The final battle : Satan vs the Angels of God

 S - Revelations 12:1-17 (NASB)

The Woman, Israel

12 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2 and she was pregnant and she *cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.

The Red Dragon, Satan

3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven crowns. 4 And his tail *swept away a third of the stars of heaven and hurled them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her Child.

The Male Child, Christ

5 And she gave birth to a Son, a male, who is going to [a]rule all the [b]nations with a rod of iron; and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she *had a place prepared by God, so that there [c]she would be nourished for 1,260 days.

The Angel, Michael

7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they did not prevail, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole [d]world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 Then 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 and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even [e]when faced with death. 12 For this reason, rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”

13 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she *was nourished for a time, times, and half a time, away from the presence of the serpent. 15 And the serpent hurled water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. 16 [f]But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon had hurled out of his mouth. 17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her [g]children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

O - This prophesy from John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, shows the vision of the final battle between God and His angels.   Satan is cast out to battle the Angels of Heaven, led by Michael.  This was done to fullfil the word of God.   And Satan battle against God until He was thrown out of heaven and came to the woman of God (who represented Israel) and tormented her.  But God rescued her for a period of 1260 days.   After which the dragon (who is Satan) hurled a great river from His mouth but God intervened and earth opened up and swallowed the river before it got to the woman of God.   The woman gave birth to a son, and Satan persecuted her.   God's creationopend up its mouth to protect the woman and the child.   This testimony of Israel's salvation was given as a testimony to God's children, that they might know the power and mercy of God toward's His children.

A -  The application for me was to recognize that the enemy today still holds dominion over the early and rules all the kingdoms which the children of God live in.  It is through Christ that we overcome Satan but it is by our testimony that Christ is able to reign in our hearts and overcome the devil.  All who know and understand this truth are given the full armor of God to defeat Satan.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you that you have sent your only son Jesus,  to die for my sins.  I know by myself I cannot resist the temptations of the devil,  but by your mercy and grace the enemy is defeated, for your glory.   I pray that you would forgive me of all my shortcomings, in which I failed to resist the temptations of Satan.  I ask that you forgive me, and by your Grace you would allow me to serve your Church,  so that the saints would be edified by my testimony.  I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.

Worship in heaven

S - Revelations 4

Song -Crystal Lewis

Worship in Heaven

4 Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” 2 And instantly I was in the Spirit, position: relative; vertical-align: top;a] and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. 3 The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. 4 Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit position: relative; xof God. 6 In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.

In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. 7 The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. 8 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
    the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”

9 Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), 10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,

11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God,
    to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
    and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

O - my only observations here which isn't really insignificant  but it is simple and significant. All of my adult Christian Life I have in seeking for great worship to participate in, and here we have John's revelation of those who are in God's presence in heaven worshipping him. It is not surprising this description is somewhat foreign to us because the truth is we can't imagine with our own mind what it means to be in the presence of God. What we can do is take John's word recognize it is revelation of what is to come for us and sit in all and wonder of our God who sits on his throne in heaven.

A- the application for me is to understand that God is with me today in my heart through his Holy Spirit and I can participate in worship with them here on Earth. That is sufficient for now but there is something more great to come. My soul longs to be a part of this Worship in heaven with all the great Saints and all the heavenly Creatures that bow down before him calling him King of Kings Lord of lords. The best I can hope for here on Earth is that I would experience moments of worship similar to that seen here in Revelations.

P- dear heavenly father thank you for your Revelation this morning through your word and through your spirit I feel uplifted understanding what it must be to Worship in your presence. Lord I pray that you help me to grow in this understanding and knowledge so that I might be filled with the joy that comes from being in your presence here on Earth Lord so that I might step out in faith and strength in who you are in me, so I might serve your purpose here on Earth as it is in heaven. I pray all of this in Jesus Christ name amen.

Psalms of praise for Him

Psalms of praise for Him
S - Psalm 49
 ¹ Ascribe to the LORD, O sons of the mighty, 
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 
² Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name; 
Worship the LORD in holy array.
...
¹⁰ The LORD sat as King at the flood; 
Yes, the LORD sits as King forever. 
¹¹ The LORD will give strength to His people; 
The LORD will bless His people with peace.


O -  We set our hope on the Lord.    We give credit to and connection to all our strength in his name.  We worship Him in a variety of ways.   He rules all that is good and bad in our life.  He gives us strength to live through both.   He gives us peace.  The Lord is the consistent one, we are the inconsistent ones.    We are to remain confident in His steadiness , not our circumstantial steadiness.  


A - The application for me this morning was to simply take this moment to praise God through this psalm, through my observation, and through allowing the Holy Spirit to come and transform my perspective.  Though at times I am down, I know He is not.  Though at times my spirit flags, or my mind wanders and worries,  He is the same.  I can count on Him.


P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to reflect on who you are and give you this praise, because you are definitely worthy of all praise.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen