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Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Introduction

Spiritual warfare is a way of life. This chapter is, by design, placed between the introduction of the seventh trumpet in chapter 11 and the pouring out of the seven vials, which are that seventh trumpet in chapter 16. So war in heaven is not a one time experience which is all over with in just a few days, weeks, months or years.

2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

“Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” reveals that this is a life long struggle against the “principalities and powers in the heavens”.

Eph 6:12
(ALT) Because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world- rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual forces of the wickedness in the heavenlies [ or heavenly [ realms].
(BBE) For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against authorities and powers, against the world- rulers of this dark night, against the spirits of evil in the heavens.
(CEV) We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world.

We will be fighting this war in the heavens against all the lies of the rulers, authorities, in the heavens, the devil, and his angels in our heavens, until the day we die. That is why the seventh trumpet, which this chapter along with the next three chapters is preparing us to hear and receive, is introduced to us in this manner:

Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Rev 10:8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
Rev 10:9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
Rev 10:10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
Rev 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

It is “in the days of the voice of the seventh angel” that we are given the eyes that see and the ears that hear the words of this “little book”. The words of this “little book” are the doctrines which will win this war in the heavens of our hearts and minds. The words of this little book are the doctrines which are subscribed to by the “little flock”, who have been given the kingdom that was given to Christ. It was the kingdom of heaven.

Where is that kingdom?

Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Matthew uses the phrase “the kingdom of heaven” while Luke uses “the kingdom of God.”

Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Luk 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

Whether we call it the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God, that kingdom is within us, and it has been given to us by the Father.

Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Luk 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

This is where the war in heaven is being waged, and it is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers in the heavens where the dragon and his messengers are warring against Michael and his angels

1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Yes, this verse in 1Pe 5:8 calls the devil our adversary, but we are all still His children, “of our Father the devil… children of disobedience… walking according to the prince of the power of the air” long before we become children of God, simply because we must “live by every word…”

Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

It is we who are all “murders from the beginning” and are first “children of disobedience… children of wrath, even as others”, meaning “others” may never in this age be given the grace we are given to wage this war in heaven.

Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

So all of the doctrines of Babylon notwithstanding, the scriptures teach that we are all first “shapen in iniquity and conceived in sin”, and are “by nature children of wrath” who have all in time past walked in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind of the natural man.

Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Flesh is “by nature… shapen in iniquity and conceived in sin”. All doctrines that say otherwise are but a part of this “war in the heavens”.

Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Is flesh itself sin? Besides Rom 7:18, what else do the scriptures teach about our flesh? Is all flesh really just “by nature… corruptible? Are we really all “by nature children of wrath”? Here is what we are told:

1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

So all of the doctrines of Babylon, warring to the contrary, “the first man Adam” was not created as a perfected man. He was rather deliberately and by design created “corruptible… incapable of inheriting the kingdom of God and marred in the hand of the Potter” Himself (Jer 18:4), and this was all done for the express purpose of causing us all to participate in a war in which “the first man, Adam”, was predestined to be destroyed and replaced by a completely new and different man, who the scriptures call “the last Adam”.

1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

So Adam and Eve were “sown a natural body… of the earth, earthy… incapable of inheriting the kingdom of God… marred in the hand of the Potter… corruption”, for the purpose of fighting a war which would culminate in being “buried with Christ by baptism into death, and raised in newness of life”.

Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

This seventh verse of Rev 12 is a theme of our entire walk in Christ. “The sword will never depart from our house” because that sword is God’s Word, and “the sword will never depart from your house” are words which we are, were and will be living simply because Christ and His words are that sword which words tell us, “we all had our conversation in times past” “despising” God and His Word. Christ is that Word, and He did not come to send peace, but a sword. That is what “there was war in heaven” means. When His Words come into our heavens this “war in the heavens” begins in earnest.

2Sa 12:10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

We have all “taken the wife of Uriah”, and consequently we have all despised Christ and His words. “The sword will never depart from our house” and when that sword comes into our lives, then our enemies will also be they “they of our own household.”

