A YEAR WITH JESUS=> War and Hells Defeat: Note from Jesus Dear Beloved, The images in todays part of the Revelation to John are strong and powerful. They are a reminder that My incarnation and ministry on earth were more than just My living a good life and doing kind deeds. My coming to earth was the Fathers declaration of war against Satan, his demonic forces, and evil. My coming to earth was to bring ultimate deliverance for the people of God and the final victory over Satan with his banishment to hell. Though Satan was vicious and had his heart set on the greatest evil when I came to earth, he was defeated by My surrender to the will of God and My victory over sin and death through My life and resurrection. Not only was I delivered through My resurrection from Satans malicious clutches, so also were the people of God. Satan was banished from heaven. His presence on earth and his recognition that his time was short made him determined. Even though his power was limited, he unleashed a violent display of evil against Me and My people. Yet his being cast down out of heaven was also a signal that his defeat will be final and complete with My return in glory. My sacrifice (the blood of the Lamb) and My peoples faithfulness (by... the word of their witnesses... [and their willingness to] not hold on to their lives, even under the threat of death) have assured your victory over hells power. Despite Satans anger and evil intentions, he could not defeat My people because their faithfulness unto death ensured their ultimate victory with Me in the presence of the Father. Yet, as long as I have not returned for you, My people, Satan roams the earth and seeks to claim more victims. What Peter warned is true:Most importantly, be disciplined and stay on guard. Your enemy the devil is prowling around outside like a roaring lion, just waiting and hoping for the chance to devour someone. (1 Peter 5:8)At the same time, My resurrection from the dead and exaltation to the right hand of the Father on high have assured My people ultimate victory — whether through life or death. So Peter finished his warning with this assurance:Resist him [the devil] and be strong in your faith, knowing that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are fellow sufferers with you. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of grace who has called you to His everlasting presence through Jesus the Anointed will restore you, support you, strengthen you, and ground you. For all power belongs to God, now and forever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:9-11)What Peter says in plain language, I revealed to John in vision and imagery. But if you listen through the imagery in the verses below, you will hear the same message. Satan is evil and has murderous intent for all those who are Mine. He will inflict wounds on My precious followers. Yet these wounds are not permanent. Evils defeat is assured: in fact it has already occurred (Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 2:14-15). Satan knows this. So be faithful. Resist him. Trust in My victory that will also be yours when I return in glory. While your part of the battle may be fierce, know that ultimate victory is yours and sharing in My glory is assured. Verses to Live While the war of good and evil is fierce and cosmic in scope, the images you read in the verses that follow paint in powerful and graphic detail the victory that has been won over Satan, evil, the demonic forces, and the power of hell. Yet Satans being cast down out of heaven means he will wage war on earth until I return to banish him forever. So take heart in knowing that My people will be preserved and those who are faithful unto death are not lost as casualties in the fight, but are ushered into the presence of eternal glory.As I looked, a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman came into view clothed in the radiance of the sun, standing with the moon under her feet, and she was crowned with a wreath of twelve stars on her head. She was painfully pregnant and was crying out in the agony of labor. Then a second sign appeared in heaven, ominous, foreboding: a great red dragon, with seven crowned heads and ten horns. The dragons tail brushed one-third of the stars from the sky and hurled them down to the earth. The dragon crouched in front of the laboring woman, waiting to devour her child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a male child, who is destined to rule the nations with an iron scepter. Before the dragon could bite and devour her son, the child was whisked away and brought to God and His throne. The woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place of refuge and safety where she could find sustenance for 1,260 days. A battle broke out in heaven. Michael, along with his heavenly messengers, clashed against the dragon. The dragon and his messengers returned the fight, but they did not prevail and were defeated. As a result, there was no place left for them in heaven. So the great dragon, that ancient serpent who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, was cast down to the earth along with his messengers. Then I heard a great voice in heaven. A Voice:Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Anointed One have come. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who relentlessly accuses them day and night before our God, has been cast down and silenced. By the blood of the Lamb and the word of their witnesses, they have become victorious over him, For they did not hold on to their lives, even under threat of death. Therefore, rejoice, all you heavens; celebrate, all you who live in them. But disaster will befall the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to your spheres, And he is incredibly angry because he knows his time is nearly over.When the dragon realized he had been cast down to the earth, he pursued the mother of the male infant. In order to escape the serpent, she was given the two wings of the great eagle to fly deeper into the wilderness to her own special place where she would find sustenance for a time, and times, and half a time. Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a raging river that chased after the woman, trying to sweep her away in the flood. But the earth came to her rescue. It opened its gaping mouth and swallowed the river that spewed from the dragons mouth. As a result, the dragon was enraged at the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children — those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the testimony of Jesus. And the dragon stood waiting on the sand of the seashore. (Revelation 12:1-17; Revelation 13:1) Response in Prayer Father, I confess that sometimes the war against hells fury and Satans attack wears me down, discourages me, and leads me to despair. When evil seems to triumph over good, when those in power seem corrupt, and when good people are hurt and killed for their faith, we — Your disciples — find it hard to keep our hope alive. Yet I know that over the long course of history, Your people have faced greater hardship and things seemed far worse and You intervened in clear ways to deliver them. So now I ask dear Father, that You bring deliverance for our brothers and sisters who are facing such horrible persecution in many parts of the world. Give them deliverance and show Your power over evil and protect your people from hells fury. I do trust that Jesus has conquered Satan, but please display hells defeat in our day or send Jesus to deliver us in His ultimate triumph. In the name of Jesus my Savior, I pray. Amen. A Year with Jesus is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2014, Heartlight, Inc. A Year with Jesus is part of the Heartlight Network. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 06:04:13 +0000
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