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The Downfalls of Satan in the Book of Revelation

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The Downfalls of Satan in the Book of Revelation Avondale College ResearchOnline@Avondale School of Ministry and Theology (Avondale Theology Papers and Journal Articles Seminary) 2-2013 The Downfalls of Satan in the Book of Revelation Kayle de Waal Avondale College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://research.avondale.edu.au/theo_papers Part of the Biblical Studies Commons Recommended Citation de Waal, K. (2013). The downfalls of Satan in the Book of Revelation. Ministry: International Journal for Pastors, 85(2), 22-24. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Ministry and Theology (Avondale Seminary) at ResearchOnline@Avondale. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theology Papers and Journal Articles by an authorized administrator of ResearchOnline@Avondale. For more information, please contact [email protected]. KAYLE DE WAAL Kayle de Waal, PhD, is lecturer in New Testament studies, Avondale College, Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia. The downfalls of Satan in the book of Revelation he cosmic conflict is the the first downfall — the Old Testament. However, those primary background against kicked out of heaven studying their Bibles find God often which the book of Revelation The first downfall is the primeval depicted as engaging in battle with Tmust be understood. John, the fall of Satan indirectly alluded to in hostile forces. Psalm 74:13, 14 reads: author of this book, brings together this Revelation 12:3, 4: “Then another sign “It was you who split open the sea by significant theme through numerous appeared in heaven: an enormous red your power; you broke the heads of the symbols and creative ways in Revelation. dragon with seven heads and ten horns monster in the waters. It was you who At the heart of this conflict is a struggle and seven crowns on his heads. His tail crushed the heads of Leviathan and for universal supremacy between God swept a third of the stars out of the sky gave him as food to the creatures of and Satan.1 John scans the whole of and flung them to the earth. The dragon the desert” (NIV).5 The Old Testament history, from pre-creation to the new stood in front of the woman who was depicts God as “the Lord of Hosts,” liter- creation, and outlines all the twists and about to give birth, so that he might ally translated as the “Lord of Armies.” turns in this cosmic saga between good devour her child the moment it was The concept that Israel believed that and evil. In fact, John is deeply indebted born” (NIV; italics added). The tail is behind their earthly armies on the to the traditions of the Old Testament a “symbol of deception by means of ground were the angelic armies of and hence, the author fills the book of the persuasion that Satan has used heaven is noteworthy. In fact, King Revelation with its ideas and language. to mislead” the angels (stars) “to rebel David got into trouble for conducting According to Gregory Beale, “the against God and follow him.”3 The a census of his fighting forces because Old Testament in general plays such a scene of Satan deceiving the angels he assumed his human army was all major role that a proper understanding and flinging them to earth “denotes he had and underplayed the impor- of its use is necessary for an adequate an earlier stage in the adversarial tance of the armies he could not count view of the Apocalypse as a whole.”2 relationship” portrayed in Revelation (1 Chron. 21:1). God’s heavenly armies, The book of Revelation, studied in 12:7–9.4 Isaiah 14:12–14 and Ezekiel not David’s, brought victory to Israel conjunction with the Old Testament, 28:12–19 infer this initial expulsion of in their battles with pagan nations provides fertile soil for the pastor to Satan described in Revelation 12:4. The (2 Chron. 