2Sa 12:11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

Christ came into this world to judge this world. In doing that He tells us that He “came to send a sword, and our foes will be they of our own house.” But Christ will judge this world within His elect first, as He is now judging us for despising Him and committing adultery against Him.

Joh 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

“A man’s foes shall be they of his own household”. Again, what did Nathan tell King David?

2Sa 12:11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

Like the woman at the well, we have all had many husbands, and we have all despised our own Lord, who should be our one and only husband who we are to honor.

Joh 4:16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
Joh 4:17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
Joh 4:18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

Five, as we have already seen, always infers a work of grace and faith. Having five husbands is an essential part of this spiritual warfare, which is also referred to as “chastening grace (Tit 2:11-23 and Heb 12:6). This “war in heaven” must of necessity take place before we can be brought to surrender to our Lord as both King David and this Samaritan woman both did.

2Sa 12:13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
Joh 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Joh 4:25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
Joh 4:26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
Joh 4:27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
Joh 4:28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
Joh 4:29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

“I that speak unto thee am the Messiah which is called Christ”. Christ is His Word, and when He finally does “speak to us”, then Jesus Christ becomes those in whom His Word rules.

Act 22:8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

Here is Christ in Joh 4 telling this Samaritan woman that true worshipers will not worship at physical Jerusalem, but will worship in spirit and in Truth. Here is Christ in Act 22 telling all Israel, through the apostle Paul, that you and I are Jesus of Nazareth. Until we are given this spiritual knowledge, the spiritual battle hasn’t even begun in our heavens, and we are still “at rest” in Babylon.

Dan 4:4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace [ in Babylon]:
Dan 4:5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

You and I are Nebuchadnezzar, and there is no “war in heaven” until we are in some way “made afraid” and are spiritually “troubled”. No one goes to battle who is not apprehensive of losing his life in that war.
Here is what “made afraid and troubled means. Here are those who are called to “come out of ” Babylon, and to follow Christ.

1Sa 22:2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him [ King David]; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

A captain leads his soldiers into battle, and Christ, our captain, like King David, is familiar with our distress, debts and discontentment.

Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Those who are “at rest”, and are not “suffering”, are certainly not at war.

Who Is Michael?

“Michael and his angels fought…” Is Michael just another name for Christ, or are there various captains of the hosts of heaven, spiritual hosts which are just as real as the physical hosts of the armies of this earthly realm? Here is what we are told of how we are to understand the invisible spiritual realm.

Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

This “war in heaven” is an invisible world that is clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made”. The armies of the nations of this world, have over them captains of their hosts, and there are spiritual principalities and authorities, and captains over the armies in the heavens of our hearts and minds.
Michael is mentioned four times in scripture. Let’s look at those four sections of God’s Word and see if we can learn something about the battle which is taking place in the heavens within us.

Dan 10:5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:
Dan 10:6 His body also [ was] like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
Dan 10:7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
Dan 10:8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
Dan 10:9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
Dan 10:10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and [ upon] the palms of my hands.
Dan 10:11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
Dan 10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
Dan 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
Dan 10:14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

We know from our study of Revelation one, that Christ is the man who is described in the first verses of this section of scripture. He is withstood by “the prince of Persia” for three weeks before “Michael, one of the chief princes” comes to help Christ.” But there is more to learn about the invisible realm of the spirit and “one of its chief princes named Michael”.

Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

So “Michael, one of the chief princes” comes to help Christ against the prince of Persia, in Dan 10, and here in Dan 12 Michael is referred to as “the great prince who stands for the children of your people”. What else can we learn about this “prince which stands for the children of thy people”?

Jdg 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Here Jude tells us that Michael is an “archangel” who uses the authority of the name of his captain, Christ, to rebuke the devil.
Finally we come to today’s verse in Rev 12:7, where Michael is once again “standing for the children of thy people at the time of the end, just as Daniel had prophesied Michael would do. So Rev 12:7 is the end time fulfillment of Dan 12:1.

Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels

But Christ told Daniel that Michael was just “one of the chief princes”. Is Michael the only angel whose name we are given? No, he is not. Another angel who is sent to reveal God’s will is named Gabriel.

