The great battle in the heavens has been fought and won by the Lord Jesus Christ. He fought the battle for us. He won the victory for us. And we are more than conquerors through him that loved us and gave himself for us. That is the message of the Book of Revelation. And that is the message of our text for this evening. Our glorious Michael, the Lord Jesus Christ, has overthrown the great dragon and cast him down. In the highest regions of spiritual power the devil, that old serpent, has been thoroughly defeated. By the life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, the serpent's head has been crushed. The prince of darkness has been routed. And the accuser of our brethren has been cast down.
When Christ made atonement for sin, by pouring out his life's blood upon the cursed tree, the great quarrel between God and man was brought to an end, for "God was in Christ, reconciling the world (of his elect) unto himself." When he died upon the cross, our Lord finished the transgression, made an end of sin, and brought in everlasting righteousness. And now peace reigns in heaven. There is no basis of accusation against any of God's elect (Rom. 8:33-34). Because Satan has been cast down from heaven, and because he has been bound by the mighty arm of King Jesus, he is in a mad rage upon the earth. Though his doom is sure, the great dragon is warring with all his might against the cause of God, the truth of God, and the people of God.
Now look at our text, beginning in the middle of verse 12 – "Woe to the inhabitants 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." The devil's days are numbered; and he knows it. He is already conquered and bound with a great chain; and the time of his final destruction is at hand. Therefore, he is full of great wrath. It is the certainty of his final overthrow that fills Satan with wrath against God's elect.
Proposition:Our text tells us plainly that the cause of Satan's wrath is the fact that "he knoweth that he hath but a short time." Satan has great wrath because he knows that he has a short time. May we not assume that when Satan's wrath and opposition are greatest, the time of his opportunity is almost over?
I think there is a message of hope in our text: "He hath but a short time." May God the Holy Spirit give me wisdom and grace, so that I may give you instruction, strength and comfort from his word tonight. This text is like the carcass of the lion which Samson killed on the way to Timmath; it is full of honey.
Evil always precedes good. And evil is at its utmost height just before good is born. We see this in the natural world. It is always darkest just before the dawn. The frost is always sharpest just before the Spring. The flood is highest, most destructive and most dangerous, just before it begins to shrink. We see this fact in history too. When the tale of bricks was doubled, Moses came to deliver God's afflicted people. When Pharaoh was most obstinate, God made bare his holy arm and saved his chosen. When Goliath mocked and defied the armies of Israel, confidently blaspheming the name of God, God placed a stone in a shepherd boy's sling to slay the giant. When Haman was at the king's longest of wins seeking the destruction of the Jews, the gallows were being prepared for him. In the spiritual world it is also true, evil always precedes good. We are living in days of great spiritual darkness, perhaps greater darkness than the world has ever known before. It seems that we may be in that little season, in which Satan, is loosed for the deceiving of the nations. Heresy abounds on every side. But there is no cause for despair. The devil knows that "He Hath But A Short Time." His increased rage is an indication that his final overthrow is imminent. "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly" (Rom. 16:20).
Divisions:I will make three applications of our text. In each of them we all have a personal interest. I pray that God will now speak by me to your heart.
I. Satan's Page Against A Sinner Is Most Evident Just Before That Sinner Is Converted.
It is not always a bad sign to see a man or woman suddenly break out in wild rebellion against God. Rebellion, wickedness, ungodliness and blasphemy that has been caged up in the heart for years is often revealed most viciously in an elect sinner just before he is converted by God's almighty grace.
God does not deal with all of his elect alike. But he does graciously make all his chosen ones to know something of their sin and inward corruption. In order to make us willing to come to Christ, he causes us to have a thorough, unmistakable sense of our need of Christ. And our sovereign. Lord will often use Satan's rage to accomplish his gracious purpose. When the devil knows that he has but a short time in a man's soul, his wrath against that man is great.
Once a sinner is awakened and begins to seek the Lord, the old dragon knows that he has but a short time. And he does everything within his power to keep that sinner from the Savior. If God has set his hand upon the sinner, if he is awakened not by law but by grace, the devils' work is a futile struggle, but his wrath is all the more furious. He cannot destroy the chosen seed. All the power of hell cannot frustrate the purpose of God, destroy the work of Christ, resist the power of the Spirit or keep the redeemed sinner from his Redeemer. But satan does not easily give up his usurped dominion in the hearts of men.
A. Let Me Show You Some Of The Ways By Which Satan Tries To Keep Sinners From Coming To Christ.
Remember, Satan is a master deceiver. He has been in business for a long time. And he knows his business well. He does not care how he keeps you from Christ, as long as he keeps you from Christ.
1. He will try to convince you that you are too good to need a Savior.
2. Then he will try to convince you that you are too bad to be saved. Suicide?
3. He will try to convince you that you have no need to fear God, by telling you that God is love and a good, loving God would not send a man to hell.
4. Then he will try to convince you that you are not one of God's elect.
5. He will cast you down in despair into every vile pit of iniquity, transgression, sin and blasphemy.
6. Then he will grant you the peace and security of false, self-righteous, works religion.
7. If these things fail, he will try to convince you that the way of faith is too straight, too narrow, too demanding, too costly.
8. If all else fails, he will fill your mind with foolish questions, doubts, and blasphemies.
9. Then he will try to convince you that you are reprobate, that you have sinned away the day of grace.
10. If you still go on seeking Christ, the old serpent will try to convince you that any profession of faith would prove to be a sham, a mockery of God and only a temporary, emotional thing like so many others – "You're too weak. You could never preserve."
B. But I Am Here To Tell You That If Christ Has Come To Fetch You Home To God By His Almighty Grace, The Devil Knows That "He Hath But A Short Time."
If the warfare going on in your soul is a warfare of God's making, if you are one of God's elect, if you are one of Christ's sheep, that warfare will soon come to a peaceable end (Mark 3:27; Isa. 49:24-26).
I will say no more. If God has begun a good work of grace in you, he will see it through. You cannot resist him. And when he has conquered you, you will come and confess Christ as your Lord publicly. Satan knows that "He hath but a short time."
II. Satan's Rage Against A Believer Is Most Manifest Just Before That Believer Obtains Great Victory Over Him.
Can I make good on that statement? Let's see –III. And Satan's Rage Against God's Church Is Most Evident Just Before Her Greatest Conquest (Rev. 11:1-12; I Cor. 11:19; II Thess. 2: 1-17; Rev. 19:1-9).
Speak, Lord, to the hearts of your people, for Christ's sake. Speak in mighty, life giving power.
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