When it comes to Revelation 12.7-9 and the war in heaven, the popular prophecy guys will give you a mixed bag of interpretations as to what the war in heaven is all about. Fortunately, most will fall in the camp of placing the war as a future event that hasn’t yet happened. However, there are a few who view this war in heaven to be a thing of the past, something already accomplished; a looking backwards theology.
Teaching the war in heaven as an event of the past runs contrary to good gospel sense, but here is the train of thought that appeals to those who hold this view.
1. Rev. 12.7 depicts Satan’s original rebellion and the subsequent casting out of God’s heaven.
2. Satan has absolutely no access to God’s throne since the time of his initial casting out of heaven. Therefore, the accuser of our brethren portrayal in Rev. 12:10 cannot be a future event since he is spoken of as accusing them before our God day and night.
3. Rev. 12:10 states that Satan’s casting down is followed by salvation and spiritual life through Jesus Christ and the start of God’s kingdom on earth. [If Satan still has access to God's throne to accuse the brethren, salvation has not yet come, God's kingdom on earth has not begun and Christ's power has not manifested on earth. Hilton Sutton, The Book of Revelation Revealed, pg.149]
Considering the fact that there would have been no brethren around at Satan’s initial rebellion, was he accusing his fellow angels then? But how could that be when it says the brethren overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony. No. Angels are not included in God’s plan of redemption for mankind.
If it were true that Satan lost access to God’s heaven at his initial rebellion, then how did he manage to appear before God to accuse Job?
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. (Job 1.6-7)
We see from scripture that Satan still operates today much the same way as he has since the beginning. Yet, because of Christ’s finished work at the cross, Satan’s continued accusations toward the brethren are rendered ineffectual.
Who shall bring an accusation against the chosen ones of God? God, who declareth righteous? Who is he that condemneth? Christ [Jesus] who died?—Nay! rather was raised [from among the dead],—who is on the right hand of God, who also is making intercession in our behalf. (Rom. 8.33-34 Rotherham)
This text makes no claim of the secession of accusations from Satan, but brings to light the ongoing, effectual work of Christ as intercessor, and diminishes the ability of Satan or anyone one else to successfully accuse those who have identified themselves with Christ, thereby being declared righteous before God.
Sutton concludes the war in heaven must be a past event because after Satan is cast down, it says, “Now is come salvation . . ” arguing that the casting down must have preceded the cross, since that is when salvation was secured. The fallacy of this argument lies in assuming that “Now is come salvation . . ” refers to the initial securing of salvation by Christ. The text does not warrant that conclusion by any means.
Furthermore, Sutton suggests that the kingdom of God on earth began back at the death and resurrection of Jesus, and therefore Satan must have been cast out prior to this also. While the kingdom of God, and the will of God can be manifested in the earth in part through believers who understand their authority in Christ, (because we were translated out from under the authority of darkness, Col. 1.13) the idea being presented in Rev.12.10 is that of Christ’s millennial kingdom, and Jesus assuming authority over the kingdoms of this world. Satan presently still holds that authority, which is why he will still need to be cast down. The kingdom of God did not come after the resurrection since the disciples were still awaiting the kingdom after the resurrection when they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1.6)
The war in heaven is a future event. It declares the time when Satan will be cast down as the god of this world (2 Cor. 4.4.) As a result, the millennial kingdom of Jesus will supervene as He assumes authority over the kingdoms of this world. In spite of how this goes contrary to those who view the millennial kingdom beginning at the second coming, it is the case nonetheless. (I will be dealing with the specifics of this concept in a future post.)
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. 12.10)
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Rev. 11.15)
To see my previous post on The Timing of the Seventh Trumpet, click here. In it I show how the war in heaven and the 7th trumpet are connected events.
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3 Responses to Rev. 12.7 – Correcting A Backwards Theology
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[...] then is why would Jesus take His seat on the throne at this time when it is thoroughly evident that the war in heaven (Rev. 12.7-9), which will ensue at mid-point of the last seven years, must precipitate His [...]
Thanks for this article. I have also believed that this “casting down” is a future event. I must admit that I am a little confused on the timing of the 7th trumpet. I will read further in your materials to see if I can get greater clarification. Is the 7th trumpet also the trumpet of the rapture of the church? Check out a poem I wrote on this topic at biblepoetry.wordpress.com. The poem can be found in the right hand sidebar titled “Locked in a struggle behind the veil”. How would you evaluate the theological correctness of this poem? Thanks for your extensive materials.