Dan 8:15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
Dan 8:16 And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

Gabriel was sent to cause Daniel to understand the vision of the two- horned ram being attacked by the he- goat with one horn which horn was broken and replaced by four lesser horns out of which came a little horn which became great and caused the daily sacrifice to be taken away and cast down. Gabriel appears again in the next chapter of Daniel where he is again sent to “give Daniel skill and understanding of the vision of the seventy weeks prophecy which leads again to the casting down of the daily sacrifice and to the same abomination of desolation. Gabriel causes Daniel to see that the visions “are one” (Gen 41:26).

Dan 9:21 Yea, whiles I [ was] speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
Dan 9:22 And he informed [ me], and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
Dan 9:23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

Those who are “greatly loved” are given to understand the mind and words of God.
We learn more about Gabriel’s function in the invisible realm of the spirit in Luk 1, where he is once more sent to make Zacharias, the father of John the baptist “and show Zacharias glad tidings”.

Luk 1:18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
Luk 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

The last time Gabriel is mentioned is in this same first chapter of Luke where he is sent to inform Mary of the impending birth of Christ.

Luk 1:24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
Luk 1:25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on [ me], to take away my reproach among men.
Luk 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
Luk 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
Luk 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

It is Gabriel who is sent to “give skill and understanding”, whereas Michael is the archangel who “stands up for and fights for Israel”.

Rev 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

There is no doubt about the outcome of the battle for those who are called with Christ to partake in this war in the heavens.

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? [ It is] God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

God’s elect are known only to Him, and His Son in whom we are all called, but their victory in this war in the heavens is as sure as the rising of the sun, and was known to God and Christ before times eonian, or “before the world began”.

2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

This is the comfort of the scriptures for those who are given to believe that they are of those who were “called with a holy calling which was given in Christ before the world began”. So Paul continues with this very comforting message for those who are given that calling.

Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

“The great dragon… that old serpent called the Devil and Satan”. Here we have another example of how often “the dream is one” is demonstrated to be true in scripture. This “war in heaven” was first revealed in Genesis, and the destruction of the dragon, that old serpent called the Devil and Satan was revealed right there at the beginning.

Gen 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

“He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him”, is Satan’s inevitable end. Just as the first Adam was created to be destroyed so, too, this great red dragon was created to be destroyed, and it is in the destruction of this great dragon that the principalities and powers in the heavens will be made to be at one with God through Christ, along with all things in the earth.

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

As we have demonstrated so many times, “The day of the Lord” is the day of judgment”, and the melting of the elements in fervent heat is the fiery trials of that “day of the Lord”. This is not in another age, if we are in Christ. It is ours, and it is now.

1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

It is because it is here and now and it is ours, that we are told “the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up”. The Lord comes “as a thief in the night” to us all. “All things… things present and things to come, are ours”. It is only after we have lived those words that we can then live these words:

1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Truly “The sum of thy Word is Truth”. (Psa 119:160)

“He was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out [ of heaven] with him” is the cleansing of the heavens referred to in this verse:

Heb 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

What was it that cleansed “the patterns of the things in the heavens”? It was “the blood of bulls and goats”.

Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

What “holy places made without hands [ did] Christ enter into”? Christ has entered into our consciousness to “purge it from dead works to serve the living God” instead of the dying flesh, which is the food of “our [ first] father the devil”. It is into our conscience that Christ has entered and that is “the heavens themselves”, which have been purged and cleansed by the blood of Christ. It is our hearts and minds of which the carnal temple is a “pattern of the things in the heavens”, and that is where God’s throne is and where He dwells.

Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

We are the “cloud of witnesses” which “received Christ out of the sight of His yet carnal disciples.

Act 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Where did Christ go when “a cloud received him out of their sight”? Christ tells us where He is at this very moment.

Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world [ Greek, aion – age]. Amen.

In other words, Christ and His Father are very near us, and Christ did not have to move one inch to be “in heaven… seated with His Father on His Father’s throne”.

