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7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. 12 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.” 13 When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring--those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. (Revelation 12:7-17, NIV).
Reflect
"Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ.”
This portion of the Revelation story accounts for the battle between God's angels and Satan’s army. That would make a great 3D movie! This passage simply emphasizes that God has a master plan. His plan was to allow us to choose and to have free will. The end game here is Revelation points out the price and cost to how badly God wishes to win us back to Him. To give up His Son (the Lamb) and fight for us.
Pastor Blain
Pray
- Pray for Terry and Christine Okken, Student Ministries Pastors.
- Pray for our Student Ministry Interns, David Schneider, Stephen Epp and Calvin Elias.
- Pray for the International Student Ministries as they take a break over the holiday season.
- Pray for these missionaries our church supports, David & Annette Faszer, working with orphanages in India.
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