Satan is very powerful, but he is a loser
I do not mean this in any flippant way for he is far stronger than any person. He has a great lineage being created as an angel, but one became corrupted. He spread his corruption aligning himself against all the things that God would do.
The ultimate objective would be to kill God and thus his efforts at the attempt on the life of Christ. That failed as Jesus was protected.
Another of his objectives was to rule in the heavens. If he could not master God could he at least rule in the heavens? He made war against Michael and the God-aligned angels. That did not work out well for him. He lost his footing and was cast down.
Once upon the earth it seems that he sought to fight against the woman, and maybe she represents the early church. He failed in this attempt as well. God and his creation protected the church, the woman.
Thwarted on all fronts he went after her offspring. In chapter 12 we do not see him thwarted, but it should not be hard to extrapolate to the likelihood of success on this front either.
Verse 10 – Satan lost, humanity gained
10 And 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 has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. (Revelation 12:10–ESV)
Once the accuser was cast out of the heavens some advantages accrue to God’s followers. Salvation from the effect of sin came. Power to do good arrived. The kingdom of God dawned and the authority of Christ for his followers was bestowed.
In heaven Satan had roamed accusing people before God day and night. It is not as though God was not aware of our shortcomings. God was thoroughly aware of them and had made the way for them. Justice had been served, but that did not keep Satan from bring his charges against them.
I think that it likely was the 24 elders before the throne, or a spokesman from them that was bringing the loud voice. The loud voice spoke of the people on earth as brothers so it seems likely this would have been a representative of humanity. The explanation of this may be made the more clear by considering it from the vantage point of relief. All of the God followers in heaven would have known that God’s grace had abounded unto redemption, but that did not keep people on earth, redeemed people, from their sins. Shortcomings and failings are the lot of men, and Satan had made it his goal to announce them in heaven. When he was dispatched that sore spot was relieved.
Love covers over a multitude of sins says the Holy Scripture. In another place the Bible says that it is shameful to even mention what the wicked do in secret. Sins are like that. They should be covered over and not announced. Think of Noah’s three children. One announced and was in some manner rejoicing in it. Two went in to their father to cover his nakedness. I think this is a context that is useful in seeing the improvement in heaven from the falling of Satan.
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