20:18–30). dig carefully and uncover new facets biblical narrative reveals that Satan We find the concept very inter- of meaning on the cosmic conflict. later tempted Adam and Eve in the esting that the outworking of this By drawing on the Old Testament, Garden of Eden (Gen. 3). cosmic conflict is evident on a personal an interesting tapestry of thought However, John does not draw level as well. Psalm 69:14, 15 reads: emerges that chronicles the initial fall on all the implications and issues “Rescue me from the mire, do not let and eventual demise of Satan. John involved in Satan flinging a third of me sink; deliver me from those who identifies four downfalls of Satan in the stars to earth. We need to tap into hate me, from the deep waters. Do Revelation 12 and 20, each one more the larger biblical story. While Job 1 not let the floodwaters engulf me or decisive than the previous one, result- and 2 provide helpful information on the depths swallow me up or the pit ing in the devil’s further curtailment the cosmic conflict, Satan’s expulsion close its mouth over me” (NIV; see and final destruction. from heaven is not fully explained in also Pss. 144:7; 93:3, 4). According to Ministry® FEBRUARY 2013 Gregory Boyd, in his book God at War: the power and the kingdom of our of humankind, with humankind’s The Bible and Spiritual Conflict, David God, and the authority of his Christ. Advocate, Jesus Christ the Righteous compares the rebellious cosmic sea For the accuser of our brothers, (1 John 2:1). Moses describes an impor- that threatens to engulf him to the who accuses them before our God tant Old Testament background for unruly chaotic forces at the time of day and night, has been hurled Revelation 12:9 in Genesis 3:1–6, 13. creation.6 Furthermore, during this down” (NIV; italics added). In both texts, Satan, portrayed as “the first stage, God seems to take respon- ancient serpent” with his key attribute sibility for the wrong that takes place At the Cross, where salvation of deception, is mentioned in both in the Old Testament. Satan is only occurs by the blood of the Lamb, Satan Revelation 12:9 and Genesis 3:13. The explicitly mentioned five times in the loses his place in heaven. Prior to the Genesis text reads: “Then the LORD God Old Testament (Zech. 3:1, 2; 1 Chron. Cross, Satan still had limited access said to the woman, ‘What is this you 21:1; 2 Sam. 24:1; Job 1; 2) to protect to heaven, but the Cross finalized have done?’ The woman said, ‘The Israel from the dangers of polytheism. his “no-access card” into heaven. In serpent deceived me, and I ate’ ” (NIV). The cosmic conflict intensifies in fact, the phrase “hurled down” refers By alluding to Genesis 3:13, John draws this first stage especially when Jesus to excommunication (cf. John 9:34, on the Creation story in Genesis 3 in came to earth as a baby. John records 35) and legal punishment (cf. Matt. which Satan deceives Adam and Eve that “The dragon stood in front of the 3:10; John 15:6; Rev. 2:10). This action and brings about the fall of humankind. woman who was about to John draws on this cosmic give birth, so that he might conflict theme from the earli- devour her child the moment est days of human history. it was born” (Rev. 12:4, NIV), The conflict that began The concept of the cos- which most scholars recog- mic conflict is developed nize as a symbolic reference in Genesis is finally into a full-fledged teaching in to Herod the Great’s attempt the New Testament. Satan is to kill every male child two called the god of this world, years old and younger. There resolved in Revelation. the ruler of the power of the are numerous references in air, the ruler of this world the Gospels where the devil, (2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2; John working through human agents, tries of “hurling down” denotes Satan’s 12:31; 16:11), and portrayed as possess- to kill Jesus prematurely (see Luke 4:13, expulsion from heaven because of the ing the kingdom of this world (Luke 4:6; 28–30; John 7:30; 8:59). victory achieved by Jesus on the cross.7 1 John 5:19), and the source of murder, The Cross reveals God’s character of theft, lying, sickness, and disease (John the second downfall — love and exposes Satan’s hatred of 8:44; 1 John 3:2; Luke 13:16; Acts 10:38). banished from heaven all that is good and just. Since the During the period of the second down- The second, and, in fact, decisive character of God is seen perfectly in fall, Paul urges the Christians in Ephesus downfall of Satan occurs at the Cross Jesus, the Cross also provides the to put on the full armor of God. where Satan was legally defeated and deepest revelation of Jesus as the Son expelled as earth’s representative. of God and our Redeemer. Finally, be strong in the Lord and Revelation 12:7–10 reads: In John 12:31, 32, Jesus states, in his mighty power. Put on the “ ‘Now is the time for judgment on this full armor of God so that you And there was war in heaven. world; now the prince of this world will can take your stand against the Michael and his angels fought be driven out. But I, when I am lifted devil’s schemes.
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