The cosmic conflict. Revelation 12:7-8.

• Revelation 12:7-8 uses symbols to tell how a conflict began in heaven: Michael won, and the dragon was expelled from heaven.

• Why did this war begin? God had given Lucifer free will, and he chose to usurp the throne of the Universe (Isaiah 14:12-14).

• There were no neutral angels, they had to choose between Michael and the dragon. This conflict continued on Earth, so we must choose to support Michael or to fight against Him (Luke 11:23).

The decisive battle. Revelation 12:1-5, 9.

• We have to interpret the symbols in Revelation 12 properly in order to understand the decisive battle in the cosmic conflict.

  • The dragon: Satan (Revelation 12:9), supported by a third of the angels (v. 4)

  • The woman: The Church of God, both in the Old and New Testaments (Ezekiel 16:46;
    2 Corinthians 11:2)

  • The male Child: Jesus Christ, persecuted since He was born (Matthew 2:13). He ascended to heaven (Mark 16:19) and was given authority over all nations (Revelation 2:26-27; 19:15)

• Jesus overcame by dying on the cross (Colossians 2:15).

• Satan had been allowed to enter heaven (Job 1:6), but he was not anymore since Jesus won the decisive battle. Satan was thrown to Earth for good (Revelation 12:9).

• We are victorious in Jesus’ victory (Romans 8:37).

The winners. Revelation 12:10-11.

• Jesus won, and we’ve also won “through the blood” of Jesus (Colossians 1:20).

• Although the end of the conflict is yet to come, we are already victorious. Our debts are cancelled, and we’re made perfect before God when we accept what Christ did for us by faith
  (Colossians 1:14, 22).

• We have won! And God will give all things to those who have overcome (Revelation 21:7).

Satan counterattacks. Revelation 12:6, 12-16.

• How long was Satan persecuting the Church (Revelation 12:6, 14)?

• 42 months = 1,260 days = A time and times and half a time. All the persecution periods in Daniel and Revelation are the same.

• In prophetic times, a day is equivalent to a year (Numbers 14:34, Ezekiel 4:6). Let’s review when the 1,260 years of persecution began and ended.

  • From 538. The last Ostrogothic people are eliminated, and the Pope receives political power over the city of Rome.

  • To 1798. General Berthier imprisons the Pope on Napoleon’s orders.

  • During that time, faithful people were sustained by God in the desert [sparsely populated places] (Revelation 12:6, 14).

• God took care of His Church during that time, and He will also take care of the faithful remnant during the End Time.

The remnant is attacked. Revelation 12:17.

• Since 1798, Satan increases His attack on “the rest,” the remnant.

• The remnant is a small group with two main characteristics:

  • They keep the commandments of God. They remember the forgotten law of God.

  • They have the testimony of Jesus Christ. They’re faithful to their Savior.

• In Jesus, by Jesus, through Jesus, and because of Jesus, our victory is secured.