Deu 30:14 But the word [ Christ] is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
Isa 51:16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.
Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

It is Christ and His words being in us, in our hearts and minds, which “plants the heavens” in us.
Yes, it is true that the resurrection has not yet occurred outwardly, but it is also true at the same time that we have been raised up with Christ to be seated with Him in the heavens, just as Christ was simultaneously in heaven and on this earth.

Joh 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly [ places] in Christ Jesus:

The word ‘places’ is in brackets because it is not in the original Greek manuscripts from which our modern translations come. We are now seated with Christ in the heavens in earnest or in a spiritual, down payment form.

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also [ trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest [ Greek, down payment] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Here is the Old Testament prophecy of this “cleansing of our heavens” which is also called “the earnest [ down payment] of our inheritance”.

Eze 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh [ a new spirit].
Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Eze 36:28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Eze 36:29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.
Eze 36:30 And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.
Eze 36:31 Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.

As those who have been cleansed, we will be physically nauseous of “our own evil ways … and our iniquities”.

Summary

Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

We have seen in this study that this “war in heaven” is a life- long war, and that in spiritual terms “the sword will never depart” from our house. We have seen that this war begins in earnest when we are given to “eat the little book” which is the doctrines of Christ. What we have seen is that Christ’s Words and His doctrines are what produce this struggle within us, which is called in spiritual terms, a “war in heaven”. We have seen the scripture which defines our weapon of choice, and which calls God’s words “the sword of the spirit”,

Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

It is the entering of this “sword of the spirit” into the very belly of our old man that becomes bitter when we finally realize what Christ meant when He said that He had not come to send peace but He had come to send a sword, and to make our enemies those of our own spiritual household.

Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

Who Is Michael?

We have seen that there really is a spiritual realm which is populated with spiritual hosts and multitudes and armies. We have seen and read the scriptures which reveal that these heavenly multitudes are governed by princes and captains, three of whom are the great red dragon, Michael and Gabriel. We saw that it is the function of the great red dragon to be that old serpent, the devil and Satan, to withstand God and His words and to “deceive the whole world.
We saw the scriptures which call Michael “the prince of thy people”, which tell us that it was Michael who came to help Christ who was being withstood by the Prince of Persia, and we see here in Rev 12:7, that it is Michael who “makes war with the dragon”.
We have also seen the scriptures which named Gabriel as an angel whose function is to make us skilled in understanding visions and dreams, and who brings good tidings of both the coming of Elijah before Christ, as well as the coming of Christ Himself.

Rev 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

We have seen that the expulsion from our heaven, and in due time from all heavens of all men, is as sure as the rising of the sun. What we saw is that “all things [ really] are working together for good to them who love God and are called of God according to His purpose, which purpose has been predestinated to be “after the counsel of His own will.” We saw that this predestination was from “before the world began”, and that those who are given the calling to be in that “blessed and holy first resurrection” will be there by God’s own sovereign decree and cannot be separated from the love that God has for those who are His “very elect”.

Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

We have seen that this “war in heaven” and this “casting out of the great red dragon and his angels” is the cleansing of our heavens from all of the lies and false doctrines and character assassinations which are the words and doctrines of the great red dragon and his angels. Here is what this dragon does in our lives.

Dan 8:12 And an host was given him [ the little horn] against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

It is the lies of the dragon and his angels which have defiled our heavens, and which require that “the heavens themselves be cleansed” with better sacrifices than the blood of bulls and goats.

Heb 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

God has “planted the heavens” within us by making us eat the little book and placing His words in our mouths to “prophecy before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings” within our own hearts and minds, before we will be either worthy or prepared to do so before those without. That is what “plant the heavens” by “putting His words in our mouths” means.

Isa 51:16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.
Rev 10:10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
Rev 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

Next week, Lord willing, we will see why the woman is not seated with Christ in His throne, along with the manchild she brings forth, and we will also see how those who make up that manchild win this war in heaven. We will then see that we have reason to rejoice that we have been given to see that “all things present and things to come are ours” here and now, and that we are blessed to have this war being fought here and now instead of later.

Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Rev 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Rev 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.