NOW IS COME SALVATION
Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 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. 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. 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.
Revelation 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.
When once the Lord Jesus Christ had, through death, defeated Satan and recovered the dominion which the First Adam lost, salvation was come! And the Lord, as a mighty conqueror shouted with a victorious voice, “It is finished,” as redemption was fully accomplished. John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. Hebrews 1:3b… when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
And that work of redemption was finished as the seven trumpets sounded. But the last three trumpets are far different from the first four, for the last three trumpets are referred to as God’s three “Woes!” Revelation 8:13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
The first “woe” is the fifth trumpet. Revelation 9:1 is the very next verse after that 8:13 verse. And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
The second “woe” is the sixth trumpet. Revelation 9:12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter. 13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
Then the third “woe” is the seventh trumpet, after which it is stated that the spiritual kingdom of Christ is eternally established. Revelation 11:14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. 15 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.
Therefore when we read in verse ten of our text that the accuser of our brethren is cast down, it reveals that at that time salvation is come! And we have this confirmed by the very words of the Lord Himself. John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
Consider also his words at the completion of his work on earth, and his report of the Holy Spirit coming. John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
The Prophet Daniel was given a vision of the beginning of the spiritual and eternal kingdom of the Lord Christ. And that last and eternal kingdom could only be seen and entered into by the new birth of applied redemption! John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
The thrones which Daniel sees as being cast down were the four Gentile world kingdoms as listed in verses three through seven of this seventh chapter of Daniel. The lion kingdom was the Chaldeans. The bear was the Medes and Persians. The leopard kingdom was the Greeks under Alexander the Great. And the fourth kingdom was the Romans, who were too terrible to be compared to any animal. And it was in that one most terrible into which our Lord was born.
And it was after the seventh angel sounds, which is the third and final ‘Woe”, that we read in Revelation 11:14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. 15 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.
Therefore as the spiritual warfare at the cross, (of which we read in our text), caused Satan to be cast down, the final, eternal kingdom of God is established. And “Now is Come Salvation!”
Then in our Revelation 12:12 verse, listed in our text we have a twofold instruction from our Lord. First he says, “ye heavens” should rejoice in that accomplished redemption! And we understand that he was referring to those who sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus! Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 3:1 ¶ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
The second part of this verse concerns the judgment against “the inhabiters of the earth.” And, of course, he is addressing those earthly and carnal souls who have never truly trusted the Lord in saving faith. 1Corinthians 15:47 The first man (that is, Adam), is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And these he warns that Satan has been cast out of his place into the earth, therefore they will have to contend with him without the presence of the Holy Spirit indwelling them!
But with the true church there is a far different account as they also have to deal with the outcast Satan. For as he goes to make war with the seed of the woman, God provides them with a most unique helpful provision. Revelation 12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The flood of waters that comes forth from the serpent’s mouth is the false gospel of salvation by works and human effort! The Apostle Paul warns of “another gospel,” and speaks of Satan’s ministers! 2 Corinthians 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
And we take great notice in that Revelation 12:16 verse (listed above), that it was the earthly religionists who alone swallow Satan’s gospel! That is why God’s true, spiritual souls, who sit in heavenly places, come out from among that Harlot system! Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
Jeremiah 51:45 My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD. Hebrews 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. gb
