of her for 1,260 days. Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon's angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. God hurled the great dragon down, that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. God hurled him and his angels with him to the earth. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, 'The salvation, power, and kingdom of our God, and his Messiah's authority have now come. For our brothers' accuser, who charges them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the Lamb's blood and by their testimony word. They did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury because he knows that his time is short.'" (Revelation 12.6-12) ✞
Escape to Pella
We see in Revelation 12.6 that "the woman fled into the desert place" for "1,260 days" or "three and a half years." This number indicates "a purposely half-finished length of time," after which something important happens. According to the Greek historian and commentator Eusebius (263-339 AD) in "Ecclesiastical History 3.5," this reference is probably the church's escape to Pella on Jordan's other side before Jerusalem's final destruction by the Romans under Titus in 70 AD. Eusebius tells us that a prophecy warned Jerusalem's Christians to leave before the last disaster came. Eusebius became Caesarea's Bishop about 314 AD and is today known as "Church History's Father." ✞
Prophet Elijah's Escape
In the woman's escape and the dragon's attack, John of Patmos describes two very familiar pictures to those who know the Old Testament. The mother and child's flight is reminiscent of the prophet Elijah's flight from persecution into the wilderness east of the Jordan. There are undoubtedly many pictures in John of Patmos's mind as he writes this Biblical record under God's inspiration. There is the prophet Elijah's escape from King Ahab to the "Brook Cherith," sometimes called "Kerith" or "Brook Chorath." The Old Testament book of 1 Kings 17.2-6 tells us, "then the Lord's word came to Elijah: 'Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.' So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and the evening, and he drank from the brook." Elijah later flees into the desert, where an angelic messenger nourishes him. According to 1 Kings 19.3a, "Elijah was afraid and ran for his life." which translates as "Elijah saw and ran for his life." ✞
Mary and Joseph's Escape
John of Patmos' would also remember Mary and Joseph's flight with the baby Jesus to Egypt in Matthew 2.13b-15a, "An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. 'Get up,' he said, 'take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.' So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod." Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus journeyed into Egypt to escape King Herod's murderous intent. Two other more recent incidents were probably in John of Patmos' mind. During Antiochus Epiphanies' time (BC c215-164) his persecution of Judean and Samarian Jewish people and the Jewish Maccabees rebellion, many "who sought justice and judgment went down to the wilderness to dwell there." ✞
Jerusalem's Destruction
The Jerusalem destruction in 70 AD by the Romans is the "last terrors coming." The Christian church escaped to Pella across the Jordan River. The woman in this Revelation story would be cared for during "1,260 days" or "three and a half years." The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD by the Romans happened as prophesied. The years immediately before that were terrible years of bloodshed and revolution. ✞
The Abomination that Causes Desolation
Jesus himself refers to Jerusalem's destruction in Mark 13.14. He says, "When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation standing where it, or he, does not belong — let the reader understand — then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." In Daniel 9.27, we also read, "And at the temple, he will set up an abomination that causes desolation until the decreed end pours out on him." When they see the last terrors coming, they are to flee to the mountains. The English Biblical scholar H. B. Swete (1835-1917) comments, "The church had to flee into the wilderness, and the wilderness is lonely. For early Christians, life was lonely and isolated in a pagan world." There are times when a Christian witness is bound to be a lonely thing, but divine companionship comes even in human loneliness. In other words, it's not over yet, and there is more to come! ✞
The Devil
How Satan accuses the brothers is a test of Christians day and night. The Lamb will hurl Satan down. The word "devil" comes from the Greek word "diablos" and means "accuser, slanderer or opponent." "Satan" is a Hebrew term meaning "adversary" or "accuser." Satan is enraged and goes off as mad as can be in this Revelation passage to try to hurt other woman's family members. Satan continues today to accuse Christ's disciples. Although God's special providence protects the Lamb's followers, some individual Christians may expect a measure of persecution and suffering. The critical blow to Satan comes from the Lamb of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. His victory is his sacrifice on the Cross. He is the sacrificial object, just like a lamb without blemish sacrificed on the Temple altar. Satan is furious and begins to step up his persecution because he knows that his time is short. We live in the last days, even though we don't see the time, the day, or the hour. There are two results of Satan's defeat. The heavens rejoice, and the earth mourns because the accuser is now wreaking havoc there. ✞
"Michael's Angels Fight"
by Ron Meacock © 2021
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